OK can you stip being so critical you americans are just being confined by what you create their is no rules its like you have to stop being your own audience and look outside of what you accept.

Location: london

Not every film has to feature a gun, a bank robbery, a seductress revealed in a slow upward pan, a close up of a young girl in an uncomfortable amount of makeup that you would never see in real life except at a drag show....and why does she always have to pout or wink at the camera, we already know she's supposed to be sexy,why else would she be there when she doesn't ever say anything other than "well hello there" or "you guys look lost"...and access to those exploding gun wound things isnt a reason to make a movie where some suburbanite gets shot....agree??!?

Location: Australia

If someone ejaculates on a blue wall and then frames it, is it art?

Location: London, UK

I don't make movies, I watch them. For a bunch of filmmakers, you're a lot of borons. People like what they like. We're all different. Everyone forms different opinions as they each differ in character. I, personally, think the Mona Lisa sucks! Take each others advice with a grain of salt, and most importantly, please yourself. If your professor rips on your movie; smile and say thank you. Sleep on it, and if you still really disagree, then fuck 'em you're probably right. Kudos!

Location: Stratford, ON Canada

I'd like to go back on my previous comment. It's not like I'm saying anything you put out will be great. All I'm saying is don't aim to please the masses. There are tons of us who prefer movies like Julienne Donkey Boy over Armageddon. Pleasing the masses is for filmmaker pimps and entrepeneurial golddiggers. It's he who pleases himself who lives a truly happy existence. Snoochy boochies!

Location: Stratford, ON Canada

THE SLASHER FILM. Ok, so one could consider it a genre of films that had its moment in the sun durring the 80's. But one thing that will get you no respect, credibility, or ANYTHING is a cheesy, corny, stupid, horribly shot/edited/wrote/acted/MADE slasher film about a mental patient who escapes from somewhere and kills random idiots for no reason. I feel sorry for people involved in these. In fact, I think I'll give the killer a victim, and a reason that serves a higher purpose: the filmmaker for actually trying to pass of a slasher flick as a good movie.

Location: Beverly, MA USA

There are also the scenes where there�s a� burning house and everybody is runnig out, but the little girl droppes her teddy bear and runs back to get it. Worst scenes ever!!

Location: Reykjav�k, Iceland

I am 13 and I have been making movies for a very long time. I wanted to be a director since I was 6 and it is funny, because most of the things on your list are things I used to do, and things I still do. I want to thank you for giving tips on directing because I really need them. I use an editing system that was extremely epensive, and still It takes a lot of work to just make a 13 second scene. I know this sounds boring because I can tell your are very opinionated, but you have tought me that making only 3 scenes in 4 months is human. (my crew is garbage.) Anyway, thanks. I will put up any comments and suggestions I have. Hey, have you tried being a director yourself? You sound pretty experienced. I think you should try. (If you arent already.)

Location: USA

A while ago I read the DUMPS through and thought they had a lot of good ideas in them, things I had seen ad nausea in other movies, like "protagonist wakes up", and putting the camera in a fishbowl, and so on, and decided to use them in a short film.

I can't unfortunately do any dolly zooms because I don't have a dolly, and although I know someone who makes them, and who sent me a photo and a diagram - though some parts need to be welded -but I never got round to making one.

I agree with the bad sound/ dialogue too slow/ dramatic cigarette and the eyebrow acting criticisms, but the time lapse sequences - now that sounds like fun... in the black and white 40's movies they had those time-lapse things quite a lot. They also had those "whirling newspaper" scenes where you see headlines on newspapers that twirl around - how can one do that if one doesn't have any PC video editing equipment?

One criticism that is also valid is the feature film masquerading as a short film. One does, when writing a script, tend to want to put too much in - but since the film is only to last about 20 minutes, it's best to KEEP IT SIMPLE. And that is not always easy.

Melanie Sands

http://melaniesands.itgo.com

PEDANT POLICE:

You said: "a seductress revealed in a slow upward pan"

That would be a slow upward TILT, not pan. Panning is left to right.

But otherwise, yes, I agree.

THE DOLLY ZOOM! i still havent got the chance to use it yet. well i better get it out of my system before i move on to college. Another thing whats up with "The Ring" now every one has done those quick cuts to try and shock you.

You are absolutely right!!

All of these stuff are probably the first things that a first timer come up with. It was kinda heartbreaking (but really fun) to see all of "my ideas" on the list.

Thank you guys..

Thanks...the DUMPS advice is right on....of course there are always exceptions to the rule. Biggest one to pay attention to is you're not a genius ! I don't think they exist...and if they do then it's only in the minds of the people who think they are. It's subjective...like just about everything else. My words of wisdom/bullshit are: Learn how to read a script 1st...lot's of scripts and stories. Then develop your OWN taste of what's good and what's not good based on what you've read and your experience. Then write your own...write a few before you even come close to taking yourself seriously. If it's not on the page it's not on the stage. If you can't do this then maybe you should become a studio exec and develop a cocaine habit to go along with your complete ignorance of what a decent film is.
P.S. If I misspelled anything and it bothered you then you should become an english teacher...stay away from film.
Best,
shitty

The "First ten minutes of a feature" short film:

Feels like the proloque to a movie that�s probably far more exciting than the actual short itself, but then...whoops - we ran out of time. The end feels like it has been shot in half an hour, and all the audience is left with is the feeling that they`ve been watching the Ed Wood version of "The Usual Suspects" in fast motion. May also be called the "Twister" short film - trying to twist every common sense out of a movie for no reason (also true for many features). The best shorts are the ones with a clearly definable beginning, middle and end, just like any other form of storytelling.

Art is masturbatory unless it has an audience.

That's right, people, art is supposed to appeal to an audience! It doesn't have to be 200 million Americans, but it needs to be somebody who isn't yourself.

"The only person that has to like your film is you."

Haha. And all you DUMPS naysayers have obviously never had to sit through really bad student films.

I am a student film-maker. After reading the no-no's on film-making i was trying to see if my movie met any of that.

A Silent French Film Parody about a Seacaptain being outcasted from a suburban society (with a french voice over and subtitles in english that does not match the v.o.). What do you think? Did I brake the rules, cause if i did i might get a gun from that bank Michael Moore went to in "Bowling for Colombine"

-Mike G.

MJG_...@HOTMAIL.COM

nothing can be said against trying to be original, but please please please be logical in that...always consider motivations of your characters. Why are they doing what they are doing. unless you are showing the "slice of life" "moment in time" short film, remember three things that make for great drama
1. state what they want to do (they want to get off the boat)
2. state why it has to be done at that moment in time (its sinking)
3. state what happens if they don't do it at that moment in time (they will die)

state it, state it loud, state it out there, bring everyone on board (no pun intended) and playing on the same page....don;t assume that the audience will "get" it...hell, state it...look at any conventional (i.e. makes money so you don't have to wait tables) film and you will see the set up is right there in the beginning...one of the characters will say it outloud...
yes, I used Titanic, I use it all the time cause 90% of the planet has seen it in one form or another so don't get cranky about wether you liked it or not, it was just an example.
Student films that do not follow that path end up with ppl asking "what the hell was that all about?" and being labeled as "Art films" (vomit retch gag)
oh, and if your film needs that paragraph blurb in the programme, the flyer, the website, etc. for ppl to understand what you are trying to say in your film, well, then you really missed the point of visual story telling...
I have made several short films, my early ones are hack but i still love them...
my latest ones are brilliant...
http://www.digitalcinemapictures.com
i suggest Disappear, Lara Croft: Destination Australia, and Midnight in front of the Fridge

(that brilliant comment is only there so you are motivated to rush off and watch them and say "oh, thats not so brilliant...i can do better" to which i say "great, looking forward to seeing it...good luck..." and actually mean it)

Quito

I remember in 2001's "Spy Game" the dolly/zoom effect was used once. It's nice shot. It goes to show if you have talent and a fun story you can break the rules once in a while. Of course, there aren't many Tony Scotts out there -- or maybe there are, they just don't have 50 million dollars to work with. In any case, the DUMPS list won't be a factor for you if you have an innate talent for directing.

Just read DUMPS with amusement and embarrasment, although I seem to have avoided most of them. The one thing I want to add, and it may have been said before, and that is they are STUDENT films, which means they are made by people learning to make films. The blame should not be placed wholly on the students but with the teachers. If students are making these sorts of "errors" then they haven't been taught properly, or as is more likely with young students they think they know it all anyway and have ignored their teachers. This applies to all creative pursuits by students and not exclusively to film. Have you ever read student prose or poetry, seen student sculpture, painting, photography, etc. The percentage of quality work and real talent is always low, but the cream always floats to the top, except in homogenised institutions.
The only way to learn how to make films is by making films.

Yes, unfortunately.

Nononono...you must not appear pretentious or arrogant about how everything relates to the themes or story of your movie, but you must make sure that everything does. Don't brag about it...it's a subtle thing...not for saying "Yes, the breed of the dog that I chose here symbolizes..." after the film screens, but being able to show that the dog is a mutt, which helpes reinforce the audience's perception that the owners of the dog may be poor. It's all very subtle. And every cut, etc, dosen't specifically need to say something, it simply needs to all point to or help point to your themes and story. Yes, it's a little tedious, but in essence just ack yourself weather what youare doing is the best way to do what you're trying to do, that's all...in the end, does it come back to the story?

I haven't seen the whole Batch, so I hope I'm not repeating anyone else's two cents... but there's an old art class saying that everyone has 50,000 bad drawings in them, so the sooner you get them out of your system, the better off everyone will be. Of course, that's a cute way of saying "practice, practice, practice." The trick behind so much practice is that you have to become tired of your own cliches and start to dig a little deeper. Also of course it's a little easier to do this in writing or drawing as opposed to making 50,000 bad short films...

It's a fairly common trick amongst professionals to intimidate beginners by dumping on their first attempts, when the the pros themselves know damn well it takes years and many runs at it to wear out the cliches. I suppose the best defense for a fragile young ego is to see as many other people's beginning efforts - usually at local cooperatives - and make those mistakes vicariously, instead of expensively. It does take the wind out of your sails to see your own precious "original" ideas repeated ad infinitum by so many others who obviously never had a chance to steal your secrets.

Make films because you like it, not because you have to be Ingmar Bergman. That job's been taken.

Some Guy Out West.

Just cause the system doesnt register my email, ill go ahead and leave it for a response to the previous post.
crea...@yahoo.com

Charlie's one of my heros. Modern Times is on my top 5. I know that in acting, generally 'less' is more. That's what many people are told, anyway. Regardless of whether this is the truth, it's the feeling burning behind the eyes of the actor that make them worth watching. If they ARE the character, and they're highly expressive, then it's ON. Nowadays, actors such as Johnny Depp and Jim Carrey stand out for this very reason. (and Jim will improve with time)
hehe, constant eyebrow raises on its own reminds me of Macaulay Culkin, so that 'dump' has some merit.

ElectricSpecies