where have the filmmakers gone?

Maybe the issue is DVXuesr does not condone or at least have a dedicated section for users to actually post their movies in.

Allow me to quote the current guidelines on the USER FILMS section, which in the way I read it states it is not to be used for posting films for feedback. I would like to add that I completely 100% disagree with these guidelines:

dvxuser said:
We have designed the "USER FILMS" section as a place for folks to post PRODUCTION DIARIES and BEHIND THE SCENES on the making of their shorts, features, music videos, commercials, etc.

It seems as though this section has become a "catch all" for a number of threads without anything but "watch my video" or "what do you think about this clip?" (These kinds of threads should be in their appropriate clip forum). We would like this section to get back to what it was originally designed for.

We have several guidelines that we would like each person to adhere to, and if you do not, we may move your thread or remove it completely. Please view the items below.
Click to expand...

The rules specify distinctly that you can post about your film but need to make it a "journal" for lack of a better word. (To which again I completely disagree with)

dvxuser said:
AD TITLES: We ask that you name your thread in a specific format. For example, if you're posting a thread for a feature film it would read "FEATURE: Stricken" If it's a short film it might read "SHORT: A Date with Destiny". There are built in prefix's that will help you with this.

2. CONTENT: We ask that you reserve at least TWO posts in your thread for Behind the Scenes content on your film, this can include behind the scenes photos, production notes, etc. We also ask that, IF POSSIBLE, you include a POSTER in the first post of your thread.

3. THREAD "FLOW": We ask that you keep your specific thread on point in discussing the challenges or technical details of your production process, etc. We don't want threads getting completely off-topic into something that should be discussed in another sub-forum.

4. CROWDFUNDING: If you would like to start your thread in pre-production and you are asking for CROWDFUNDING from one of the approved third-party websites (IndieGoGo and KickStarter), please review our policy below.

If you start and maintain an ongoing production journal on your thread, you are free to announce DVD sales, and engage in fundraising campaigns, etc. In other words if you maintain an informational/educational thread about your production process, there are commercial perks that come along with that.

If you share your process and your journey, others will benefit. You will also have built up a fan base by doing so. You give by sharing your process. You take by being allowed the commercial privileges listed above.

If you would like to post your work to share with the community from a more promotional standpoint, please feel free to do so. However, please be aware of the fact that commercial activities, such as fundraising and DVD sales will require a one-time $50 dollar advertising fee. You will be placed as a "sponsoring member" and may use this privilege indefinitely.

To pay for this fee, go to your USER CONTROL PANEL and click on PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS, this will bring you to a PayPal page where you can submit $50, which is good for 10 years.

If you have any questions regarding this or anything in the User Films section, please send a PM to one of the DVXuser moderators.
Click to expand...
 
Well, one can argue about the various guidelines, but I have to say I kinda agree with the part that says if you want to advertise selling the DVDs or downloads or otherwise promoting a commercial venture, you can't just jump in and have your one post be all about that. The commercial aspect should be reserved for those who put a bit more value added to the community here by sharing the journey of making the film, a thread with BTS and something that can be followed organically over time as the film was made. Or at the very least, it should have extensive discussion of BTS and the "making of", where the community here can participate, ask questions and so on, and the filmmaker(s) participate and answer questions. Otherwise you are just coming in asking to take from the community without giving anything back. I suppose the rules could be slightly loosened for members who have participated for a long time, as they have been adding value for years to the site. I don't think it's OK for someone new to just sign up and go "here's my movie, you can buy it here, thx, goodbye".

But guidelines or not, I think unless the site is very oriented to showcasing indie projects, you'll have the same issue wherever - show me any technically oriented site like dvxuser that has MORE participation by the community in giving feedback to posted work... it's tough all over. I also disagree with requiring posting of work before you can comment - that's a surefire way to clamp down on participation - people are simply not going to be as honest in their feedback if their identity can be traced back in real life... who needs that kind of risk or grief, given how crazy many folks tend to be about their work and bad at taking feedback especially if it's critical. I think keeping the anonymity is key in having more participation - people's profile and participation will give everyone an idea of what that feedback is worth from such a poster (f.ex. "Oh, that's OldCorpse - yeah, I'm gonna ignore everything that guy says").
 
i did not know that about the user films section! i think i've posted a film or two just as a "hey look at this!" kinda thing.

Yeah. you guys definitely need a single sub forum for people to just post their films, diary optional.
 
The "hey look what I made" thing is why I don't frequent the User Films section much anymore. I miss the production diaries.
 
So is the solution to keep things as is when there might be a void, or could it possibly make sense to have two sections to serve each group?
 
im unclear based on the above whether, with the current rules, you can post the actual finished film or ONLY trailers, clips, and then the diaries/bts info.

if you could post a finished film (if you so desired, i realize not everyone would) but make some bts info a requirement; that might be a decent compromise.

lets be honest, for some of these the only diary would be "some friends and i got together for two hours in the woods with some ketchup and goat feces and made this! Enjoy!". thats just how it is sometimes.
 
I think it's pretty clear that if you post BTS stuff, or a production diary, you totally can post your entire film. But let's be honest, these are guidelines, but how many people pay attention to those? I see stuff posted all the time, that's nothing but a single post "watch this" or even "hey we did this film we'd like you to buy on DVD or paid download/streaming" and the mods don't take it off. I seriously doubt that tweaking the guidelines will result in any measurable uptick in posted work - maybe you'll gain a handful in a year, at best. I don't think tweaking the guidelines is going to be a solution to the issue at hand - at all.

What would make a difference is having a very prominent section - maybe as suggested at the top of the forums - of POST YOUR WORK - DISCUSSION FORUM and encourage participation with some minimal ground rules about making and taking of criticism and a simple rule against blatant spamming. Folks simply don't think of DVXUSER.COM as a forum to post or discuss work - it fairly screams "gearheads" just from the name of the site alone. From that point of view, put me down in the column of those who think a name change would totally be advised... it's marketing 101, really... you can't have a completely misleading name and expect to successfully market to a demographic that is looking for the opposite. A good name is worth everything in marketing - and coming up with one that addresses the needs both of the gear folks and the art folks in one place is not easy, but perhaps the key to ultimate success. IMHO.
 
starcentral said:
Maybe the issue is DVXuesr does not condone or at least have a dedicated section for users to actually post their movies in.
Click to expand...

Well, I can't get to the 'definition' page but as of some time in 2006 (from https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.dvxuser.com)... the 'USER FILM page tag line was'...

"Shot or Shooting a Film? Share your film and the experience here."

"Bold" emphasis mine...

Since the 'rules' you posted were from around 2010... apparently I didn't notice the subtle deletion of 'Share your film...' from the tag line...

Which currently is:

"Chronicle the progress of your project here. (formerly "User Films")"
 
Last edited:
yeah, thats no bueno. let us share the film AND the making of. maybe somehow sticky the film links themselves so theyre always easy to find at the top of each persons thread and then people can read the diaries if they want to.
 
Im goona post on this thread because I was a hopeful filmmaker once. I started out with a DVX100 and learned from ppl like philip bloom and Noah. I was around 25-26 when i really started to get into it. I can honestly say after working all over in the industry as a PA and small commercial director the industry really beats you down and its all about sticking to your guns and what you want to do. I left the industry for a couple of years because i lost the love. From running into the illuminati and freemasons trying to get me involved in that portion of the industry to running into douchebags that drain the life out of the cool aspects of filmmaking. My message is do something that brings in the bread and butter, but stick to what you want to do on a personal level. I learned so much from DVXUSER over the years and im back making films again and writing and editing. Thanks to everyone that helped.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I know I’ve chimed in on this thread before but I wanted to add (if I didnt already or no one else said it) that these folks are most likely these days posting on Youtube and Facebook trying to get a following, rather than dicking with message boards. They also make turorial and gear review vids for the same reason (and these can often far outperform the “films” themselves in terms of views and shares). Can’t say I don’t understand their reasoning. If theyre not looking for feedback (and many arent!), these are fairly closed communities without much chance for a posted video to get spread around the web, and who wants THAT? Sorry if this was all said before.
 
Last edited:
hahah i dont think you want to get in man ....its the nastiest s*%t i ve ever seen in my life.
 
I still know and see plenty of filmmakers out there. But they are the ones out actually making films instead of nerding out over gear on forums like this like we do. It's incredibly time and focus consuming to make films. I find it's better for my career and output as a filmmaker if I spend far less times on boards and more time out with my crew and subjects (documentaries). Nerding out over gear is mainly just fun.
 
puredrifting said:
I still know and see plenty of filmmakers out there. But they are the ones out actually making films.
Click to expand...
EXACTLY. Since you and I (and many of us) live in Los Angeles, you quickly find out that EVERYONE here is a "Filmmaker"" or a "Writer"...but they have never made a film or written a script. They are always studying, researching and "getting ready." Give me a f'n break. It's risky actually making something. You put yourself out there naked, open to ridicule and hoping for praise. And getting both, although not in equal measure. Heck, look at Spielberg, arguably one of the most successful (I wouldn't say "best") directors out there, and he takes his fair share of hits. Which is fine; it's part of "putting yourself out there."
 
cyclone said:
EXACTLY. Since you and I (and many of us) live in Los Angeles, you quickly find out that EVERYONE here is a "Filmmaker"" or a "Writer"...but they have never made a film or written a script. They are always studying, researching and "getting ready." Give me a f'n break. It's risky actually making something. You put yourself out there naked, open to ridicule and hoping for praise. And getting both, although not in equal measure. Heck, look at Spielberg, arguably one of the most successful (I wouldn't say "best") directors out there, and he takes his fair share of hits. Which is fine; it's part of "putting yourself out there."
Click to expand...

Yes, you're right. I made my first documentary in 2004, got a minor distribution deal through Destroy Entertainment, a Warner Brothers imprint, it sold a few thousand DVDs. When all was said and done, I didn't even break even though, it was definitely a guerilla documentary and it still stands as a good time capsule of a particular scene that was developing back then. I already know from years in the IDA that we don't make documentaries to become rich but I have shot documentaries for other directors and producers who actually make a nice living from making a film every year or two.

Currently shooting two more documentaries (I have little interest in making narrative films, to me, real life and real people are a hundred times more fascinating and authentic than anything Hollywood churns out) and my hope is that both will find a home on an OTT like Netflix or Hulu. We may try to take the first one on the film festival circuit, depending on how the stories develop. I like to go against the odds, the first one I am making is about a sport that nobody has heard of and it's a character study on the lives of two strong women athletes over a year of racing in their sport. It's a fascinating subculture and both of the women are objectively incredibly interesting people who lead lives filled with drama, sacrifice and reward. It seems like for once, I am in the right place at the exact right time, I am hoping the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp will find these women's stories uplifting and inspirational and that we can build an audience for the film.

I don't care about critics, nobody can make a film that satisfies everyone, there will always be people who hate your art and storytelling style. As long as a sizable audience enjoys the stories and it brings a positive view onto this sport, my mission for the film will be accomplished. And actually making some money for the sacrifice of three years of my life would be nice, but we'll see how that turns out. I have little time for filmmakers who don't actually make films. It's probably one of the most difficult things that you can do and it's even more difficult to hone your storytelling craft and realize your vision for the film. With each film I shoot, I learn more and more about effective storytelling, especially on low budget documentaries. I love it.
 
puredrifting said:
It seems like for once, I am in the right place at the exact right time.
Click to expand...
The best of luck to you, truly. Docs are my thing, also, and I believe that timing is everything. Although I will shoot a short narrative once a year or so. Film Fests are a kick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top