At What Point Do You Stop Taking Feedback?

[Jordan Scott Price]

Same as I do with an edit. You listen to opinions and when you disagree, you really think about why you are doing it the way you are. You should justify it, honestly. If you can't, change it.

This is my feeling exactly. If someone challenges you, you should be able to defend your choices:

...but the character would try to hide his love for her because...

...but we have to have this scene to understand why this character is so afraid of crowds, which pays off in scene 22...

...but this story is about forgiveness, so she has to let it go instead of carrying a grudge...

OR, if it's a commentary on human failings,

...but this story is about forgiveness, so she has to carry a grudge...



Then, you can open yourself up for discussion about each point. A good writer/storyteller will be able to offer suggestions, but if you're just showing it to a couple friends, do NOT be surprised by their feedback. I'm sure a great deal of us have put a lot of heart and soul (and money, et al) into a film only for their friends to say, "It's good." You need a credible writer to critique a script. You need credible filmmakers to critique films.

A credible critic will say, "This scene isn't working for me because..." and "I don't feel this line is delivering what you want it do deliver." A pedestrian will begin their feedback with, "I like" or "I don't like" - that's an opinion on what is entertaining, not an opinion on what is artistically successful. Knowing that, you can filter what is feedback worth giving thought and what is just shoe leather.

 

[CheapFilmmaking.com]

I've been a long subscriber of "if it works for you, others opinions don't matter," but this was when I was still a snide kid who taught of the himself a renaissance man. How stupid. Other's opinions shouldn't govern your work, but you should also find time to think things through. If you get the same reaction with most of the people that has seen/read your work, then I think that would be something to consider. Also, I like what the other poster said about justification. If you can't justify it then its probably worth a re-write.

You just have to sift through all the opinions and look for the ones that you find constructive enough to work with.

 

[Ted Spencer]

Making heads or tails of one's own creative work...effectively...is one of the most challenging things for any artist to do. And it's just as hard at both extremes of ability; I've met many an artist absolutely convinced to their very core of the near-historic brilliance of their work, only to find it bored audiences in droves (see "Overnight", the amazing doc on the making of "Boondock Saints" for a great example of this syndrome). Conversely, many makers of truly exceptionally successful films, both critically and commercially, have been literally tormented by self-doubt as their not-yet-confirmed-as-masterpieces were being created (Coppola during "Apocalypse Now", Capra during many of his classic films are just two of countless examples).

So what do you do, right? How the hell do you know?

Well...you do...the best you can. Simple.

And mind-bendingly elusive...

Specifically, I think you *must* show your work to others for critique, and then you *must* weigh those opinions very carefully. Like others have said, there will be many, especially friends and family, who will simply say "I like it" or even "it's wonderful!". Beware. These kinds of comments are most likely (but not always, of course) worth exactly what you paid for them...

Then there are the opinions of knowledgeable folks you know or may have met, in person or elsewhere. These are clearly much more valuable, but again as others have pointed out, colossal errors of judgement have been made by such folks (such as no record company, for years, being willing to sign the band that to this day, and almost certainly forever, has sold the most albums by band in their debut ever: Boston). Yep, that happens all the time too.

So what do you do, right? How the hell do you know?

Blend all the above with you own tough, unflinching self-evaluation, and one more thing: trends. If a significant number of your critics agree on any 'issue' with your work, it is almost certainly an issue. You must fix that thing, even if it means 'killing your babies' as they say - eliminating some aspect of what you've done that you yourself simply love. Film history's editing rooms are littered with marvelous scenes that worked against the film overall. Many of them are in the DVD extra sections of the films in question. Pay heed...

Then, ultimately, at the end of the proverbial day...you pays your money and you takes your chances. You put the thing out and hope for the best.

Speaking of which, best of luck to you and your film!

 

[alex whitmer]

Imgine the same scenario if you were a painter, and those who view your work want to paint this part over, change that color and maybe add some trees for effect. You find some time alone to stare at the painting, imagining each of the thumbs-up and thumbs-down comments, and come to a decision.

Change or don't change?

You have to sort through the comments and be as objective as possible. Pet scenes and dialogue can cloud your thinking, so as mentioned before, if a few comments seem to focus on one or even two issues, then give it a shot and see if it works.

I am reminded of the scene in 'A Knighs Tale' where William asks his closest friends and love interest whether to run or stay, and they all said to run. And he weighed the comments, and decided to stay anyways, and it was the decision that changed his stars. It is your work, and only you know the real vision, and the motivation behind that vision, so even if everything points to the same issue, and you just don't want to monkey with it, then leave it.

Back to your original question - when do you know when to stop getting feedback? For me, up until the moment the cameras roll. I may get feedback, then sit on the work for some time before pursuing getting it produced, and then revisit it with the perspective time can offer, then maybe take a few more comments, then lock myself in a room once it's in production, and wait for the results.

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