My first horror film

[Monster of Rock]

I just completed my first horror short. Let me know what you think.
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2688629

[Pestilence]

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't watch it to the end.

It was much too slow, with too much time spent focusing on conversations which the viewer wasn't even privy to due to the lack of a recorded voice track or even title cards. I simply got so bored waiting for something to actually happen that I had to close the window.

Found a goof though...when the guy falls over next to the car and woman is berating him through the open car window (well, that's what appears to be happening), you can clearly see the cameraman reflected in the window below her head. :D

[Monster of Rock]

Its too bad you didnt watch the end, the pregnent woman gets gutted. I know its not a big hollywood movie. Its an 8 min. short on the internet. I'm not giving up over some one hating on my first project.
I have to admit the goof is there and I need to work on sound. I'm already filming another one. I know it will be better than the first. I still dont think its as terrible as your making it out to be. I think the effects are kinda cool, the costumeing is OK and the idea is original. I'll tell you what Pestilence, why dont you post a link to your film, since your such an expert and teach me a thing or two. If that happens , I'll bow my head in shame and give up. If however you never made a film for the internet, then your opinion should be treated as such.

[Pestilence]

In response to your response, I lost both of my short films the day after I got my webspace sorted out due to the death of not one, but TWO hard drives. I need to get them back off DVD and converted again, then I'll upload them for some feedback. See my story on the making of the first one in the "The horrors of student filmmaking" thread on this same forum.

Secondly, I think you have taken what I said way too personally, but believe me I understand how it feels and I'm not going to escalate it into some kind of childish "let me see you do better" flame war.

I believe in straightforward and constructive criticism. I don't believe that someone can learn and improve from molly-coddling.

You asked for opinions and I gave you mine, straight and to the point. Nobody else has posted thus far, and when they do their opinions may differ. But that's the point of opinions.

The very, and I mean VERY last thing that I want to do is force someone to hang up their filmmaking gloves. That's not my intention and see my above comment....I know how it feels. As a writer, and previous wannabe director, I know exactly what goes through your mind as you hear or read someone tearing your work to shreds. It happens, and if you have any intention of carrying on with a career in the industry, you need to learn how to take it on board and improve from it. At the very least to keep a pleasant face and just say "fuck 'em" to yourself if that's what you want.

Every piece of art has its critics. Whether it be film, writing, painting et al. If you can't take the negative when it comes without resorting to the equivalent of grammatical fisticuffs then perhaps you need to rethink what you want to do.

Again, just as with my stated opinion of your film, none of what I have said is meant as any kind of dig at you or your work. Shamelessly shitting on someone's creation is nothing but a cheap shot. Actual criticism is not.

But dude, the woman gets gutted? I'm off to watch the whole thing now.....

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by Monster of Rock
Its too bad you didnt watch the end, the pregnent woman gets gutted. I know its not a big hollywood movie. Its an 8 min. short on the internet. I'm not giving up over some one hating on my first project.
I have to admit the goof is there and I need to work on sound. I'm already filming another one. I know it will be better than the first. I still dont think its as terrible as your making it out to be. I think the effects are kinda cool, the costumeing is OK and the idea is original. I'll tell you what Pestilence, why dont you post a link to your film, since your such an expert and teach me a thing or two. If that happens , I'll bow my head in shame and give up. If however you never made a film for the internet, then your opinion should be treated as such. Way to take criticism. Pestilence's comments seemed 100% based and very, very polite. Check out the responses other schmoes give at the filmmaking forum, THOSE sound harsh.

What called my attention is the "I'm not giving up over some one hating on my fist project." For one, he doesn't seem to be "hating" (that'd be "YOU'RE SUCH A FUCKING HACK, STAY IN SCHOOL AND AWAY FROM FILM!!!!11") and secondly, no one is encouraging you to give up on it. Statistics say that the chances that every filmmakers' first few (2, 3, 4) films DON'T suck are enormous so don't fret. Keep filming and you'll get experience and learn, maybe even have fun.

Now, this: "I'll tell you what Pestilence, why dont you post a link to your film, since your such an expert and teach me a thing or two. If that happens , I'll bow my head in shame and give up. If however you never made a film for the internet, then your opinion should be treated as such. " is ridiculous and if I was Pestilence I'd feel insulted. The fact that Pestilence may or may not be a more talented filmmaker than you has nothing to do with him giving you the opinion YOU asked for. If you place this here only expecting positive responses, then this should teach you a lesson.

Sorry if I sound like an asshole, but it really irks me when someone doesn't appreciate when others do something for you (like bother to watch your movie, even if he didn't finish and tell you what he thought) without asking for anything in return.

[Pestilence]

I've been trying to rewatch the film by the link again, Monster of Rock, but it's just going to a 404 page now. Have you removed the film?

[zombievictim]

I watched this a bit after it was posted. I thought it was pretty corny. Now after reading the previous posts, I'm just clarifying that I'm leaving critism, not mocking you. Anyway, I thought the sound was very poor and, as Pestilence said, I thought it was boring.

Sorry but it might need some improvement

[adamjohnson]

Banned already? Whats the deal?

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by adamjohnson
Banned already? Whats the deal? Seems a little much to have him banned because of this, still, can't find the other two posts he had done. Kid needed to grow up, anyway.

[syxxpac]

Originally posted by X-Nightcrawler
Seems a little much to have him banned because of this, still, can't find the other two posts he had done. Kid needed to grow up, anyway.

His big boy hair isn't going to come in any faster with you taunting him, sir.

[adamjohnson]

4 posts. Is that a record?

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by syxxpac
His big boy hair isn't going to come in any faster with you taunting him, sir. Actually I thought it was going to. I know I'd learn a lesson if I came to show my film expecting only positives and got negatives.

[Pestilence]

The link seems to be working again at iFilm, but I havent had a chance to view it to the end so far.

To chime in with the other responses, 4 posts and already banned!?!?! What the hell! That has GOT to be a record, and considering how liberal these boards are when it comes to what you can say and get away with (part of the reason I love it to be honest), he must have done something really special.

I was thinking though, perhaps his banning is something directly to do with my response to his film. Did he send a hateful message to a moderator or something? Arrow? I hate to think that I may have been responsible for some poor kid getting his ass chucked off a board that is practically invaluable for horror fans and wannabe horror filmmakers. Oh well, after his response to my opinion, I guess he needed to learn how to grow up the hard way.