Assessing Amateur Movies

A forum for sharing views on the art of film, video and AV sequence making as well as on competitions, judging and festivals.
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Dave Watterson

Assessing Amateur Movies

Post by Dave Watterson »

Let's start with one topic on which everyone has strong views
... the way movies are judged.

As one who is often asked to judge I see it from that side, but
hope I have plenty of sympathy and understanding for those on the
receiving end. There is always a problem of trying to get my
comments written quickly. It is especially hard if I have seen
the film once as part of a busy weekend's viewing and have to try
to recall details.

I always make my assessment on the basis of first viewing (since
that is all that most audiences will have) but prefer those
comps where I can take away a copy of the entries and watch them
several times while writing up notes for the moviemakers.

Personally I loathe filling in "points out of ten" type forms as
a way of scoring. The best movies can break many rules and
still be absolute winners! But in most cases by the time you
reach the finalists the general standard is so good that points
for camerawork, editing, sound etc mean little. I prefer a chance
to write more about one or two aspects of the movie which struck
me as special ... or open to improvement.

Over ...
malcolm whiteley

Re: Assessing Amateur Movies

Post by malcolm whiteley »

Hi Dave
Just testing, have not been able to climb aboard yet.
Mal.
Dave Watterson

Re: Assessing Amateur Movies

Post by Dave Watterson »

You have made it onto these pages now, Malcolm ... given that you seem to be working
in the VERY small
hours of the morning I'm not surprised it took a few attempts.

Since I famously mistyped your name on the Cotswold Festival results recently (check
out on the IAC site
what he won everyone!) I am thinking of making you MALCOM on these forums - a distinct
and distinguished
sounding name.

By the way is that an especially infuriating aspect of judges' comments ... when they
get your name or the
film title itself wrong? (Liz Donlan tells me it is amazing how many entries to the
IAC comp have one title
for the movie on the form and a different one on screen ... hmmm.)

Dave W
malcolm whiteley

Re: Assessing Amateur Movies

Post by malcolm whiteley »

Come on Dave, did say sorry for jogging your memory. As for judging I have great respect
for anybody taking on this task
as it is a thankless one speaking from experience. Being a newbie
so to speak to film making I have allways taken notice of the
judges comments, have found most of them are very constructive.
That is not to say I agree with them, and have found some of them
quite funny, and some of them are stuck in a time warp.
But on the whole I dont think the majority do a bad job. Just my
two penerth. Oh well back to work.
malcolm whiteley

Re: Assessing Amateur Movies

Post by malcolm whiteley »

Oh by the way Dave you did spell Whiteley right lol.
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