Tropfest

[Vince Doran]

Apparently this is now the world's largest short film festival, (doubt it) Well the results are out and have been announced in front of 150 000 people, the winner is an $80 stop motion production that IMO is total crap and I will be surprised if they get many entries next year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxISP_ch_ol
I am calling a hoax?

 

[Ace]

Unfortunately not a Hoax.. I thought it was kinda cool. Although the winner appeared quite surprised and almost embarrassed that he won...

We're having some of the judges over at our film festival (Australian Film Festival) next month. Will ask them then!

 

[Vince Doran]

C,mon Ace, some people put a lot of their time and money into competing in this comp, If you reckon the winner was the best entry, then Australian film making is dead. RIP Australian film making this is an example of some of our best stuff. fuck me, how embarrasing
ACE....This is a real name forum .....please state your real name

 

[Ace]

I don't think it deserved to win the top prize. But I personally quite liked it as film reflective of the obsession with internet Meme's. Many people dont think that "Beached Bro" deserved to be a multimillion dollar success either...

 

[Vince Doran]

I don't think it deserved to win the top prize.

No shit Sherlock, the "winner" was a "famous" actor...hmmmmm......go figure that out
ACE this is a real name forum, everyone else has nothing to hide...state your real name...

 

[Austin Glass]

Am I the only one seeing "The video you requested is unavailable" from the YouTube link?

 

[Vince Doran]

Sorry Austin, yeah some dramas ....try this link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vziSP_ch_ol

Ohh it is that bad...even Youtube doesnt want to link it.......search for..... "ANIMAL BEATBOX- tropfest 2011 winner"


I wouldn't be surprised if the creator gets caught out for stealing other peoples images and getting his ass ass asss aaaassss fried in court

 

[Ace]

No shit Sherlock, the "winner" was a "famous" actor...hmmmmm......go figure that out
ACE this is a real name forum, everyone else has nothing to hide...state your real name...

Vince, if it's perplexing you that much, come down to the Australian Film Festival on Wednesday the 9th at the Ritz Cinema in Sydney and ask Jack Thompson, One of the Tropfest Judges yourself. Oh, and ask one of the staff for Ace. I'd love to say hi.

By the way, did you enter anything into Tropfest this year? If so, do you care to share your short film here so that we can compare to the winning entry?

 

[Paul Cook]

You know sensationalism is all the rage now as a powerful marketing tool. Do / say something shocking and it gets picked up by the news networks and discussions spread like wildfire across the internet. Could that be what happened here?

Of course that would mean the judging process is corrupt which ultimately would damage the festival as much as choosing a music video like as the winner. So either way TF is screwed in my mind.

For me I dont mind the music clip so much but for the reality that it IS a music video and IS NOT a film. For this to win a FILM competition like TF is beyond a joke. Also its not in any way original - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIyixC9NsLI and at least THAT video has a twist...'snake!' ;-)

For me I loved this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QA0fKqmHQ&NR=1

Anyway - it is what it is, luckily TF has in my opinions next to ZERO bearing on the Australian film industry so really its all good.

Oh and ACE Ill be a the Ritz so if I get the chance I might just ask Jack (with all due respect of course) because Id love to know WTF he was thinking ;-)

 

[Cail Young]

The fact is of all 16 films it got the biggest crowd reaction, which I think scored a lot of points with a lot of judges.

The larger issue with Tropfest is that it's become less of a film festival and more of a Movie Extra crosspromotion exercise that happens to screen live in a couple of cities. (Squishing credits, anyone? Blasphemy)

I made this based on what I recalled from 2 years ago. No surprises this year

 

[Cail Young]

C,mon Ace, some people put a lot of their time and money into competing in this comp

A lot of people have latched onto the "problem" that having a winning film that cost $80 (and frankly, looks like it did) when people spend thousands making an entry.

Maybe find a way to not spend heaps of money on a competition entry next time? Certainly if nothing else we've seen that high budgets don't equate to Tropfest success. Entertainment value seems to be the uniform criteria for winning as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Paul Cook]

Well if popularity is popular, perhaps they should take note for the upcoming Academy Awards, instead of voting for the best film they should just roll out an applause-O-meter and let the drunken rabble decide...oh wait thats the Golden Globes...

BTW Cail love your guys advert for the Arri Alexa - you should enter that next year

 

[Stephen Strangways]

ACE this is a real name forum, everyone else has nothing to hide...state your real name...

Notice that his name in yellow meaning he's a moderator, the special status of "Wedge In", the sheer number of posts he has made and how long he has been a member. Finally, there is this quote from another single-name poster on this forum when somebody questioned why he wasn't using his real name:

That IS his real name... Ace Hole. Cool name. Wish I had it.

Jim

 

[Andrew Gentle]

I caught the first half of the finalists at the Tropfest event in Brisbane. I thought that overall, the quality of most of the films was really quite good. (Except that they were shown on an LED scoreboard style screen) I didn't see the winner on the night but I agree that it's quite embarrassing if this is supposed to be Australia's best short film from this huge competition. This is YouTube material to me. I think the lack of a narrative leads this film to miss the essentials of what a short film should be.

For me I loved this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QA0fKqmHQ&NR=1

I agree, Paul, I think Silencer was the best I saw.

Cail, love the Bingo!

 

[jimhare]

I did sound design on Silencer. I was going to direct it with Dave and shoot it on Red, but had to pull out at the last minute.

My good friend Doug shot it in the end. Great concept!

 

[Stephen Gentle]

For me I loved this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QA0fKqmHQ&NR=1

Love it... How could this not have won compared to Animal Beatbox?

 

[Ace]

It's actually not that hard to figure out.

Tropfest is about entertainment, and they picked the entry that entertained the most. Everyone knows this is true to the Tropfest spirit so why act so surprised.

At the end of the day, but one question begs to be answered for any given artwork: Did it connect? In this case, Animal Beatbox did, and plenty. The crowd loved it.

This was also confirmed when I spoke with a finalist today who shared the judges sentiments...in that Animal Beatbox was indeed well deserved... So, if an actual finalist feels that way, what business is it anyone complaining about the prize? Did you enter a film? I just don't understand it. Its all just a bit Kanye.

Here's the film for reference...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxiSP_ch_oI

Ace

 

[Paul Cook]

I dont think its in any way Kanye Ace, you say they choose the most popular film based on the crowds reaction? Why bother having judges at all then? I can accept that a lot of people like it - probably more than who hate it. My issue from the very beginning is it ISNT a film - its a music video. Tropfest, I thought, was a short FILM competition.

Traditionally when you think of film, you don't think YouTube. That all changed with Life in a Day, I loved the concept and believe that is a valid way forward. This is the reverse, YouTube-ifying cinema, and for that Jackass has done enough damage already.

 

[John Brawley]

It's actually not that hard to figure out.

Tropfest is about entertainment, and they picked the entry that entertained the most. Everyone knows this is true to the Tropfest spirit so why act so surprised.

Indeed.

I've been involved with films that have been finalists (and won once for cinematography).

The best films never win. The film that wins is the film that goes down best with a crowd of 30 000 people screening with shitty projection and crappy inaudible PA sound.

It's very telling that no Tropfest film EVER goes on to win other film festivals.

jb

 

[Noel Evans]

Im not surprised it won.

Quite frankly if its based on crowd reaction the only films that will ever win are going to be based entirely on low brow stupidity. And no Im not saying the audience is stupid. Yeah youll laugh and react for a moment, but I can almost guarantee that none in the audience thought it was the best piece. Its like last years, again the whole Kyle thing was something to laugh over, so a quick joke short about something current will get a reaction, but again I doubt the audience thought it was the best.

Lets forget the $ to make an entry for a moment. There are entries, where much thought, planning, expertise, style and great execution are evident - and from the outset these have no chance.

There were far more deserving entrants this year. And if tropfest continues this way the days of people attending to develop any of the stories, the days of anyone taking it mildly seriously will be history. With changes in the industry its almost that way already.

Maybe change the name to Tropfest comedic film festival.

On the winner - I hope no one comes forward saying any of those animal images have been used without permission.