The BEST OF the Monster Shorts thread...

[Charli]

This is just my personal take based on all of our Monster Short Films:

Best Cinematography: “Bits and Pieces” – beautiful lighting, very film-like quality.

Best use of Blood: “Burst” - the burst of blood from the mouth and the angle was awesome.

Best Twist: "Cookie Jar" - was a very nice surprise to see that the son was the vampire.

Best believable performances by Adult Actors: “Dispatch” – she’s on the floor and we totally feel that she's dying… “Lot 6a” – he’s under terrible distress and you can feel it.

Best believable performance by Child Actor: “Bits and Pieces” – flawless performance by this little girl, even in the small whisper mimic “pretty please” at the end – super.

Best use of Unique Genre: “Monsters Beware” - a classic campy 1950s B&W horror story….”The Tell” - an out-of-the box monster Musical… “Sinnergy” – Film Noir.

Best Original Musical Score – “Bits and Pieces”totally captivating and endearing.

Best Score that captured the Tone: “Monsters Beware” the total score and music fit the 40’s-50’s classical horror flicks.

Best surprise Genre: “The Tell” – didn’t see a musical coming by a mile.

Best production-like quality: “Zimm” - this could pass off as a snippet from a television show on cable.

Best opening: “The Jones” - with the comic book introduction and then dissolving into real-life… “One Percent” - with the superimpose factual information on black at the beginning brought goose bumps.

Best interaction of characters: “The Jones” – those two guys had so much dialogue and so much banter that it was quite entertaining.

Best script: (bias) “Monsters Beware” - the dialogue flowed naturally without being over the top or flippant and the story had a beginning, middle and a quirky ending.

Best homage to Filmmaker: - “Attack of the Killer Automobile” – take that “Death Proof”- Tarentino!

Best Poster: - “Bits and Pieces” – just an incredible movie-like poster.

Best use of Monsters: - “VII” – contains a Vampire and Siamese Igors in counseling session along with a Frankenstien at the end… “Monsters Beware” contains a Werewolf, two Zombies, a Reanimation and a Female Alien who collects monsters.

Best heart-wrenching story: “Gleichshaltung” - two Jewish boys sent to the gas chamber, very difficult to watch.

Best footage of woods: "Ramuska" - very beautiful area, a place I would definitely like to take a hike... "Red and the Wolf" - the old Robinson Curuso bridge in the woods was awesome!

Best Adaptation to Published Work: "Red and the Wolf" - I don't see Little Miss Riding Hood quite so innocently anymore.

[ZazaCast]

This is cool... but I hope it doesn't affect the rating... unless the rating has now closed?

[Charli]

I don't think so because I waited until I saw the monster's lair was at 20ish people viewing.

[ewoknrock]

Charli, I know I'm quite new to DVXUser but I couldn't help but think while reading through your "Best Of thread" on the Monsterfest competition, that this idea of posting a pre-vote (so-to-speak) on certain films across the many categories and opening it up for public discussion (before the official voting is actually available) may be construed as a distasteful strategy to shift users' votes when voting actually becomes available. Commenting that one film is stronger in certain areas that another is fine but you should probably promote that film on it's own accord within its own thread and not compare one film against another in an open forum. I don't think it's fair to all the participants to highlight certain films and say why you think they should win in certain categories because such discussion in my opinion will give way to the formation of social trends on 'what's in' and 'what isn't', thereby altering the way some may think about films within the competition. I just think that each film should be discussed for its highs and its lows within its own thread and not communitively in this fashion, that way people vote based on how they feel about particular films and not just go-along with what's popular in the DVXuser film community. :Drogar-Thinking(DBG

[Charli]

I have commented, I believe, on each and every single individual thread on my thoughts and opinions on each and every single Monster Short Film, even those just for exhibition.

This is simply and 'overall opinion thread' as I did with the Monster Script Fest.

I'm not here to sway a vote one way or another.

There is BEST KILL thread which is focusing on the best murder attempt on either human or beast.

I am not stating who won anything for any category. I am merely stating my overall thoughts, is all.

[lawriejaffa]

God perhaps an overwhelming amount of best of's hehehe... perhaps if we just limited them (until after the voting) to those categories respective of actual artistic merit (ie. script, actor, sound, cinematography etc.)

[Charli]

Lawrie - oh, God no, where is the fun in that? You have to have "best of blood spurt" in a fest like this, Heavens yes!

[Chris_Keaton]

Yeah, bad for form man, seriously. I disagree with all your choices and who are you anyway. Wait, who am I, what's going on! aahhhh!

But really maybe after would've been in better taste.

[morbidodyssey]

Thanks for the award!

[Shawn Philip Nelson]

Evidently Charli is not my target demographic :-).

[Sprocketboy]

I like how Charli, one of the writers of MONSTERS BEWARE, gave herself the Best Script Award. She is a modest gal. Personally, it was a Saturday Night Live skit with no real tangible story. My kudos go to the Director. Fun to watch though.

[lawriejaffa]

Best Cinematography: “Rusalka” – beautiful lighting, very film-like quality.

Best use of Blood: “Rusalka” - the burst of blood from the mouth and the angle was awesome.

Best Twist: "Rusalka" - was a very nice surprise to see that the son was the vampire.

Best believable performances by Adult Actors: “Rusalka” – she’s on the floor and we totally feel that she's dying… “Rusalka” – he’s under terrible distress and you can feel it.

Best believable performance by Child Actor: “Rusalka” – flawless performance by this little girl, even in the small whisper mimic “pretty please” at the end – super.

Best use of Unique Genre: “Rusalka” - a classic campy 1950s B&W horror story….”Rusalka” - an out-of-the box monster Musical… “Rusalka” – Film Noir.

Best Original Musical Score – “Rusalka”totally captivating and endearing.

Best Score that captured the Tone: “Rusalka” the total score and music fit the 40’s-50’s classical horror flicks.

Best surprise Genre: “Rusalka” – didn’t see a musical coming by a mile.

Best production-like quality: “Rusalka” - this could pass off as a snippet from a television show on cable.

Best opening: “Rusalka” - with the comic book introduction and then dissolving into real-life… “Rusalka” - with the superimpose factual information on black at the beginning brought goose bumps.

Best interaction of characters: “Rusalka” – those two guys had so much dialogue and so much banter that it was quite entertaining.

Best script: (bias) “Rusalka” - the dialogue flowed naturally without being over the top or flippant and the story had a beginning, middle and a quirky ending.

Best homage to Filmmaker: - “Rusalka” – take that “Death Proof”- Tarentino!

Best Poster: - “Rusalka” – just an incredible movie-like poster.

Best use of Monsters: - “Rusalka” – contains a Vampire and Siamese Igors in counseling session along with a Frankenstien at the end… “Rusalka” contains a Werewolf, two Zombies, a Reanimation and a Female Alien who collects monsters.

Best heart-wrenching story: “Rusalka” - two Jewish boys sent to the gas chamber, very difficult to watch.

Best Directior: Well since i didn't get a chance to i can't award myself so... i'll call it a draw between the rest of the entrants hehe.

[Chris_Keaton]

Lawrie. I believe that is a truly unbiased assessment.

[lawriejaffa]

*shakes his fist* Foiled Again!!! KEeeeeeeaaton!!!

[Chris_Keaton]

*shakes his fist* Foiled Again!!! KEeeeeeeaaton!!!

If you would've thrown a bone my way I would've immediately cried foul. :nads:

[Sarah Daly]

If you would've thrown a bone my way I would've immediately cried foul. :nads:

The only person lawrie throws bones to is me!

Oh wait...

Hehe...

Once again I hijack a thread with my filth.

Oopsy!

[ZazaCast]

The only person lawrie throws bones to is me!

Oh wait...

Hehe...

Once again I hijack a thread with my filth.

Oopsy!

WOW... I REALLY have to send you one of these shirt now!!!
http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/35446/1257784504.jpg

Nudge, nudge...wink, wink....

[lawriejaffa]

Send me one too! I can be a dvxuser transvestite! Dirtier still!!!

[ZazaCast]

Send me one too! I can be a dvxuser transvestite! Dirtier still!!!

:shocked:

[Charli]

Lawrie - I LOVED that!!! That was freakin' awesome.

morbid - welcome!

Shawn - yours definitely felt like a music video for awhile and I would love to see a music video festival here. I think that would be a great idea!

Sproket -

1) the story is based on the director, John. I did not come up with the concept, instead, I gave him feedback after feedback until he finally asked me to take co-writer title, then we worked on it together.

2) before I tossed that award towards our script, did you notice I put (BIAS) in parentheticals?

3) It had a BEGINNING - the capturing of werewolf, MIDDLE - the interaction in the car where you discover how the Zombie and Reanimation achieved their demised and their abduction and revealment of a female Alien collector - Ending - the opening of the trunk and discovering of a half-Zombie who may or may not have eaten the Alien Chic.

A skit is a comic theatrical sketch. VII falls under this category.

[Nitsuj]

I thought there were several with a beginning, middle, and end. I mean if that was the basis for your own personal opinion then I'm just pointing out that I seem to recall several with a standard story structure. Not saying that they were good to you or anything but just that there were others that had that as well.

I like that shirt!

[Charli]

Nit - Like I stated (bias) - at least I was honest from get-go there.

So dudes, when I started this thread I expected some of you to jump on the band wagon and post here YOUR BEST OF... categories. Lawrie's now cannot be topped because that was freakin' hilarious.

But why don't you tell us what is your best of categories?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Nit - Like I stated (bias) - at least I was honest from get-go there.

So dudes, when I started this thread I expected some of you to jump on the band wagon and post here YOUR BEST OF... categories. Lawrie's now cannot be topped because that was freakin' hilarious.

But why don't you tell us what is your best of categories?

Not until after the festival. I've been actively involved in these fests since Lovefest and I seriously don't think that publishing any kind of list like this (opinionated or not) serves any good. It causes some level of irritation mainly because it's just plain rude. It's too much like pissing on everyone elses work, especially if you are a contributing filmmaker.

Lawrie's response stands as the prerequisite response for all of the rest of us contributing filmmakers. We want ours to be the best at everything. Period. And we're all trying to be gracious in the face of the obvious and not so obvious flaws in our own work.

It's hard to be gracious and fair when someone can be seen to be pissing all over your work with a list like this.

[Charli]

Rod - there is no 'pissing' here but "praising" and if people were not interested, why oh why has there been so many hits on this thread? My intention was not to be rude but to express what i liked just like I did on the script fest, that's all.

Look at the categories, they're fun! Come on, now. If I wanted to do a serious best of i would have done:

Best direction
best lighting
best sound recording
best set design
best special effects

I had none of those here.

[Matt Sconce]

Best Roaring into the barrel of a gun with creepy eyes and being shot in the head by a crying man after doing so:

MERCY (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=179072)



hehe:kali::Drogar-Shock(DBG):

[ZazaCast]

Best red cape:

"Red And The Wolf "

[Matt Sconce]

Cutest little girl with scars on her face:

Bits and Pieces

Best Windshield wiper blood cleanup:

Attack of the Killer Automobile

Best evil floating lightning bolt Omen in a bathroom:

Diabolus Domi

Best bowels pulled into evil Nazi box:

The Devil's Toy

Best blood gargle while trying to talk on the telephone:

Dispatch

Best glint on the teeth while stabbing a monster and singing a musical number:

The Tell

Most Terrifying name of a film that did not make it into the fest:

Nut Ripper... (still having nightmares)

[Blaine]

Nit - Like I stated (bias) - at least I was honest from get-go there.

So dudes, when I started this thread I expected some of you to jump on the band wagon and post here YOUR BEST OF... categories. Lawrie's now cannot be topped because that was freakin' hilarious.

But why don't you tell us what is your best of categories?I'll chime in AFTER the voting has closed.

[Nitsuj]

I'll chime in AFTER the voting has closed.

:beer:

[AmyO]

Best spit-take causing moment:
The Tell

[NOBELO]

I'll chime in AFTER the voting has closed.

Agreed. :thumbup:

[Charli]

Blain, Nit & Nob - that's fine, chime in after the voting but for some reason that didn't keep you from looking at this thread - aha!

Amy - love it!

Matt - freakin' hilarious!

ZaZa - I so want that cape!

[Blaine]

Blain, Nit & Nob - that's fine, chime in after the voting but for some reason that didn't keep you from looking at this thread - aha!
Yeah, I had to look and see it someone really had the poor taste to put something like this up before voting ended and the answer came back in the affirmative. :)

[lawriejaffa]

Come along gents...

While it may seem forward to discuss frankly what elements of films we like (before the completion of voting.) Its not quite the equivelant of slaughtering a basket of cute kittens with a poisoned lollipop stick.

(A cruel and slow death!)

I can't help but feel this thread is taking a bully-like tone to Charli. She's attempted to post something amusing and a point of discussion. I too think it should be posted after voting but thats not any reason for a bitchy lynch mob.

And please no justifications to how terrible it is that Charli posted something so outrageous... from some over sensitive film maker. Grow a set and stop whining.

We got genocide and horrors beyond the pale afflicting the world right now that im sure takes presedence over a few manly ego's.

[ZazaCast]

Kill the witch... kill the witch.....
She turned me into a newt, but I got better.

:grin:

[Chris_Keaton]

I vote for making the thread funny instead. But I can't vote because of a federal conviction.

[Rodney V. Smith]

...slaughtering a basket of cute kittens with a poisoned lollipop stick.



Tell us more of this slaughter Lawrie...

[Charli]

Blaine - you had to see but did you have to post and then to attack? Take a good look at the categories, only two may fall into any type of voting, one I called BIAS totally admitting my ego as a screenwriter, which by the way this was John's story more than mine (the bus joke is mine), the other was Cinematography because I couldn't help but LOVE what was done.

The categories were meant to be taken in good, light fun. I don't think anyone here is going to win "best opening of a short" - that's not a real category, or "best blood spurt."

I think if I had included each and every film I don't think I would have a thrashing, but I couldn't include each and every film because some just left me - HUH?

So I went for a fun category take instead. How in the world is this thread going to sway any votes? That's like saying I'm Ebert thumbs up or thumbs down and I have a lot of pull here - pulease.

ZaZa - ding dong, the witch is dead.... ha ha, awesome!

Keaton - federal conviction, eh? mmm, now you sound dangerous and extremely attractive ....

Lawrie - where can I get one of those poisoned lollipop sticks?

[Blaine]

Had you not felt it necessary to come in with the "but for some reason that didn't keep you from looking at this thread - aha!" I would have left it with my original post. But for some reason you couldn't resist getting in the dig. You were inviting the response you got.

[Brandon Rice]

Just want to go on record saying I have NO PROBLEM with pre-vote discussion. I generally post my top ten films for these fests... sadly I haven't had ANY time to get to the films yet, other than a few. I plan to eventually! :)

[Charli]

Blaine - yet you keep coming back to see what's posted next and still feel the need to post and attack - a... wait for it... nah, I said it once, that's enough.

Brandon - I know, missed that, but you have a very full plate of activities, I didn't even expect to see you on here much.

Oh and I missed a category:

Best of woods filming: "Ramsuka" - I want to go there, so peaceful and beautiful... and "Red and the Wolf" - I definitely want run across that bridge.

[Blaine]

Whatever.

[Chris_Keaton]

Just want to go on record saying I have NO PROBLEM with pre-vote discussion. I generally post my top ten films for these fests... sadly I haven't had ANY time to get to the films yet, other than a few. I plan to eventually! :)

Then you should just watch 'The Devil's Toy' it is the most awesome film in the fest and I am totally unbiased.:thumbup:

[Chris_Keaton]

Keaton - federal conviction, eh? mmm, now you sound dangerous and extremely attractive ....

That's swell, now if you would just slide your purse over here, I'll be on my way and no one needs to get hurt.

[xxrotinivol2]

GREMLINS!! Now that's a good monster movie. I wish someone waited to make Gremlins for the festival, then that'd totally win.

[Charli]

Keaton - I'm a tomboy, I don't do purses - lol

Blaine - oh come on now, we're a small community, you've had your say, it was a bit pointed, but lets move past this, no need to grumble here.

I've additional 'best of' at the bottom of the first page.