Suggestions for the Corner

This suggestion/complaint isn't so much about the corner, but about the CHUD-universe in particular. To my knowledge, and supported by the Scream Queen's own statements, is that EDITORS on the sites don't actually EDIT. God knows there's very little valid constructive criticism around these parts, and most of us simply want to get better at the writing that we do. Frequently, however, contributors are writing in a vacuum. No comments, no suggestions for improvement. There is the occassional "good job" but that's as helpful as a coupon for the second meal at half-price at a 5-star restaurant to a homeless person.

To my knowledge, with the Chewer Column, I'm the only editor who sends material back for more writing when I feel the point they're trying to make isn't coming across well, or when their argument needs more support.

CHUD as a whole could use more editing.

Dittos: More involved editors is a must.

Also, the corner should do what Devin is doing. He's posting a discussion thread after each of his articles.

Also, do what Johnny and Ryan did, they asked for reader reviews, did special events and stuff. Last year that asked for input from readers on their horror experiences and what they did during Halloween. I want that with the new crew. But first we need more involved editors.

Rune, take a look in the mirror. If, as you said in the other thread, you want better content on the site; if Robyn's rants aren't of the quality you want on the site, whose job is it to find or create the material? Whose fault is it that unsatisfactory material is "dragging down the site"? It's the editor. You either work with her to improve the quality of her material, or you look to someone else to supply it. Instead, you're just accepting and posting what comes, aren't you?

Change of hands? I guess I'm just dumb and uninformed, but what happened to Butane and the Creech? I don't know the story.

It speaks volumes, however, that you're the first person stepping out to defend and attempt to improve the corner, and you don't have the power to do so, nor do you know how things work there. Is there any clear deliniation of responsibility with respect to operation of the site? Sounds like another thing you need to do to improve the corner is come to a consensus as the "management" of the operation.

This may be just a hobby, but it needs to be treated seriously.

I do plan on contributing more in the future, I've just been infinitely busy lately (hence why my Chewers piece is also taking a little longer than anticipated).

Blo,

Ryan and I left the site at the beginning of September to run Dread Central.com. Simple as that. We let Nick know a few weeks beforhand so he had time to assemble a staff and such, and here we are.

Though I lurk often but never post here, I used to be a regular reader of the Creature Corner. As a matter of fact, it used to be my homepage until I began writing for ZombieKeeper. Now that Ryan and Johnny are over at DC, things seem to have gone down hill. I mean, the site design looks great and all, but as others have stated, the writing talent just isn't there. And where's the content? CC used to have the latest and most news, tons of great reviews, articles, you name it - but now it's updated infrequently, giving fans little reason to check back on a daily basis. If you long for the good ol' days of CC, it's best to head on over to DC, as it's basically the same thing.

It was worth totally screwing up CC to get rid of Fireflyfan....

No. Because now he's over at dreadcentral.

Interview JC and find out what the hell he's up to.

Taking reader essays and reviews from the readers is a good idea as well. Like they used to. It'll help with the content.

If they did that I'd like to try and write a few reviews or resubmit the ones I already have that got removed when they moved. They aren't the greatest but I tried.

Floydian, there's this little thing called the Chewer Column...

As a serious suggestion, I really think you should open the board up to freelance writers who don't mind doing it for the love (like us guys). And you need to do it on the main board, not just start threads here.

Talking of doing things for love, that seems to me the biggest problem here. There just doesn't seem to be any love for the subject with the new guys, or even any real in-depth knowlege.

The whole Robyn thing was a piss-poor idea. I don't agree with all the guys who have been giving her shit, because she should never have been asked in the first place. Did you guys even ask her to provide some test copy before asking her aboard? I'm guessing not, since nobody's material even seems to get proof-read.

Basically, the new set up is amateur. I know you guys are probably unpaid, but even fan-fiction writers use readers before posting their stuff. I worked in magazines for years, and the golden rule is to never proof your own copy.

I'll give you a weekly column - No budget Horror Movie 101 - From scripting, what camera, props, recruiting actors, sacking actors, roping in friends and familar, goretastic effects for pennies, disasters, victories, optical effects, cheap CG, editing, falling out with everyone, begging forgiveness, shlling, killing, skiving, stealing, breaking, music, getting sued for copyright on music, zombie mum, zombie nun, killer hedgeclippers & gallons of fake blood.

You've got my number...

I have absolutely no idea what that is.

That's cool. Great article by Werbal there I'd have to agree with him on that one. I don't get out of the Corner much and if I'm going to write something I'd rather it be about horror than Christmas. If the CC could do something like that I think it'd go over well.

Anyone who reads the site can write about anything they want to. Just email me with the topic idea for approval before you begin.

my suggestion is a chat room.

I'd love to see the reviews in alphabetical order rather than just archived, it's impossible to find anything.

I'd like to see front page news that hasn't been posted 4 times on various bits of the CHUD boards over two months ago in a rather fruitless and shilltastic exercise.

Also, news that isn't "This is a piece about Wes Craven from Variety. Here is the report". No context, no opinion, no nothing. That format seems to be coming more and more. And it isn't a lack of sources, so that doesn't wash here I'm afraid. I'm not talking about lack of news. That's undertandable (although there's a sell by date on the situation). The "old guard" had exactly the same sources to a point. Variety. Hollywood Reporter. Fangoria. The difference is, they used that news to create a freshly written editorial about that particular topic. In their words.

We're about one stage away from a list of links o the main page with Find Your Own News By Clicking Here option.

Blo nailed it: it's not a hobby. You have to dedicate a little more effort than that.

I think that if possible there should be 2 reviews (could be CHUD readers) one positive and one negative. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing all the reviewers on this site have exactly the same opinion about a movie be it good or bad. Maybe dedicate something to obscure out of print movies.

I liked zombiebabe's idea of having a chat room.

I also think that we need to bring back the points system. Why the hell did you guys take that away? It was entertaining.

Today's Freddy Vs Jason 2 item: that's much better.

Talking of editorialising, was that article on Freak Out the unexpergated or altered email I (and everyone else on the industry) list got from Yazz...?

Indeed it is.

Ah.

Here's a suggestion. How about some real investigative journalism?

Nearly every horror site offers the same old stories. Ask us what we want to know about and give it to us without the "spin". The big thing now is the horror channel wars. How about going behind the wall and find out the truth for us fans? They all claim to be for the fans by fans. Maybe you can find out who these people really are. Not the "voices" on-line, we know that Ryan Rotten and Uncle Creepy are fans, but who is Nicholas Psaltos and if he really is a horror fan why is he just now launching a horror channel? Why is Tony Timpone going into the TV business now. What happen to him helping THC? And Joe Bob Briggs, why is he going into business with that other guy that was Psaltos one time partner? Why is Lloyd Kaufman listed on the THC and Fangoria site as a supporter?

Of course they're all going to tell us what we want to hear. That they are fans putting together these channels because of their love of horror. But what is the truth? That's what I wanta know.

So give us what we can't get anywhere else! Not the same old stuff.

Because Lloyd, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, is a dirty big whore.

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

Creature Corner has no voice. And no one can silence the voice of the voiceless. But damn, I stopped listening.
CC has become fucking bland. No offense to you guys handling the site but man, fucking Hairy Knowles' has more personality on a pimple near his ass crack than this entire site. Why would anyone go to CC over any other horror film related site? I cant think of a single goddamn reason, especially with the horror channel kicking all sorts of undead ass. Not only (or so it seems to me) do y'all report shit a chunk of rotting flesh (or way) after everyone else does... but you do so in a most atrociously boring way.

Buck up, damn it. CC used to be bad ass. For a while now, it's been just ass.

Peace.

I am trying to do something different with Robyns Rants, but i think the problem is that the way the board is set up, you have to look it up and also everything else up, instead of having alternating stories on the mainpage. I personally hate having to look through all the topics. I also suggested the chatroom, I would love to host some chats, and give away signed memorabilia etc... on the board, but noone seems to be listening to my ideas. I know the people running CC have been swamped with things, so i say give it a little time... Also, As far as the horror channel site goes. I stopped checking on it after the deadlines have never been met. I wouldnt say it is kicking ass when there are people that petitioned etc. at their request and they didnt post anything when they knew they wouldnt be airing. Personally, I said the whole time, it isnt going to help to petition, Time warner etc.. arent the ones that create the channells. the affiliates are. way too many unanswered questions going on with that. back on subject though... I do agree that we need to spice things up on CC. I still have the autographed Penn Jillete book to give away. maybe we can do some sort of cool contest?? any ideas?

They obviously could give a rats ass what the people think.

It does appear that way. They had enough money and a good enough rap to pull people from two of the best sites on line. This one and Fangoria's site. That's why they are doing so well.

That's why I think CC should try and get the true story on all of the new horror channels. They were all connected at one time. Why the split? They all claim to be all about the fans but they have split three ways. Why? If they are all about the fans and not their egos it seems that they would be able to get along.

The fans need a good site that was made to support a TV station or mag. One that is really all about the fans. This could be that site.

I understand where you're coming from, Borgosi, but you have to understand that no amount of investigative journalism will be able to get the "real" story about these supposed "horror channel wars" because it's all legal issues. Everyone involved with THC has signed NDA's, and I'm sure all those involved with the other channels have, as well. And in the end, it's really not all that important why there are some many, what's important is which one will give the fans what they want the most.

Say what you will, but just because one part of the entire Horror Channel buisness plan did not go as planned (i.e., the Halloween launch,and if anyone would actually read as to why it wasn't launched then they would see it was because we're trying to make it bigger and better when it is launched), I started reading a lot of posts that we're just not the real deal, but anyone that knows anything about buisness knows that things don't always work out the way you'd want them to, and sometimes you have to make a sacrafice or two for the greater good.

Back to the point of this thread, however, suggestions for the Corner...I could go on and on, but since it's no longer really anything I should care about I'll just say it sucks to see something that Ryan and I spent so long making great turn so bad so quick.

You guys put the CC on the map and worked very hard to get it there. It's a shame.

My questions aren't about why they didn't launch on Halloween, I'm over that. When they get ready to launch they will.

I questions are about the split. Tony Timpone was a big supporter of THC. The man behind Scream was partners with Nicholas Psaltos founder of THC. Now we have three different channel instead of one. What happened? They all say that they want what the fans want but they all seem to want something different. If it's just about egos then so what, that's no big susprise. If it's a difference of opinion about what the fans what I like to know what the differences are. If it's about what the fans want I think the fans should be included.

I've asked at THC how they compile their data when it come to what the fans want. They aren't telling but they still want us to believe they care. Fangoria sent me an e-mail and asked what I expect from them. Scream doesn't give enough updates to make it worth asking but to be fair they say their site is for investors. So I'm guessing that the split was over how the channel should be run, but it's the split that I would like to know more about. Not why they didn't meet their deadline.

Something else that might help is getting rid of all these pop up adds. Like the one for Blade 3 that pops up now. Right now the only reason I come here is because you guys don't have your own channel. Fans can come here and talk about the problems with all or any of them without being call "negative". It's like a safety zone.

You can bring the pop ups back after you build a fan base.

Sanctioning asinine, grade-school rhetoric (no matter how devestating and sad the situtuation inspiring it is) like:

in rather tangential "editorials" on the front page is probably a exemplary ino-no as well.

Did the writer ever pause to think that that is exactly the sort of mentality which contributes to a society where people like that obvious mentally-disturbed individual are able to start shooting guitarists mid act ?

Probably not.

I'm sure the rest of the grieving members of the surrounding community will be delighted with those kind words pertaining to one disturbed citizen.

Mindboggling.

My suggestion:
Pull the plug and put the Corner out of it's misery. I've seen Friday The 13th fansites that are better written.

Not to mention the fact that the editorial contains at least six blatantly obvious spelling mistakes. Not to mention the fact that it has fuck-all to do with horror. Not to mention the fact that the bullshit posturing is laughable at best, insulting to readers at worst.

But yeah, Bob is right. You guys have hopelessly ruined the Corner. Way to go.

i would love to see DVD release dates back up on the CC. And getting that chatroom back up would be nice as well.

This article was the best:
http://www.creature-corner.com/?type=news&id=257

Don't let this writer get away.

Wow. Not only has that been up for DAYS and on one's noticed it, but none of the people in charge of this site have even attempted to defend themselves in here. How out of touch do you feel now?

And Spirit? I still do the DVD list every week at our new home...

I don't even read the CC anymore. It must be the worst horror site on the net.

Yup, I stopped even checking it months ago. It's really sad too, considering what it once was.

I used to come here all the time but now I find myself feeling like I should but not wanting to. I doubt I would come at all if it wasn't for the boards. And even they are getting pretty boring.

I have a CC tshirt to sell. Good price.

Anyone? No?