Pretentious

Matt Sconce

Matt Sconce

Veteran
I just wanted to cover something. I have been reading in other threads that some people think the quotes someone has on their banner makes them pretentious. I just wanted to discuss this briefly. These are responses from other people. A film maker, including them on their banner does not make them pretentious:
-characterized by assumption of dignity or importance. -making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

They are simply happy with the reactions they are getting from viewers and want others to know what some people are thinking. Sometimes, when people see other people liked a film, they think "Well maybe I will take the time to see it."

To be Pretentious, the Film maker, would have to be agreeing with the statements and trumpeting their own glory (being ostentatious). Showing what other people thought, does not do this. The film maker is not declaring it to be true, just quoting others opinions.

It is ridiculous to hide great reviews at the fear others will think the film maker is pretentious for being happy about getting them. How many eggshells are we having to walk on when it has gotten to this?

Come on people.
 
hehe. you have to take such comments with a pinch of salt.

The way I saw it, im pretty new here (ish) and my film didnt have much exposure as it was a late entry compared to most. I've not chatted to many people on here before either, so not many people know who I am..... So I shamelessly needed to use the quotes to get some attention. Other people are putting up competitions about their films, prizes. Its all good marketing.

I actually don't like doing it. But of course I want as many people as possible to see my film and comment on it. I figure this - If you got a film in the fest then you have the right to milk it until it's a shrivled balloon. Isnt that the business we're in?

If i could have done an animated banner like Jack's I think thats tidier....
 
I have to say, I've been very limited on time and have not been able to devote the necessary viewing time most of the horrorfest entries deserve. I've been torn between commenting on the few I've seen and not commenting on others. Is it fair? (Not that my opinion would matter all that much, haha!)

But had it not been for some of those comments in banners that I read, I would have missed out on some really GREAT entries. I'm not familiar with who submitted what, but I'm glad I paid attention to the banners.

:)
 
well as long as you view and vote - it will count in the end. I spent a whole weekend on here and i didnt have time to write reviews of all the films. I dont think anyone expects that.

But I looked at a poll for I think Sci-fest where it showed that a big chunk of people only watched 1-10 films. I thought if I dont advertise there isnt a chance people would watch mine as Im not one of the usual suspects in these fests.
 
At one point, there was discussion of making the submissions anonymous (did we do that at any point? I'm old, cant remember) so that "the usual suspects" situation would not apply.
 
I'm almost convinced that PRETENTIOUS is the most mis-used word in "the industry".

I'd ignore it, if I were you. It's one of those words that people toss around to make themselves sound better-than.
 
As long as you keep them to a minimum (I don't want to scroll through a hundred comments in each person's sig line), I don't see how it is any different than a film putting comments from media sources on their posters/marketing material.
 
thartley said:
At one point, there was discussion of making the submissions anonymous (did we do that at any point? I'm old, cant remember) so that "the usual suspects" situation would not apply.
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I guess that wouldnt work becasue of all the build-up to the fest and behind the scenes footage people post. Its gets people excited and I think it a good part of the festival too. A general promotion.
 
Darkline said:
I guess that wouldnt work becasue of all the build-up to the fest and behind the scenes footage people post. Its gets people excited and I think it a good part of the festival too. A general promotion.
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That originally was not allowed and would actually disqualify your entry to hype it prior to voting. I think the ability to talk about your project and get people interested in what you are doing is a big piece of learning how to grease wheels. So it comes with the territory. Seemed to work out okay. :)
 
Matt - I don't want to come off pretentious, I was working on shallow and
materialistic.
 
I would like to comment here, not on the quotes in the banner because I think that is all legitimate promo and part of filmmaking. There are many of us who are new in this fest and want our films to be viewed. In a pool of 65 films... that is asking a lot of a viewer and a little promotion can go a long way to boost your visibility. I do wish, however, that I knew more about animated gifs and flash because I have felt selfish by taking up so much space in my sig.

(okay, I guess I DID want to comment there! :) )

But what I do want to comment on is the fact that I believe if you viewed someones work you should make a comment. Even a small one to give the filmmaker some kind of feedback. I've seen both detailed reviews and brief but honest comments and I believe either would be beneficial to the filmmaker.

There are many of us who are realistic and realize that a chance at a prize is a pipe-dream. But we take the time to make a film for:

a) the experience
b) to show our fellow dvxusers our work
c) and to receive feedback from the viewer to become better at this craft

And the feedback is so useful. I know that I myself, became so close to my project (having created it entirely on my own save for two appearance that I could not do myself) that the feedback has been enlightening. It has forced me to recognize things that I couldn't see.

I have learned a great deal just hearing some of the comments. And the comments that are repeated are reinforced in my head as something that I need to pay better attention to in the future.

I know that it is difficult to watch and comment on 65 films. It has taken up a lot of my time. But I feel that I owe it to the filmmaker and it helps me to have to articulate some of my reactions for the film.

Just my 2 cents.
 
TheatreGuy, you are so right, of course. On all points. I'm taking the time to post here, so I ought to take the time to post my comments. Its really hard for me to be negatively critical of someone's work because I know how hard (understatement!) it is to pull off a production with limited crew/cast. But I also know without the feedback, its hard to grow into your dreams.

*sigh* My apologies... comments forthcoming.
 
Save the promotion and hoo-ha until you are trying to sell. This is a competion. One shouldn't have to put reviews on a piece durring a competition. Scene stills are cool because they show the quality of the work. All of us are looking for ways to drive the quality. Posting reviews is useless. The tread alone works just fine. The film should speak for itself. Let it do it's thing. Let it be it's own hype.
Not to say it isn't allowed, but it does tend to cheapen the experience.
 
Matthew B. Moore said:
Save the promotion and hoo-ha until you are trying to sell. This is a competion. One shouldn't have to put reviews on a piece durring a competition. Scene stills are cool because they show the quality of the work. All of us are looking for ways to drive the quality. Posting reviews is useless. The tread alone works just fine. The film should speak for itself. Let it do it's thing. Let it be it's own hype.
Not to say it isn't allowed, but it does tend to cheapen the experience.
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Did you tell Spidey that? Just making sure it's all fair. y'know.
 
O.K. I got on the boat and added the quotes. I’m proud to have finally made something worth talking about. I've been learning how to direct for the last five years, nothing else I’ve made has got anywhere near the same reaction as ‘Broken Circle.’

To be honest before I made this film I had almost given up. Talking crew into making things that never saw the light of day. Reading books, shooting everything for free and getting ripped. Blah, blah blah.

I was at the point when I thought, come off it, you’ve been doing this for a while now are you really going to make the family suffer anymore? Luckily my wife has backed me all the way, (she’s the dark haired one in the film), but if I’m really honest, I could see something in her eyes that said ‘I love you but I’m just not sure anymore’ even my mum is like “So when are things going to start happening for you?” Talk about pressure. Entering this festival has got my confidence back, it’s done more for my self-esteem than any single moment during the past five years. Am I afraid to shout about it? Hell no.

J.P.
 
Kholi said:
Did you tell Spidey that? Just making sure it's all fair. y'know.
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I don't control Spidey. He can do what he wants. Perhaps he thought he had too.
Filmmaking on this level should be pure. You can check my posts, I'm no hippocrate. You can ask Spidey what a purist I am. I make film. I love film. I don't give a damn about the rest.

I find it funny that I can compliment the hell out of someones film and still get blasted for it.

If you will revisit the thread, you will find that I told JDS that his film didn't need the promotion, it can stand on it's own just fine.

My reviews are honest. I don't kiss ass and I don't say things just to hurt peoples feelings or make them look bad.
 
Matthew B. Moore said:
So am I. Your proir comment did come off as if you wanted an explaination. Yes?
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No?

I just wanted to know if you realized that your production partner had also been listing reviews. But, you made a valid point--

You can't control what he does. Just wanted everyone to be fair about it. Even though it's such a small, unimportant thing.

I didn't even know you were reviewing anyones entries so I had no idea what the heck you were typing about.
 
You see it as small and unimportant (like a fly turd), I see it as crap that is not needed (You know, a small smudge of fly turd on a clean window). Kind of the same, I guess, yet it spawned this thread.

Funny - why wouldn't I be reviewing entries?

Kholi said:
No?

I just wanted to know if you realized that your production partner had also been listing reviews. But, you made a valid point--

You can't control what he does. Just wanted everyone to be fair about it. Even though it's such a small, unimportant thing.

I didn't even know you were reviewing anyones entries so I had no idea what the heck you were typing about.
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