Although Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things may have always been destined for success, studios and television networks were not so enthused. Many viewers may be surprised to learn that the creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, had some difficulty getting the show made. More than 15 networks passed on the show until Netflix jumped at the…
If you’ve ever seen the HBO series Deadwood, your first thoughts are probably about Ian McShane’s character, Al Swearengen, or perhaps the overabundance of extremely salty language… delivered in the midst of flowery prose, of course. Seriously, though – we looked for clips from the show to use, and not a bit of it was safe…
There is a stereotype that child actors have horrible upbringings, and their careers tend to crash and burn once they become adults. This is most likely due to the fact that stage parents are just trying to cash in on their son or daughter’s talent at a young age. Other times, when a child is…
When it was released on Netflix in spring of 2017, 13 Reasons Why, a show that follows a suicidal teenager and the fallout from her decision to take her own life, quickly became one of the most talked-about—and controversial—shows of the year. While some have argued that the show, which many critics have found compelling and…
Last week, we highlighted some amazing accomplishments in practical effects and stunts that you probably thought were CGI. Today, we’re going in the opposite direction. Sometimes, computer-generated effect stand out like a sore thumb. It’s blatantly obvious when an actor is standing in front of a green screen, right? Well, today we’re going to talk…
One of the most important aspects of the filmmaking is keeping the audience immersed in the world it’s being shown. Whether the characters are in a fantasy world or jumping out of a moving car, the audiences’ willingness to go along with the story is, in large part, due to the viewer’s willingness to suspend…
Tabloid television, or as critics refer to it, “Trash TV,” is made up of abrasive talk shows that set up confrontations and consciously try to be controversial and shocking. Despite being panned for their lowbrow nature and appealing to the lowest common denominator, tabloid talk shows have struck a chord with television audiences and have…
For awhile, it was a cliche to portray screen actors who played tough characters as effete people behind the scenes. That’s not what this list is about. No, we’re going so far in the other direction that we’re going to highlight people who made movies with pulse-pounding, high octane action, and yet it was still…
Vikings is a historical drama TV series on the History Channel. The story follows the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his family as they leave their mark on the world. But even though the series is historical in nature, the storyline only loosely follows historical fact, being sprinkled with many Norse myths, legendary figures,…
Sci-fi movies tend to create some of the most ridiculous worlds and scenarios imaginable, but that’s what we love about them. We get to see things that perhaps have some basis in a potential future someday, and stir our imaginations greatly, but are far beyond our current grasp. Unfortunately, since it is science fiction and…
Back in the day, it used to be harder to be a big fan of anything that wasn’t sports, or something similar, as people would make fun of you for being a geek. Today, it is quite accepted to be incredibly obsessive about almost any facet of popular culture, even if liking it or being…
When authors write about the future, they have to predict what technology and life might be like decades down the road. While the books are often written as a metaphor for their contemporary society, some authors have made amazingly accurate predictions about what modern life has actually become. These are all fiction books that, somehow,…