Film Interpretation Contest (FIC)

Post by **johnnhud** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:10 pm

Unfortunately, there have already been a few opt-outs. Currently here is the list:

1. Johnnhud
2. Evan Kubota - Opted out
3. Big Beaner
4. Awand - Opted out
5. Paul - Opted out
6. Keagan
7. Ccortez -Opted out
8. Sunrise - Opted out
9. Eggart
10. HTTK
11. Richard P.T.
12. Actor
13. Blin - Opted out
14. Mattias
15. Fogo
16. Chas - Opted out
17. Dr_Strangelove
18. Alastair
19. Mathilde Dedye

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I thought that this type of contest is what people on this forum wanted. I know that there are still 10 entries but I have a sneaking suspicion that more will opt out as the dead line gets closer.

Does the problem seem to be time? Perhaps an extended deadline would help keep people in the contest?

Please, your feedback is appreciated.

Post by **paul** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:22 am

johnnhud wrote: I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I thought that this type of contest is what people on this forum wanted. I know that there are still 10 entries but I have a sneaking suspicion that more will opt out as the dead line gets closer.

Does the problem seem to be time? Perhaps an extended deadline would help keep people in the contest?

Please, your feedback is appreciated.

Hi John,

I can imagine you feel frustrated. I think most people who opted out simply were over enthusiast about the idea, and not very realistic just because of that. I would like a later date, but I am afraid it will be in march for me. Perhaps that isn't fair to the other participants (?). I underestimated my current project. Sorry about that. I do have a story for this contest however, and I believe it is viable. In that way I am grateful to the contest anyway.

Paul

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:26 am

I agree with paul - I appreciate the idea of the contest since it did somewhat help me develop my idea, although it was not conceived within the contest guidelines.

An extended deadline isn't a bad idea but it would have to be Feb. or March at the earliest to have an effect on my participation (when is the current deadline? Christmas?).

Why not just have everyone working on these projects when they get a chance and posting when they finish? It's not 'judged' anyway, from what I understood... so it can still be effective at getting people active and seeing the results.

Post by **mattias** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:17 pm

I don't think the deadline should change. That will only dilute the concept. Btw please add Mathilde Dedye, my wife, to the list. /matt

Post by **johnnhud** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:16 pm

I don't feel like the date should change because it gives a set deadline. As it looms closer I feel the need to make sure that my stuff gets done.

Since it is not a Judging contest (Except maybe it is) then I can just post the finished movies up on the website as I receive them. However, it would make it hard to do any type of DVD for all the contestants. (Unless it was done much much later after all entries had been received)

For now, the December 25th deadline stands, please try to have them finished by that time. If you are unable to do so, don't feel as though we don't want to see your film, we do, so send it in when it's complete.

I will complete the website and start posting the films once I've received a few. Also, I use to work with the administrator of the Dallas Film & Video fest; I'm going to talk to him about any possibilities of entering our films into the 2008 show.

Post by **ccortez** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:46 pm

John,

I think you've done a great job starting the conversation that led to this contest, bringing everyone along to establish ground rules, keeping track of progress... and I think the contest is indeed exactly what everyone wants.

What you're experiencing with the opt-outs is absolutely normal and to be expected. It's simply easier to express interest in a public forum like this than it is to complete a film and submit it. In between step A and step Z, lots of fallout will occur...

FWIW, I took my commitment quite seriously; the contest was on my committed list of "real honest-to-God projects" such that I had the commitments of others involved as well. In fact, my cast and crew are still able to make their commitments; it's just me that can't.

You're doing the right thing -- hold the date, which is the only thing for many people that will impose the schedule structure necessary to get their films done. Those of us who get our films made anyway, however late, can always post them here of their own accord.

Thanks again for pulling this together. I apologize to the group again for making a commitment that I was unable to fulfill.

Best,
Chris

Post by **Dr_Strangelove** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:25 am

Good news on my side,

We have finished principle photography!

/Jan

Post by **johnnhud** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:29 am

GREAT!!!

Website · Post by **BigBeaner** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:35 pm

I wouldn't change the date. I haven't opted out but I still haven't shot nor made a script or anything yet, I'm really busy and will post some stills of my current 16mm short. Basically, I'm planning on shooting a week or two before christmas and just belt it out. I don't know I'll worry about it later.

Post by **HTTK** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:37 am

Production has wrapped here for my short!

Now it's on to Post. Here is a still of myself and my 2 actresses that we're in the film.

P.S. Yes that's a video camera as I didn't have the finances for film at this time.

Post by **Actor** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:35 am

johnnhud wrote:Does the problem seem to be time? Perhaps an extended deadline would help keep people in the contest?

Please, your feedback is appreciated.

I won't opt out but I have my doubts about being able to make the deadline. My principle problem is weather. I've had to cancel two shoots because of weather. Another is scheduling. Saturdays are the only days my leading lady and I can get together.

If time gets too short I may switch to video simply because of the time needed to get the film back from the lab. I also am trying to come up with a completely different script that could quickly be shot indoors (thus avoiding weather problems. An indoor script would also minimize scheduling problems since it would not necessarily need to be shot during the day.)

I do think the deadline of December 25 was poorly chosen. The days leading up to Christmas are always busy and hectic. The days leading up to finishing a film project are always busy and hectic. Thus we have busy and hectic squared. A mid-January deadline would make more sense. Just my opinion.

I think I can still pull it off. My biggest concern is that the quality of the production may not be what I had hoped for.

Post by **keagan** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 8:18 pm

Actor wrote: I do think the deadline of December 25 was poorly chosen. The days leading up to Christmas are always busy and hectic. The days leading up to finishing a film project are always busy and hectic. Thus we have busy and hectic squared. A mid-January deadline would make more sense. Just my opinion.

I think I can still pull it off. My biggest concern is that the quality of the production may not be what I had hoped for.

I feel the same way. While a later due date would be much more convenient for me, I won't opt out if it isn't changed.

I've had to change both my idea and method, and now I am going to be treating this something like a 24h film challenge: I get home from school on the 17th of december and will have access to a video camera by then. Film has been ruled out b/c of time constraints (lab delays). So the quality won't be quite what I originally had in mind, but i think it's still a valuable exercise, and a good prod to get off my ass and film something.

keagan

Post by **Actor** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:59 am

I returned from my Thankgiving travels on Friday to find that my iMac was dead. The next day found my wife and I shopping for a replacement computer. We purchased a Windows machine with a 3 GHz CPU, 512 MBytes of RAM (upgradable to 3 GBytes) and a 200 GByte drive. This should make an excellent video editing machine but I have to A) buy and install a FireWire card, B) learn Windows Moviemaker C) get CineCap for the WorkPrinter and maybe D) get Raid0. All this may add up to an additional delay in completing my project.

At this time I am stoked up enough about the project that I will finish it, even if I don't make the contest deadline, although if I don't make the deadline I will probably delay completion until spring when the weather improves. I will also probably do some re-shoots.

Post by **CHAS** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:04 pm

johnnhud wrote:Unfortunately, there have already been a few opt-outs. Currently here is the list:

16. Chas - Opted out

Please, your feedback is appreciated.

As I told you in my PM to you, I am sorry that I had to opt out. It's a great idea -- unfortunately my deadline for finishing my own short is too close (Jan 1); that plus a death in the family has pushed a lot of my personal projects back a bit.

I wish you the best of luck in this.

Post by **Actor** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:15 pm

I finished primary photography this morning!!

Bitter cold but the weather was clear and the light good.

Now it's just a matter of getting it processed, transferred, editing, burn the DVD and submit it.

Hopefully the film will turn out and I didn't miss any shots. I have scheduled another shoot next weekend but I don't think I'll need it.