Would you edit (or shorten) your film if asked by an indie-only film festival?

[GuerrillaAngel]

There are no wrong answers here. You can respond with a "BIG FAT NO!" or a "you betcha!"

Suppose you submitted a film to an indie-only festival (limited to films that are likely to never see a LA or NYC showing and having no major stars) and it got sent back to you with a note saying that the film has a great chance of being selected provided certain fixes are made (ie shortening of the running time).

Would you do it? If no, would you do it if it there are cash prizes?

 

[Alcove Audio]

The big question is the credibility/credentials of whomever is asking for the "changes." Do the changes/fixes make it a better film? That is the question that is difficult to objectively answer.

Festivals like them short; they can show two features a night if they are 90 minutes or less.

 

[CraigL]

There are no wrong answers here. You can respond with a "BIG FAT NO!" or a "you betcha!"

Suppose you submitted a film to an indie-only festival (limited to films that are likely to never see a LA or NYC showing and having no major stars) and it got sent back to you with a note saying that the film has a great chance of being selected provided certain fixes are made (ie shortening of the running time).

Would you do it? If no, would you do it if it there are cash prizes?

It depends... =)

If I felt there was a way to pull out enough, without harming the story, I would consider it depending on how busy I was or if it had been rejected multiple times before. It's hard when you've edited it carefully yourself, even more so when you've also directed and perhaps even written it. You really need to take a very critical eye to it. Looking for sub-plots to remove might be easiest, as that will probably have a smaller effect on the main plot.

Festivals are frustrating to deal with sometimes, but one shouldn't just dismiss feedback like that out of hand I guess.

CraigL

 

[rayw]

Easy "Yes!"

I'm making a commercial product, not fine art for my own living room.

If the customers say "We like this product, but we want it in S/M/L/XL/2XL/red/green/purple/etc." what sort of stupid producer says "Nope. That request goes against our artistic principles. We made it just right perfect the first time when we provided it. Deal."?
A soon to be out of business producer, that's who.

Do you want anyone to see it or not?

 

[Sweetie]

For me it would depend on the festival and its importance to your strategy. If the festival is unlikely to benefit you much, then doing lots of work to adjust your film to it seems like bad economics to me. If it is to get into a festival that might just help you strike that distribution deal, then yes.

 

[ChimpPhobiaFilms]

Yes. But save a copy of the longer version also.

 

[Zensteve]

has a great chance of being selected

Work to change the edit and it's still just a chance they'll take it?

Nope. I'd strongly consider it if it was a shoe-in by trimming something, but not on a maybe.

Why do they want it trimmed, btw?

.

 

[Cracker Funk]

No. Absolutely not.

Until the film is complete, I welcome any and all constructive criticism, and do my best to use that input to shape a better film.

But when the movie is done, it's fucking done! If somebody wants to critique it, then I'll bear that in mind for any future productions. But that particular movie is complete, and I left it that way because I stand by it, flaws and all.

This isn't Burger King, you don't get to choose how you like your burger done. I'd like to think there's a little bit of artistic integrity in what we do, and that means that what I put out is what I believe is best, and you can take it or leave it.

 

[ChimpPhobiaFilms]

Cracker Fund does have a good point, But if they are asking you to do that, they probably are trying to fit you into the schedule (they want you in). I would shorten it, and send it to them.