Starbugs from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

This movie concept has been in our “Ideas” folder for some time. At one point a prominent Hollywood producer expressed some interest, but almost always you really need a script to turn “interest” into a deal. Here’s are a few questions for your consideration:

1. If you were a Hollywood mucky muck would you see this as a straight horror movie or more as a campy parody?
2. Title preference: Starbugs or Bugs in Coffee?
3. Who do you see as leading man, leading lady? Must be chemistry.
4. Ingmar Bergman died over ther weekend. Do you think he’s already rolling over in his grave? How would he have approached this film?

Literary Hall of Fame from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

Next week diehard baseball fans from around the country will gather in Cooperstown, New York, to watch as Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Some of these fans and those who visit Cooperstown throughout the year will probably stop at other halls of fame on their journeys. There are such shrines around the country honoring everything from basketball to barbed wire from racquetball to rock and roll. Strangely, however, there is no national Literary Hall of Fame. Considering all the heavy hitters in the history of American literature, that’s disappointing…and surprising. You would think some enterprising city would recognize the tourist-drawing potential of such an endeavor. That’s the inspiration for this week’s episode. And our question to you is: if there were such a hall what five American writers—living or dead– would you like to see inducted into its inaugural class?

Easy Riders from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

At Ampolo, we are dedicated to seeing ideas translated into realities. Inspired by this week’s video, we have sent the following letter to Ron Huberman, the chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority. We will let you know how he responds. In the meantime, send us your ideas for other themed specialty cars.

Dear Mr. Huberman:

Ampolo.com is a video website dedicated to new ideas for products, businesses, services, and ways to make the community a better place. This week we are featuring an idea for improving public transportation by creating specialty El cars that would attract additional riders (and thereby generate more revenues.) These cars might be devoted to sports (with secure televisions showing ESPN), movies (showing trailers), and even speed dating. You can view a brief video of this proposal at www.ampolo.com.

You have indicated that the CTA must come up with creative solutions to its current financial problems. We think specialty cars fit that bill. Ampolo and our viewers would be most interested to hear what you think of this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bring Your Own Leftovers from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

If you have watched any of our episodes, you know we are hungry for your ideas. Hmm. Hungry. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that two episodes inspired by viewers have centered around food. The first, BYOF, was sent in by Jim, who has an idea for a restaurant that provides everything except the food. You bring that yourself and pay the establishment a fee for the table, the plates and silverware, etc. Jim’s idea inspired Mike to make and send us his own video—BYOL.

Mike told us that, “Parody is the sincerest form of flattery.” BYOL is indeed a parody. But is there also a morsel of meaning in it? On first glance, the idea for a restaurant where you bring your leftovers appears, well, unappetizing. In reality, however, there is a growing movement of anti-consumers who might find BYOL right up their alley. The movement is called Freeganism.

A News-Worth Gift from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.