Questions about the Hero Fest

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Matthew B. Moore

Matthew B. Moore

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I've watched several of these and have been entertained for the most part. There has been a lot of good "campy" stuff (by good I mean funny to the point where it works) and some really cool back stories but...not enough ass whoppin'.

Now, I don't know why this is, but there seems to be an awful lot of focus on the heroes and not a whole lot on the super.

I know what you are saying, "If you want more super to the hero, make your own damn film." I know, I know. We would have done one, but time just wasn't letting us play that way.

I guess, going in I was hoping for some more action. Maybe it is just too damn hard to get all of that into 6 minutes.

This is not a slam on any one. It's just some thing I noticed and my curiosity was peaked. What I'm wondering is why certain roads were chosen and others weren't?
More a discussion than a debate.
 
I will agree with you on the action statement, Matthew, but what I'm going to take from this particular "fest" is that there were at least three entries that made me think. There's been a lot of discussion about "you should have done this" or "you should have done that" and I'm to blame in this, too, but at the top of this category, I saw two, perhaps three movies that were as good as any in any of the DVXUser fests.

It was great to see people I know (on the boards) who are "getting their feet wet." Overall, I'm pleased with what I've seen in HeroFest. I'm only disappointed that so many found so many excuses to drop out.

HorrorFest is on the way. I'm not in. (officially) But if I get an entry together I'll be just as excited as everyone else entering. Horror is, after all, the ground floor of indie filmmaking.

For me, several things are going to have to come together for me to enter HorrorFest, not the least of which is coming up with a story I can tell in 5-6 minutes. I have no problem writing 100-110 pages but tell it in 6 pages, well, that takes a special talent.

And that is a major beef I have about people complaining about character development in 6 pages. Short stories are all about the setup and payoff, not character development. The short feature is analogous to the short story. Give me an engaging story in 6 minutes and I can forgive a little lack of character development. If I get it, that's just icing on the cake.

In HeroFest, I got it on Cache, and to some degree in Bone Hand.

There was a lot more comedic entries than I expected but that's okay. DahopaFilms' Bucketman was as entertaining as anything I could have hoped for.

Every fest develops its own personality. I have to respectfully disagree with anyone who feels that the talent in HeroFest was lacking. In some cases, it may not have been what I was expecting but I saw several very talented entries. I also saw several entries that I am sure were "cut to size" and need to be seen in their full length version to appreciate. The only problem with that is that in this particular venue, you can take "potential" (their full length version) into account. I also saw a couple of entries by members who had also entered in SciFest that were remarkable improve.

I believe that HorrorFest will be incredible. There will be entries that are not up to snuff. There will also be entries that are from "first timers" and will be a launching pad for better films in the future.

There will be "Similo" threads, or as in HeroFest, "Bone Hand" threads, where very good films will go through excruciating scrutiny. What would really be great would be to see less defensiveness and more meaningful interaction.

ZombieFest...unfortunately I have only seen a few of the entries. Of those, HorseFilms, John_Hudson, Jack Daniel Stanley, disjecta, Curugon, and Rikki Rocket, were good and I enjoyed them. I would love to seem more if anyone has them downloaded or can point me to a website.

SciFest...I watched every single one. Commented on most. A lot of good stuff...some not so good. BUT a lot of heart and soul was put into this contest.

HeroFest...not as many entries but still some gems. Perhaps the best short I have ever seen was in HeroFest and a couple of others were right up there with the best that DVXUsedr has to offer.

HorrorFest...how can this not be the BEST?!!?
 
for me i had to keep a watchful eye on the amount of time I could use for fights
beacuse while the outcome of the fight always effects the story its rare when the content of the fight has a lot to do with the story

... an example where the content of the fight has to do with the story would of course be Rocky ... where the protag has to dig deep to some inner fuel station of courage and preserverance that we've seen him struggle with for ninety minutes ... but again, most of the time while the outcome of the fight effects the story there's not much story content in the fight.

so for me I had to stay focused on the plot poing reveal for each fight - the first one in Bone Hand - show the power in action, the second one SPOILER ALERT - get the girl shot.

So then the fight scenes became about economy so I wouldn't have to rush the relationship scenes in the 6 minutes.
 
I been dissappointed with the overall in the fest. less people and stories that either colide with simularities or poorly executed. there is one movie I really enjoyed because it dark theme but it's character development, camera movement, well designed lighting and lack of words summed up everything. I speak of Cache. A good film quiet and powerful. TGTN by conrad is weird but it did what it was suppose to do and I liked that film as well. and bone hand is shot very well.

BUT everything else is like bad 48 hour film projects. and the thing is people have monthes to make these movies and to be on par with movies that are made in 48 hours is kinda sad or rediculous.

I dunno I know their are learniers here but I want more.

come on, people step it up.

At least on the next one. I know I'm in.
 
Golly, Spidey, sorry we couldn't deliver for you and that ONCE A HERO is only on par with a 48 hour film project.

I'll try to either really step it up just for you in the next contest, or bag it all together.

Sound good, Pumpkin?
 
spidey said:
I been dissappointed with the overall in the fest. less people and stories that either colide with simularities or poorly executed. there is one movie I really enjoyed because it dark theme but it's character development, camera movement, well designed lighting and lack of words summed up everything. I speak of Cache. A good film quiet and powerful. TGTN by conrad is weird but it did what it was suppose to do and I liked that film as well. and bone hand is shot very well.

BUT everything else is like bad 48 hour film projects. and the thing is people have monthes to make these movies and to be on par with movies that are made in 48 hours is kinda sad or rediculous.

I dunno I know their are learniers here but I want more.

come on, people step it up.

At least on the next one. I know I'm in.
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Let's see, we got our DVX in the fist week of MAY. There went four months of planning because we didn't even know if we could enter the fest. Our lead actor could only shoot on ONE weekend so we had to rush to plan on friday and shoot saturday and sunday to get what we had. Not complaining, I love our end product, but to expect so much from people is only going to let you down.

When I first started watching these films, I was really technical about what was going on. Then I watched them again later for entertainment and was so entertained that I nearly cried. "DIAPER BOY!" comes to mind. So to get on people because you expected more isn't, in my opinion, fair to what they HAVE accomplished.

I am also very forgetfull, can you tell me what you entered spidey? I can't remember.

And for Horrorfest, Aftershock Studios is bringing it for SURE!!!
:costumed-smiley-047
 
Pretty harsh spidey. Lots of work went into these films and to tear them down like that by generalizing all of them into two categories is a bit crappy.
 
actually envision I like your movie besides for the audio thing. good shots and cool locations. but im saying the general overall view of the film have be less than on par. we should be expecting for new talent and real amazement from film makers. Because we are all film makers and lovers. I dont like sitting through the movies you cant even stand. like some movie were not even falling in place. it seems the tougher critized work goes towards the seasoned guys and the wow this is great goes to the guy who could have done better in some cases. I like 6 films in this competition but I was hoping for more. There should be more to be expected. We should be see great stuff.

But I do apologize i know some people are not as diverse in certian areas which could have crippled them.

but movies like one man's epic? wheres the point?

Bucketman is great
JUL is great
Once Hero Great
Bone Hand Great
TGTN Great
Cache Great!

I just find it difficult to see some work that had alot of time and fall short.

I mean look all the hard work JDS put in on sfx CC story and action then you have other which silly out comes or driving sterotypes with homosexual theme for no reason.

I just want fairness but qualtiy effort and I miss not seeing some works from previous competitons because they were stumped in the scifi fest do to drama issues.

This what I do for a living I guess thats why I get so irritated by it. Sorry to those I may offend as my friends.

Highland, you dont know me so dont bug me.

DJ, Im harsh because I say alot things other dont say when they know it. While at the office or at the school we teach at we show these films to the students and they wonder how or why that was there. we use alot our films from these fest a tools in teaching. the what to do ands and not to dos of film making. but they wonder sometimes why prasie is given to projects while other are over looked. I fear some of the best movies here can be overlooked sometimes.

I just want these fest to be continuing places for new talent and art. But this time I feel like some of that was missing this time.

but like I said I like some but there are many that are just......
 
Envision said:
Golly, Spidey, sorry we couldn't deliver for you and that ONCE A HERO is only on par with a 48 hour film project.

I'll try to either really step it up just for you in the next contest, or bag it all together.

Sound good, Pumpkin?
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Not just you Norm but everyone in here that is starting to get emotional:

I have alway's applauded Spidey's honesty in these forum's. It isn't personal Norm. Jeremy is one of the very few persons in here that will 'say it'' and say it without being a d*ck.

There is no need to question Jeremy's filmmaking talent (Check SCIFEST: He can shoot circles around most of us) and his calling 'For More' is a challenge for all of us.

I agree with everything (more or less) Jeremy has stated in these thread's about Herofest.

It is pretty underwhelming this go-around.
 
I'm with Spidey

I couldn't make it for Hero_fest, wish I could have. Horror-fest is definitely on.

I'm now afraid of giving anymore critiques because I got PMs last time I did from a lot of people telling me that it was basically wrong and that I should be back patting.

But, at least I can second someone else's motion, who's obvious got the right to speak his mind.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
for me i had to keep a watchful eye on the amount of time I could use for fights
beacuse while the outcome of the fight always effects the story its rare when the content of the fight has a lot to do with the story

... an example where the content of the fight has to do with the story would of course be Rocky ... where the protag has to dig deep to some inner fuel station of courage and preserverance that we've seen him struggle with for ninety minutes ... but again, most of the time while the outcome of the fight effects the story there's not much story content in the fight.

so for me I had to stay focused on the plot poing reveal for each fight - the first one in Bone Hand - show the power in action, the second one SPOILER ALERT - get the girl shot.

So then the fight scenes became about economy so I wouldn't have to rush the relationship scenes in the 6 minutes.
Click to expand...

JDS,
I thought your film had a good combination of all of the elements. It was heroish in that "Blade" or "Ghost Rider" kind of way. Though there are some areas of the film I would have done differently, you may have come the closest to capturing the "hero" term that I find to be so clouded in this comp.

The genre lends it self to be playful. Many chose that path. Some did well, others...eh. Ben, Jeremy, and myself had several discussions on what we would do for "hero fest" that would blow the doors off the festival. There was much debate. "You can't have a hero with out an origin, maybe that could be done in a 30 sec. opening montage." "Maybe we should start with a fight, tell some story and then go back into another fight." It bounced around for a while.

Is it the 6min.? "A creative filmmaker shouldn't worry about such limitations," some might say. "What the hell?" a writer may say. I don't think it is the time. That is a minor set back.

The best I could come up with would be the fact that we have had super-hero/hero stories just pounded into our heads for so long, that to begin to tackle the genre in 6 minutes seems impossible. More like fun, but I can see how the mind would get clouded trying to widdle the story down, once the hero blood was pumping.

I can only wonder from this point.
 
I kind of judge these films on two fronts. On one I judge them by the interior world of DVXuser - looking at their progression, and skills in handling basic filmmaking.

On the other front, I judge them by an international standard - compared to short films from Cannes, TIFF, Sundance, USC, etc...

Steve Martin once said that all success is preceded by a series of failures. In that sense these fests are invaluable. They give filmmakers the chance to sharpen their skills and get relevant feedback in a fellowship-like environment.
When they get into real money and competitive paradigms, then those opportunities are far less applicable, or are very expensive.

To be honest, I haven't seen any dvxuser film, in any dvxuser fest, that could compete internationally at the highest levels (yet). However, I would be surprised if that was the case. Those films cost much more, usually use working professionals, and are the final result of several short film attempts.

So, for the first front (the dvxuser environment), I didn't see more of a disparity of quality than in the other fests. Some films were stand outs, and some were obviously true neophytes, at the start of their journey. Technically many progressed, while story wise, there hasn't been the parallel development, IMHO.

There's an old saying "A rising tide raises all boats". Hopefully, with these fests that will be the outcome. It may take awhile, but I hope one day we'll see people actually use this as a spring board to enter international fests, and win some laurels. Maybe that's a grandiose idea, coming from a guy who hasn't entered shyte (too busy on a feature), but that's my three pence. :beer:



Cheers.


If you hold these films to an international standard, then I think it may be too much of a disincentive to the filmmakers ?
 
D_and_G said:
I kind of judge these films on two fronts. On one I judge them by the interior world of DVXuser - looking at their progression, and skills in handling basic filmmaking.

On the other front, I judge them by an international standard - compared to short films from Cannes, TIFF, Sundance, USC, etc...
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Exactly. I think everyone should be striving for a Cannes or Sundance short film. It's hard to do such a thing without funds, though. S'understandable.
 
I second this

For me I want to create a short film that looks 'Plucked' from a feature so-to-speak. I want Canne/Sundance/Toronto/Oscars .

Damn it; long way to go
 
highland_watcher said:
Let's see, we got our DVX in the fist week of MAY. There went four months of planning because we didn't even know if we could enter the fest. Our lead actor could only shoot on ONE weekend so we had to rush to plan on friday and shoot saturday and sunday to get what we had. Not complaining, I love our end product, but to expect so much from people is only going to let you down.

When I first started watching these films, I was really technical about what was going on. Then I watched them again later for entertainment and was so entertained that I nearly cried. "DIAPER BOY!" comes to mind. So to get on people because you expected more isn't, in my opinion, fair to what they HAVE accomplished.

I am also very forgetfull, can you tell me what you entered spidey? I can't remember.

And for Horrorfest, Aftershock Studios is bringing it for SURE!!!
:costumed-smiley-047
Click to expand...
Easy, there watcher of the Highlands. We had planned to shoot our short for the "Hero-fest", but luck, fate and a feature got in our way. The story was written, the costumes were designed and the characters were cast. We even had a location and were making the budget for crafty. There was much preproduction. Only with the saddest of faces and heavy hearts did we turn from the fest.
The inability to enter the fest doesn't mean that we aren't still are sr. memebers of DVXUSER with voting rights and opinions. I can't speak for the rest of my crew, but I simply call it as I see it. To do other wise is pointless. To sit there and lick some one's ass just because you don't want to hurt their feeling does them no good and at the same time gives you a nasty taste in the mouth.
This is a forum for dvxusers, those who wish to make the most of the DVX and it's wonderful ability to make things look so like film. With that said, this ain't no place for half stepping. Making film is a *****. There are a million things that can go wrong in pre, durring and in post-production. No one cares what you went through to loose. No one cares if your film took a long time to make if it sucks. The only time people really notice is if you entertain them. You make them wonder. You drive them to think, or wow them. The time for being sweet to people even though they suck is grades 1-12. The time to learn to accept critisism is in college or post highschool. The time to step it up is when you compete in places like this, where those who have the money and the power may just get a small whisper of your name if your show just kicks all ass. It's not easy. Maybe Spidey wants more of every one. If you are a DVXuser, maybe you need to be more of a bad ass.

I'm not sure. Take it with a grain of salt. Some one called a work of mine "cheezy" the other day. He doesn't know what it is about, he simple stated what he thought. It kind of pissed me off (I've made 3 of them now and they are my whole life), but it made me think. I never dump any one's critisism unless it's completely stupid hippy dribble. That's why I'm a member. I am not a member of any other forum.
 
Not blowing smoke up your azz John, but with the right crew and story, I can see you getting into Sundance's/TIFF's/etc.. competition (at least). If you don't mind me sayin', you just have to use all that theory you've been studying. Indeed, there's a handful here who I feel have that potential.

After this feature I'm rewriting is done, I'm going to have to do a short. Too many financeers need a short to see a translatable skill. For me, that will be my litmus test - the international fest. See you on the slopes (Cannes) or on the nude beach (Cannes) - scratch that - the bar would be better:grin:






Cheers.
 
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Matthew B. Moore said:
Easy, there watcher of the Highlands. We had planned to shoot our short for the "Hero-fest", but luck, fate and a feature got in our way. The story was written, the costumes were designed and the characters were cast. We even had a location and were making the budget for crafty. There was much preproduction. Only with the saddest of faces and heavy hearts did we turn from the fest.
The inability to enter the fest doesn't mean that we aren't still are sr. memebers of DVXUSER with voting rights and opinions. I can't speak for the rest of my crew, but I simply call it as I see it. To do other wise is pointless. To sit there and lick some one's ass just because you don't want to hurt their feeling does them no good and at the same time gives you a nasty taste in the mouth.
This is a forum for dvxusers, those who wish to make the most of the DVX and it's wonderful ability to make things look so like film. With that said, this ain't no place for half stepping. Making film is a *****. There are a million things that can go wrong in pre, durring and in post-production. No one cares what you went through to loose. No one cares if your film took a long time to make if it sucks. The only time people really notice is if you entertain them. You make them wonder. You drive them to think, or wow them. The time for being sweet to people even though they suck is grades 1-12. The time to learn to accept critisism is in college or post highschool. The time to step it up is when you compete in places like this, where those who have the money and the power may just get a small whisper of your name if your show just kicks all ass. It's not easy. Maybe Spidey wants more of every one. If you are a DVXuser, maybe you need to be more of a bad ass.

I'm not sure. Take it with a grain of salt. Some one called a work of mine "cheezy" the other day. He doesn't know what it is about, he simple stated what he thought. It kind of pissed me off (I've made 3 of them now and they are my whole life), but it made me think. I never dump any one's critisism unless it's completely stupid hippy dribble. That's why I'm a member. I am not a member of any other forum.
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Dude, I got in trouble for saying the same exact thing during Sci-Fest. I think you might've said it a bit more softly than I, though.

Senior Members get all the privledges. :pout:

I agree, one-hundred percent. If you can't take the criticism, it's the wrong industry/business/profession/field/craft to be in. I am expectig to get ripped on my first short film, waiting for it actually. I expect to get ripped whenever I let someone read my writing, because I'm still uber-amateur... but I can take it. I would expect that anyone serious about being a "filmmaker" to be prepared for this, emotionally more so.

I get the buddy-buddy stuff, but no one is helping anyone by fondling each other oh-so-gently.

I try not to be negative, though, after I got Pmed to death last time. So, I just don't comment on the ones that ... well... "didn't do it for me.". The ones that I did comment on had something going for it.

So Matt and Spidey are in for Horror-fest yeah? Beware.
 
be afraid......
images
 
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I totally understand all the sentiments that have been expressed here....however, I'd like to give my "side" of the story, if I may.

I entered this festival knowing that my skills were not up to International Feature Film levels, I also entered knowing that I would lack the experience with the equipment possessed by many of the people here on this site, I entered knowing that I didn't have financial backing to support an award winning cast/crew, I entered knowing that I had little chance of winning. So, why did I enter?

I entered because in past festivals I saw entries that were of varying levels of skill/expertise and with it I saw great feedback from those here who were "senior" in their ability. I saw opportunity to "put my hand to the plow" and actually create something instead of continually reading about how to "make something"; and I knew that I would get honest, complete feedback that would help me to learn and grow.

Spidey, you mention that you use these films in your classes to teach students what not to do....why can't you provide that same information here? Sure it would wonderful if everyone that entered made Oscar worthy films, but since they aren't and you are still watching...why not take your critical eye (of which I have seen great feedback/comments from you) and help us "less than stellar filmmakers" learn so the next festival will be better?

It is great to hear people applaud you, but I don't think anyone here enters for that goal exclusively. This is supposed to be (at least I thought it was) a site dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and expertise...why can't that extend to the festivals?

Along with that, I think the "international quality" films you all refer to had larger than $400 budgets and more experienced cast/crew and more than 3 months from concept to release.

Kholi - I don't know why you would be PM'd for negative comments....in my mind that is the whole point of this festival. I was anxiously awaiting the "negative comments", not because I like to hear negative things...but I knew it would be honest and fair.

Please understand, I'm not upset at the comments and ideas suggested in this thread. And I am in no way feeling defensive because my film was not one of the favorites. I just want to make sure everyone remembers this is supposed to be a place to grow and to help others grow.


Peace!
 
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