EDITORIAL: The Benefits of Using a Web Design and Social Media Agency

A few years ago, the buzz around web design and social media was that websites and their client's performance were becoming stale. Websites weren't being updated as often as they should be and web pages weren't getting a second lease on life as they should be. In addition to this, search engine algorithms used by Google and other companies were beginning to take notice of these "dead" or outdated websites and penalize them accordingly. This has sparked an overhaul in web design and social media practices across the board in order to keep up with the changing times, keeping Google happy, and helping clients to find their footing in the web design and social media market.

2021, Column, Editorial, Social MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 24, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #59: Sound of Metal

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanFebruary 20, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 7

MY 50TH APPEARANCE ON KICKING THE SEAT: The big Halloween episode last week on Disney+’s WandaVision has led to a slight calm before the storm of the final two episodes to come. Don’t call this episode “filler,” though as plenty of new developments have come to light during this ‘00s-styled episode. Every Friday, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat hosts a live WandaVision “wecap” on YouTube. This week, Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk of the The Spoiler Room Podcast filled in for a very busy Emmanuel Noisette. He joined Ian, myself, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel in the “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” stable. We’ve hyped for the homestretch! Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our chat for Episode 7.

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 20, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 6

A “spooktacular” Halloween episdoe of Marvel’s WandaVision on Disney+ brought out fun, new character, old costumes, and some new informations. We’re getting past interesting and heading to must-see TV. Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel stand to be “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. We’ve been loving where this show is going and think you will too. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our chat for Episode 6. More than anything else, come see the dork painted up as Vision!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 13, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

GUEST CRITIC #58: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanFebruary 13, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #57: One Night in Miami

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanFebruary 5, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 5

Bounding out of the stride-breaking fourth episode last week, the fifth episdoe of Marvel’s WandaVision on Disney+ increased the conflict and suspense both inside the “hex” and out. The creators are packing this show with mounds of details each time out and the actors are increasing their committed character work. Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel stand to be “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. We’ve been loving where this show is going and think you will too. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our chat for Episode 5:

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 5, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 4

The fourth episode of Marvel’s WandaVision playing on Disney+ sharply broke stride from the sitcom format to be one of the most sophisticated “clips” episodes you’ll ever see for any show. Histories were formed, theories were destroyed, and any lollygagging that annoyed casual viewers was smoked with new stakes. Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel stand to be “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our talk for Episode 4:

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

INFOGRAPHIC QUIZ: Guess the film or TV show car in the classifieds

Some movies and series would be nothing without the cars – Doc Brown would’ve had some trouble getting back to the future without his DeLorean and David Hasselhoff couldn’t have done much crime fighting without K.I.T.T. Whilst some cars have been replicated for real life use (The Hoff’s own Knight Rider Pontiac is up for auction!) many only live on in our dreams. What if you could have all the bullet-proof, time-travelling, flying car tech in real life – how much would it cost to insure it? Admiral have analysed our fave pop culture cars and their owners to provide an insight into insurance considerations! These quotes were inspired by Admiral’s latest quiz – shop famous cars and homes in the Classifieds once you’ve done your research!

2021, Column, Editorial, Infographic, Social MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Cinematic Underdogs" podcast talking "Moneyball"

Through mutual social circles within the Facebook group of the Feelin’ Film Podcast, I was approached by Paul Keelan, one of the hosts of the Cinematic Underdogs podcast, to be a guest on their program. Joined by Jordan Puga, they’ve been targeting sports films for extended conversations. They pitched me to talk about Bennett Miller’s 2011 gem Moneyball, continuing a streak of behind-the-scenes sports movies. Talking with Paul as the “bonus episode” following the main show, our conversation went on to cover film criticism tropes, my hot take of The Tree of Life, and eventually, as planned, our impressions and musings on Moneyball.

2021, Home Media, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 27, 2021Quality ComixComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Urban Parks discussing Boston movies

I was approached recently for my third collaboration opportunity with Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. Working for a tangent website of Urban Parks, the edutosr there were looking for the best Boston movies. From a big list of possibilities, I picked out a good five to contribute to their list: Good Will Hunting, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Verdict, The Town, and Spotlight. They came to the right place. Check out your boy!

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 24, 2021Quality ComixComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 3

After two stylishly establishing episodes, the third episode of Marvel’s WandaVision playing on Disney+ looks to jump a little more on that springboard of grabbing interest. The questions and the role players are multiplying with this comic book deep dive and I’m along for the ride. “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” have punched their streaming ticket for this ride! Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our talk for Episode 3: