Across the Internet: A Collection of the Internet's Effect on Film

As with a few weeks ago, I have decided to peruse the internet looking for a collection of websites that a reader could look to for useful insight into the film world. Using the Webby and IMSA criteria that serve as guidelines to a well-made website, I have added ten links to the Linkroll of this blog, this time with emphasis on more peripheral parts of the internet's relationship to film, such as technology sites and interactive games. First up is the oddly addicting Fantasy Moguls, a movie mogul's twist on the Fantasy Sports idea. The aspiring movie maker invests fantasy money into upcoming theater releases, in the hopes of getting the best returns based on box office profits. An ingenious idea, Fantasy Moguls is arguably the internet's best tool for an aspiring moviemaker, because it puts all of one's instinct and theory into motion. For research into movies and to look at the buzz surrounding a movie (usually a prime indicator of how well a movie does), the blog First Showing comments mostly on trailers and ads, but also on casting and marketing. While it can be a solid resource, it tends to be overly positive towards what it covers. For those seeking out the next big thing in movies, Director's Notes showcases directors and films from film festivals all over the world. While the movies may be hit or miss, many of these films would not be available to anyone outside of these festivals. The internet has also been a major center for numerous subcultures, and that is nowhere more apparent than the Anime News Network. By far, the absolute most extensive site about anime on the internet, ANN contains reviews (anime reviews, for some reason, are rare in most other review sites) and coverage of conventions and news in the Anime world. For anyone looking into this subculture, (such as, say, the Wachowski brothers) ANN is a must. Similarly, Horror.com prides itself on representing the horror film community, sporting interviews with filmmakers and insights into new horror films. As this type of film is wildly popular in the United States, Horror.com can be an effective tool to read into this world. A solid tool for anyone looking into marketing in general, Advertising Age is a sharply critical look at marketing ploys and ads on television and the internet. It often spotlights movie advertising, like the Dark Knight's ad campaign. For residents of the Los Angeles area, LA Weekly is an offbeat resource for everything from the best underground food to the latest concerts. Their "Film + TV" guide explores a counterculture-esque view into the film world, though that may not be for everyone. CampusCircle provides a listing of advanced screenings from movie studios. Given that studios screen these films in order to get buzz and feedback, a one-stop listing of these screenings is a welcome idea for both the excited consumer and the movie executive alike.
Movie executives and consumers don't always agree, however, and nowhere is this more evident than in the context of movie downloads. The MPAA's website has scores of information about how piracy, as they call it, is destroying the film industry. For anyone looking for the complete view on the issue, that stalwart, official position is always posted on their website first, even if it is found to be incredibly factually inaccurate. On the other hand, the Electronic Frontier Foundation specializes in free speech and intellectual property rights in the internet's domain, and sits in direct contrast to the MPAA and its sister association, the RIAA. While informative, the site has an obvious anti-corporate leaning, and as such, must be taken with a grain of salt.