New to the Fest.. Do I have to

[TMerry]

New to the Fest.. Do I have to post a title in Monsters Lair
and then add several posts beneath it that keep saying
Reserved

Reserved

Reserved?

It would appear this is how others are doing it.

Also, is it important to get a poster up and start the hype
before your film is even written/shot?

I usually enter traditional film festivals and have never entered an
online one, till now.

Thanks for the insight!

[Captain Pierce]

You don't have to have a thread for your film, but it helps. :) (Actually, with the poster requirement, you may now have to have a thread to show off the poster, not sure how that's going to work exactly.)

The "reserved" thing is so you can have several posts right away at the beginning of the thread for anything you want to put there, so people can see everything right away rather than having to scroll through page after page.

The poster requirement is new, but it doesn't specify when you need one, just that you need one at some point. I don't think it really matters, except to say that a good poster that really says something about the movie might be better than just a random early poster.

[TMerry]

Thanks for the inside info Captain P.
SO then, you would go back and re-edit the reserved
posts to ad, behind the scenes stuff etc. for instance?

[Zak Forsman]

having a thread will help you build interest in your film before viewing opens. and it is the only way, as of this moment, for viewers to give you feedback. I highly recommend it.

[Nektonic]

I didn't see this in the rules, but a similar question would be, do we have a time limit on when we need a poster up and a thread for our film created? Currently, I'm deciding what story I would do for the fest, so I don't have anything tangible to post just yet.

[MOVIE MASTER]

be the man!

[jasonthewho]

SO then, you would go back and re-edit the reserved
posts to ad, behind the scenes stuff etc. for instance?

Exactly. Cast/Crew info, actor headshots, grabs from the film, etc.

[Rodney V. Smith]

The fest is open to allow outside advertizing and posters are a good way to attract viewers who may have never heard of your film. The worst thing that can happen is that during voting, nobody actually watches your movie or places it so low down on their priority list that by the time they want to vote it's too late and they've already voted on their favorites... or on the films that were massively advertised. You want to make sure that there is some interest and excitement about your project, that people at least know what you've been up to that they are actively looking to watch your film instead of "oh I haven't heard of this one, lets watch the one with the man-sized vagina instead".

Get out there, put up a thread, get your exciting poster up. You can always change the poster later! I change my posters at least 2-3 times according to when I can get a photoshoot set up and a newer concept hits me. It's all advertising and what's the point of making a film that nobody has any interest in watching?

Besides it's kind of cool to see all the films side by side with all of their posters up.. makes it look ubercool. (on the facebook page)

[TMerry]

Great stuff ALL, thanks very much!. Okay, the big picture is coming together
now.

mOVIEmASTER, plan on it ;-)
MuHaaHaaHaa!

[Jason Ramsey]

Thread is not a requirement, but might as well be :) Especially once viewing opens for the films... folks will want to give you feedback and they'll need a place to do it... But, you certainly don't have to start one now to "officially" throw your hat in the ring... But, as Zak said... he highly recommends it :)

As to the poster... When you upload your film, you will have to upload a poster to specs along with it... That's where that requirement comes from. I'm sure you can find someone willing to help you out with a poster as well so you can get it in your thread should you create one sooner rather than later, and start generating a bit of buzz.

later,
Jason

[Nektonic]

Thanks for clarifying things Jason. I definitely plan on a poster and thread. I just figure it is silly to start one now, seeing as I don't have anything worth putting up just yet.

[Jason Ramsey]

I'd rather see a quality thread chronicling your journey vs. a premature one for the purpose of hype alone any day :)

Lots of members who learn a lot by following someone's process... Whether it's an Epic crew of people, or a first-timer working through it and figuring it out; sharing their thoughts along the way.

But, NOT having a thread... that's so 2008 :)

later,
Jason

[Nektonic]

I'd rather see a quality thread chronicling your journey vs. a premature one for the purpose of hype alone any day :)

I agree. I just want to at least have the title and a rough poster ready before I go and create a thread. Currently deciding between a couple different story ideas right now.

[Jason Ramsey]

My title for lovefest was given to me by the dvxuser member who did my poster for me... and it's the only fest I've successfully completed a film for :)

[Nektonic]

My title for lovefest was given to me by the dvxuser member who did my poster for me :)

I need some practice designing a poster anyways.

Also, I'm deciding between two ideas; basically whether to do the one that I can probably pull off, or just saying poo poo it and going with the ridiculously ambitious one.

[TMerry]

I need some practice designing a poster anyways.

Also, I'm deciding between two ideas; basically whether to do the one that I can probably pull off, or just saying poo poo it and going with the ridiculously ambitious one.

Nektonic: PLEASE go with the ridiculously ambitious one. That's what I'm doing. What's the point of art, if not to stretch our capabilities as artists?

Besides, what I'm planning, production-wise on such a small timeline
and 0 budget, I would love to see others give it their ALL as well ;-)

So, are you going for it, or GOIN FOR IT! ? :thumbsup: