Anti-Sugarcoating Challenge

I know I always want the most honest, yet constructive review possible. If you tell me something is terrible and give a long list of specific problems/suggestions, that'll help more than anything. Compliments are good, but if people can't accept well thought out criticism this probably isn't something they're going to excel at.
 
Excellent points by Barry.

I appreciate blunt honesty/contructive feedback, as LONG as it is followed by tips/suggestions on how to improve. "That footage looks crappy" is fine with me if someone says it, as long as they follow it up with something like "... because the lighting is wrong, shadows are all over, the camera isn't stabilized, etc."

Tell me the truth, then tell me how to make it better specifically.

And make sure to include what *IS* good.

But like Barry said. Someone comes on who is obviously not at the same level as a full-time, experienced pro - the feedback should be adapted for the context. Of course 19 year-olds first film on a DVX with no equipment and a $20 budget sucks compared to Steven Spielberg. So the feedback should be different than it is for 35-year old's 57th short film with a ton of equipment and $3,000 budget.

I guess I am just seconding Barry - "sucks" is relative, and that must be taken into context.

That said, no one improves by unwarranted complements, overly sugar coated responses, or worse - NO negative feedback! We *NEED* negative feedback. That's why I post here. Positive is nice, but more than anything, I want negative feedback so I can actually GET BETTER (of course, I want to hear what people thought, and if that means positive feedback, awesome!)

Last year I posted what I consider a crappy test shot for something and I got a lot of praise, which I wondered if it was sincere. I had to post back in the thread and explain this was a test, I need feedback on how to improve, not a pat on the back for sub-par work.

So yes - balance, context, honesty, kindness, and a sincere desire to help = GOOD :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top