The Official Winners!

Jarred - I think with the removal of special effects you will see a plethora of
stories coming out of the whazoo. Story driven films will be fun to watch, looking
forward to it.
 
Jarred - I think with the removal of special effects
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Hey! Let's not ban VFX!!! (the VFX guys whines) Good effects are those that both advance the story and which don't call attention to themselves. I think what Jarred is saying is that the "offbeat" themes (zombies, sci-fi, horror) are what have suppressed the attention to story. Frankly, I am hoping the next fest will be simply DRAMA so the writers here can show their stuff.
 
First, Congrats to everyone! It's been an exciting first time experience here and I
can't wait for the next one! I'm with Mark on the effects cat. Stealth effects are
the best and since the ballot is already skewed towards skillset why remove it?

Just add an Overall and Originality slot to even out the ballot.
 
Congratulations everyone, and thank you for a wonderful fest. Looking forward to the next one.
 
Nobody's saying you can't use VFX, just that we've had ZombieFest, Sci-Fest, Hero-Fest and HorrorFest, all heavily dependent on VFX. So opening it up to stories that don't necessarily rely on someone's VFX skills will help us do two things:
1) brings in more potential films from filmmakers who aren't VFX wizards, and
2) focuses more on story than effects, so hopefully all the entrants can grow their storytelling skills too.
 
IMHO storytelling is not something that you do only in drama or comedy coz I think this is where we're headed. I think that there's been some misunderstanding between screenplay and story in this fest ( i dont know about the previous, wasnt there).

I think almost all of the entries had a story to tell. But some failed to do so properly in various ways. But a story was there.

So I guess that you could put the same people, rewrite their shorts and that would help them improve their screenplay skills. Its not a matter of vfx-based themes or not. And if some people can't cope with screenplay then having them to make a drama or a comedy wont mean they ll be able to do so just because its a comedy or a drama. They ll still have a story to tell but the point is to learn how to tell the story and that is screenplay since we re talking about movies not books.

I know for example where both my entries lacked in terms of screenplay but they both had a story to tell. Some got it, others missed it, and that's where I must focus.

Dont get me wrong, I love the drama/comedy challenge, but lets not make this a 'improve your writing skills' fest.
 
Barry_Green said:
Nobody's saying you can't use VFX, just that we've had ZombieFest, Sci-Fest, Hero-Fest and HorrorFest, all heavily dependent on VFX. So opening it up to stories that don't necessarily rely on someone's VFX skills will help us do two things:
1) brings in more potential films from filmmakers who aren't VFX wizards, and
2) focuses more on story than effects, so hopefully all the entrants can grow their storytelling skills too.
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Agree 100%.

As an observer of these fests, there has been a useful improvement in certain areas - cinematography, sound, editing (through sharing info. and communication) IMHO. However, there hasn't been anywhere near that same improvement in storytelling, or freshness and originality. In other words, it's time the focus is brought back to the building blocks of storytelling.

Perhaps, Drama will accomplish this, primarily because it demands that focus.

Congrats to everyone who entered a film. It's been a cool fest... :beer:

Just my 3 pence.
 
Jack, what I meant with my last post was that I dont think a drama/comedy will make people improve theirs (mine as well) screenplay skills just because it's a comedy or drama. Because it's like we re not addressing the problem the right way. Its not the vfx or the horror/zombies/hero/sci-fi themes that work as a containment environment for people to sharpen their pencils. They could have done great screenplays with those (as IMHO you did, bloody mary did and so on...).

I just objected to the whole 'ok you need to grow as screenwriters, so do a drama' idea. Coz if people think that just by doing drama they improve their skills in screenplay writing is just wrong and that will lead to lots of drama or comedy entries that again have a story but most wont be able to follow it and depending on the genre laugh or cry.
 
Excellent, well done, so pleased for you all :eek:),
Can't believe that Bloody Mary was the fiirst film i watched :eek:) and although i didn't watch all of them, Jacks film was the last one i watched :eek:S lol, nice one :eek:)
 
Jarred Land said:
Story is something people seem to struggle with, you guys are getting the actual production values pretty high. Next fest I think we are going to push it towards a story driven contest.. enough with the offbeat themes for a change.
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Yes, yes, yes. Please pick drama. Give us effects challenged filmmakers a chance.

Chris
 
the VFX rating is kinda strange to me. Does this mean a film that doesnt have special effect will automatically be handicapped?
 
Jarred Land said:
Next fest I think we are going to push it towards a story driven contest.. enough with the offbeat themes for a change.
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Just when I think I'm out... they PULL ME BACK IN!!!
 
Congratulations to everyone who made a film and to all the winners.

Now what's this I hear about a comedy fest?
 
Here's an idea... instead of giving the award that was suggested a few pages back for the best screenplay for the next fest, shouldn't it go to the worst screenplay?? That would be the one who benefits from it. :)

Jason
 
Haha, well if you don't understand the elements of a screenplay (Microsoft Word) then you certainly won't know what it takes to put together a complete, whole, good screenplay. (Final Draft) -- A bad screenwriter learning a good program will surely benefit. However it's not like a beginner artist can create a Davinci as soon as he switches from pens and napkins to paintbrushes and canvases.
 
Congratulations J Dan !

Well deserved, in my not so humble opinion. All those nights working in the 70 year old dust and strawberry syrup were well spent indeed. The film was great and shows how much you have grown as a film maker and artist (because for most folks those are two totally different things).

I 've got your back on whatever you decide to do next. Thai food and beer is on me!

JF
 
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