Author Topic: The History of Chez Tremblay  (Read 7047 times)

Offline MaineWriter

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The History of Chez Tremblay
« on: July 17, 2006, 08:15:14 am »
I notice Amanda has been bumping old threads and others have been talking about our collective history. This is a little summary of our history that I wrote for the Ennis and Ellery thread, as that generated an influx of new members a few weeks ago. I share it here for anyone who is interested.

Folks who have been around awhile...share your thoughts, add historical tidbits, whatever.
Newcomers...welcome. We are glad to have you here. Hopefully our history will help you to understand this place. And...please, feel free to ask questions if you want more info. We have a collective memory here that is amazing.

___________________

I just wanted to give a little introduction, who we are and tell you why we are named Chez Tremblay, which I know is not intuitively obvious.

Way back when (like December), people started going to see BBM in the movie theater and as we all know, we have all had varying reactions to the movie--usually a profound, unsettling disquietude that doesn't go away. In an effort to assauge and understand these feelings, I sought out an online community and ended up at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). It was a good discussion but as everyone knows, IMDb is crawling with trolls.

In late January, one of the regulars (Brandon) got the idea to start posting on the Pierre Tremblay board. Pierre was the 1st Assistant Director of the movie. Everyone at IMDb gets a board, but when Brandon discovered it, Pierre had 0 posts. It quickly became "home" for a group of us (I would guess about 200 folks).

We tracked Pierre down (I was the one who found his email address) to let him know what was going on. He actually started posting (a little bit) and his wife, Nicole, became a bit of a regular. One of the coolest things was that we came up with 10 questions about making the movie, and Pierre answered them all. Here's a great tidbit: the tobaggoning scene--that's was Pierre's idea. The original screenplay had Ennis and Alma spinning circles in their truck in a parking lot. But the weather wasn't cold enough for an icy parking lot and the scene wasn't working. Pierre suggested they go up to the mountains and go sledding instead. And I am sure that everyone has heard the story the Michelle twisted her knee, Heath went with her to the hospital, and this is when they started falling in love. Pierre confirmed this little tidbit of gossip to be true. [The ten questions are actually archived on this board somewhere if anyone wants to read them.]

We managed to keep it semi-private for about 6 weeks. At our peak, we had 20,000+ messages.

Then the trolls invaded.

They didn't just post hateful messages, they figured out a way to auto-delete. They started ripping through the board. We lost 10,000 messages in 6 days. By this time, we had truly become a community of people. A group had gotten together from the board and gone to the Aero screening. Another group was planning a brunch in NYC. The thought that these trolls could destroy our community...it was beyond overwhelming. We needed to find a new home.

And that is how we ended up here at Bettermost, bringing our moniker (Chez Tremblay, to honor Pierre's French-Canadian heritage) and our little band of die hard Brokies (also known as Tremblayans, but I am seeing that less and less).

I think, because of what we went through, we are a very friendly and welcoming group. Philip, who runs Bettermost, is also a terrific guy and has provided us with a happy and safe haven. Chez Tremblay...we try to stay on BBM topics but yeah, we get sidetracked. LOL.

I would encourage newcomers to spend some time exploring the board, not just the Ennis and Ellery thread, and not just Chez Tremblay (although I will admit, I don't venture too far--Anything Goes is fun, though). Welcome to ouir community and keep in mind the thing that brought us all together--a story and a movie that has grabbed us and just won't let us go...for whatever reason.

Leslie
MaineWriter (LazyLFarm on LiveJournal)

PS, Feel free to PM me if you have questions, need more info, whatever...
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Offline maggiesmommy GayLee

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2006, 08:32:52 am »
I don't want this to sound like an "i'm leavng" post, but after reading some opf the posts and the history of CT, i feel a bit like an interloper.  I too came from Imbd, but way way later, i didn't see the movie till April and found the other site like all of you, and got tired of the trolls, like all of you (original tremblayns) and was invited by one of you to come here, not sure if they were original or not, and thats how i found bettermost, BUT it seems this place was meant to be a private posting place for the old guard. maybe i should find another board here that is more generic..if i have barged in amd settled on the couch and eaten all your food and left the bathroom a mess, i'm sorry, i guess i just never understood what this site was about and the origination of the origianl Tremblay family...sorry....(quietly slipping out the back door, red faced)
It is not the Number of Breaths We Take that number our days
Rather the Moments that Take our Breath Away

vkm91941

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2006, 08:36:59 am »
I don't want this to sound like an "i'm leavng" post, but after reading some opf the posts and the history of CT, i feel a bit like an interloper.  I too came from Imbd, but way way later, i didn't see the movie till April and found the other site like all of you, and got tired of the trolls, like all of you (original tremblayns) and was invited by one of you to come here, not sure if they were original or not, and thats how i found bettermost, BUT it seems this place was meant to be a private posting place for the old guard. maybe i should find another board here that is more generic..if i have barged in amd settled on the couch and eaten all your food and left the bathroom a mess, i'm sorry, i guess i just never understood what this site was about and the origination of the origianl Tremblay family...sorry....(quietly slipping out the back door, red faced)

NO way GayLee.  Chez Tremblay was always an open community and very self selecting.  Even on IMDb All you needed to do was follow a regular, or be invited by one,  be sincere and settle in for some good conversation, coffee and cherry cake (and the occassional shots of Old Rose Whiskey, LOL).  You fit right in, everyone here does.  No restrictions and no worries

WELCOME  :D
« Last Edit: July 17, 2006, 08:41:06 am by vkm91941 »

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2006, 08:40:45 am »
I don't want this to sound like an "i'm leavng" post, but after reading some opf the posts and the history of CT, i feel a bit like an interloper.  I too came from Imbd, but way way later, i didn't see the movie till April and found the other site like all of you, and got tired of the trolls, like all of you (original tremblayns) and was invited by one of you to come here, not sure if they were original or not, and thats how i found bettermost, BUT it seems this place was meant to be a private posting place for the old guard. maybe i should find another board here that is more generic..if i have barged in amd settled on the couch and eaten all your food and left the bathroom a mess, i'm sorry, i guess i just never understood what this site was about and the origination of the origianl Tremblay family...sorry....(quietly slipping out the back door, red faced)

Gaylee

I apologize if giving the history is making you feel like an interloper because that was the LAST thing on my mind! I never intended this to be an old guard, private post thing. We are a growing, vibrant community and I certainly want everyone to feel part of the group.

For me, history is very important. Knowing where I've come from to know where I'm going and all that stuff. I just wanted to share my knowledge.

Please don't leave....I value your contributions!

L
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Offline starboardlight

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2006, 10:01:24 am »
Yep, as L and Vic said, you're very welcome to join in here. Just because you weren't part of its history doesn't mean you can't be part of its present and future. CT is where we came from, but we continue to grow and evolve. CT has always been a place for us to just let loose and have fun, while sharing our love for the film. Sure, the common history does mean a bond among the old timers, but new bonds are always welcome.
"To do is to be." Socrates. - "To be is to do." Plato. - "Do be do be do" Sinatra.

Offline j.U.d.E.

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2006, 10:16:11 am »
Yes, I second everything that's been said. GayLee, everyone is welcome - as long as you are not a troll! And you aren't, obviously!  :D

I followed Vic from the BBM imdb board to the Tremblay imdb board and don't regret a thing!

Leslie, thank you so much for the Chez Tremblay history. I had read it the other day, when you mentioned the link somewhere and wanted to thank you by PM. But this way is good too! Thank you.

And thank you to anyone who makes this place such a great place!

~ j U d E
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*15 jan 1929 - †04 apr 1968 | *04 apr 1979 - † 22 jan 2008 | *04 aug 1961 -

Offline YaadPyar

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2006, 10:28:36 am »
I don't want this to sound like an "i'm leavng" post, but after reading some opf the posts and the history of CT, i feel a bit like an interloper.  I too came from Imbd, but way way later, i didn't see the movie till April and found the other site like all of you, and got tired of the trolls, like all of you (original tremblayns) and was invited by one of you to come here, not sure if they were original or not, and thats how i found bettermost, BUT it seems this place was meant to be a private posting place for the old guard. maybe i should find another board here that is more generic..if i have barged in amd settled on the couch and eaten all your food and left the bathroom a mess, i'm sorry, i guess i just never understood what this site was about and the origination of the origianl Tremblay family...sorry....(quietly slipping out the back door, red faced)


Please, please, please don't even entertain these kinds of thoughts.  This is an evolving community, and just like any community, it's not a static fixed place in time.  The Chez Tremblay moniker is precious to a lot of us, but it's not an exlusionary club.  You're already a part of our family here, so don't go getting all concerned about labels now.  You love the movie and you want to be here.  'Nuff said!
"Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much life. Aim above morality. If you apply that to life, then you're bound to live life fully." (Harold & Maude - 1971)

mvansand76

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2006, 10:35:55 am »
Thanks Leslie for this explanation about the heritage of Chez Tremblay, I never knew...  :D

Offline maggiesmommy GayLee

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2006, 12:20:16 pm »
ok, now i feel stupid!!  i have NEVER felt unwelcome here with you all, and I totally enjoyed seeing the history of CT, i just wanted to make sure it was ok to be here...i knew it was, but, i don't know, just felt a little jealous of your history with each other..i am such a late comer and having read nothing about  cowboys being fond of each other, i watched BBM the first time with not much premable..i was totally unprepared for the magnatude of the changes it began in me.  It was disconcerting to go to IMDB and have serious discussion interupted by the trolls...when i found Bettermost and Chez Trembly, it was an immediate "click" for me...it just "fit"...I have looked around the other boards, and have posted some, but i come back to CT...
I DID NOT want this to sound pouty, NOR was i trying to elecit lots of begging me to stay posts, however i am truly touched by your sweet responses...i am honored that you want me here and i have learned so much from you guys, about BBM AND life in gerenal...about people in other parts of the world..it has truly broadened my horizions in SO many ways to be here....
SO....thank you...thank you...thank you....
ignore my first post....i got my WAHHHHH out of the way for today....
I AIN'T GOIN NOWHERE!!!
GayLee
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Rather the Moments that Take our Breath Away

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2006, 12:39:03 pm »
When we move into the realm of please stay, don't leave posts it is time to look at the skinny dipping man and put everything in perspective....




One of the best things about our home here at Bettermost that we didn't have at IMDb is the ability to post pictures....

L
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Offline Ellemeno

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2006, 01:30:16 pm »
Leslie, thanks for writing that.  A little more historical perspective -

I found the BBM board on IMDb by following a favorite poster on the Games section to it (he chose not to make the trip here to BetterMost).  That was in October 2005, 2 months before the movie came out (the first time I have EVER been on the early side of a trend).  When I got there, Victoria, delalluvia, The_Chris, and a couple of other current BetterMostians were already going strong.  We discussed the short story we all were reading and re-rereading, and what we could of the movie most of us had never seen.  We discussed the journey the short story took to get made into the movie.  There was much more talk of Gustavo the Composer, Larry and Diana the Screenwriters, Rodrigo the DP than there is now. 

About three people on the board had seen the film in special previews and they were our messiahs who benevolently answered people's endless questions.  Then we started getting waves and waves of new people as the movie opened in major US cities, then medium US cities, then in more theaters in those cities, then everywhere in the US, then Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia.  Then more waves as it came out on DVD. 

So to people who have joined us recently and to people yet to come - welcome, bienvenudo, wilkommen, bienvenue.  We're all varying degrees of new, and we all can welcome each other.  As of today, none of us have been here much longer than you.  New people who stick around a while become old-timers.  Three years from now, the people joining this week will all be seen as ancient-timers. 

Clarissa
Elle
Ellemeno



Offline Ellemeno

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2006, 01:32:22 pm »
A little more on the beginnings of the Chez Tremblay forum here at BetterMost -

So, as Leslie said, we were at IMDb, and had found a little nook we hoped would stay safe from trolls on the Pierre Tremblay board.  Our goal was to keep this board secret from mean people, but to have it wide-open welcoming to BBM-lovers.  Every time we found a BBM-lover who stuck around a while and was friendly, they were invited over to the Pierre Tremblay board. 

But the trolls found us, made life miserable, and then began making life as a community impossible, as they deleted our threads as fast as we were posting them.  We started to feel really frightened that we wouldn't even be able to find each other, like a really big earthquake was coming through and we couldn't find our loved ones. 

So different people took on different roles - some became troll-slayers, working literally round the clock at times to stave off these attacks.  Some worked for days and weeks to archive our precious threads.  Some worked as benevolent calmer-downers.  Some started gathering other ways to contact each other (my main focus).  And some started out to find us a new home, where we could feel safe.

Celeste was very resourceful and found three or four places to try.  Each time she found us a potential new home, she invted a small handfull of us to beta-test the place with her.  Each time there was something that didn't work about the place.  Til she found BetterMost. 

Celeste contacted the guy running BetterMost (our beloved Phillip Dampier).  He knew all about what was going on on IMDb - some of you might remember him with username 'dampier' there.  He welcomed us as a group, and understanding that we were literally suffering from trauma, started a little side forum we could nestle down in, to lick our wounds and get our bearings.  Almost overnight (more like three days), the membership of BetterMost doubled as fifty or so of us joined here.  So that's how the Chez Tremblay forum was born here.

I give huge credit to Celeste, and to Phil, for making this place happen.  And I always want their roles remembered.  But of course, a club with only two members ain't much of a club, so each of us gets credit too, for making Chez Tremblay and BetterMost what it is.

What joined the original Tremblayans together was a deep love for BBM, and a desire to discuss it together to our hearts' content, in an atmosphere of safety and respect.  Does this describe you?  Then welcome to being a Tremblayan.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2006, 02:22:57 pm by Ellemeno »

Offline maggiesmommy GayLee

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2006, 02:08:40 pm »
you bet...I'll takt that piture thing from ANY perspective i can get it...teehee...

Thanks for all the history, it makes me respect all of you and  your determination to stay together and flourish...thanks for welcoming me and letting me pitch my tent here with y'all...
 :-*
Gay Lee
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Rather the Moments that Take our Breath Away

Offline delalluvia

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #13 on: July 17, 2006, 11:04:39 pm »
After the traumatic leaving of Brandon, Charlie, Sheyne and Mandy (all old-timers), I was reminiscing about the day/night/week when we finally heaved to, abandoned IMDb and came here.

Someone described us as the rabbits from 'Watership Down' looking for shelter.  It was like an earthquake had happened in a small town and everyone was running around, "Have you seen/heard from so and so?" "Did you invite so and so?" "Can I bring so and so?" with a little desperate edge to our postings.  We were traumatized and paranoid, seeing demon trolls behind every innocuous posting, trying to shepherd only our own here.

It was something to experience.  I've never felt that kind of bonding from fanboard members before.  It's one of those things you never forget.

Offline Ellemeno

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2007, 05:06:07 pm »
Memories....

:-*

Offline RouxB

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2007, 05:46:38 pm »
2006 was the best (Brokeback and Brokies) and the worst (Birmingham burn-out) of times. It has been a growth experience for me-letting go of some of my obsession with both Brokeback Mountain, the Tremblayans and Bettermost but the time spent here has absolutely been some of the best of my life. That movie will forever be a watershed event in my life and having the opportunity to share it with the like-minded peeps here is a richness beyond description.

My own personal  O0 (remember the "ghetto smilie" comment-from someone who turned out to be one of my favorite fan fic writers  ;D) makes me know just how much a part of this family I am. I miss those Tremblayans who have moved on and rejoice in those that have chosen to become. My only regret for them is that they were not with us in those halcyon Brokeback days-when our love was fresh and new and joyful. I hope they have found new joys here and that us "old timers" hold on to what brought us-and keeps us-here.


 O0


Heathen

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Re: The History of Chez Tremblay
« Reply #16 on: December 26, 2007, 03:08:31 pm »
2006 was the best (Brokeback and Brokies) and the worst (Birmingham burn-out) of times. It has been a growth experience for me-letting go of some of my obsession with both Brokeback Mountain, the Tremblayans and Bettermost but the time spent here has absolutely been some of the best of my life. That movie will forever be a watershed event in my life and having the opportunity to share it with the like-minded peeps here is a richness beyond description.

My own personal  O0 (remember the "ghetto smilie" comment-from someone who turned out to be one of my favorite fan fic writers  ;D) makes me know just how much a part of this family I am. I miss those Tremblayans who have moved on and rejoice in those that have chosen to become. My only regret for them is that they were not with us in those halcyon Brokeback days-when our love was fresh and new and joyful. I hope they have found new joys here and that us "old timers" hold on to what brought us-and keeps us-here.


 O0


Amen, sister!!

"chewing gum and duct tape"