Thoughts on TimeFest

[Tim Joy]

I have watched all the entries, and looking at the big picture, I think Duff hit the nail on the head.

The top entries all have two things in common: they have a great story that is executed well. I think where all the lesser films "failed", (mine included) was the initial writing and story (usually lack-of story). The recipe of shooting with an unfinished script cooks up a wandering, unfocused, boring, who-cares movie.

My story and script was not done by the time shooting HAD to start, but I was determined to get an entry in. You better believe that as soon as the next fest is announced, I will be writing my butt off, and rewriting, and rewriting....

Another few things that the top films had in common-

- The story was established RIGHT AWAY. With 6 min, there's no time. You gotta know what it's about in the first shot or less.

- There was a surprise ending, or some kind of unexpected twist.

- Every shot, every sound, every line, everything... supported the story. With 6 minutes, everything has to add to the story.

 

[Blaine]

I have watched all the entries, and looking at the big picture, I think Duff hit the nail on the head.

The top entries all have two things in common: they have a great story that is executed well. I think where all the lesser films "failed", (mine included) was the initial writing and story (usually lack-of story). The recipe of shooting with an unfinished script cooks up a wandering, unfocused, boring, who-cares movie.

My story and script was not done by the time shooting HAD to start, but I was determined to get an entry in. You better believe that as soon as the next fest is announced, I will be writing my butt off, and rewriting, and rewriting....

Another few things that the top films had in common-

- The story was established RIGHT AWAY. With 6 min, there's no time. You gotta know what it's about in the first shot or less.

- There was a surprise ending, or some kind of unexpected twist.

- Every shot, every sound, every line, everything... supported the story. With 6 minutes, everything has to add to the story.

Great post!

 

[Richard J. Johnson]

It is just like hollywood, some good, some bad, but great effort throughout.

 

[ZazaCast]

Great post!

Oh.. it's a LoveFest again...:laugh::laugh:

 

[Kholi]

I understand what you're saying. If I can't find something good to say, I'm not going to go in and thrash someone but I think it's doing a disservice to just stroke someone. And I'm not saying that everyone's doing that, I'm just seeing more this time around. I haven't seen any Kholi-style reviews...even by Kholi. His reviews could be tough, but a lot could be learned from reading them.

I'm at fault, too. I've been a lot less critical than I was three or four fests ago. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone but...

I was actually lookign forward to having my film brutally savaged by Kholi. His critiques are the most insightful and straightforward. Where the heck was he for this fest anyway?

One thing that I started feelin' bad about after last fest was having anything adverse to say about the shorts when everyone else had nothing but good things to say. Naturally, I did include a few things that I saw that WERE workin' for me when I posted and at the same time I had some discrepancies with shorts that I called to front.

I spent a lot of time watching and then REwatching the vast majority of those shorts so that I could form two separate opinions, combining both for something less of a review and more along the lines of Vocalizing thoughts and impressions.

But the TRUTH is that it's all just learning and there's no sense in pointing out what the creators can probably see themselves. I know when I did my very first short ever (See: All Hallows Fest -- Hang In Theare!) I could see a mass amount of flaws floating in that toilet. It wasn't the actors or the lack of crew, it was my lack of preparation to take on the project and so every flaw stuck out for me. I never finished that short. But that made me realize that it's probably best to let people learn on their own as opposed to becoming the bad guy in a thread by posting what you really think (with as much tact as one can muster.)

There's one really long post that I wrote for a member here and I went back and deleted it because I realized I had said the EXACT same thing back in another fest to the same member. I didn't realize it when I posted, but going back to the other fest to read my comments I was saying the EXACT same thing to the crew, just in a different way. Well, I'm no guru (and hey, I've only got one [bad] short under my belt) but if the comments aren't going to be heard or I'm going to look like the bad guy...

Then no way. I love DVXuser and I've gotten into enough trouble just battlin' it out in 35mm Adapter forums... I've got no intention of becomin' the bad guy in these fests.

I think Blaine's right in that I'd rather just not comment and save myself the trouble as opposed to putting effort into watching, re-watching and SEEING what could've helped this that and the other.

When I actually enter a fest for competition and the rest of you can tear me in half I'll start commenting again. Other that, everyone's doing a good job. Just keep shooting and learning.

 

[Rodney V. Smith]

Kholi: didn't mean to make you the bad guy. I really did enjoy your critiques --yes after a bout of depression and a night of hard drinking, but that's only cuz you hit every thing that I knew was wrong with the short in the first place. :grin:

I realized that I was being lazy and I was glad you pointed it out, the fact that we can;t afford to be lazy and just do the best we can.

 

[conrad_johnson]

One thing that I started feelin' bad about after last fest was having anything adverse to say about the shorts when everyone else had nothing but good things to say. Naturally, I did include a few things that I saw that WERE workin' for me when I posted and at the same time I had some discrepancies with shorts that I called to front.

I spent a lot of time watching and then REwatching the vast majority of those shorts so that I could form two separate opinions, combining both for something less of a review and more along the lines of Vocalizing thoughts and impressions.

But the TRUTH is that it's all just learning and there's no sense in pointing out what the creators can probably see themselves. I know when I did my very first short ever (See: All Hallows Fest -- Hang In Theare!) I could see a mass amount of flaws floating in that toilet. It wasn't the actors or the lack of crew, it was my lack of preparation to take on the project and so every flaw stuck out for me. I never finished that short. But that made me realize that it's probably best to let people learn on their own as opposed to becoming the bad guy in a thread by posting what you really think (with as much tact as one can muster.)

There's one really long post that I wrote for a member here and I went back and deleted it because I realized I had said the EXACT same thing back in another fest to the same member. I didn't realize it when I posted, but going back to the other fest to read my comments I was saying the EXACT same thing to the crew, just in a different way. Well, I'm no guru (and hey, I've only got one [bad] short under my belt) but if the comments aren't going to be heard or I'm going to look like the bad guy...

Then no way. I love DVXuser and I've gotten into enough trouble just battlin' it out in 35mm Adapter forums... I've got no intention of becomin' the bad guy in these fests.

I think Blaine's right in that I'd rather just not comment and save myself the trouble as opposed to putting effort into watching, re-watching and SEEING what could've helped this that and the other.

When I actually enter a fest for competition and the rest of you can tear me in half I'll start commenting again. Other that, everyone's doing a good job. Just keep shooting and learning.

Boo on that. I'd love a real Kholi review. It's so damn helpful for next time, you know?

 

[Duff]

- There was a surprise ending, or some kind of unexpected twist.

Well, that's another one of my gripes, actually. A lot of short films seem formulaic, to the point where as the end approaches I'm saying, "Whoop! Wait! Wait for it... Here comes the twist... There it is!" There doesn't have to be a twist to make a good short -- it can just be a good story. Again, it's not that there's anything wrong with having a twist, it's just that the whole point of a twist is you aren't supposed to see it coming. A lot of films seem to be made as a set-up for the twist, as opposed to being an already intriguing story with a truly surprising ending.

 

[Kholi]

Kholi: didn't mean to make you the bad guy. I really did enjoy your critiques --yes after a bout of depression and a night of hard drinking, but that's only cuz you hit every thing that I knew was wrong with the short in the first place. :grin:

I realized that I was being lazy and I was glad you pointed it out, the fact that we can;t afford to be lazy and just do the best we can.

Oh, no I know you weren't tryin' to make me out to be a bad guy. But, the fact that you said you already knew that what I was pointing out was what might be not-so-good in your short just goes along with it. If you are serious about what you want to do (not you, but anyone) then you will sit in the objective seat when watching your own short and list everything you can see wrong with it then apply it to your next effort. Perhaps some of us do need someone else to throw some vegetables, but it's not necessary. And, I certainly do NOT want to discourage ANYONE from doing instead of talkin'. Like I said, I'm one short deep, what the BLEEP do I know?

Boo on that. I'd love a real Kholi review. It's so damn helpful for next time, you know?

Your short had boobies in it. I have to put on my grown up hat to actually review it.

 

[Mark Harris]

Your short had boobies in it. I have to put on my grown up hat to actually review it.

Come on, do you even have such a hat?

 

[Kholi]

Come on, do you even have such a hat?

No, actually, I don't. I don't think I've ever written anything serious in my life. :B

 

[Slimothy]

Kholi,
You da man, FOO.

 

[Mark Harris]

No, actually, I don't. I don't think I've ever written anything serious in my life. :B

 

[Kholi]

My ultimate goal in life is to make FOO a permanent addition to Webster's Dictionary.

 

[STYLZ]

I agree with that. There is no guarenteeing that specific people are going to read this thread, so the best bet is to leave feedback in their threads and not over generalize the entire fest. What Chris did was point out some things he saw a lot of, and that's okay, I think we should use this thread to discuss two things:

1) Thoughts on the fest as a whole
2) Dustin Rogan's interesting tattoo on his ass/his willingness to strip down

How you going to give tips and advice to someone who has never entered a fest but may enter one in the future "directly to them"? Consider my mind boggled.

 

[Slimothy]

My ultimate goal in life is to make FOO a permanent addition to Webster's Dictionary.

Well, we've been pimpin it, that's for sure.

 

[Gord.T]

Thoughts on the fest (as a whole):

It's people wanting to tell short stories. Some do it as a hobby, others are more serious about. It's people sharing ideas and trying to help each other.

To me it's not the kind of fest, like, say, Cannes or the Toronto Film Festival.
This has more of a schooling atmosphere where people come here to learn and one of the ways to learn is to 'do'. And that includes the ones who can't 'do' that well yet and even the ones who havn't 'do'ne yet.

And to emphasize that, how many times have you heard 'Why are you still here? Why aren't you making features?'

So if anyone expects all of the entries to be feature quality, your in the wrong
place.

The crits are very important. Personally, I find it very hard to critisize areas I don't know much about, and through past experience I've decided to leave that to the guys that know. I will comment in a friends thread or if I see something that compells me to comment.
And I certainly don't care how other people critisize.
Some seem outright mean, others sound like ass kissing. I don't care.
It's none of my damn business how people choose to respond.

So far, I can say I've seen a lot of good in everything I've seen.
Maybe that's just me. A number of them still need work, ofcourse.

I think it's a pretty good fest myself. And if you've been around long enough to recognize people, you can see them getting better with each entry. So, I'd say the fest is doing what it's supposed to.

(whew, being serious is draining.)

 

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Thoughts on the fest (as a whole):

It's people wanting to tell short stories. Some do it as a hobby, others are more serious about. It's people sharing ideas and trying to help each other.

To me it's not the kind of fest, like, say, Cannes or the Toronto Film Festival.
This has more of a schooling atmosphere where people come here to learn and one of the ways to learn is to 'do'. And that includes the ones who can't 'do' that well yet and even the ones who havn't 'do'ne yet.

And to emphasize that, how many times have you heard 'Why are you still here? Why aren't you making features?'

So if anyone expects all of the entries to be feature quality, your in the wrong
place.

The crits are very important. Personally, I find it very hard to critisize areas I don't know much about, and through past experience I've decided to leave that to the guys that know. I will comment in a friends thread or if I see something that compells me to comment.
And I certainly don't care how other people critisize.
Some seem outright mean, others sound like ass kissing. I don't care.
It's none of my damn business how people choose to respond.

So far, I can say I've seen a lot of good in everything I've seen.
Maybe that's just me. A number of them still need work, ofcourse.

I think it's a pretty good fest myself. And if you've been around long enough to recognize people, you can see them getting better with each entry. So, I'd say the fest is doing what it's supposed to.

(whew, being serious is draining.)

Awesome post! Couldn't agree more. :beer:

 

[snowleopard]

I find I'm having a hard time too. I didn't even want to make this post admitting it though for fear of retribution; "where's your movie?". This has been a tough one for me to get through, though there are some fine works here.

 

[ZazaCast]

Thoughts on the fest (as a whole):

It's people wanting to tell short stories. Some do it as a hobby, others are more serious about. It's people sharing ideas and trying to help each other.

To me it's not the kind of fest, like, say, Cannes or the Toronto Film Festival.
This has more of a schooling atmosphere where people come here to learn and one of the ways to learn is to 'do'. And that includes the ones who can't 'do' that well yet and even the ones who havn't 'do'ne yet.

And to emphasize that, how many times have you heard 'Why are you still here? Why aren't you making features?'

So if anyone expects all of the entries to be feature quality, your in the wrong
place.

The crits are very important. Personally, I find it very hard to critisize areas I don't know much about, and through past experience I've decided to leave that to the guys that know. I will comment in a friends thread or if I see something that compells me to comment.
And I certainly don't care how other people critisize.
Some seem outright mean, others sound like ass kissing. I don't care.
It's none of my damn business how people choose to respond.

So far, I can say I've seen a lot of good in everything I've seen.
Maybe that's just me. A number of them still need work, ofcourse.

I think it's a pretty good fest myself. And if you've been around long enough to recognize people, you can see them getting better with each entry. So, I'd say the fest is doing what it's supposed to.

(whew, being serious is draining.)

Awesome post! Couldn't agree more. :beer:

In total agreement....Excellent post...:beer: