+DIRECTOR'S DESK

FILM FESTIVAL 101
 
Do it for yourself.
     When it comes to The Strictly Students Film Festival students often try to ask me "what are you looking for?" and the answer is "it doesn't matter!". One extremely important aspect to keep in mind about any type of competition in the arts is that judging is totally subjective. Whenever you see a film your ability to relate to the characters and story is going to influence what you think about it. Make films for you and because you have a point of view you need to express. Student filmmakers are lucky because they don't have to consider the factors that professional productions do: the audience, the marketing, or the revenue. You have the freedom to simply focus on making a film that you really care about. Ultimately, the films that are the most successful in festivals are works that filmmakers created for themselves. Audiences and judges can tell when you are trying to cater to them and that is often what kills most Hollywood films.
 
Let your work speak for itself.
     Another thing I often hear from students right before they hand me their film is all the technical or acting problems they have in it. The truth is if you tell someone your film isn't that good and has lots of problems they'll believe you. I advise my students to say nothing or if you must "I hope you enjoy it." If you want to talk about your motivation for making it or discuss the creative process the film took there's no problem but even that is best done after the film.

Reframe competition and embrace rejection.
     One last important consideration when you enter films into festival is to not to get too wrapped up in the competition and miss the learning experience. Filmmakers get better by watching each others films both professionally and in high school. I witnessed a few students get really upset that their films weren't chosen for the semifinals or as the winners but that's the art world - and as an artist you need to say to yourself "I'm proud of my work regardless." Allow rejection to become your motivator because in the art world you'll see plenty of it. Often the better a filmmaker is the more they deal with rejection. It's important that you learn to deal with it in a positive way and change the way you see it. My advice to students who enter the festival is to reward yourself for the arduous process of actually getting a film made and then just try to enjoy the films and the experience. One of the major reasons I created the festival is simply for students to share their films with other students and show it in front of an actual audience. I was overjoyed during the first year of the festival when I sat watching the audience laugh and react to the films that I had screened. A crowd of 600 people sat and watched 40 student films and truly enjoyed the experience. That's the real success.

There is no box.
     The comment I most often heard from the attendees was that the films were much more interesting than any Hollywood film. That's a statement that you should all take to heart. The advantage students have over professionals is that they inherently know how to think out of the box because there is no box yet. Students have a much easier time being innovative. There is a great freedom in not knowing the rules. Where some people only find a wall holding them back others merely walk through the doorway.

      
      
      Tim Needles,
      Strictly Students Festival Director