Discussion on the DVXFest submission acceptance policy

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Originally Posted by Nitsuj

You wouldn't show a gore flick at a Christmas fest and expect to get good results. So maybe it is a question of just what is dvxfest? Hehe.

I watch Black Christmas every Christmas eve.

[Nitsuj]

Originally Posted by Michael Anthony Horrigan

I watch Black Christmas every Christmas eve.

Was hoping somebody would say that.

I'm more of an anything goes type of guy. Well I mean me personally wouldn't do "anything" because I have my own standards and beliefs. But I am too laid back to be offended from somebody else. Somebody can call me a hillbilly saltine all day long but I'd just drink my shot and laugh or kick their ass. It would depend on what part of me was drinking that night, Irish, or Native American.

[William_Robinette]

Originally Posted by Jason Ramsey

My own personal thoughts at the moment are... if you poo poo with us and take advantage of the artistic freedom that we provide in these fests, while your film may (or may not) screen, we most certainly will banish you from this community and all things Landmine for ever and eternity as someone who is hostile to the site and to the integrity and good intentions of what the fests are meant to be. Likewise, I hope that the members would appreciate that artistic freedom that they are afforded in DVXFest, champion it, and defend it with fervor, and brand anyone who seeks to destroy it as such, and approach veryyy cautiously the idea to want to begin censoring *any* film based on content b/c of something like this happening.

I agree with this as well Jason.

[EditPhish]

While important discussion may have resulted, I think what's frustrating is the unwarranted attention this film ended up getting. At what expense is it to the fest itself when the focus becomes controversy rather than the films? I have to say, my first reaction upon learning the thread was deleted was "GOOD! - back to films!"

I'm not for censorship. I can only make a comparison to comedians... there are some I find offensive and some I do not. The ones that bother me don't get any of my attention. I simply change the channel. However, I don't think they have no right to tell the jokes they do, however much I disagree.

In a perfect world, a film like the one in question would simply have garnered zero votes and either no feedback or negative feedback in appropriate proportion. Of course, this isn't a perfect world, so I'm not sure what the answer is other than to take each film on a case-by-case basis.

I will say this... something intentionally hateful in a racist/bigoted way probably needs to be handled the same way it would be in the "mainstream", whatever that may be. It makes me wonder what the rating would be on such a film and if there are "rules" on such things that push something to NC-17 because of racist/bigoted content (kinda like drug references automatically make a movie PG-13). I can't, right now, think of an example of a relatively current movie with a racist message - so I don't know.

Good luck to the mods and admins of DVXUser and the Fests... It takes a lot of time, resources and energy to run sites like this, and it's certainly a thorn in the side when situations like this arise.

[John LaBonney]

It's interesting that the fests have become popular enough that someone would make an effort and take the time to try to undermine the intended purpose. It's a shame that those types are out there, but I would qualify the phenomenon as a sign of the fests' success. There's a group out there on that each season tries to solicit votes for who they think is the worst singer/weakest contestant on American Idol. They do it just to humor themselves.

The fests here do allow quite a bit of creative freedom, and the members here have relished in pushing the limits, always looking for a way to think even further outside the box. I mean this in a good way; it's in the nature of artists to explore and find new ways to express ideas. The requirements for the fests have always been pretty loose on purpose.

So how does dvxuser respond in a situation where a member tries to undermine the system in this way? In practical terms, it's pretty easy to simply disqualify the film, but I appreciate the moderators' concerns about starting down a road of censorship, however well intended. After all, who's to say what has redeeming content or not?

On the other hand, dvxuser is a moderated board, there are standards and rules to which the members must comply. I've seen enough here to believe that the moderators have the interests of the community and its members in mind when they make decisions, and I have trust in them to decide when a film is inappropriate for the fest based on its content and intentions (not that I always agree with every decision they've ever made, I certainly don't). However I'm sure that they would be more than willing to entertain a discussion from the filmmaker if he wanted to make a good-faith case about his intentions or why the film should be included in the fest.

The fests have a positive purpose; when someone intentionally decides to undermine the system for his own amusement, I don't have a problem with that film being disqualified.

[Jason Ramsey]

The film should be put back in the fest, and it should be judged on its technical merits as expressed by the filmmaker.

Just to clear up this little bit, the film was never eligible for competition in the first place b/c of a violation of the credit requirement (the credits were too long)

Anything less is censorship, and opens the door for every film in the future to be judged on its offensive-factor.

Would tend to agree with this (well, part of it), and that is why we are having this discussion b/c quite a few people initially called for us to censor it, and couldn't believe that we would allow it to air. So, our question is if people really want us to begin going down that road. We really don't want to. At the same time, we also recognize that there is near 100% chance that someone out there will purposefully try to use that against us next fest and make something utterly pointless and with the sole purpose of attacking the integrity of the fests, the site, or the freedom of artistic expression that (in the past) they have always allowed. So, the question is, do people want to let one idiot take that away from the fests.. The one thing that makes them unique from most any other fest out there... Or, do people want to forget about that if they come across something that they find absolutely offensive... Or, do people want to champion the privilege of artistic expression and the open-ness of (we dont' screen for content or quality beyond our Hard R rating, and our other simple guidelines) and bury anyone who would try to use that against their fests.

[ChipG]

I laughed my ass off!

These kids were just trying to have fun (in my opinion) and I think they feel like gutter sluts for it.

I have always said do the opposite and you'll get noticed.

I do hope they come back. It was funny as hell and you guys know it.

[ramsaur]

EDIT: User deleted post

[Jason Ramsey]

....

[Jason Ramsey]

sorry ramasaur... I know it looks like that was directed at you now... it wasn't was to another member who now deleted their posts....

I've edited it out, so it doesn't look like I was yelling at you

later,
jason