Lights, Camera, Action! They Said It! v1.0.0 is Here!

Random Thoughts from a Restless Mind

Published On: July 16, 2025

Alright, film fanatics and fellow code connoisseurs! Uncle Versace here, kicking off a brand new chapter for one of my personal passion projects. Today, I'm absolutely stoked to announce that They Said It! has officially shed its "beta" skin and arrived in glorious version 1.0.0! 🎉

For those who might be new to the cinematic corner of my digital playground, They Said It! started as a nerdy obsession: tracking every time the title of a movie is, well, said in the movie. It's a niche, I know, but trust me, once you start noticing it, you can't un-see (or un-hear) it. It’s the kind of delightful trivia that elevates your movie-watching experience from "just watching" to "active participation."

But today's announcement is about so much more than just a version number. We've been busy behind the scenes, giving the site a serious glow-up and adding some genuinely exciting new features.

A Cinematic Makeover: From Bootstrap Bland to Hollywood Grandeur

Let's be real: for a while there, They Said It! was functional, responsive, but visually… well, it was rocking the default Bootstrap chic. Which is to say, it looked like every other functional-but-uninspired website out there. And for a site born from a passion for the grandeur of cinema, that just wouldn't do.

So, we decided to give it the full Hollywood treatment. You might recognize some of the vibes, but for They Said It!, we leaned into a palette I like to call "Classic Hollywood Grandeur." We're talking:

Deep Indigo/Very Dark Blue-Gray as the sophisticated backdrop, like stepping into a private screening room.
Slightly Lighter Indigo for distinct content blocks, giving your eyes a place to land without being jarring.
Soft Off-White Text for ultimate readability, because squinting at a screen is for solving mysteries, not enjoying movie facts.
Pops of Classic Gold for headings and key interactive bits, because every movie deserves a little sparkle.
And a touch of Muted Ruby Red for important links and alerts, just to add that dramatic flair.

The goal wasn't just to make it "professional" (though it certainly is now!). It was to make it inviting, enticing. I want you to enjoy every moment you spend browsing the site, discovering movie details, and diving into trivia, because this isn't just data – it's a celebration of film, a love letter to the silver screen.

The Bechdel Test: Adding Another Layer to the Story

Beyond the visual facelift, we've also integrated a feature I'm incredibly excited about: Bechdel Test results for each movie!

Now, when you visit any movie's detail page on They Said It!, you'll see its Bechdel Test status. For those unfamiliar, the test has three simple criteria:

Does the movie have at least two women in it?
Do they talk to each other?
About something other than a man?

There are some nuances to these criteria as far as what each specifically means, but for my purposes, the 2 or more female characters must have names. They can't just be "Witness" or "Hot Girl #2". Also, the conversation has to be a conversation, not just passing small talk.

On the site, you'll see one of three states:

"Bechdel Test results not yet logged for this movie." (because, let's be honest, I'm watching all these movies myself and curating the results!).
"TEST FAILED"
"TEST PASSED!"

If it passed, you'll see a little checkbox next to each criterion; if it failed, an "X" will highlight where it fell short. My bestie actually suggested adding this, and it immediately clicked as a potentially valuable and interesting piece of information for fellow movie buffs. It's not about judging a movie's overall quality, but it's a fascinating lens through which to view representation in film.

Out of Beta, Into the Spotlight: Version 1.0.0 is Here!

For me, removing the "beta" tag and hitting v1.0.0 is a big deal. It signifies that They Said It! isn't just a side project anymore; it's here to stay, and it's a product I'm genuinely proud to put my name on. This release means:

The site is now stable, reliable, and ready for a wider audience.
We've reached a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that feels complete and well-tested.
The underlying framework and dependencies have received crucial updates, including important security and bug fixes, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone.
Oh, and yeah, we also quietly handled a little domain migration from `theysaidit.xyz` to `theysaidit.app` because, let's face it, `.app` just feels better, right? (Plus, I've had a number of XYZ headaches that I'll probably write about in a future post.)

So, whether you're a long-time follower or just stumbled upon this little corner of the internet, I invite you to explore the new They Said It! Dive into your favorite movies, discover if the title was said, check out the Bechdel Test results, and let the cinematic exploration begin.

I poured a lot of passion (and maybe a few too many late nights) into this, and I'm incredibly excited to share it with you. Go check it out, and as always, happy watching!