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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Why Alamo's preshow is one of the last, best reasons to go to a movie theater
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, located in the new plastic heart of Wrigleyville, tucked alongside the crush of tourists and bachelorette parties and bars crawls and soulless developments, is not the first place I would I think I would want to arrive early. And yet, I have to, and get annoyed when I don't. Not because of the food they serve (not bad, not cheap). Or lines at the box office (nonexistent, that being a pre-pandemic concern). You must arrive early — 30 minutes before a movie's showtime — just for the Alamo preshow. The preshow is a reminder that 75% of the magic of going to a movie is waiting for the movie. It's a reminder of why you bothered to leave the house to watch a movie. I'm not talking about trailers. They show many, many trailers. But only after this preshow. (Whatever you came to see, as in most theaters, starts 20 or so minutes later than scheduled, preshow and all.) No, I'm talking about the 30 minutes of parodies and oddities, archival PSAs and music videos, dance party footage, old toy ads, history lessons, workout videos, Bollywood numbers, interview clips, film essays and whatever else Alamo cobbles together, usually tied to the theme of the movie you're about to see. If you went to the hilariously sadistic 'Final Destination Bloodlines,' you got Tom and Jerry cartoons and satiric educational training films. 'Barbie' got a Greta Gerwig appreciation and vintage toy commercials and clips of Ryan Gosling dancing as a child performer. Captain America movies get a slow-burn Ken Burns-inspired retelling of the history of Marvel's Captain America films. Recently, I saw the new 'Jurassic Park' and for 30 minutes before trailers, we got bizarro dinosaur films and a history of a Finnish metal band for children, Hevisaurus. Showing up half an hour before a movie begins is a lot to ask of an audience, especially one that would rather be streaming at home. But in my household, when we go to Alamo, arriving too early is ritual, and since I have an 8-year-old who needs to see every unnecessary live-action Disney retrofit, that preshow is often the only highlight. Alamo has been doing preshows since it began 18 years ago in Austin, Texas; as part of an expansion in 2023, it finally came to Chicago, was bought by Sony Pictures and now has a few dozen theaters across the country. It's not the only movie theater in town that knows how to warm-up an audience just sitting there, getting comfortable, fiddling with phones, eating most of the popcorn before the movie starts: A few blocks away, the Music Box Theatre has had a live organist for ages. These bonus flourishes seem minor, but they should be studied by larger chains that go sweaty touting their investments in laser projection and 4DX immersion and Dolby 3D soundscapes. A good preshow is so simple, low-tech and warm as to feel old-fashioned; it's an amuse-bouche that acknowledges, yes, you have a perfectly fine TV at home, maybe even a better sound system, but, as Nicole Kidman says in her famous preshow speech for AMC Theatres, Keeping the audience in an anticipatory spell as long as possible — that's the point. Tom Cruise, Kidman's ex-husband, knows this, too: Before 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' he greets the audience in a short clip, thanking them for doing something so communal. Cruise, on a one-man impossible mission to save the theater experience even if it means hanging off a biplane, delivered a similar preshow before 'Top Gun: Maverick.' That these people go to such lengths in the service of framing another perfectly entertaining though forgettable night at the movies is what makes the preshow, often playing before the forgettable, so touching. I don't remember a lot about 'Final Reckoning,' for example, but I remember Alamo's exhaustive primer of 30 years of 'Mission: Impossible' plots and MacGuffins. Without a disassembly, I would have been as lost as I bet a lot of audiences were. It also got me more invested in the experience than I had expected. Like Cruise, the Alamo preshow knows the last thing we want in the streaming age is to leave home then feel nothing. Preshow entertainment, of course, goes way back. In the first days of cinema, movies themselves were preshow entertainment, a kind of intermission between live vaudeville acts. Once features were the main attraction, there were cartoons, newsreels, shorts. During the Great Depression, to lure people back, theater owners in the Midwest would have giveaway nights, awarding dinnerware and even pets. Disney wildlife shorts preceded Disney films. As drive-ins became popular in the 1950s, theaters focused on concession stands: That iconic 'Let's All Go to the Lobby' spot starring dancing hot dogs and popcorn bags may be the most famous preshow entertainment ever. For decades, the Showcase Cinemas chain was known for sending ushers into theaters, shaking cans and soliciting change for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. But gradually, advertising took over. Trailers were the whole preshow, alongside traditional TV ads, PSAs about theater policies, and in the late 1970s and early 1980s, even lobbying campaigns from theater owners spooked by cable TV, warning of the death of 'free TV.' Laird Jimenez, the director of video content for Alamo, thinks of their preshow as continuing the older tradition, rarely practiced now, fed by the online libraries of archival footage and original video floods that the 21st century has been awash with. (Alamo gets permission, though does not pay, the creators of any material it pulls from YouTube or elsewhere.) But Jimenez also admits, they're leaving money, a lot of money, on the table in the service of a theater experience. '(The preshow) is probably not the economically best decision considering the labor hours it takes to make them and the fact it's screen time we could use — that's money we're losing, not running Chrysler ads.' A recent poll of theater owners, reported by Variety, and conducted by analyst Stephen Follows and the online trade publication Screendollars, found that more than 55% of movie exhibitors believe the movie theater, as an institution, has maybe 20 years left. And still, other than movie trailers, Alamo does not run advertising, as a company policy. Instead, as Rome burns, a team of three young guys in its Austin headquarters, with backgrounds in film school, film preservation, video stores and film festivals, pump out five to 10 30-minute preshows a week. There is some recycling, but almost every new movie that opens — as well as older repertoire films it shows, such as 'Jaws' and 'Mean Girls' — gets a new 30-minute preshow. 'A lot of original pieces we make simply come out of a passion we have for something,' said Ray Loyd, senior content producer. So, instead of car ads, you get a history of Black westerns, relayed by Black film scholars. Or an old TV spot with George Takei, in Sulu regalia, shilling for the Milwaukee County Transit System. Or a study of how 'Dune' influenced '70s progressive rock. Or director Edgar Wright explaining the nuances of car chases. Or an essay on questions left by 'Cats,' including: If cats have fur naturally, why do cats in the film 'Cats' wear fur coats? The recent 'Nosferatu' got an extensive history of the vampire genre. 'My favorite stuff is when we can show the breadth of everything in movies,' said Zane Gordon-Bouzard, an Alamo video producer. 'We have this platform and we can show people there is a rich world of not only cinema, but videos, old TV — all worth preserving and watching.' The result, sitting there waiting for your movie, is like having a friend show you this cool YouTube sketch, and now this insane commercial, and now this weird music video, then stopping to describe how 'Lilo & Stitch' fits into the rich tradition of knockoffs of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.' Surprisingly, in this instance, with an audience, it's worth the ticket.
The Spinoff
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘It fills your cup': Netballer Casey Kopua on returning to the court in Game On
The Silver Ferns legend tells us about her life in television. The last thing Casey Kopua expected after she finished filming a television show about retired netballers was a return to the competitive netball court. But shortly after Three's new sports docu-series Game On wrapped, Kopua answered an emergency SOS to join the Giants in Australia's Super Netball League, and found herself back in the defenders circle six years after her last elite-level game. 'That was definitely not the plan,' the 39-year-old laughs down the phone from Sydney, clearly relishing the unexpected opportunity to play high performance sport once again. Kopua played 112 tests for the Silver Ferns, 186 games for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and was the most-capped captain in New Zealand netball history. She's one of only seven Silver Fern centurions, and is also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Kopua retired from netball after leading the Silver Ferns to World Cup victory in 2019, but popped up on our screens last year in Celebrity Treasure Island. 'I had lots of fun, even though it was short lived,' Kopua remembers of her castaway experience. 'I was probably just a bit too competitive.' Kopua brings her competitive nature back to the small screen for Game On, a series that follows New Zealand netball legends like Irene Van Dyk, Adine Wilson and Temepara Bailey as they come out of retirement to play a high-stakes netball tournament. Not only will the former Silver Ferns compete against teams of other ex-internationals, but they'll mentor a group of promising young players, helping to pass the netball torch on to the next generation. It's a warm and inspiring series, and Kopua says she treasured every moment of playing alongside her former teammates. 'They're like sisters. To get the crew back together like that was very cool, it was like we'd never left.' Kopua's passion for the sport hasn't lessened over the years, and she believes Game On will reveal a new side to the ex-Ferns, some of whom haven't touched a netball for 14 years. 'We've all shown a bit of vulnerability to put ourselves back out into that public eye to be scrutinised,' she says. We sat down with Kopua to find out about her life in television, including her secret TV guilty pleasure, an enduring love of Shrek, and why she really wants the midday news to come back. My earliest TV memory is… Watching The Jetsons with my older brother and sister. I watched those Saturday morning cartoons, because as kids, we were out on the farm helping mum and dad, before we went and did all our sport. The TV shows I used to love growing up were… What Now and Sticky TV, but my favourite was Tom and Jerry. I used to also watch WWF wrestling with my brother. Tom and Jerry was in the morning and wrestling was at night. The TV ad I can't stop thinking about is… The Milo one where they used to drink Milo before they played netball. My TV guilty pleasure is… There's two things that I watch and everyone thinks they're dumb, and that's Home and Away and Shortland Street. I can sit there and don't have to think about things for a while. My husband and I went to Palm Beach where they film Home and Away, which was pretty cool. I was a bit of a fangirl. The TV show I'd love to be involved with is… It would have been Celebrity Treasure Island, but that is now ticked off. I was always intrigued by Dancing with the Stars NZ, but after talking to Temepara [Bailey, who won the 2008 season] about it, I would never do that. My knees wouldn't be able to cope. But the amount of practice and how they can transform and learn and go through that process is something that's always intrigued me. My favourite moment from Game On was… playing competitively again with my old teammates. A lot of them have still got it, and they could still play these days if they wanted to. It fills up your cup, and makes you feel happy doing that again. The biggest surprise from Celebrity Treasure Island was… For what we do in a day, you see an hour of it on TV. Some of the contestants who worked in TV obviously knew how things go, but those of us that didn't work in TV had no idea. I put myself outside my comfort zone to go on that. Usually when you go away for netball, you can FaceTime your kids or your husband, but there, you can't do anything. There's no contact whatsoever. It was so nice not to have your phone or computer, and very peaceful, but it was really hard not to be able to talk to the kids. My most watched on-screen things are… I don't know why, but Shrek and Bridesmaids. Shrek is one of my favorites, my sister and I can just about say all the words from the whole movie. Bridesmaids, I think it's just a good laugh. I'm in that stage of my life with my friends, we just have a good laugh and enjoy each other's company. My controversial TV opinion is… I miss the news in the daytime. In the morning, I'm extremely busy with the kids getting ready for school and me going to work, and then at nighttime, we're either at dance or swimming or rugby training or netball training, so you miss it. When the kids are at school, it's your time when you can actually hear your own thoughts. I was gutted when the lunchtime news went away. The TV show that I'll never watch, no matter how many people tell me to is… Game of Thrones. I've never seen Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter either, but it just doesn't interest me. The last thing I watched on television was… The NRL. We watch a lot of rugby league in our house, and NRL 360 is the show that keeps you updated every night.
Buzz Feed
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Colin Jost Reacts To Scarlett Johansson Highest-Grossing Actor
Last week, Scarlett Johansson was named the highest-grossing actor at the box office according to global ticket sales, surpassing fellow Marvel stars Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett, who has been acting since the '90s, famously plays superhero Black Widow, and she has appeared in eight MCU films, the highest-grossing being Avengers: Endgame. After news of Scarlett's major acting feat broke, her husband, Colin Jost, was asked about her achievement by Entertainment Tonight at an event — and in true comedian style, he immediately took the opportunity to poke fun at himself. 'When you think about it, combined, me and her are probably one of the top couples at the box office ever,' he quipped. 'She's probably doing a little bit more of that lifting, but combined, you know what I mean? That could be a huge record, too.' 'I've been in several number-one movies. I basically only do number-one movies,' he said, citing Tom and Jerry, Coming 2 America, and How to Be Single. While it seems pretty obvious that Colin was joking, some internet users took his response seriously. One person commented, 'So his first thought after hearing her success is to weirdly leech off it... uh yeah HUGE red flag,' while another said, 'She deserves better.' However, thankfully, many others caught on to Colin's joke and jumped to his defense in the comments. 'why are people taking his answer so seriously he's clearly joking,' one popular comment read. 'it's a joke he's not being serious,' someone else wrote. Going on to praise Colin's lighthearted reaction, one person wrote, "Honestly, this feels so on brand. And I love that he never seems to feel threatened by her success and openly praises her on TV, SNL, etc." Wholesome!
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Optical illusion: Can you spot the hidden cat among the owls in just 10 seconds?
The optical illusion for today is a riddle that has kept even pro players on the internet scratching their heads. It might appear as a simple task, but you need to pay extra attention and put your critical thinking and analytical abilities to the task to find the answer. The optical illusion challenges viewers to find a hidden gray cat among owls in just five seconds. (Source: Brightside ) More than identifying the missing link, the challenge can reveal a lot about your hidden personality traits. On the internet, this viral illusion has gained significant attention, sparking widespread conversations. Such fun games help people in understanding their core strengths as well as their ability to look beyond the obvious to find solutions to various problems in their lives. Optical illusions are a perfect way to gain significant insights about self-awareness as they question our visual abilities and mental strength. So, let's find out whether you can find the answer to today's challenge. Also Read: Optical illusion: Can you spot the hidden '62' among 26s in just 7 seconds? What is an optical illusion? The cleverly crafted optical illusion showcases several owls in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Among them is a cat hidden somewhere in the image. The task here is to identify the cat within the large group of owls. Looks easy? The challenge is to look for the hidden cat within 10 seconds. At first, the challenge plays on camouflage and perception, since all the owls are looking at you, which makes it even more difficult to look for the hidden cat. Only those with high IQ and observational skills can spot the cat among the owls in 10 seconds. Need a hint? Well, let's make it a bit easier for you. The cat is gray and is placed somewhere in the middle. Also Read: Tom and Jerry brain teaser: Only 1% can spot all 5 differences in 15 seconds The Answer Those who have been able to identify the hidden cat within the required time certainly are eagle-eyed and pay extra attention to the job in hand. But if you were unable to find it, then there's no need to worry. There are several others. So, let's see where the cat is actually placed in the image. Here is where the cat was hiding. Did you get it right?(Source: Brightside) Now, share this optical illusion test with your friends and family members and check how many of them can find the hidden cat in five seconds. FAQs 1. Do you see real things in an optical illusion? Optical illusions are crafted in a way that they play tricks with human brains and eyes, making people see things that may or may not be real. 2. How do optical illusions trick the eyes? These can trick us because our eyes see images with limited details, which often leads to multiple possible interpretations. 3. How to solve optical illusions? Such games often use color, light, or patterns to come up with cleverly generated images that appear deceptive to human eyes and brains. To solve them, people need to pay extra attention to all details.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
NYT Wordle #1484 hint: How to solve today's puzzle and keep your streak going
Since the New York Times launched Wordle, it has become the internet's favorite five-letter word game. It continues to surprise and delight players worldwide. The latest puzzle #1484, releasing on Saturday, July 12, 2025, has a politically tinged twist with one unexpected letter making all the difference. Wordle #1484 for July 12 has an X-factor. Can you guess the five-letter word?(Representative image/Unsplash) Let's walk through the hints, the solution, and how some players got to the answer today. Whether you cracked it in two guesses or needed all six, here's your daily Wordle wrap. Also Read: Tom and Jerry brain teaser: Only 1% can spot all 5 differences in 15 seconds What is Wordle and how to play it? Wordle is a daily puzzle game where players must guess a hidden five-letter American English word in six tries or fewer. Each guess provides feedback: if green tiles appear, it means the right letter is in the right place. If you get yellow tiles, it indicates that the letter is in the word, but it's in the wrong place. If you get grey tiles, it indicates the letter is not in the word. In the Hard Mode, players are required to use all previously confirmed letters in subsequent guesses, which adds an extra layer of challenge. Also Read: Optical illusion: Can you spot the hidden '62' among 26s in just 7 seconds? Wordle 1484: Hints to solve the July 12 puzzle Are you struggling with the Wordle today? These hints might help you: The word contains the letter 'X' and begins with the letter 'E' and has three vowels, with one of them being repeated. Additionally, the word functions as both a noun and a verb, and the meaning of this word refers to the condition of being barred from one's country, typically for political or punitive reasons. The Answer Now it is finally time to reveal the answer to today's puzzle. The answer to Wordle puzzle 1484 is EXILE. How was the Wordle for today solved? Want to know how Wordle 1484 was solved? Here's a breakdown of a player's logical guesswork through the game. The first guess made was 'AUDIO', which revealed that the letter 'I' was present but not in the fourth position. For the second guess, players chose 'TRICE,' thereby successfully placing both 'I' and 'E' in their current positions. The third guess 'SPINE' did not confirm any new letters, but the fourth guess 'WHILE' locked in the letter 'L,' which helped refine the remaining possibilities. Finally, players made the guess 'EXILE', which turned out to be correct.
