Film
Festival Feedback
There are thousands of film festivals and contests across the
U.S.A. alone. As someone who has participated in a few myself. I
generally come back to some very basic questions. The most common
being... How could I have made a better film?
There is generally no feedback when you submit. It's very " Thank you
for you submission, but....... "
This is a shame, because I believe that most filmmakers and Actors need
to hear the critiques. If you haven't gotten the tone of my web
site. I am VERY hard on my own work and the works of others in this
business. Simply because we will not succeed until we are producing A+
work. That's the way it is.
This applies to me as a filmmaker. I'll share a little tidbit from my
personal life. In July, 2006 I participated in the Providence 48 hour
film project. Paid my $125 to play, and did what I considered A
work. Not A+ work, but A work. For 48 hours. I believe we delivered a
polished piece. ( Click HERE
to see the video. )
Now as soon as it was submitted, and I had a moment to reflect. My
reaction was... " This was cute. Not phenomenal, but cute. " I
could hear the volume drop during the introduction of Kayte's
character. The editing flaw between Bobby and Aaliyah, but I think it's
a cute piece.
Puppies get by on Cute. So do Babies, not filmmakers. When I received
word that we were not in the best of Providence. My human side kicked
in. I was RIP SHIT.
How could we not even get an honorable mention? Life isn't fair. Where
are our Kudos'? How could a giant clam and a fart joke beat us?
Well life isn't fair, and they don't give out Kudos' for being
cute. After I stepped back and cooled down a bit. I was able to be
objective again.
The clam was memorable and they had a crew of 45+ people to get the
project done. The fart joke was clever if a bit transparent. We had
comedy and I didn't laugh. A chuckle maybe, but not a laugh. We played
it safe. I buckled to a democratic writing circle. Instead of following
my gut instinct. We should have gone over the top instead of safe. We
didn't and in the end I have myself to blame.
But here is the catch..... I don't KNOW why we didn't make it. I
suspect, but I don't know.
So I e-mail Paul Kelly to see if I could get the scoop. I need to hear
where we lost points. I need my suspicions verified. Well I got my
response from Paul and after a few letters back and forth. I discover
that the " Best of Providence " Screening and DVD are by audience
ballot. Not by the judges. This makes sense in regards to the project
getting it's money. ( The biggest teams want a DVD award so they all
pitch in to make a " Best of Providence " then use the 48 hour flag to
help sell it. ) There is a pre made audience. The filmmakers
themselves. DVD's are sold back to the people who made the
project. 200 DVD's that cost $2.00 each are sold back to
the teams that have the biggest following for $10 each. That's an
easy $1600 profit for the project.
Again I don't have a problem with that, but it would be better to call
out the filmmakers on this. Because they can do it too. At
the same time. If they can apply the resources of all those production
companies to getting distribution on a National Scale. All of these
filmmakers can reap the rewards via an objective audience and make
enough money to fund the next group of movies from the
collaborative. This might already be underway in providence. The
question is. Can they do it without feeding on their own?
Why can't we have a contest or project where you can get feedback? We
can show it to strangers, bring it to a film teacher, or let our
buddies review it., but they are all influenced by us. Quantum physics.
Simply the act of asking for the critique. Will alter the critique.
Now when other directors come up to me and ask me to read a script. I
honestly won't even pick it up unless they have a shooting schedule and
a business plan.
I might have when I was younger, but now it's a matter of time.
So how can I be upset when I can't get a critique from a contest? I'm
sure every director there is most likely doing the same thing.
Truth is I can't. At least not rationally. So I'm looking around for
some contests with feedback. If you can find one in your own netsurfing
travels. Please let me know. If you folks can't find one for yourselves
and think it would be a good idea. E-mail me at
Kobra@BlackStripe-Video.com . I may actually put together a festival or
project myself that does. I mean seriously. $125 just to
participate in a project? I think I would rather submit $50 to submit a
short and get a written review back for the money.
Again. If you have run across this page and read this far. Let me know
what you think.
