FAQ:- Frequently Asinine Questions

1. Where do you get your information for this site?

Distributors, magazines, cinemas, websites, newspapers and the voices in my head. 

2. What's this (About Schmidt: M, Roadshow,  C/S/B/A/M/P, Comedy, 46) business then? 

This refers to About Schmidt, rated M, distributed by Roadshow, released to Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. And its genre is comedy. It was released to 46 screens. If a film gets around the 100 screen mark, it will most likely be branded a 'national' release.. under that its usually 'selected'.. These definitions aren't too be taken too literarily, they are a basic guide to help you understand the extent of a film's release.    

3. How can I get free movie tickets, dvds, sex etc?

Convince distributors to put you on their lists,  typically because you are part of a successful website, print, radio or TV media organization. Failing all that, you could just buy your own movie tickets and dvd's, eh?  As for sex, that's clearly a wind-up, as no-one who uses the internet ever gets any.

4. I'm after a particular movie, I can't see if you list it. When is it released? 

If a movie is not listed, I don't know when it will be released.  Make sure its not listed by searching the site first, though.  Generally though, check out the UK or US release scheduling for it.. if it goes over a year past the release in either of these markets, its likely to go straight to video in Australia, or simply not get released in this country.  There is a collection of at least 500 decent movies that have never been released in this country, and may never be.  (And there would be a good 1,000 movies that should be on DVD that are on VHS for that matter.) 

5. One question- why do the site?

Because I thought there wasn't enough (and there still isn't) information out there for Australian consumers as to what movies are upcoming, or even out now.  This site doesn't provide official release dates, but it is checked from as many sources as possible, and is based on distributor information.  Given the choice between no information, or cobbled together, possibly wrong information, I know what I'd pick.  I hope this addresses that lack of information in Australia in small way. 

6. Why does the format, host and content of the site keep changing?

It doesn't. Its always been the same. Its YOU that changes. It changes based on what spare time I have and what I'm interested in doing, and what I feel works for the site at the time. 

7. No 'proper' domain?

Not as yet, address donations to STEVEN JAMES MARSHALL.  Email for postal address.  

8. Um Ok.  How reliable is the release information then?  

Any release dates past today's date are tentative and may change without any notice.  Errors may still exist for stuff past today's date. The general way things work is after cinema, its 6 months to video/ dvd, 12 months to pay tv from video, and 24-30 months for free to air TV from video.  For every rule their is exceptions though:- some movies go direct to video, direct to pay TV or even direct to free to air TV.  I'm sure there is also direct to in flight movies too.  But the information itself is checked with several different sources as the dates get closer. So the closer to today date, the more accurate the information should be. 

9. What movies can you recommend? 

Anything not ever released in this country and anything released in two months time.  Also, anything hyped and advertised a lot, has its release pulled and is released straight to video (and even then only to the video store you like the least and is the furtherest away from you). I guess I like what I like, you no doubt like what you like, there's enough wanking going on in the internet for me to wank on about what movies I do or don't like.  I like some, I don't like some.  I'd rather concentrate my time on making the release information even more accurate for you.  (I still see about 200 films a year, down a lot from a few years back, and less then I'd like).   

10. I've noticed a mistake/ something that makes absolutely no sense on your site.

So tell me about it and I'll see what I can do about it.  Send your additions, corrections, comments.. whatever. However in most cases I can only work with what information is available to me, and at times its not much.  Also what might look like a mistake may be a release date for a movie starting a different city then when it may open at your city. I can't give a complete release guide, city by city, for all of Australia.  But where I do know what city gets what movie when, I make a note of it on that movies first release, or on the monthly "now playing" listings. 

11.  I'm having trouble finding the movie I'm after. Help! 

In no particular order (and assuming you are mostly interested in Australian releases):- 

a.  Go to a LISTCINEMA page (2003 if you think it should be released that year, etc etc) and press CTRL and F together (in Internet Explorer anyway) to access the Find tool.  Simply type in the name of the film, and it will be highlighted if its on the page you are currently on.  Magic!

b.  http://www.blockbuster.com.au search for the film under rental or retail.

c.   http://www.michaeldvd.com.au search for titles or reviews.

d.   http://www.dvdplaza.com.au search for a title's status at a dozen different oz dvd retailers

e.   http://www.oflc.gov.au  and advanced search for classifications. 

f.   http://shopping.yahoo.com.au and search under video or dvd. 

g.  http://www.imdb.com and search under title, name or whatever.  

h.   http://www.videoshift.com and search their retail catalogue

i.    http://www.dvd-basen.dk/uk/home.php3 and search the database of region 1-6 dvd's.  

j.    Buy Region 4 2003 DVD Companion (http://www.r4.com.au) , it has a full listing of Region 4 discs.  Also, there will be updates in Region 4 Magazine's upcoming issues:- Issue 24 (April 2003), Issue 27 (July 2003), Issue 30 (October 2003).  

k.  http://hometheaterinfo.com/dvdlist.htm is a full region 1 dvd downloadable database

l.    http://www.vidzofoz.com.au and search for DVDs and video available in Australia. 

m.   http://www.ozdvdwhs.com.au and download their retail catalogue of region 4 discs. 

12. Movie posters and images, eh?

Yes, I know.. They remain the copyright of their respective copyright holders.  No infringement is intended by their use here.

13. I'm after cinema screening times.  Any good sites?

Nine MSN Movies (http://entertainment.ninemsn.com.au/movieguide/Default.asp) has a A-Z listing of what's playing now, and listings for ALL of Australia.  Your Movies (http://www.yourmovies.com.au) is also great for listing what's on for your selected cinemas, you can't get a list of all movies that are now playing though.  BTW, Your TV (http://www.yourtv.com.au) is also worth visiting for free and pay tv screen times:- you can also get email reminders of keywords or certain shows. 

14. What are some important dates I might want to know?