What do you prefer: Specific Theme or Open Theme with required elements?

[drapeama]

The question is simple, what most users would like to see as themes for the contest.
1) A specific theme would translate in "Serial Killer" or "Horror" and wouldn't have any required elements.
2) An open theme would be wide open, without anything specific to be related to but would need to include some required elements, such as "A burning candle" or "A glass of water" somewhere in the short.
3) The last option would be, at the request of the winner who choose the theme, a mix of both previous option: Specific Theme With Required Elements. That would make it more tricky and challenging.

What do you like most?

[HueyNRolf]

The random objects is only useful for proving the movie was made for the contest. Artistically, it adds nothing, since people just gratuitously add them to comply with the rules. If the objects had to be central to the plot, that would make it a challenge, but might put people off entering.

The theme is probably best, as long as the genre is open. Then people can spin it anyway they like.

[drapeama]

Artistically, it adds nothing, since people just gratuitously add them to comply with the rules. If the objects had to be central to the plot, that would make it a challenge, but might put people off entering.
The theme is probably best, as long as the genre is open. Then people can spin it anyway they like.

1) Reminds me Vishus' last entry: every items has been shown in the five first seconds and had nothing to do with the rest of the sort! It was funny though.
2) Yeah, that's how I see it, more central to the story..more like charlie or I did...That's why I like that option: it can lead to pretty much anything.
3) That's nice because you can compare apples with apples, and you can see people having differents takes on something similar. Easier to judge too.

Let's see what people prefer.

[HueyNRolf]

Or there's the tag line contest; the movie must include a spoken line "Is this seat taken?" for example. You could have a title contest; provide the title and let it be interpreted any which way.

Best to keep it simple and stick to one idea.

The music vid was a good idea, but that's a one off. The recreation (without random objects) was good too.

[antman]

im all for open theme, I never liked the idea of everyone using the same line or prop, after the second film im usually done hearing or seeing it by then. I guess if everyone picked a line out of a hat, and had to use it, where everyone had a different lineit would ok. But yeah, a bit redundant the other way.

[paperkut12]

Specific theme for sure. I echo Huey's thoughts about including the objects.

[drapeama]

Or there's the tag line contest [..]
Best to keep it simple and stick to one idea[..]
The recreation (without random objects) was good too.

1) Yeah, that one can be great too. But it hasn't been much successful as far as I remember..
2) I agree, One Idea that leads to Different Concepts. Easier to judge.
3) It was, too bad Daniel wanted to add that stupid thing to inclide in the movie. It's like having a scene from a medieval movie but you need to add a electronic device in it...I never bought it.

[AJUK]

I like the idea of themes, but at the same time a lot of folks can be put off by them, for example a theme of 'romantic comedy' would be less likely to float the boat of a horror movie fan.

The required elements aspect can be fun if treated seriously, and it also keeps everyone on their toes looking to see where the elements are in the film or how they have been used.

Perhaps the best way to incorporate required elements is to make them part of the judging and an aspect of the overall score awarded for the film? If there are bonus points, or marks out of ten for the way the theme/elements were included?

That would mean you could choose to enter a film without the elements, or ignoring the theme, but knowing that you would score less overall and you would be relying on your other scores to bring the points up to a winning amount.

[drapeama]

I like the idea of themes, but at the same time a lot of folks can be put off by them, for example a theme of 'romantic comedy' would be less likely to float the boat of a horror movie fan.
[..]
The required elements aspect can be fun if treated seriously...
[..]
Perhaps the best way to incorporate required elements is to make them part of the judging...
[..]
That would mean you could choose to enter a film without the elements, or ignoring the theme...

1) Count on me to seriously choose another theme if someone ever suggest that! :)
2) Of course if should/must be. I don't mind the way Vishus used to include them in his last short, but including the elements more seriously (read: more related to the story) would definitively be something good.
3) Would be an option. We should check it guys.
4) I would prefer if people would stick to either the theme or the elements: Let's say we have the horror theme now and someone enter the contest with a big action-packed-run-and-gun 5 minutes short...uh..? Or the opposite, there's no theme and only required elements and he(she) doesn't include anything and just shoot something for the fun of entering. Great, then there's the footage sub-forum to post it. I don't want to be harsh, but you get my point? I've seen people being disqualified for less than this...I would like to avoid that: being over 5minutes would automatically leads to a disqualification but not including the elements would only leads to lose points in the final judgement? Then ok, allow pretty much everything and review pretty much everything...
I think we'll have to agree on something and hold to it for the contest.

[Timbit]

4) I would prefer if people would stick to either the theme or the elements: Let's say we have the horror theme now and someone enter the contest with a big action-packed-run-and-gun 5 minutes short...uh..? Or the opposite, there's no theme and only required elements and he(she) doesn't include anything and just shoot something for the fun of entering. Great, then there's the footage sub-forum to post it. I don't want to be harsh, but you get my point? I've seen people being disqualified for less than this...I would like to avoid that: being over 5minutes would automatically leads to a disqualification but not including the elements would only leads to lose points in the final judgement? Then ok, allow pretty much everything and review pretty much everything...
I think we'll have to agree on something and hold to it for the contest.
+1 ^^

[drapeama]

+1 ^^

I don't think AJUK read it recently because I haven't heard about it! lol
I'll send them (AJUK & Vishus) another PM and see what and how we're going to do it.

[Shaunp007]

I voted for the Theme...but with a comment. It would be nice to throw in maybe lets say 1 out of 4 themes could be an "OPEN" theme with something required. I like the theme because I like seeing what people come up with around a central idea but I also like the "Open" genre for letting your mind run wild and come up with something that you like to do. Doesn't matter...I'll still try to participate either way.

These contests, the two that I have done, have made me a better filmaker...not a better story writer, but film making techincal aspects...It is also nice to have the critism. My movie for #20 "open" theme was pretty rough when I submitted it. People made suggestions and I fixed every single one of them and it turned out to be a very tight polished little 5 minute film, so yeah...doesn't matter to me what the format is, I'm still going to try to put something in when I have time, I like this website and the people who make it what it is by contributing their time and expertise...its great.

[GeorgeMaier]

I voted specific theam, for the reasons already stated by others. I really must try to take part in the next contest, a bit of filmmaking fun is just what I need right now - summers here and I have LOADS of free time!

[Playing]

I prefer open, but must admit, nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a theme you don't want to know about. Just please, no Zombies...

[drapeama]

I prefer open, but must admit, nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a theme you don't want to know about. Just please, no Zombies...

1) Open is great, but it's harder to judge the entries as there can be apples and oranges in the same bag (read: comedy and drama/action and science-fiction).
2) No zombies. That would lead to some interesting entries I must admit!

[drapeama]

Seems like it's a tight race between both choices...