B-Screaming is almost here!

So, why on earth would anyone voluntarily watch a bad movie?

That’s the question most people ask. Another one is: Does this bus go uptown?

While we’re not up on bus schedules, and the streetcar isn’t built yet, we can take a stab at the first query.

Bad movies can be good. For instance, a bunch of entertaining and enterprising folks in Minnesota made a career, (that continues today) out of watching, and mocking, crummy films. While Mystery Science Theater 3000 is no more, it lives on through DVD releases, traded tapes, and two, count them, two offspring: Cinematic Titanic, and RiffTrax. (Many thanks to the guys from RiffTrax for their support.)

The point being that with the right frame of mind, a bad movie can inspire creativity in the viewer.

Secondly, bad movies make one appreciate good movies all the more. They’re a basepoint for film; a measuring stick, if you will. Or even if you won’t.

And finally, after one watches enough bad movies, one appreciates how much work it takes to produce a good one. The scriptwriting, the direction, the acting, the special effects, lighting, sound… when they’re done well, they’re almost invisible; you don’t think about the amount of effort needed to craft a cinematic gem. But when they’re done poorly, they stand out. Any one bobbled, and a movie can go from a classic to a turd.

So enjoy the opportunities presented at B-Screaming, and come away with a better understanding of moviemaking, as you encourage the growth of the Cincinnati-Oxford International Film Festival.