Short films are experiments. Rehearsals for filmmakers. They’re a chance to try different ideas, different approaches and mix things up creatively while trying to find a voice or a style.
It takes substantial bravery and confidence to put an experiment on show — not just for friends and family, but also colleagues and anyone in the world who happens to stumble upon it online. An experiment the filmmaker no doubt sees riddled with mistakes yet screens for an audience expecting the real deal.
Regardless of its content, the creator of a short film should just be thankful for the feedback. It means, at the very least, took the time to watch something you created. Furthermore, they actually took in what they watched and formed an opinion of your work, bringing them to you as criticisms, suggestions and compliments. I wouldn’t dare ask for much more than that.
It has become easier than ever before to get feedback for a short film. With the widespread connections the internet provides, and the speed in which media can be delivered, there is no reason why a short film can’t be seen and reviewed the very same day it was completed.
I first began collecting feedback for HER PARTY the evening it screened at the FTI VP9 Graduation Night in Fremantle. There is an eerie quality about watching your film play on the big screen in a cinema packed with near 200 people. You count every hush, every whisper, every cough. The simplest shuffle in someone’s seat triggers your mind to wander; curious if the audience is paying attention. You can generally gauge how well the screening went once the credits roll. HER PARTY received a warm reception, followed by some timid discussion amongst the isles.
Afterward, while sipping wine, eating nibbly’s and introducing my wife (and her pregnant belly) to everyone I could find, I started receiving complementary feedback. Some complimented how it looked, some (mostly females) said it had saddened them and choked them up. Either way, I was very happy to be receiving feedback for my film moments after it screened in public for the first time.
The toughest thing I found about ‘releasing’ a short film to an audience was searching for the ability to let go. I’d imagine that if I didn’t let go of my personal associations with the film, negative feedback might hurt my feelings and negate the point of the feedback (and indeed the purpose of short films in general) — to learn from them. Learn in every way. Learn what worked and why, learn what didn’t. The aim being to bundle all of that feedback together and roll over as much as possible into the next project in an effort to fine-tune elements in directing, shot selection, lighting, pace, performance… even script. So, before the negative/constructive feedback can be made affective, one has to make sure they aren’t dismissed because of any emotional or personal connections they may contain.
I had to invest a lot of myself in HER PARTY to obtain the film I was after. I had to bear my soul and let things out that I otherwise might have kept to myself. Especially with actress Penelope Andrews. We had many deep discussions about the finer details her character required in each shot. There were things that I personally went through in my life that I wanted portrayed on the screen, both because I knew them to be affective, and because I knew that what I was creating was coming from something real. That’s incredibly important in film – in all art, I believe – and I will continue to think of the craft this way.
These moments within that short film have been both criticized and praised, depending on the audience. What’s important is that I didn’t dismiss the negative feedback by taking it personally by becoming offended. I’ll store it in the back of my mind and recall it next time I need to create something similar. I’m only able to do that because, once the film is absolutely finished, ready to be put on DVD, uploaded to the internet and screened in a cinema, I do my best to remove myself from it. After all, a film is for an audience, so once finished – once screened – it becomes theirs. Theirs to relate to, theirs to discuss and critique and make their own.
The magical thing about filmmaking is the memories of production that will always remain for those involved. You see a woman polishing ballerina shoes; I see a rainy day, fast shooting and limited light – yet still being able to pull it off. You see a candle burning out and a woman breaking down over it, becoming more upset; I see an actress in full emotion capitalizing on a convenient mistake.
If you took the time to watch my short film and provide me feedback, either via facebook, email, telephone, this blog, YouTube or in person – I truly appreciate it and thank you.
