World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation Archives

Posted on December 19, 2017

Christmas Around the World

Move over pumpkin spice and hello peppermint. It’s Christmas season, everyone! ‘Tis the season to scramble for those last-minute gifts and Santa hats. It’s a special time of the year where we mindlessly guzzle down eggnog and contribute to the vast online empire that is Amazon.com. Whenever I think of Christmas, it’s usually the festive red colors, pine trees, and brightly lit neighborhoods that come to mind. But have you ever wondered how other countries around the world celebrate Christmas? Here are 5 unusual Christmas Traditions found across the globe:

Japan x KFC

Can you imagine going to your local KFC and waiting over two hours for a bucket-o-chicken? A typical Japanese family will often celebrate Christmas by ordering a finger-licking chicken dinner for their families. This bizarre tradition apparently started thanks to a “Kentucky for Christmas” advertising campaign that aired in 1974. I’d honestly be thrilled to receive an eight-piece bucket in my stocking this year. Sure beats figuring out how to cook a turkey, that’s for sure.

Tamale Tamale Tamale

This one is a bit already well-known within Hispanic communities, but why isn’t it more popularized? For those who don’t know what a tamale is, it is a Mexican specialty made from a range of different meats, cheese, and veggies that are wrapped in ground masa (corn) and corn husks. Hispanic families will often make a vast quantity of tamales during the holidays, with some restaurants easily selling over 10,000 in a week! They’re seriously that good, and you’ve got to get your hands on some this year if you can. They’re like little magical bundles of steaming joy that is best enjoyed with hot sauce.

Fuzzy Caterpillars

So apparently the denizens of Cape Town, South Africa enjoy consuming pine emperor moth caterpillars during the Christmas season. Not only are they festively colored, but they’re also very nutritious and have a flavor similar to tea!

Rolling Around the Christmas Tree

This is the unusual Venezuelan custom of roller skating to early morning church services between December 16-24. The streets are even closed off to cars until 8 AM. And get this… in order to wake up on time, some children tie a string to their big toe and let it hang out the window. Rollerskaters who happen to glide past will tug on the strings, waking them up.

Hide Your Brooms and Mops

Brooms and mops are household essentials, aren’t they? It is believed by the people of Norway that Christmas Eve is a superstitious day where witches and bad elves steal your mops and brooms. Wouldn’t it be a shame if some evil elf stole your Swiffer on Christmas Eve?

So there you have it, just a few more things to add to your to-do list this year for the Holidays. Be sure to celebrate responsibly and don’t buy too many useless things at the dollar section. Which one will you be incorporating into your traditions?

Posted on October 9, 2017

29th National Coming Out Day, Wednesday October 11th

“All men are created equal. No matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is about.” -Harvey Milk

What is Coming Out Day? It is a day to stand with those coming out about their sexual orientation to their families and friends. It is a day to support the resistance to homophobia and transphobia across the nation. It is a day to celebrate the rainbow of sexualities under our united flag.

30 years ago, the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, also known as the “Great March,” sparked an awareness of LGBT rights against president Ronald Reagan’s lack of acknowledgment on the issue. The next year, Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary started the first National Coming Out Day. Today, while we have made immense strides towards social equality, countless Americans still have trouble feeling accepted themselves, and let alone by their communities. Therefore, it is up to everyone to help spread awareness for our acceptance as a whole. The best way to combat the lingering homophobia and transphobia in our country is to show America its true identity.

For this year’s Coming Out Day, World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation would like to do its part by recommending a few great movies about coming out and other important LGBT+ topics.

Firstly, one of the funniest movies you could find is a 4th man out (2016). This charming movie about a man coming out to his friends on his 24th birthday doesn’t fail to amuse. While 4th man out or Fourth Man Out? is not daring or new, it is certainly a pleasant watch. It is a movie equivalent of a lighthearted sitcom and could be enjoyed by any fan of the genre.

Next, a slightly older movie that conveys a similar tone is But I’m a Cheerleader (1999). This movie feels like a lighthearted sitcom like 4th Man Out, as Friends does to Parks and Recreation. Where 4th Man Out covers a group of young adults discovering a friend’s true identity, But I’m a Cheerleader covers actress Natasha Lyonne’s character and her completely unsupportive parents in a satirical manner. While film snobs could criticize its buoyant tone, it is definitely one worth watching for anyone who has had to come out to an unsupportive community.

Another small movie World Wide Motion Pictures recommends is Pop Kowboy (2012). Actor Shaun Driscoll and Ronnie Marmo star in this film about the complications of identity and romance in a very unsupportive world. Though a lesser-known entry on this list, Pop Kowboy, it is certainly one that embodies the spirit of Coming Out Day.

If you are not a movie person, supporting the community this Coming Out Day through volunteering or visiting your local LGBT centers are also very important. Whatever you plan to do for this day, World Wide Motion Pictures encourages you to support friends and family in accepting their identities, and, by extension, yourself.

Posted on May 22, 2017

Brotherly Love on Brother’s Day

Happy Brother's Day everyone! I hope your siblings are not giving you too much trouble. Most brothers are seen by their siblings as troublemakers, idols, or their best friends. Sticking with you through thick and thin is what we want in a brother, and no one shows this more than Sam MacQueen and Felix Stranger from the film Ways to Live Forever. Now you may be thinking to yourself, "Hey, they're not actual brothers in the movie, they're just friends." Well, astute reader, you are right, but who says that a brother has to solely be a biological one? Your brother can be anyone you feel has a close connection to you. Sam and Felix both went through a common struggle and found ways to enjoy their lives even when there was something fatal such as cancer looming over them. That's what these characters did for one another: support each other in the wake of tragedy. Even though eating worms is not something I advise doing, it was a bonding experience for the boys, even if it was just learning to never eat worms ever again. Who knows if Sam would have started making videos without Felix being there, possibly causing a different title to come about unless they found another way to live for forever. If you would like to see Ways to Live Forever then click this link.

Another film brother duo is Mike and Rusty from the movie Rusty Steel, who end up finding Nazi gold but only through endless fun and adventure. Their interactions with one another make them seem like fire and ice where Rusty tries to find the value in things such as the boat given to them by their uncle, while Mike really only sees money as a valuable item. Even these differences, however, do not break their bond and in the end, they are strengthened by the journey they went through. You can watch the movie at this link.

Whether biological or fake, you have a person in your life that you consider a brother. Through trials and tribulations, you find the value in being near those you cherish. So today, maybe dealing with your brother for a day isn't so bad.

Posted on April 21, 2017

Celebrating the Birthday of Legendary Willie Nelson!

Wishing Willie Nelson a wonderful birthday from World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation!

This multi-faceted, American-born singer, actor, and activist has been deemed one of the most recognized artists in country music. Just last month, he was invited as a special guest to Asleep at the Wheel bandleader Ray Benson’s Birthday Bash in Austin on a Tuesday night. He opened his set with “Whiskey River,” and teamed with Benson on the Townes van Zandt classic,”Pancho & Lefty.”

Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson started writing his first song at the age of seven, and in 1973 Atlantic Records signed him on. He uses a variety of music styles in his country songs which set him apart from others - a hybrid of jazz, pop, blues, rock, and folk. He also has 12 Grammy Awards under his belt from being the hit sensation of the country genre. Though he was on track to becoming the talk of the town, all of his success would not have come about if not for all the sacrifices that he made. He worked a variety of jobs - from a radio announcer and singer in a Vancouver club to a dishwasher, and finally to selling bibles and vacuum cleaners door-to-door. He persevered and was successful in his career.

Besides all of the successes that Willie Nelson has had in his lifetime, his acting really took off with his debut film in 1979, The Electric Horseman. He recently appeared in the documentary Welcome to Eden that you can buy/rent here, distributed by World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation. Once again, Happy Birthday to actor and musician Willie Nelson!

Posted on April 21, 2017

Have a Happy Earth Day with Family Movies!

Earth Day, which falls on Saturday, April 22nd, is a worldwide celebration of life and positivity for world preservation awareness. The first Earth Day was celebrated worldwide on April 22nd, 1970. It is celebrated in over 190 countries and is currently one of the largest celebrated events in the world. As one of the largest non-profit ventures in the world, the Earth Day Movement has pushed for education and policy progress for over 40 years. Humans have one the highest effects on nature, and it is important for people to gain more awareness about their environment and natural resources. Not only is the news media sharing information on Earth Day celebrations, the film industry has been spreading awareness for decades.

The act of preserving the Earth is open to all ages, and the film industry has a movie for everyone. From documentaries to animated adventures, nature preservation and world films are a big part of Earth Day commemorations. Earth Day is not just about planting a seed in the ground, but spreading awareness for future planetary wellness.

A few great examples of family-friendly Earth Day movies are The Lorax, Wall-E, March of the Penguins, Hoot, and Schoolhouse Rock! Earth. With planetary awareness on the rise amongst family-friendly movies, younger generations have better representations of what Earth Day is all about. Taking care of the planet is a responsibility for everyone. Planting a tree, and recycling are great means of preservation, but movies and media can make the biggest impact to the broadest audiences. Another big Earth Day event is the Earth Day film Festival which is held worldwide. The Earth Day Film Festival is a showcase of environmentally conscientious films and film projects. With the festival focusing on new themes every year, the festival calls for better clean energy and better zero waste movements.

For cinephiles and documentary lovers, there is Welcome to Eden, a documentary on the preservation of the largest urban farm in America. Earth Day is only successful if people bring awareness to the world’s health and its problems. If you would like to keep up to date with future projects, be sure to follow us on our social media and check out indiemoviestore.com for more updates.