My third blogathon, the Olympic Dreams Blogathon, is just around the corner! If you are interested in participating, you still have time to sign up. The event begins on July 19th, so there is a week left to join. Click on the link above the banner to learn more about the Olympic Dreams Blogathon!
Introducing the Olympic Dreams Blogathon!
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
Back in January, I announced my 3rd annual blogathon; the Olympic Dreams Blogathon! This event will take place from July 19th to the 23rd. That means if you’re interested in signing up, you still have three months left! In this post, I will provide the link to the original post where the participant list is featured. You can leave your entry ideas in the comment section of either post.
Introducing the Olympic Dreams Blogathon!
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
Another new year comes new goals and new paths! As 18 Cinema Lane embarks on a third year in the world of blogging, there are many more things to accomplish! Some of these things I’d like to share with you. I have created a post of what readers can expect for 2021, similar to articles from years past. The post will also include statistical highlights from 2020. The support I’ve received during this time has served as the fuel that has kept this blog going. To everyone who has left a like or comment, thank you. I also thank visitors and followers who have taken the time to read my content. To this day, it still amazes me how successful 18 Cinema Lane has become in such a short amount of time. Grateful is the word I would use to describe this blogging journey so far!
Total Blog Posts: 169
Total followers: 125
Total Comments: 697
Total Likes: 895
Awards: 8
Participated Blogathons: 52
Total Movie Reviews: 227
Total Word on the Street stories: 16
The tradition continues as I host a new blogathon in 2021! What is different about this year’s event is how it will take place during the summer, instead of the fall like the first two blogathons. Because of this, I will announce the event in January.
As I was resolving a technical blog-related issue, I was told my site’s blogathon folder was too long. To fix this problem, I decided to create a new folder for blogathons I participate in between 2021 to 2023. For the original blogathon folder, I have named it “My Blogathon Folder 2018-2020”. This decision was made to prevent my readers from becoming overwhelmed by blogathon related content, as I have participated in over fifty of these events.
At the top of 18 Cinema Lane’s home page, there are separate tabs for different content-related areas of the site. This was done to make my blog easier to navigate. Originally, I had a tab called “Sally’s Special Posts”, where readers were led to a section of the site that featured all the editorials, lists, and double features I’ve created, as well as all the awards I’ve won. Now, these categories are split into separate folders. For example, each award I have won will be located in the “Awards” folder.
Last year, I announced I would be publishing posts on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. I thought this would promote structure and consistency on my blog. However, I found this particular schedule to be too restrictive for myself. While I continue to make regular content, it won’t be within a pre-set schedule. This means that posts may be published on any day of the week.
In late 2020, I said I was working on a creative side project. This year, that project became a reality! I have become more serious about American Girl doll collecting, with my new Instagram Account reflecting that. It’s called Dolly Parkingston’s Dollhouse, a place where I share photos of my dolls, as well as collecting tips and questions of the month. If you have an Instagram account and would like to see what Dolly is up to, you can type @dollyparkingtonsdollhouse into the search bar!
Occasionally, I talk about books on 18 Cinema Lane. This is to create a sense of variety on my blog. In 2021, I chose a different way to determine which book I would select next. With the John Wayne Hot Chocolate tin I won in a blogathon, I have written titles on slips of paper and placed them in the tin. Every time I read a book, I will randomly pull a slip out of this tin in order to choose the next book I read. From time to time, I might bring up which books I selected. As of January of the new year, my first book is The Musician’s Daughter by Susanne Dunlap!
What are your thoughts on these announcements? Is there anything you’re looking forward to in 2021? Let me know in the comment section!
Have fun in 2021!
Sally Silverscreen
Lately, I have been busy with both blog and non-blog related projects. I’ve also been notified by other blogathon participants that they need more time to write their articles. Because of this, I chose to extend A Blogathon to be Thankful For’s deadline to Wednesday, November 25th.
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Hello everyone!
If you’re still interested in participating in my blogathon, A Blogathon to be Thankful For, you have a week left to sign up! Even though there is a three entry limit, you are allowed to publish more than three posts. Just let me know before November 19th if you plan on doing so.
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
Hello everyone!
I want to let you know that I got rid of the “Sally’s Special Post” page. That page was originally created to feature posts that weren’t movie reviews, movie news stories, or tv show re-caps. Instead, I’ve broken up each section into its own distinct category. For example, when you click on the word, “Editorials”, at the top of the homepage, every editorial I’ve ever written will be listed. This decision was made to make it easier for my visitors, followers, and readers to navigate my blog. I also want to remind everyone that they have one month left to sign up for my second blogathon, “A Blogathon to be Thankful For”! If you’re interested in joining, you can apply for the blogathon at this link:
https://18cinemalane.com/2020/05/30/a-blogathon-to-be-thankful-for-coming-soon-to-a-blog-near-you/
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
While the Legends of Western Cinema Week was just getting started, I was nominated for my fourth Blogger Recognition Award! Like my Sunshine Blogger Award nomination, I waited until after the aforementioned blogathon to officially accept my award. Before the start of any new blogging events, I’m taking this time to create my award post. This award was given to me by J-Dub, creator of the blog Dubsism! On this blog, you’ll find thorough articles about sports and film. J-Dub also has several interesting series, such as “Movies Everybody Loves That I Hate” and “Sports Analogies Hidden In Classic Movies”. You can check out these and other articles at this link:
Thank you, J-Dub, for giving me my fourth Blogger Recognition Award! I appreciate your kind words and thoughtfulness. Before I start this award process, let me list the rules below:
#1: Thank the blogger who nominated you and include a link to their blog.
#2: Post the award banner on your blog.
#3: Share the reason you started your blog.
#4: Share two pieces of advice for new bloggers.
#5: Nominate a maximum of 15 other bloggers.
#6: Tell your nominees
Because this is the fourth time I’ve received this award, I’ll post a link to my very first blog post and my first Blogger Recognition Award post. I’m doing this to avoid repeating myself.
I Received my First Blogger Recognition Award!
Introducing Sally Silverscreen and 18 Cinema Lane
The first piece of advice I will give is to think before you post. Behind every keyboard is a human being with thoughts, feelings, and their own unique perspectives. There have also been stories where things said and done on the internet have negatively affected people in the long run. Every published post should be given a good amount of thought before it gets released to the public. My second piece of advice is always proofread your work. No writer is perfect, as there are going to be errors in almost any piece of writing. Taking the time to proofread articles before they are published will improve their overall quality.
JJ Smith from Joanne Smith Marketing
Anderson Cox from Health Fitness and Diet
Kambrea from Pirates & Princesses
Rachel from Rachel’s Reviews
dbmoviesblog from dbmoviesblog
Tari from Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery
Kerry from I’ve Scene It on Hallmark
Allen Rizzi from allenrizzi
Joanna from Murder, She Watched
Jenny from Silver Screen Suppers
Luke from Luke Atkins – Film and Music Critic
Wandering Ambivert from Wandering Ambivert
Summer from Not Your Season: Summer’s Blog
Kim from Tranquil Dreams
K from K at the Movies
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Hello everyone! This post is to remind anyone interested in participating in my blogathon they have three months left to sign up. If you would like to learn more about the event or submit your entry, you can do so at this link:
A Blogathon to be Thankful For: Coming Soon to a Blog Near You
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
Six days ago, Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews nominated me for a Blogger Recognition Award! Gill is a dynamic blogger who writes about multiple entertainment related topics. Realweegiemidget Reviews is also a go-to blog for blogathon news. If you’d like to check out this great site, you can visit this link:
https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/
Thank you, Gill, for this nomination! This blog is able to succeed because of thoughtful bloggers like you!
It’s now time for me to list the award’s official rules, which are:
Because I completed rules one and two, I can move on to rule number three!
3. Since this is my third time winning the Blogger Recognition Award, I’ll share the link to my first award of this kind. I’ll also share a link to my very first blog post. This is to prevent myself from sounding like a broken record.
I Received my First Blogger Recognition Award!
Introducing Sally Silverscreen and 18 Cinema Lane
4. My first piece of advice is to always remain humble. Blogging is a journey where you will experience ups and downs. While it’s nice to receive notoriety and praise, never forget what’s really important. My second piece of advice is never give up on yourself. Challenges will arise during your time blogging. As a blogger, there are times where I have had my doubts. However, I chose to remain consistent in what I wrote about and how often I published content. I can only for myself, but I believe this consistency has paid off!
5. Now is the time for me to nominate 15 bloggers for this award! This group of nominees are:
1. Eggsandwich04 from KS Blogs
2. No Time For Pants from No Time For Pants
3. Maameee from Pan Elixir
4. Janis from themomshiediaries
5. Cameron from The Blog Complainer
6. Allie from Often Off Topic
7. Eddie from Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
8. Annlyel from Annlyel Online
9. Rich from Wide Screen World
10. Uzuri from 2 Sisters Online
11. Jason from Jason’s Movie Blog
12. James from This Is My Truth Now
13. Rick from Classic Film & TV Café
14. Annette from Hometowns to Hollywood
15. Dave from Endless Roaming
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Two weeks ago, I was awarded another Liebster Award from fellow blogger, Rebecca. She is the creator of Taking Up Room, a blog where reviews for movies and books can be found. Rebecca also hosts blogathons that I have had the joy of participating in. If you want to learn more about her blogging work, check out her site at this link:
https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/
Thank you, Rebecca, for giving me this nomination! I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Before I start this award post, I need to list the official rules, which are:
1. I have been on an elephant ride.
2. I saved a family member’s life.
3. I’ve met a famous athlete.
4. I have never seen anything from the filmographies of Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris.
5. I have reviewed almost 200 films!
6. One of my family members was in the military.
7. Faberge eggs are a memento that I have loved for years.
8. Anastasia (1997), one of my favorite movies, inspired me to learn more about the Romanov family.
9. I don’t have any major food allergies.
10. I have never dyed my hair.
11. A place that has been on my bucket list is Golf N’ Stuff in Norwalk, California (where The Karate Kid was filmed).
What compels me to watch a movie is the story. Even when I review a film on my blog, I judge the story itself by how well the script was written. Writing has always been a passion of mine, which is one of the reasons why I started 18 Cinema Lane. For these reasons, I would choose to write movies rather than star in them.
2. What’s the best movie you’ve seen so far this year? The worst?
The best movie I’ve seen this year, so far, is one that I reviewed recently. That is The Boy Who Could Fly! As I said in my review, I was surprised by how well the film aged. It’s a hidden gem that I’m thankful to have discovered! For the worst movie I’ve seen this year, so far, that is still Marriage on the Rocks. This is another film I reviewed on my blog. One of the worst parts about it is the film’s one-sided view of marriage and divorce. Personally, it made me feel uncomfortable.
3. Where would you most like to go when things fully open up again?
In several weeks, I’ll be taking an out-of-state trip. But to answer the question, it really all depends what season the world will be fully open in. If it’s in a warmer season, I might go to an outdoor venue. However, if the season is colder, that venue will likely be indoors.
4. Do you think your blog or blogging style has changed since you started? How?
After reading some of my earlier reviews, I’ve noticed how I used to provide simpler explanations for what I liked and didn’t like about a film. In my review of The Dark Knight, I only wrote two sentences about how I liked the pace. One of my newer reviews, for Alphaville, features a paragraph about how I liked the film’s cinematography.
5. What’s a skill you don’t have but wish you did?
For this question, I’ll say swimming and roller skating. While I wouldn’t consider myself a terrible swimmer, I don’t feel I’m as strong as I’d like to be. As for roller skating, I’ve always wanted to master this skill, but was never given the opportunity.
6. How much did you write before you became a blogger, and was it something that you enjoyed?
As I mentioned in answer number one, writing has always been a passion of mine. However, I didn’t often have the opportunity to write for myself. Blogging provides an excuse to do just that.
7. What’s one thing you wish current movies had more of? Less of?
More of: Whenever there is a male character with longer hair, I never see them put their hair up in a pony-tail or a “man bun”. This is something I’ve not only noticed in recent years, but also as I’ve watched and reviewed more films. I’d like to see more male characters with longer hair put their hair up.
Less of: This has more to do with movie marketing than the movies themselves. Personally, I’m tired of seeing posters with most of the film’s content thrown up in one image. Bigger blockbusters usually adopt this style, especially those from Disney. I’ll include the poster of Loves Takes Flight to serve as an example for this type of poster. I wish movie studios moved away from this type of movie poster and created ones that looked more like art.
8. Is there a character or film that you think actually deserves a remake or reboot?
I think a remake of Girls Just Want to Have Fun would be interesting! It could provide a reflection of how the world of dance has changed since the original film’s release.
9. Now that we’re at the height of summer (unless you live Down Under, of course), what’s your cold beverage of choice?
I’ve been drinking Pure Leaf raspberry tea lately. Therefore, I’ll chose this beverage for my answer.
10. You’ve been granted the ability to teleport into any video game or mobile app. Where are you going to go?
For as long as I could remember, I have always wanted to play a video game as my favorite character. But it is not often possible for me to do so. One example is the Game Boy Advance game for Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Kida is my favorite Disney princess. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t give me the option to choose which character I want to play as. So, I’d like to teleport to this game so I could play as my favorite member of Atlantean royalty!
11. You’re standing in front of the replicator on the Starship Enterprise. What do you ask for first?
I’d definitely ask to release the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels! I don’t watch Star Trek, so I’m not sure if the Starship Enterprise would be able to make this happen. However, if the Snyder cut of Justice League is going to be released, anything is possible.
1. Writingfest from Novel Writing Festival
2. Maddy from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films
3. Nick from A Brightonian Writer
4. Victoria from Paintings and Books
5. Todd from Movies, Movies, Movies
6. The Duck and Me from The Duck in…side
7. Joe from Joe Baker – Film Reviews
8. Bubbawheat from Flights, Tights, & Movie Nights
9. Nina from Films: Uncharted – EIF
10. K from K at the Movies
11. Drew from Drew’s Movies Reviews
1. What is your most unpopular movie related opinion?
2. Which sport would you like to see receive Olympic status?
3. Is there a book you’ve read recently that you’d like to recommend to someone? If so, what is it?
4. What is a TV episode that you think serves as “filler”?
5. How do you think your favorite character would spent their time during the Coronavirus quarantine?
6. Has your favorite movie become a Broadway musical? If not, would you want this to happen?
7. Do you cook? If so, what was the last meal you made?
8. What is something you’re looking forward to in 2021?
9. Which song is the most recent one you’ve heard?
10. Have you participated in blogathons? If so, which one has been your favorite?
11. Is there a blogging goal or milestone you’ve reached? If so, what is it?
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
