Central Florida Film Festival Rejection Email is Totally Unprofessional

If you're a filmmaker, you get quite used to rejection emails from film festivals. No matter how well made your piece is, if it gets accepted to everywhere you submit it, then you're either not submitting it to enough places or you're submitting to festivals that are smaller than your piece deserves.

I have never, however, received a rejection email written as unprofessionally as the one recently received from the Central Florida Film Festival. I reproduce it here, in full.

Stephen,

I am sorry to inform you that your short entry LIZ, did not make the preliminary cut to qualify into the Central Florida Film Festival.

A jury of five industry professionals voted to not advance your project. The judges were in agreement that your production was bland. "There wasn't anything major wrong with the piece but nothing really creative either." Another quote from a judges card had - "A well made mud pie still isn't appetizing." Three judges felt there were not able to fully understand some of the creative choices that drove the story and direction. Rule of thumb is "if one judge is confused it's the judge but if a majority are confused it's the filmmaker."

Sometimes we lose sight of what we are trying to accomplish as a filmmaker. What story do we want to tell and how can our cast and crew help. Take chances move the actors or move the camera. If you can't afford a dolly, use a wheelchair but you have to creatively tell your story both with performance and with visuals.

Don't take this critique personal. Film is art and art is subjective. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and as filmmakers we need to grow a thick skin. I edit and write what the judges have passed down to me and where possible hope it will help you become a better filmmaker. I am sorry the news couldn't have been better.

Bob Cook
Executive Director
Central Florida Film Festival
5029 Ledgewood Way
Orlando, Florida 32821
(407) 370-3703
www.CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com
http://bobcookfilmdirector.blogspot.com/

I'm embarrassed to admit that we submitted our film to this festival, since they obviously do not take themselves seriously. We won't be making that mistake again, and I recommend you do not either.

We Gatta Eat! @ the Boston Underground Film Festival

"BUFF is an annual film festival held in late March.
BUFF is located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.
BUFF is a celebration of the bizarre and insane.
BUFF is uncompromising, unflinching film and video.
BUFF is hazardous to your health.

BUFF is also currently promoting events throughout the year.
BUFF is hoping you will come and check us out."

This is how the Boston Underground Film Festival describes itself.

If that isn't enough to sell you on attending, you should definitely check it out this year because the RotN film We Gatta Eat!, directed by Craig Shannon, has been selected. The festival runs from March 25th-April 1st 2010. Stay tuned to the RotN network as details are released, and be sure to get your ticket, it's going to be a RotN good time.

Revenge of the Nail, free online!

Hey everyone! Great news!

The short film, Revenge of the Nail, is finally available online!

http://www.vimeo.com/8413690

The film that took Fitchburg by storm, and has played at multiple film festivals already, is finally available for you to watch online.

Enjoy! Watch it twice! Then tell all your friends!

Have a RotN day!

Revenge of the Nail @ Indieflix.com

Indieflix is a great new distribution alternative. They are fast, helpful, and friendly. They promise the filmmaker at least 70% of every sale!

After Revenge of the Nail played at the Boston Film Festival, Indieflix acquired the rights to distribute it. It is totally nonexclusive and the filmmaker keeps all the rights to the film.

However, now you can finally see Revenge of the Nail! They are selling DVDs (currently going for $5.95 a piece) as well as offering a VOD option for $1.95.

You can check it out here.

Enjoy! and if you like it, spread the word!!

The last bits of Liz

Hey RotN Readers,

"Liz" will exist soon.

At least, the film will.

We've locked picture, and now we're performing grading for it. This is a long technical process of trying to get the images to look as good as possible. Greg Nazarian, the Director of Photography, is doing all this work, using Apple's Color. Since we cut on Final Cut Pro, it makes sense to use Color for grading since it will round trip between the programs very smoothly.

We're also currently doing the sound mix. Tim Ahern is doing this work. He's using ProTools, one of the best programs in existence for general sound work. He's making good progress on the sound. ADR has been recorded for one of the scenes, and that went very well. Recording was done by Andrew Finley.

We're also working on a score. This score will be by Andrew Alden, a promising young composer. He's using Logic, Finale, and Reason to craft the sounds.

If everything goes well with these three steps, a completed cut should be in existence by the new year. Then it's off to festivals, and hopefully to your eyes!

We Gatta Eat!

Hey RotN readers!

We Gatta Eat! is finally available for purchase!

Check it out, and if you use the limited time PROMO CODE: EAT then you can save 2 bucks. Tell them RotN sent you.

Also, join the new Facebook group

The film will continue to screen at various Big D & the Kid's Table shows.

Why, you ask, is this film playing at ska punk concerts?

Because it is by Dave McWane, the lead singer of the band. He wrote, produced, and starred in the film.

It was directed by Craig Shannon, who has also worked on a few of their music videos.

Many members of the band helped out in some way or were involved with the project.

Also, have you seen the weird trailers that are on various sites... Like Youtube?

Enjoy the madness.

Liz update

The interesting short film Liz is nearing the end of picture editing, and the crew is working hard to make sure everything comes together nicely. We've got a working edit done, now it's just TWEAK TWEAK TWEAK until it becomes good. Then it's on the fun land of sound and color editing!

The short is still on schedule to be finished by the New Year!

Check out the recently finished teaser trailer. Leave a comment. Is your interest piqued?

Liz on Vimeo