The “Help Me Fill Up This Quiz” thread

[needapausebutton]

Hey everybody,

This happens to me a lot, and I’m sure it happens to most of us… We eagerly have a quiz idea in mind, or we are even near-to-completion.   But we reach an impasse, and are stuck for sources for the actual content.

Perhaps, most aggravatingly, we’ve got “17 of the 20 items” we envision for a quiz (really good stuff, too!) , and just can’t seem to find the last 3 items to fill it out.... But we KNOW they are out there (.... somewhere)!

Sometimes just trying to come up with just-the-right Google Search phrase is darn near impossible too.

• Here’s a recent example where I really could have used wider assistance than e-mailing a few Sporcle Friends for help. (I DID find some good sources on-line but each was quite limited):

     TV Castmates Reunited

     I spent a lot of time trying to dig up content, searching a zillion different ways, from every angle, and really struggled to come up with even 15 slides.

    As you can see in the comments section, subsequently (post-contribution), several excellent ideas quickly rolled in.

    But we all know how tricky it can be (particularly when formats are more elaborate) to quickly zap new things into live quizzes.  Or we simply mutter “Shoot! If only I had been aware of that!”.

Therefore, I’d like to experiment with this thread and see if it is used, and if it proves productive or popular.

If so, a single thread like this could become a bit crowded and unwieldy, and I’d then explore the notion of setting up a separate Google-Group specifically for this (or, perhaps devoted to a slightly broader field "Collaborative Quiz Brainstorming")

In that case, we’d be able to have a separate thread for EACH “call for assistance” dedicated to that quiz, and what you as the quiz-maker are looking for help finding.  Subsequent responses would be housed in that thread, so it would be easy to keep track of direct responses.

Sure, this could be done within Sporcle University proper (and I'd not rule that out), but given the broad range and purpose of the Sporcle U. forum, threads could quickly become spread out and harder to find.

At any rate, if you do try this out here, be sure to include links to your quiz-in-progress when applicable.  Responses could be links to great resource sites on-line, or as simple as mentioning a specific item "you heard of" that might work.

 

I’ll now make a separate post to illustrate this another way, and perhaps kick off the experiment.

- napb

[needapausebutton]

I’m currently trying to decide if this idea is worth pursuing, and I’m looking for assistance with either resources or specific ideas.

Tentative Quiz Title:  “Scene That Already!” (slideshow)

Rough Theme:  Movies by the same director, or involving the same actor – in which a particular type of scene blatantly occurs in two separate films. 

• Makes you think for a moment “Wait... have I already seen this movie?”
• Or perhaps “Crikey! Couldn’t this director have come up with something a bit more original for THIS film?”
• Or “Didn’t this actor just go through that entire scene in this OTHER movie?

Sort of an extended déjà vu.

Format:  Side-by-side images reflecting both scenes will appear on each slide. Quiz players would need to name the director … or the actor (or maybe name one of the movies – not sure yet)

Example:  Director Frank Capra’s two films “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “You Can’t Take It With You”. 

• Each has an extended scene where the popular protagonist (beloved by many) is in an unexpected financial dilemma. Then there is a sudden surprising rousing scene where the horde (pretty much the entire town) suddenly takes up a collection (literally passing the hat) to bail him out!

 

Anyone know off-hand of any two film scenes that might fit the bill?  Scenes should be similar in many ways, not just “sharing a plot device” or having an action or setting in common.

I'd consider broadening the scope of the quiz beyond "must have same director or same actor" -- but that's my initial goal.

Thanks,

- napb

[guilherme_4]

Okay, I have a draft stuck since August. It is called "Grab Bag Without Roman Numerals (10 to 1)", and the idea is basically name all things from a random subject, but only those which do not contain Roman numerals, of course. The first is US Presidents (10 answers), then ____ (9 answers), then US States (8 answers), ..., then ____ (2 answers), and finally Premier League Clubs (1 answer). You can see there's nothing in 9 answers and 2 answers, that's why I need help, haha, can't think of anything. I also need it for the 3 answers category.

[needapausebutton]

g-4:

Do you have a "Test Quiz!" url?  That always helps.

[beisaa]

Looks like 2 of the 7 dwarfs fit the category (Sneezy and Happy).

[needapausebutton]

OK, g-4, it took me three hours just now, but here’s a set of THREE:

Surnames of original Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees (1986)

1) BERRY (Chuck)

2) BROWN (James)

3) JOHNSON (Robert)

They are all well-known, important musicians in the history of rock and roll, and all of the other inductees (whether musicians or not) have Roman Numerals among their letters:

Ray Charles

Sam Cooke

Fats Domino

Everly (brothers)

Alan Freed

John Hammond

Buddy Holly

Jerry Lee Lewis

Little Richard (Penniman)

Sam Phillips

Elvis Presley

Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmy Yancey

Here’s the official website link:  https://rockhall.com/inductees/byyear/1986/

- pause

[needapausebutton]

p.s. I spent the time because I had the time and felt motivated. Put on some good music and had fun playing "detective"

But I'm in no way suggesting that people who respond to anything in this thread ever need to do any extensive research!. 

Just wanted to make that clear  :)

[guilherme_4]

Thanks, guys! Here it is: http://www.sporcle.com/games/test/9f5950985cb

2 was AKC Dog Breeds but I guess that's something nobody has in mind (the answers were Pug and Great Pyrenees), Seven Dwarfs look much better.

The RnR HoF was a nice suggestion, it might look a bit hard at first but these are all well-known people, as you said.

[BillyJoelRulez]

For 9, this is kind of a stretch (I've been searching for hours to no avail), but you could use the first 50 Pokémon, which include: Butterfree, Kakuna, Rattata, Spearow, Fearow, Ekans, Arbok, Zubat, and Paras.

[jason.s...@gmail.com]

NAPB,

That's a fantastic idea for a quiz...and I know that Scorsese repeats a lot of weird things in movies. Give me a couple of days to suss out some ideas for you.

El_Dandy

[guilherme_4]

Yeah, if I don't find anything with EXACTLY 9, I'll surely have to make a stretch. The Poké-suggestion was a good one, thanks. :)

[needapausebutton]

g-4:

I  just woke up from a dream (I dream in color), and this came to me.  It think it's an even better (and certainly much easier) batch for the Three-set than the one I posted earlier:

Original colors in the 1903 box of Crayola Crayons:

1) Green

2) Orange

3) Brown

The rest from that box of 8 contain Roman Numerals:

Red
Yellow
Blue
Violet (purple)
Black

Here’s the Crayola website link:  http://www.crayola.com/faq/your-history/what-were-the-original-eight-8-colors-in-the-1903-box-of-crayola-crayons/

This doesn't solve your 9-set vacancy, but I think it's worth suggesting in the spirit of continuing to improve the overall content.

And I promise, I spent no time on research other than going "Hey, that might work!" and clicking on their website.

Ok, back to sleep  :)

[katesutton]

NAPB -

I've been thinking on your topic a bit. On the actor side, actors get typecast all the time, so there's a good chance to find something there, and I can think on it more if you want. 

- For directors, I remember a controversy a couple years back where people were wondering if Michael Bay reused scenes from The Island in Transformers 3. 

- There are Spielberg's 2 scenes of people gathering to watch the nice aliens fly off in their spaceships at the end of ET & Close Encounters? 

- John Woo... Face/Off and Hard Boiled... so many options. 

- Ridley Scott: it's been a while since I've seen Blade Runner all the way through, but I seem to remember the unicorn dream being so similar to the scene where Lily sees the unicorns in Legend.

- And I can't think of other things off the top of my head, but I feel like you can get at least a few more from directors known for distinct style, such as Terry Gilliam, Baz Luhrmann, and Tarsem.

Also, I love the idea of having a thread for this kind of thing, whether it's here or elsewhere (and I started a thread for help getting images for slideshows, but that can probably tie in to this too).

-katesutton

[needapausebutton]

Thanks El_Dandy; and katesutton I'll be sure to explore those leads  :)

[guilherme_4]

Ooh, that's even better than the first suggestion! Thanks, napb, sweet dreams. :D

[jason.s...@gmail.com]

NAPB,

Another thought: can certain acting...quirks...be considered deja vu? Like, for example, how Brad Pitt is always eating something?

El_Dandy

[needapausebutton]

E_D: I think it will depend on if there is enough material with scenes involving multiple similarities (which would be my first preference).

If I decide to broaden the theme, that might open the door for simply similar actions, mannerisms, coincidences, settings, dialogue, etc.

So I guess for now, the notion of having an extended, or multiple-aspect déjà vu experience might be the rule of thumb. Or maybe "flagrant" similarities.

But I'll leave the door open for simplifying this later and going the other route if need be.

[Bazmerelda]

I'm looking for two more categories for this quiz - http://www.sporcle.com/games/test/b8d86e9e91b - Multiple Choice Movies Slideshow..

I've been trying to keep the the subject matter for this series quite broad in scope so any eclectic suggestions will be appreciated.

[Chenchilla]

You could do something with Pixar; characters from a specific movie, or comparing multiple movies would work.
Perhaps you could also make a question around movie sets or behind the scenes pictures.
I'm not the ultimate movie trivia master, but there should be enough content in those two areas to have reasonable questions.

Hope that helps!

[MoMosMoProblems]

I can't see what you already have, but I have two suggestions:

- Which movie was not directed by Billy Wilder.  I love this guy's movies, and they are so eclectic.  All they have in common is that they tend to be cynical, and that they are great, so you have a lot of different movies to choose from:  Some Like It Hot, Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, The Apartment, Witness for the Prosecution, Sabrina, The Seven Year Itch, The Fortune Cookie, Stalag 17, Ace in the Hole...

- Which movie is not R-rated.  There are so many head scratchers in the ratings system.  Some movies that are rated R for language and boobs and butts: The King's Speech, Billy Elliot, When Harry Met Sally, I Capture the Castle, Pretty Woman... A Room with a View was unrated, but you bet your patootie it would have been an R rating for the nudity.  PG-13 movies: The Expendables 3, Insidious, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Returns, Taken, World War Z...

[MoMosMoProblems]

I forgot to add, The Birdcage is also rated R.

I really enjoy your multiple choice series!

[MoMosMoProblems]

I have been kicking this one around since August: http://www.sporcle.com/games/test/a0fadc70cd6

It's for websites created by fans of cult TV shows.  I am up to 14 (for those who can't see it: Arrested Development, Arrow, Better Off Ted, Breaking Bad, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Community, Firefly, Game of Thrones, Glee, Once Upon a Time, Scandal, Sherlock, The Vampire Diaries, and Twin Peaks), but I would happily get rid of Glee and Scandal at least.  They are just fillers for now.  I was hoping to find some websites for Deadwood, Pushing Daisies, Star Trek, and any other cult shows, as well as older ones like The Twilight Zone, The Addams Family, etc.  The fansite sites list a lot, but unfortunately too many of them repeat the name of the show in the website name.  So please let your freak flag fly and let me know if you know of any weird, cult TV show websites.  Thanks!

[DesertSpartan]

You could show Bands and ask which band is "Spinal Tap" or "Otis Day and the Nights" or whatever band you would choose.
You could show kings or dictators or Presidents or PMs from movies and ask that one is identified.
You could show various actors portraying James Bond, Batman, Scrooge, Sherlock Holmes  or any oft portrayed character and ask that one actor be identified.
You could show multiple vampires and ask that one is identified by character name.

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 4:28:06 AM UTC-7, Bazmerelda wrote:

[PLKphoto]

RE: Cult TV shows...

Most of the X-Files sites I used to kick around on have disappeared, and I don't know if you want Fanfiction specific sites, but http://www.ephemeralfic.org/ has been around pretty much since the invention of internet fanfiction and is devoted to XF fanfiction archives. It was started way back when, and STILL gets new stories today. There might be a resurgence of some of the old XF sites, though, since the rumor that they're coming back for 6 episodes to tie up loose ends...

Doctor Who has a good one without the name: http://whoviannet.co.uk/

The other ones I know, you already have... :P

PLK

[MoMosMoProblems]

Thank you, plkphoto!  I didn't know if I could use the X-Files one, because my aim is for the website name or catchphrase to provide a clue to the TV show that they are referring to... But then, funny thing, when I went online to see if the word "ephemeral" had a clear connection to The X-Files, my Google search brought up the site Mulder's Creek, which I think might be a good one to use.  And I can certainly use the Doctor Who one.  So you have brought me two steps closer to getting this quiz done!  :-)

[geshmonkey]

There's also Bluffball.co.uk for the IT Crowd, but it's more of a placeholder and less of an actual website...

[Bazmerelda]

Cheers guys. I liked the Batman idea but after searching on Google I realised that I couldn't even tell them apart myself, so I went with the movie monarchs question instead.

I also tried to make a pre-VFX question after Chencilla mentioned behind the scenes pictures. I really wanted to use this image from Life of Pi but I just couldn't find enough suitable decoys.

[PLKphoto]

Star Trek website possibilities:

http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/ is probably the best overall... but here's a full list to play around with:

http://www.startrek.com/fan_sites there are quite a few that don't have "Trek" in the name.

For the other shows, I'm pretty sure they all have the name in the site... unless there's an obscure fan site I'm missing.