Hello everyone,

It's been a really long time coming - but the new version of Studentfilms.com has launched. It's more of a skeletal upgrade than a cosmetic one - but it's a huge update to the site!

New Features:

- Completely rewritten backbone and skeleton. Site is MUCH faster.

- "Watch Me!" and "Review Me!" lists available on the main page to boost viewership and reviews for all films.

- Film Stats! You can now view the stats for the films.

- And best of all - the error of death should be gone!

Now - as this is a new version - there might be some growing pains. If you do see an error please e-mail me the error and what page caused the error and we'll get it fixed ASAP.

Enjoy!

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

I most definately like it! It seems MUCH faster. The film stats thing is really cool, and putting watch and review me's on the front page should help people out with getting reviews. Nice job Chris.

Woohooo! Great work!

R.I.P. Error of Death.

wow different it think.....

Good job.

It may not seem like much - but it was a big overhaul - which is why it took a while.

The site really is a lot faster. We've already gotten the CPPC commercial off the Review Me! list with that new feature! I really hope it will boost views and reviews for films on the site.

Having "Most Popular" and "Best Reviewed" on the main page of the site was great and all - but it was kindof self perpetuating.

Those lists are still available in the "View Films: By Popularity" menu however.

Best Regards,
Chris Wright
Studentfilms.com

Agreed, it is much better to showcase the films that need the reviews and viewings the most, so people are sure to get better value for their money.

The site is working 1000% better, but you MUST return the "Best Reviewed" section. Otherwise the quality films are being lost in the shuffle and you are spotlighting the least interesting films presented. First time visiters will quickly dismiss this site as another ifilm or youtube junk video depository. Quality content has always seperated this site from herd, let it shine and return the best of the best to its rightful place!

When I first visited SF.com I looked at the best reviewed section and saw films like The Liars, and I was so impressed I stayed, now in that same section there are films that most people passed over because the appeal wasn't there. LOTA while interesting at first (great photo montages and alot of hard work) by act 97 dosn't warrant our attention or sympathy for lack of reviews.

It's survival of the fittest, if a movie is good like "Ken's New Specs" or "Spring Heeled Jack" then the reviews will come. If it's boring or cliche'd then people won't bother, and trust me its a good lesson to learn as one of my own films only got 7 reviews!

And at ten bucks a year we're already getting a great deal we don't need to force people to watch something that dosn't interest them, and truth is, they won't.

There still is a best reviewed section. You just access it through the menu.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

The problem with the Best Reviewed films being on the main page was that they were the only films being watched and therefore the only ones being reviewed. It was the same deal with the top viewed films — they were the only ones being watched and nobody else got a chance.

This way is much better, for everyone.

I really like the film stats link. I was always curious if anyone was viewing my films. Now I know they're viewing them, they're just not reviewing them Now I'm curious about why that is.

Fair enough, I just don't see those films picking up many more reviews, it reminds me of the saying "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all".

It may be nice for the folks with few reviews but it's at the cost of the overall site. Now instead of the same high quality entertaining films being listed, it will be the same sparsley reviewed ones instead.

But not to be a total downer the film stats are AWESOME! A great filmmaker freindly addition to the site! Not to mention how speedy the site comes up now! Great job!

JR, you make a good point that the film stats really can show us who is viewing our films, but people don't seem to review them. I think that people might just watch it and not want to take the time to review, even though they only need to take one minute out of their time to give ratings and give positive and negative criticism. The review me part on the front page allows visitors to see the importance of reviewing the films, because if we can't give constructive criticism, those who make mediorce films (myself included) will have a harder time knowing where to improve their films for the future.

Overall I love the speed update to the site and the film stats is the best thing since sliced bread.

Yeah - and someone review those LOTA's to get them off of the "Review Me!" list! (actual reviews only)

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

I was having some problems with the site last night, but I'm going to assume it was just was my dodgy computer playing up and not the site.
I wonder, would it be possible to have both the least reviewed films and the best reviewed films on the front page?

I would review the LOTA's but there are so many to watch.

To answer my own question ... some films seem to be naturally more "reviewable" than others. Really short films (like mine) are probably not as reviewable. Also, the experimental films probably get less reviews because they may not as approachable.

Sometimes I view films but don't review because either I can't think of anything interesting to say about it, or I don't have anything new to add to the reviews that are already there.

But still, it's nice to have reviews. It makes you feel loved. Even if the review is "that was boring" (I actually got that one).

If anyone wants to share the love, I have a film with 138 views and 4 reviews:
http://studentfilms.com/film_stats.jsp?id=1190&pageNumber=1

It was on the "view me" list last night but it fell off.

I haven't checked to see if this problem is affecting the other genre pages, but I noticed that on the action page, you have the films under the "best reviewed" and "most viewed" lists reversed. I only noticed this because my film Angry Neighbors mysteriously swapped lists while retaining its position. Hope that gets fixed soon!

I'm confused? What do you mean?

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

Hey Chris, I have done what you asked and reviewed all of the LOTAs after watching all of the fifth and sixth episodes. Now that I have bit the bullet, I would appreciate if people could take the time to review my film, which is now the number one review me film. Just any positive and negative criticisms on aspects of the short, because I know there is no real story to it. Any help would be great.