quote:

When I show my films I just let people take turns to review right on my computer.

Are you kidding me? That sounds like desperation to me. If you want your friends opinion of your film, ask them face to face. They don't need to write it down in a review on the site (especially when they're in your house sitting right in front of you) and boost your film's rating much higher than it should be. Let the community be the critics of your film, because we are the people who will not only be brutally honest, but will also give you guidance and tips as to how to improve future works.

If a friend happens to stumble upon your movie on the internet, watch it and review, that's one thing. However, to line up people in front of your computer so they can take turns giving your movie a perfect rating is absurd. If you can't grasp the idea that some people might actually dislike your movie, that your film might have flaws, and if you don't have the maturity to look at a poor rating for your movie and say "Gee, I might have actually done something wrong, maybe I should listen to what they have to say so I can do a better job next time", then you're chasing the wrong career.

quote:

Originally posted by BIGMOVIE:
There are already films with only 1 review that have been up for weeks!

Well a feature that I want to introduce which will help with that is a "Reviews Needed" link for films that have low reviews - to inspire reviewers out there.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Denega:
If a friend happens to stumble upon your movie on the internet, watch it and review, that's one thing. However, to line up people in front of your computer so they can take turns giving your movie a perfect rating is absurd.

people are lazy. you can say "hey have you seen my movie yet" and they will say "oh, havent gotten around to it." if people are already hanging out im not going to send them home to review it. Chances are they won't. Also, many peole who watch films on the site don't even think to review them. A few people I spoke to didn't even know you could do it.

Also, how do you know what career I am chasing?
So maybe you should be a little more carful with your words.

quote:

"your film sucks and I did your mom"

I laughed at that line for about 10 full minutes.

quote:

If you want your friends opinion of your film, ask them face to face. They don't need to write it down in a review on the site

Amen, brother. The biggest attraction for me to post films on this site was to hear the opinions of people who didn't know me. I know a few of the people who reviewed, but the ones I really value are the reviews from strangers.

Ahem... however, if you've been to the Dam Dirty Apes site, you may detect a hint of hypocrisy, because on the main page right now, the top line reads: "DDA's latest film, Spring Heeled Jack, is now viewable on studentfilms.com. Watch it and write a review!" That's there because the one of us who runs the website is an insolent jerk, and he's hungry for attention. There's a lot of hostility in our crew; I think it's our hatred for one another which binds us and drives us to create.

For what it's worth, I'm not judging anybody here. I'm only suggesting that a review from Joe Blow in Greenland will probably carry more weight, more honesty, and more objectivity than will a review from Mom or Girlfriend Susie Q.

quote:

Well a feature that I want to introduce which will help with that is a "Reviews Needed" link for films that have low reviews - to inspire reviewers out there.

I would use that feature. I'll bet there are some gems buried in obscurity around this site.

Dam Dirty Apes!

i actually know Michael K. in person. in fact, i was his new york state summer school for the arts roommate for two months.



(end moment of silence)

paul, i sympathize and agree wholeheartedly with what you're saying. i wrote a review for 'a blind date' that was negative (to say the least) but it got through because i followed the rules and was not rude or immature. it actually contained almost word for word what you've been saying. curiously enough, the review has disappeared.
dunno how that happened.
good thing i made a backup copy, i was almost expecting that something like that would happen. i'd post it, but i'm worried this post will be deleted, too.

Connor,

I deleted you review that you posted in the forums. It was deleted from the site because Mike objected to the personal references in the review.

If you'd like to resubmit another review to the main part of the site - minus any personal mentions about his family or his girlfriend (what he objected to) I'd be happy to post it.

I'm not in any way censoring your negative review, as I said, feel free to post another review but keep the comments to the film itself.

Besides, this thread has gotten a little off topic.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

quote:

Originally posted by Harris:

quote:

"your film sucks and I did your mom"

I laughed at that line for about 10 full minutes.

Yes it is pretty funny.... But it's pretty sad that someone at sometime submitted a review like that. Well I'm not sure it was exactly like that - but something. I've certainly deleted some pretty nasty reviews in the past. I have no idea for which films though. It's been too long and I don't really keep track of it.

quote:

quote:

Well a feature that I want to introduce which will help with that is a "Reviews Needed" link for films that have low reviews - to inspire reviewers out there.

I would use that feature. I'll bet there are some gems buried in obscurity around this site.

Yes there are some buried gems on the site for sure. I also want to have viewings needed link as well - so maybe we can dethrone those external linking films in the top ten now.

Just so everyone knows - make sure to check out the Browse Films: By Rating: Most Popular as that is the top 50 films.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

Just require at least 50 words for any review. That'll probably stall the influx of false, extremely good reviews because it'll take more time to actually write those descriptions. Anyway, people who write false reviews for their own work are beyond pathetic.

I dont get it. He is meant to be in what... uni?... and every single person who that knew him and reviewed his blind date film is babying him? Can 't he take constructive critsism? You probably only have maybe 3 for 4 years max before the real world and all the cutesy comments in the world aint going to pay the bills. No offence intended. But loosen up, take some advice, no ones perfect, let people help you... thats why you posted right!

quote:

Originally posted by Evan Kubota:
Just require at least 50 words for any review. That'll probably stall the influx of false, extremely good reviews because it'll take more time to actually write those descriptions. Anyway, people who write false reviews for their own work are beyond pathetic.

Actually requiring a certain number of characters is a pretty good idea. But then I'll get someone writing:

"GGGGGRERRRREEAEEEEEAATAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT"



-CHris
Studentfilms.com

A word minimum is a good idea. If people filled it with blabber that'd be really easy to spot when you were doing your "weeding"

Chris, I'm not saying be selective based on someone's bias, but the reviews should be explainatory. At least two or three sentences that have SOMETHING to do with the film.

"FANTASTIC" with all 5's is stupid. It's as useful as "This Sucks" with all 1's. However... "I love this film. The cinematography was excellent, the score was superb, and the acting was spectacular. I also liked the editing." If I read that, with all 5's, I wouldn't be as irked, because at least then the person actually bothered.

And having your friends review your movie on some website is sort of desperate. I'd ask them to their face, and hope for their honesty (although I'd understand if you didn't want it.)

I hope Chris figures out this whole thing to make reviewing a little less easy to manipulate, by forcing the user to have an account. I know that when I post my film on here, It'll be reviewed, probably ending up with mostly 3's. I'd prefer to know that guys like Noirboy101, JW, Denega, CJK, Evan Kubota, Harris, and all of the other usual gang of misfits are the ones reviewing it, and not some uneducated, uncultured swine who is impressed with anything put to digital videotape. People will like it, people will not like it, but I'll appreciate their honesty enough to not post a barage of fake reviews.

Thanks for editing my other post JW. Your editing skills are never unappreciated. (Yes, sarcasm, but I do understand that it was warranted, and I apologize.)

quote:

people are lazy. you can say "hey have you seen my movie yet" and they will say "oh, havent gotten around to it." if people are already hanging out im not going to send them home to review it. Chances are they won't. Also, many peole who watch films on the site don't even think to review them. A few people I spoke to didn't even know you could do it.

I'm not saying that i'm against showing films to friends and family. I love showing my movies to my friends and asking what they think. However, telling your friends to make a written review in which it is almost definite that they will give it the highest possible rating is different. If they watch your movie at your house, ASK them what they thought of it. Don't send them to make a written review when you can get a more personalized verbal one, especially when those unnecessary written reviews are stirring up controversy such as this.

In short, the point i'm trying to make is that you don't need written reviews from you're friends when they can tell you what they think to your face, especially since you know that a written review is going to consist of straight 5's accompanied by a comment like "FANTASTIC!"

quote:

, by forcing the user to have an account.

Not sure this is such a good idea. Some of the projects on here that have 1-2 reviews might not have any if registration was required. I think a minimum length would be easy to implement and would keep some of the false reviews out without making the system too closed.

FWIW, it might be worth looking into a setup like they use at Zoetrope - you can't submit anything until you review some existing material, whether they are scripts, stories, etc. Of course, it depends on how you envision the site - is it primarily for peer review, or should it be to gauge a more public reaction to the work? It seems from most of the (valid) reviews that it's primarily for peer review, although I'm not sure if that's what was intended. If so, it might be worthwhile to look at the Zoetrope setup.

In terms of the "Best Reviewed" list: how does the rating system work anyway? I find it unfair that The Jersey Odysseys gets listed at the top for having a better rating despite the fact that Legend of Monkey Fight has been at the mercy of 35 reviews compared to Jersey's 5. Shouldn't the number of reviews sway the list order as well? Theoretical: A movie with, say, one review written by the director himself of all 5 stars across the board shouldn't outrank a veteran movie that's been thoroughly and honestly viewed and enjoyed by many more viewers.

Sorry about being picky, but I feel like maybe I'm voicing the opinions of possibly others?

Personally, the phrase "best reviewed" means not just how well, but also how many times it was rated.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan Kubota:

FWIW, it might be worth looking into a setup like they use at Zoetrope - you can't submit anything until you review some existing material, whether they are scripts, stories, etc. Of course, it depends on how you envision the site - is it primarily for peer review, or should it be to gauge a more public reaction to the work? It seems from most of the (valid) reviews that it's primarily for peer review, although I'm not sure if that's what was intended. If so, it might be worthwhile to look at the Zoetrope setup.

Well - if you force people to write reviews before they can submit - wouldn't that lessen the amount of submissions?

Logging in really isn't too much of a problem. One would just have to be a member of the forums. But this feature would be a bit off in the future. I've got bigger fish to fry than logging in to review. Although the minimum character amount might be a good start.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

quote:

Originally posted by funkbomb:
In terms of the "Best Reviewed" list: how does the rating system work anyway? I find it unfair that The Jersey Odysseys gets listed at the top for having a better rating despite the fact that Legend of Monkey Fight has been at the mercy of 35 reviews compared to Jersey's 5. Shouldn't the number of reviews sway the list order as well? Theoretical: A movie with, say, one review written by the director himself of all 5 stars across the board shouldn't outrank a veteran movie that's been thoroughly and honestly viewed and enjoyed by many more viewers.

Sorry about being picky, but I feel like maybe I'm voicing the opinions of possibly others?

Personally, the phrase "best reviewed" means not just how well, but also how many times it was rated.

The Best Reviewed is purely an average score. A film must have 5 reviews in order to appear on the list.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

quote:

A film must have 5 reviews in order to appear on the list.

Are you sure? I thought Monkey Fight was on there when it only had four.

quote:

I find it unfair that The Jersey Odysseys gets listed at the top for having a better rating despite the fact that Legend of Monkey Fight has been at the mercy of 35 reviews compared to Jersey's 5.

So do I! Let's mandate that Monkey Fight be the permanent #1 film. Ha. I jest. I feel the same way about Monkey Fight and The Liars, which has been on the site for years and has more than 100 reviews. I feel that The Liars is one of the best shorts I've ever seen; I hate to see it bashed by unfair reviews, and I'm thoroughly impressed that it's withstood the test of time so well.

Dam Dirty Apes!

Yes I'm pretty sure it is 5 reviews....

I've had it at 10 in the past but changed it to 5 a while ago.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

quote:

I find it unfair that The Jersey Odysseys gets listed at the top for having a better rating despite the fact that Legend of Monkey Fight has been at the mercy of 35 reviews compared to Jersey's 5.

The Jersey Odysseys is actually pretty good. Great story, anyway.