Anyone willing to list their TOP TEN Lossfest Films?

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There is no 'so' about it Derspieler, if i thought it i'd state it specifically. I think my quote stands :p

I'm sure you actually have a point of criticism your trying to make though - let me help you hehe. That what im saying is subjective, and that not every film has to be a work of artistic genius? Thanks for the revelation. Do you think I like my porn with more depth?!? Is that the cariciture your concieving? ;)

Muhhahaah - all films even crap have their place, none of the top 3 were, but the question of what drove the votes for the artists or filmmakers in Lossfest is worth discussing. Especially if it reflects a little poorly imo ;)

Oh and if you were attempting a little sarcasm with your question Derspieler hehe forget not that the easiest way to justify mediocrity is to ridicule artistic endevour.
 
Kholi said:
Heey! LoL. I wasn't brutal! I was just honest... and I always told people that I didn't know what I was talking about so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
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Actually, I was thinking that some of my reviews could have been tougher considering how I felt about some of the entries. I'm not planning on being viscous or anything but I think after seeing almost ALL the entries filled with comments like "that was great" "I loved it" "really nice work here" when they obviously (IMO) weren't. I think the filmmaker would be better served hearing the truth.

Darkline said:
Although no-one would probably say it, there's also politics. If you go around being brutally honest (Im sorry but your short was painful to watch) you might open yourself up to a backlash/low marking of your own entry by those scorned. That sounds petty, but Im sure there arnt many film-makers on here that havent played the game on some level....lol. They do it in Hollywood, everyone knows everyone and it pays to be nice and constructive.
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This is another great point. If a filmmaker has something in the fest, they're generally not too critical.
 
I know Blaine lol, just think in Questfest (which im entering) just how jolly and nice my audio review will be for the films in that 'youuur all my favourite girl' etc
 
Blaine said:
Actually, I was thinking that some of my reviews could have been tougher considering how I felt about some of the entries. I'm not planning on being viscous or anything but I think after seeing almost ALL the entries filled with comments like "that was great" "I loved it" "really nice work here" when they obviously (IMO) weren't. I think the filmmaker would be better served hearing the truth.

This is another great point. If a filmmaker has something in the fest, they're generally not too critical.
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Yeah, it's not even about being vicious. But it becomes vicious in the eyes of others who think that your kid gloves aren't soft enough. As much as this is DVXuser and we're all friends, we need to help each other grow...

Or we'll just be stuck in the same place.

I'm back for next fest regardless of what I'm doing.
 
Jason Ramsey said:
Heck, Michael has a tiny crew in comparison and shoots all of his entries on an HV20 and has been in the top 10 pretty much every fest he has entered.
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I believe I was as high as fifth/sixth in Hallows Fest but who's counting. :evil:

I usually never expect to place top 3 though. Too much talent/professionals around here. :beer:


MAH
 
Seems like we have a discussion like this after every fest, and of course it's always hard to decide 'winners' when we're talking about Art. One man's trash is another man's treasure, I suppose.

It's magical when talented people can come together and put something up on the screen that others connect with. It's really hard to put a finger on what it takes to make that magic, but sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. :)
 
lawriejaffa said:
Oh and if you were attempting a little sarcasm with your question Derspieler hehe forget not that the easiest way to justify mediocrity is to ridicule artistic endevour.
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I'm neither attempting to justify mediocrity nor ridicule artistic endeavor. You seem to be assuming that conventional equates to mediocre. If that's your opinion you're entitled to it but I'd hasten to disagree.

I get the impression you're miffed that a couple of conventional genre films made the top three. It seems you would prefer a drama, and I can certainly see where you're coming from. There were some great dramas in the fest and I honestly thought Acceptance would take the top spot.

But how many truly original and unconventional films were in the top ten? I can think of one, two at a stretch.
 
yeehaanow said:
Seems like we have a discussion like this after every fest, and of course it's always hard to decide 'winners' when we're talking about Art. One man's trash is another man's treasure, I suppose.

It's magical when talented people can come together and put something up on the screen that others connect with. It's really hard to put a finger on what it takes to make that magic, but sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. :)
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Bingo. If you try to make a film that will win, you may be severely disappointed because there are SO many countless & unpredictable variables that go with those who are voting, how they'll receive it & why, etc.

Just make a film that exceeds your last product on some/every level, one that YOU will be proud of, and one that your CAST and CREW can be proud of. You do that, you're a winner no matter what. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
 
With respect though though Despieler I'm not really assuming anything, ive laid out an opinion. I don't think psycho-anyalysing my position and trying to figure out the kind of films i would have wanted to win is relevant.

The entire point of my post is there and self evident - not to be summarised in a glib sentence but there... every word of it hehe. A wizard is never late hehe.

So please agree/or disagree relative to my post if you have something to say, but please don't attempt some straw summary of my position ;)

//

I just know im going to end up get percieved as some kind of evil British art snob (actually I am so fair enough muhaha) but here's the logic I don't accept. Some might say, well not everybody likes 'arty' films or 'intellectual' films. Now whether those merits exist in a film is fairly subjective - (but lets not kid ourselves that its sooo subjective as to become some kind of metaphysical non-point...)

I cringe when I sometimes hear a kind of, 'oh well some folks like this and others that so in the end its all relative.' It's not actually - an uneducated mass will be satisfied with slop. When I was a kind of dimwit (I still am but less so now...) I was as a filmmaker satisfied less with exploration than egotistical imitation, or superficiality. I refused to watch foreign films, didn't like reading... preferred watching and copying etc. Fortunately I evolved past that at the age of 16 ;)

Does that make me some kind of genius now that I don't do that (no it doesnt.) I still do to an extent, but i do attempt to explore and grow as a filmmaker - cultivating new inspirations, transcending the very 'technical' market produced hyper budget mainstream products (that i sometimes enjoy like everyone else) to something a bit more clever (hopefully) with my own projects. 1 because I cant afford to make Transformers anyway - and 2 because independent film (with an enquiring and intellectual mind) offers a PROFOUND opportunity for storytelling that many producers and directors in the industry would love to have.

The first two films were almost 'anti-intellectual' - 'consumer driven' projects (that i have cited respect for already as productions) but i think awkwardly highlight an uncomfortable contrast between what is genuinely worthy of both story, artistic merit and intellect - and what is simply 'cool'.

In a way im repeating myself. Filmmakers have every right to make what they want, but i think some critical evaluation of the festival electorate as it were is warranted, because superficiality in art should be challenged full stop ;) Placebo - and Collections - if their production quality, and 'popular' stylising was instead contributed to story / and thought, i would like to think they would still have come first and second... but would they?

I'll leave it at that - as its just a point i wanted to highlight (though should anyone wish to keep discussing it in the thread ill happily oblige)!
 
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Regurgitate?!

Lost at Sea was hand down the most original entry in the fest...

A number of the films weren’t films at all, but music videos.
 
lawriejaffa said:
Muhhahaah - all films even crap have their place, none of the top 3 were, but the question of what drove the votes for the artists or filmmakers in Lossfest is worth discussing. Especially if it reflects a little poorly imo ;)
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This certainly points out the importance of "understanding your market." If "winning" or "placing high" is important, it's equally important to understand your target audience.

<not directed to you, Lawrie, but the board in general>
Complaining about one's final standing in the fest is either a case of not seeing your film in a realistic light OR not understanding the audience to whom it is being present. One only has to check out the top 3 in the previous fests to see what is going to "please" the DVXUser audience. To discount this fact, is kind of like pissin' in the wind. :beer:
 
Hi Call! I can't remember the full quote of the sentence where is aid regurgitation (I know I did) - but Lost at Sea was an extremely innovative comedy film - and I agree was one of the most original films in the fest, it certainly was not in my mind as an example of a superficial beauty otherwise contrived.

Kholi i'm not that bad hehe ;)

Oh your quite right Blaine - the fortunate thing about the forum, is that as a vortex of creative ideas and theories lol - we can get all sorts of opinions. The prevailing attitude is often (us being filmmakers) about making our movies cool, especially to make them look cool. The market here is almost early 20s guys and American at that yep - and sometimes (definately NOT always) the festivals reflect that.

So I agree with you, but i'd like that market to be challenged a little to aspire higher in what they reward. (Its also just an opinion... I keep saying that, as i understand that not even a majority will agree with my sentiments) but i do want to throw it in there as an appeal.
 
Interesting discussion going on here.

I think the difficulty lies in the fact that not all entries get everything wrong. Some bad sound, some good acting, some good cinematography, but other things are let slide.

When it comes to comments, the first thing I try to do is commend what was done correctly. And follow up by politely saying where I think technical issues etc where.

IMO, we dont need youtube like comments posted anon.

I will say this. When I watch all the original entries I watch them at their respective compressed size. And this is where my votes come from. For second round I drop all the entries into a timeline and render for viewing via hdmi to my bravia. And I must say that if it were possible, my second round votes would have changed (I do understand the compressed entries arent meant for this, but it helps me see them how I want to).

In future if I do vote, I will do this with my personal top 10 before first round voting ends. But therein lies a small issue for me. Its very easy IMO, to miss things in a small compressed web version compared to viewing - sometimes good things one of the filmaker has spent a lot of time and thought on to get in the shot and viewed small, these things arent seen as well. And conversely etc.
 
That's a very good point - I watch mine on a 22" flat screen high res monitor, but I think cinematically some films will play better in more appropriate venues (even if thats a plasma screem in the living room as opposed to the computer - in between us checking emails etc.)
 
First, the winner for the most high brow college words goes to..... :)

lawriejaffa said:
I cringe when I sometimes hear a kind of, 'oh well some folks like this and others that so in the end its all relative.' It's not actually - an uneducated mass will be satisfied with slop. When I was a kind of dimwit (I still am but less so now...) I was as a filmmaker satisfied less with exploration than egotistical imitation, or superficiality. I refused to watch foreign films, didn't like reading... preferred watching and copying etc. Fortunately I evolved past that at the age of 16 ;)
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I find this comment a little disturbing, because it appears to bring into question someone's maturity level if they're not making extremely artistic, thought provoking films? Remember, filmmaking is a business as well, and there are some that want to make money at the business, and have aspirations to someday produce mainstream features, etc.

Films similar to those that won are typically the kinds of films that also do commercially well in the theatrical & DVD markets. If they are commercially viable concepts (i.e. making the studios money because people WANT to see them, and therefore pay to do so), it makes sense that they'd also end up being audience favorites.

Personally, while I can appreciate the types of films you speak of (artistic, high brow, etc), does it mean that I have any desire to make them? Not really, because I know it's a smaller niche audience that will understand and/or truly enjoy them. Does it mean I'm immature as a filmmaker, and that I'm the equivalent mindset of a 16 year old? I'd like to think not.

Truth be told, I LOVE comedy, and watching stuff blow up in action films, etc. I've just not gotten around to making one yet, and have been stuck in this rut of dreary, depressing, someone dies kind of filmmaking. But I'm looking to change that....

People get into this industry most often because they ENJOY it. What they enjoy is going to be different to them, than it will be to the next person, just like the end product will appeal to some, and others not as much. No one can understand the psychology of someone enough through these boards to determine that they've not 'advanced' enough as a filmmaker, and are therefore making drivel. Who knows what's built their character to give them utter joy in making the stuff they do make? Who has the right to even bring it into question? :huh: If it entertains, let it be.

The 'educated' market you're referring to tends to be the more culturally rich market (i.e. they read a LOT, they pick apart story, character, etc.) ... they are this market because they CHOOSE to be, and that's what they enjoy. But, let's face it, it is a smaller niche, and not the majority. For those people who make films for this market to enjoy & appreciate; Godspeed. They shouldn't be critiqued for doing so, anymore than the guy who makes a more commercially viable/wider audience appealing film.
 
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