Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
I may ruffle feathers but I won't rat on people. :lipsrseal
Needless to say, this is part of the reason why a change is in order and probably coming in one fashion or another.
Mike
How many votes in a typical fest?
- Thread starter Shawn Philip Nelson
- Start date
Needless to say, this is part of the reason why a change is in order and probably coming in one fashion or another.
Mike
Jason Ramsey
Admin
Let's not turn this into that kind of thread.
Suggestions on the voting process are welcome.
Later,
Jason
Suggestions on the voting process are welcome.
Later,
Jason
Ted Arabian
Member with Ladder
My one suggestion should go without saying but I'll say it...
"If you submit a film, you should watch and comment on each entry."
The comments and feedback are what are truly valuable to me.
Not only do I benefit from reading comments, I benefit from WRITING them. It is not always easy to articulate what you want to say. And just the process of having to identify and articulate your critique can be a learning experience.
"If you submit a film, you should watch and comment on each entry."
The comments and feedback are what are truly valuable to me.
Not only do I benefit from reading comments, I benefit from WRITING them. It is not always easy to articulate what you want to say. And just the process of having to identify and articulate your critique can be a learning experience.
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Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Agreed. That's why I didn't go any further.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
I wanted to suggest a "Special Jury Prize" awarded by a panel comprised of past DVXFest winners, invited and selected by the powers that be who run DVXFest. this would be in addition to the regular voting (which is essentially the "Audience Award").
I also wanted to suggest that mods and other organizational members of dvxuser.com (effectively its employees) be taken out of the general audience voting and placed in a jury of their own to award a Special DVX Award -- to the film that best encompasses the spirit of the DVXUser community.
the reason I suggest these different classifactions is because for the filmmaker, there is a lot more prestige in laurels that read: "WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD" or "WINNER - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE" than there is in writing "1st, 2nd or 3rd Place"
my 2¢.
I also wanted to suggest that mods and other organizational members of dvxuser.com (effectively its employees) be taken out of the general audience voting and placed in a jury of their own to award a Special DVX Award -- to the film that best encompasses the spirit of the DVXUser community.
the reason I suggest these different classifactions is because for the filmmaker, there is a lot more prestige in laurels that read: "WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD" or "WINNER - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE" than there is in writing "1st, 2nd or 3rd Place"
my 2¢.
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Kyle Stebbins
AD GURU
practical AND fun.
Shawn Philip Nelson
Veteran
Exactly!! This is the first fest I've ever entered but I have participated in viewing/commenting/voting on quite a few fests, not only to help those films, but for my own edification to qualify what I did/didn't like.
Ted Arabian
Member with Ladder
Shawn, I loved seeing you posting on everyone's thread last fest. It was really great to have that additional input.
Great feedback, too!
Great feedback, too!
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Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
also, glad to hear about the voting going with weighted averages, if that is the case. during lovefest, I was notified by two friends about some behind the scenes campaigning against certain top contenders -- as in, do not vote for "such and such". I can't imagine it had much relevance on the final outcome considering the results, but it's good to know that this kind of thing will be even less effective in fests to come. good stuff! :thumbsup:
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
Being new to this group…and new to the DVX camera…and this being my first fest entry…and seeing the level of users…it’s safe to say the only reason I’m entering this is to actually MAKE a movie, start to finish. An exercise if you will. I know I don’t stand a snowballs chance in hell of winning anything (I won a raffle once, but only found out after the ticket expired) once I started reading some of the user threads.
Here we have people using advanced cameras like the RED, HVX & god knows what else, booking real movie sets, hiring professional actors, make-up people, prop masters, stunt men, DP’s, 35mm adapters, advanced VFX, composers, huge crews…the whole she-bang! Then there’s the DIY newbie’s (that would be me) using whatever they can scrape together to try to make something that resembles an actual film. To create and capture a moment in time that emulates the grand vision that resides in all of our imaginations….and to hope others can see it too.
I have to say, this group can be intimidating. There is SO much talent here. I’ve seen films of such quality and professionalism that I can only wish to someday achieve the same level of production…and I have thought about dropping out more than once. Then, my 14 year-old daughter (also my biggest fan) says, “Dad, stop reading those blogs, I love your idea, it’s a good one & I know you can do a great job making your film…I know I’ll like it…and I’m sure other people will too.”
After years of picking her up when she fell down, wiping away her tears, kissing endless boo-boo’s to make them better & sending her right back on her way, that 14 year-old angel did the same for me!
So here I go, a crew of one, determined to write, shoot, edit and score a simple 6 minute film. To ask family & friends to help out any way they can. Knowing that the real reward is in completing the task and not winning the prize…and if allowed to vote, I would never vote for myself, after all, when is an artist ever satisfied with their own work?
That being said, perhaps you should consider a few different ‘categories’ of entry for future fests to level the playing field…by skill level?...by camera type?...by age? …because after all, everyone likes a little free swag now and again!
Best of luck to all who enter...
Here we have people using advanced cameras like the RED, HVX & god knows what else, booking real movie sets, hiring professional actors, make-up people, prop masters, stunt men, DP’s, 35mm adapters, advanced VFX, composers, huge crews…the whole she-bang! Then there’s the DIY newbie’s (that would be me) using whatever they can scrape together to try to make something that resembles an actual film. To create and capture a moment in time that emulates the grand vision that resides in all of our imaginations….and to hope others can see it too.
I have to say, this group can be intimidating. There is SO much talent here. I’ve seen films of such quality and professionalism that I can only wish to someday achieve the same level of production…and I have thought about dropping out more than once. Then, my 14 year-old daughter (also my biggest fan) says, “Dad, stop reading those blogs, I love your idea, it’s a good one & I know you can do a great job making your film…I know I’ll like it…and I’m sure other people will too.”
After years of picking her up when she fell down, wiping away her tears, kissing endless boo-boo’s to make them better & sending her right back on her way, that 14 year-old angel did the same for me!
So here I go, a crew of one, determined to write, shoot, edit and score a simple 6 minute film. To ask family & friends to help out any way they can. Knowing that the real reward is in completing the task and not winning the prize…and if allowed to vote, I would never vote for myself, after all, when is an artist ever satisfied with their own work?
That being said, perhaps you should consider a few different ‘categories’ of entry for future fests to level the playing field…by skill level?...by camera type?...by age? …because after all, everyone likes a little free swag now and again!
Best of luck to all who enter...
Jason Ramsey
Admin
Great post Zaza...
In response to parts of it, I would only say, you never know what can happen. Your heart sounds to be in the right place and that's what matters. All I can say is I felt exactly the same way you did. I wimped out on two previous fests before finally getting off of my tale end and actually making something for the last fest. I spent 25 bucks, and it was just me on the technical end, and my two friends in front of the camera with a simple idea that we hoped we could execute cleanly. We never had any dreams of grandeur or anything like that. Just wanted to finish a film so we could say we finally made one. Well, the response was way more than I could have ever hoped it would be. Sometimes you just get lucky
Don't worry about big sets, and crews, and whatever everyone else is doing, man. You just focus on your little project and make it the best you can. You learn a lot and you take that experience with you to the next project.
About categories... We probably won't go that far, but as we have had quite a lot of prizes the last few fests, we have been able to offer other prize packages to folks beyond just the "top films". We had 4 or 5 other categories of prizes that went to folks who were not the top 3 finishers. One new award we did last time was for Best Newcomer. It was awarded to a first time festival participant who did not otherwise finish in the top 3. This is a trend you can expect to continue as long as we have to goods to give (even if it's just recognition) and hopefully become a more central part of the whole "awards" thing.
Anyways... Don't get overwhelmed man. It's just you and your story. You do your thing. Let everyone else do theirs. The chips will fall where they may, but your motivations for taking on the process (if genuine) will carry you far beyond this fest.
Later,
Jason
In response to parts of it, I would only say, you never know what can happen. Your heart sounds to be in the right place and that's what matters. All I can say is I felt exactly the same way you did. I wimped out on two previous fests before finally getting off of my tale end and actually making something for the last fest. I spent 25 bucks, and it was just me on the technical end, and my two friends in front of the camera with a simple idea that we hoped we could execute cleanly. We never had any dreams of grandeur or anything like that. Just wanted to finish a film so we could say we finally made one. Well, the response was way more than I could have ever hoped it would be. Sometimes you just get lucky
Don't worry about big sets, and crews, and whatever everyone else is doing, man. You just focus on your little project and make it the best you can. You learn a lot and you take that experience with you to the next project.
About categories... We probably won't go that far, but as we have had quite a lot of prizes the last few fests, we have been able to offer other prize packages to folks beyond just the "top films". We had 4 or 5 other categories of prizes that went to folks who were not the top 3 finishers. One new award we did last time was for Best Newcomer. It was awarded to a first time festival participant who did not otherwise finish in the top 3. This is a trend you can expect to continue as long as we have to goods to give (even if it's just recognition) and hopefully become a more central part of the whole "awards" thing.
Anyways... Don't get overwhelmed man. It's just you and your story. You do your thing. Let everyone else do theirs. The chips will fall where they may, but your motivations for taking on the process (if genuine) will carry you far beyond this fest.
Later,
Jason
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Shawn Philip Nelson
Veteran
Great post Zaza!!
Jason, you blew me away with your film, I voted #1 for it, best acting ever in a DVXUser film.
Jason, you blew me away with your film, I voted #1 for it, best acting ever in a DVXUser film.
ninjaturtle414
Member
I'm not too sure how the voting was done in the past, I'm not eligible to vote (too much lurking and not enough posting).
But the idea of an average seems like a fine idea. I also like Zak's idea of a "special jury prize" being awarded by past winners.
Even though I can't vote, I'm still gonna watch and critique as many films as I can. Isn't that what it's all about?
But the idea of an average seems like a fine idea. I also like Zak's idea of a "special jury prize" being awarded by past winners.
Even though I can't vote, I'm still gonna watch and critique as many films as I can. Isn't that what it's all about?
Simon Höfer
Veteran
I am still interested in how many people voted during the last fests 
And I also think that it is a shame to vote for your own entry. But it seems that this is how the world works if money/prizes are involved.
I remember the VFX Challenge... zero votes for my entry Well, there were not so many votes anyway (I keep telling that to myself), but you get the point... i can take it ... :crybaby: ... :cheesy:
Edited to add: Great post Zasa and Jason (loved your film)
And I also think that it is a shame to vote for your own entry. But it seems that this is how the world works if money/prizes are involved.
I remember the VFX Challenge... zero votes for my entry
Well, there were not so many votes anyway (I keep telling that to myself), but you get the point... i can take it ... :crybaby: ... :cheesy:Edited to add: Great post Zasa and Jason (loved your film)
sfoster
Well-known member
I really have to comment in here. I think this festival is probably the best I have seen for beginners. I will be entering my first film in this festival, shot on a cell phone. I'm not doing it because I don't have the equipment, but because I like a good challenge, and I've never done it before. No my quality wont be that of my HVX, and definitely not that of the red, however, there is NO entry fee, yet they offer prizes. This isn't a festival about winning. It's a festival about helping each other to make the best possible film we can. I wouldn't even call it a competition, but a collaboration. It's probably the best film school a guy can have.
I never went to film school and I have learned a ton from this site. If I didn't learn it here, someone probably recommended a site, or a book where I could learn it from here. A year ago, I never dreamed I could be doing the quality work that I am doing now. Finally, DVXUSER is going to print a magazine!!! This will highlight our successes and failures. It will teach more, and it's all about US.
If you feel that you don't have the ability to make a film, the equipment, the know how, etc. Just get on a forum and ask for help. It's a small world, and people go the extra mile for projects that are actually going to get finished!
If I'm willing to drive up and down California to shoot, I'm sure that there are more like me out there. SO GO FOR IT. The only thing to whine about now is the fact that I just smashed my finger, and typing this was a "Pain" literally!
My 2 and a half cents!
I never went to film school and I have learned a ton from this site. If I didn't learn it here, someone probably recommended a site, or a book where I could learn it from here. A year ago, I never dreamed I could be doing the quality work that I am doing now. Finally, DVXUSER is going to print a magazine!!! This will highlight our successes and failures. It will teach more, and it's all about US.
If you feel that you don't have the ability to make a film, the equipment, the know how, etc. Just get on a forum and ask for help. It's a small world, and people go the extra mile for projects that are actually going to get finished!
If I'm willing to drive up and down California to shoot, I'm sure that there are more like me out there. SO GO FOR IT. The only thing to whine about now is the fact that I just smashed my finger, and typing this was a "Pain" literally!
My 2 and a half cents!
jeremytuttle
Well-known member
Well said Shane.
And Simon, I agree that it would be a shame to vote for your own entry. I mean, let's not sell our souls for a piece of camera equipment. These fests are for fun/the challenge/experience, so why not vote for the short you think is best and not just your friends and if you're worried about hurting your friends feelings, better they hear criticism now then years later from a studio exec.
Now... if YOUR short really is that much better than the competition... well, fine vote for it:cheesy:.
I also like the Jury Award Idea... a moderator vote or something, would be cool.
And Simon, I agree that it would be a shame to vote for your own entry. I mean, let's not sell our souls for a piece of camera equipment. These fests are for fun/the challenge/experience, so why not vote for the short you think is best and not just your friends and if you're worried about hurting your friends feelings, better they hear criticism now then years later from a studio exec.
Now... if YOUR short really is that much better than the competition... well, fine vote for it:cheesy:.
I also like the Jury Award Idea... a moderator vote or something, would be cool.
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
Sad but true. I will never vote for my own entry (unless all the other ones really sucked. But with this group that is impossible) I actually vote for the ones I think had the best story, acting and directing etc... I realize that most of not all filmmakers here are better then me (and have better equipment) but that doesn't detur me from doing what I love: writing, acting, making films...
I just got back from Las Vegas because of a family emergency so I have been off the boards for a while. I get back and all of this has piled up. I am curious to hear about the new voting system.
