The Concept of ListShark

ListShark exists for one purpose—to allow the general public to voice their opinion about movies. The site does this by letting people create their own top ten movie lists in a variety of categories. These lists are then compiled and an overall master list is revealed for each movie category, showing what the public at large (or at least those who have registered for the site) considers to be the best films out there. Those using the site can view not only the master lists for each category, but also the lists of individual users.

You’ve seen all the movie lists of critics, magazines and film institutes, but this site reveals what’s really important—the lists of the people!

The Creators of ListShark

Daniel Arlitt

Daniel has worked in the fields of information technology and graphic design since 1999. He has built dozens of websites, both for personal use and for companies he has worked for. Daniel is an avid rock climber and snow boarder, and of course, a movie nut. It is not uncommon for him to blow almost an entire paycheck on DVDs. Now that’s dedication to the movies!

Andrew Schwartzberg

Andrew has worked in the communications field in a variety of capacities since 1990. He is a former assistant editor for MAD Magazine and currently writes a freelance humor column for the Arizona Republic. Since the time he was a small child, Andrew has been obsessed with compiling lists of his favorite movies. ListShark.com is helping to fuel this obsession.

The History of ListShark

In May 2001 Andrew and Daniel came up with the concept for ListShark while having lunch in Tempe, Arizona. At the time they were both working for the same quasi-ethical company and looking for a way to create their own business, where there wouldn’t be quite as much risk of being subpoenaed and/or indicted. Discovering they shared a mutual love of movies, the basic idea for ListShark was born.

Over the next couple of years Andrew and Daniel obtained lists of favorite movies from friends and family. At the time the lists were simply emailed to Andrew who used nothing more than an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of them all. By the time about 80 lists were received it became apparent that a more efficient method of compiling the lists was needed.

In late 2003 Daniel began creating a database program for the website and Andrew began feverishly entering data. Over the next couple of years, Daniel continued to refine the database as well as the look and functionality of the website and Andrew used every spare moment he could find to enter more movies, actors, actresses, directors and writers into the system. Soon they realized they had a pretty cool site and five years after they had initially registered it, they were finally ready to make it available to the public.

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