Thanks for the recognition, Vern! Before going any further, please allow me to share the rules of The Sunshine Award . . .
The Rules
1. Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.
2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself (use these or come up with your own).
4. Nominate 10 bloggers.
5. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.
Following are my ten questions as dictated by the rules above, which in turn are followed by a list of the ten bloggers I've nominated. Thanks again for the accolade! This is my first blogging award!
1. How long have you been doing this, and when did you launch?
I began blogging just a bit shy of a year ago at the behest of my friend Phil Neff, who maintains the real world dog farm for which Movies At Dog Farm is named. Phil told me that the freakishly long comments I'd been leaving on the Movies At Dog Farm group page on Facebook were, in fact, blog entries. He also convinced me I could teach myself the nuts and bolts of blogging. I doubted that. I took a stab at it, tough, and here I am about to celebrate the Dog Farm's first anniversary.
2. Most pleasant blogging surprise?
I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me that www. stands for World Wide Web. I was surprised and amused that my silly little movie blog was being read by folks in other countries. Consequently, one of the first gadgets added to my sideboard was a Flag Counter. It still tickles me when I pick up a new flag.
3. Most hard won blogging wisdom?
I'm doing this for my own satisfaction. I couldn't be happier if others are interested, but even if they're not this project is something I do because I enjoy it. By extension, if I'm not enjoying it and it becomes a chore, then I'm not doing something right.
4. Topic of your favorite post?
My favorite post is also one of my earliest and lengthiest: Ten Best Genre Movies Directed By Canadian Auteur David Cronenberg. It's still the Dog Farm's most viewed post by a wide margin, which I'd like to believe is not coincidental. The Dog Farm quickly developed a less review oriented structure, though, since I don't really fancy myself qualified to be a movie critic.
5. Favorite movie franchise?
Phantasm, because it does such a fine job blending elements of horror, sci-fi, action, comedy, and just about anything else you can think of that's entertaining into a genuinely unique whole. I'd give my left nut for one final entry in the franchise while the Tall Man still walks among us. Angus Scrimm can not be replaced.
6. Favorite animal?
I'm a cat person all the way. Don't even try to make that reconcile with this page's thematic conceit. Life is full of contradictions.
7. Recent movie you most feel the need to re-evaluate?
Maniac (2013). I generally don't care much for horror that's too "real", and I was never really a fan of the original. I'd seen a great deal of Elijah Wood on Wilfred, though, which is often a dark and disturbing show, and I had faith that he could do the role justice. He did, and the conceit of seeing everything through his eyes - which easily could have turned into a video game - was well rendered and highly effective. Perhaps it was too "real" for me. I've been haunted by images from Maniac since my first viewing, though, so I feel like I need to take a second look.
8. Favorite band?
Radiohead is probably the only still active band I listen to. Each successive album is more creative than the last. I listen to Thom Yorke's solo albums for variety.
9. Favorite movie to subject straights to even though I'm almost certain they won't enjoy it?
Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970). I've not made many converts, but the movie's history and execution fascinate me.
10. Favorite movies to subject straights* to because I'm certain they will enjoy them?
Suspiria (1977) and Pontypool (2008). The Thing (1982) is also a great choice if the straight in question leads a more sheltered life and I want to demonstrate the glory of practical special FX within the context of an altogether fantastic movie.
* "Straights" in this context refers to individuals not predisposed to enjoying genre movies.
Winners
Carl at The Info Zombie
J.D. at Blood Sucking Geek
Jeremy at [Being Retro]
Warden at Warden Stokely Horrorzine
Erin at Seven Doors Of Cinema
Giovanni at At The Mansion Of Madness
Bob at Candy-Coated Razor Blades
Maggie at MK Horror
Steven at Watching The Dead
Kev D. at Zombie Hall
All of these winners are talented individuals who commit a lot of time and effort to turning out some great content - in addition to just being an all around nice bunch of guys and gals. Each of the listed sites is unique and displays all of the considerable personality their respective contributors bring to the table.
Congratulations to the winners!