Look who brought their A-Game
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Nominate or showcase videos that you think are really great. You can post your own video, or some one else’s.

 

Show us why you think your video is awesome!

 
 
 
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orsonwelles orsonwelles commented | 2 months ago
 
Lol, I have No problem with the feedback that I got, I appreciate that someone actually a. gave feedback at all, and b. it was honest. Thats why I'm not taking it personally, he wasn't trying to be too nice and bs what he though, I respect that. No hard feelings bro, I'm just
stressin cause I really want to win and have this opportunity haha.
 
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thegreatyoda thegreatyoda commented | 2 months ago
 
Probot, while you were a tad harsh, you did Orson a service by giving honest feedback. There's a difference between saying you thought something could have been better and making an ass of yourself. If you wanted to that, you could just downgrade every video in the contest and reveal your own insecurities. Not being able to give praise when praise is due is just as big a weakness as not being able to take criticism. I'm not looking to lose to anyone, but I'm not stupid enough to say I learned nothing from watching the other entries, both good and not so good. You can learn something from everyone, even the jerks. So Orson Welles, don't take it too personally, dude. I'll re watch your video and give some thoughts if you like.
 
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mhawk80 mhawk80 commented | 2 months ago
 
probot dont be sorry and you've been a great sport in this contest and your right about being honest so i go first.

now its hard for me to say that many of the entry didnt do well at all. many of the entrys were love storys, its not like you guy were winning a date or a makeout session with olivia (whats wrong with you guys). some didnt know a thing about star wars why the hell did they enter this contest . some entrys were just not original, they had a month to think up a good idea and instead all they did was copy someone else and then you have big shot assholes saying "yes it is original its the great thing ive ever seen " stop being asskisser and be honest. some of you didnt even need to enter this contest because you could already do a fan film on your own, i mean what about the little guy that actually need to win because they have so much to gain but if they lose they have so much to lose. you big shot have little to gain in this and little to lose so why did you enter in the first place you big shot should just quit and start a fan film on your own . And finally the last negative thing i have to say (promise:D) many of you jerks who can't take negative comments and start bitching over the thumb down rating, olivia told everyone to help her by telling her which ideas suck and which dont and the audience listened. im not try to be mean but if you cant impress the audiences how are you going to impress olivia. If someone doesnt like your idea thats fine but if a large group doesnt like your idea then your doing something wrong. Over 250 people join operation olivia so dont blame others for your mistake and accept that your video sucks. In the end the audiences always wins. so stop being dicks to them because they are also wasting they're time with your video

i hope i wasn't to much of a bitch but the truth must be told and may the best win
 
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probot probot commented | 2 months ago
 
I feel bad that I expressed my brutal honesty toward another contestant. It's just that he had asked for feedback several times and no one else was stepping up. I hope I wasn't being too un-sportsman like. Doesn't anyone else have feedback for the kid? If anyone else feels I was wrong, please tell him so, so that mine isn't the only opinion expressed. It's nice that everyone is generally very supportive of each other, but we need more HONEST feedback from non-players! The truth will be painful for most of us, but we need to hear it to become better filmmakers.
 
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mhawk80 mhawk80 commented | 2 months ago
 
well Blue Reaper and Night Owl i also hope you win. you guys have a good story and something funny to work with. i feel that many of your competitors didnt take you guys sirius but in the end you guys showed alot of heart and hard work in your pitch and the audience seem to like you guys so best of luck im voting for you.
 
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Blue Reaper and Night Owl Blue Reaper and Night Owl commented | 2 months ago
 
hello everyone sorry ive havent been online in along time . i see alot of drama has form in this discussion. i also see that we have some fans, im very happy to know that many of you enjoyed our video thank you all so much for the support. i know its not easy to impress the audiences but some how we did and hope we also impressed olivia(which the most important thing in this contest) hopefully our video made it to the top 6. good luck to everyone may the best pitch win and may the force be with you
 
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StinkNStink StinkNStink commented | 2 months ago
 
No word yet on the final 6? A little nervous :)...again, good luck everyone!
 
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thegreatyoda thegreatyoda commented | 2 months ago
 
Thanks cinemaparadiso. I try an treat everything like a job. It might make me a stick in the mud, but it makes me work harder. And I know from experience how helpful it can be to have others write about what does and doesn't work in one's film. That's part of why I'm so eager to hear what Olivia and the judges thought about their top choices.

And thanks to you as well, Dan. The same to you. And should you win (and are in LA), and need a grip or something, let me know. ;)
 
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Dan Lantz Dan Lantz commented | 2 months ago
 
Hey there TheGreatYoda!
Thanks for putting us on your "list". You should be number 6. Your pitch was the very first one I saw and I still think it is one of the better ones. Cinemaparadiso was right, your are the most enthusiastic... good luck to you and your clan (but not toooo much luck - wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more... if you know what I mean :)
 
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cinemaparadiso cinemaparadiso commented | 2 months ago
 
I think the Great Yoda should Win... not because his pitch is necessarily the best, but because he seems to care the most about this competition. He has taken more time than anyone else to really watch everyone's pitch and give it real thought. Kudos to you man!
 
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orsonwelles orsonwelles commented | 2 months ago
 
To answer you're question about the ending. What I love best about Tarantino isn't the language that he uses, it's how he uses his dialog to build tension. He does it better than anyone in hollywood today and the ending of my short would involve using dialog to build the tension. I would'nt have any harsh/foul language, because I feel it's not appropriate
for this genre.
 
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probot probot commented | 2 months ago
 
Thanks Yo!
 
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thegreatyoda thegreatyoda commented | 2 months ago
 
So since I'm bored out of my skull and no info has been forthcoming beyond Olivia narrowing it down to six entries, I figured I'd post my own top five (couldn’t really think of a sixth) just for kicks. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. If anyone is interested in praising/ripping apart my entry, I'd be interested in that too. Can't learn anything without some constructive feedback, and there are some very talented folks here.

By the way, I'm omitting my own entry from my list, because I think it goes without saying that I like my pitch.

THE LIST

#5 Olivia, It Is Your Destiny

This one was at the top for a long time, and now it just slides under the wire for me. Heath’s pitch is professionally made and delivered. He also was the first of the entries to actually film full blown excerpts for his pitch to help show he knew his way around a set. I also appreciated his ability to find ways to toss in jokes even during his informational segments. I can easily see this being a successful fan film that I would get some laughs out of. The only reason I don’t rank it higher is I feel that some of the other contestants with equal technical skill came up with more creative pitches than the skit Heath presented.

#4 Rocking Chewbaccas

This dude knows the kind of humor I like. A wonderfully absurd premise mixed with a boat load of previous experience and some serious musical talent? Sign me up! And point me to an MP3 of “Wookie All Night” while you’re at it.

#3 Don’t Forget The Mandalorians

Let’s be honest, this pitch is broadcast worthy. If this were a job interview instead of a contest trying to be fair to everyone, it would win hands down. Dan is clearly an industry professional who knows what he is doing, has some equipment, and possess the ingenuity to make it look like has more cash in his coffers than he apparently does. Is it unfair to place his pitch video above the people who filmed in an unlit living room with their camcorders? I don’t think so. Olivia is someone who works with professionals, and I would think that the judges would appreciate knowing if they sent her to someone like Dan, her time would not be wasted. Dan’s already proven that he can put together and entertaining, humorous, and most importantly, professional pitch. That counts for a lot, in my book, even if there are a few stories I like a bit better.

#2 Hughes The Force

There have been a lot of people giving this guy crap for being “unoriginal” which strikes me as odd in a competition that has been rife with parodies of TV shows and movies, not to mention one that is centered around fan films. The problem with a lot of the parody pitches has been that they have no plot or humor beyond the initial joke of being based on whatever TV show the person chose. JC uses elements from John Hughes movies creatively and humorously within his pitch, which makes me think his fan film will be equally unique. He also has a great deal of previous experience and a clear love for all things Star Wars. Finally, he touched George Lucas. JC Probably hasn’t washed his hands since, and thus still has some of the Lucas magic to use for his film. I think in terms of concept alone, this is my favorite.


#1 Operation Olivia Pitch From Damon Weller:

When a friend of mine told me about this contest, I sent him back a link to Damon’s pitch and said “I may have already lost.” I actually decided to enter because I wanted to challenge myself by going up against such a strong piece. All three of Damon’s are easily among the most original of the competition. He has a unique method of filming which no one but him could pull off, yet is completely manageable within the time limit. His story ideas are equally unique, showcasing a whimsical sense of humor, and in his last two pitches, a deep knowledge of classic film and television programs such as King Kong and The Love Boat. Finally, Damon, like all of the best entries, shows a clear grasp of the technical aspects that are needed to make a professional film worthy of Ms. Munn’s time. Though I'm not sure if Damon's pitch was my absolute personal favorite, I do think it was the one which best met the critera of the contest: funny, professional, and unique. Well done, sir.
 
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probot probot commented | 2 months ago
 
I probably should have remained silent and let other members speak their minds since my opinion is far from objective. Sorry you were unaware of the contest for so long. Ms. Munn also said that the idea is the most important thing, not the slickness of the pitch, so I'm sure you'll get your fair shot. But I feel like you left out two of the most important elements of your story and I'm not sure if your Tarantinoesque ending means everyone swearing a lot or a shootout with only one survivor. But I was vague in my own pitches at times, it's impossible not to be I suppose. But my point about Mr. Welles is that he really understood the importance of showmanship.

We really need more feedback of all kinds from everyone. But the more objective voices would be the group members who did not submit pitches themselves. Ms. Munn said she wanted to hear from them. She has decided on the final six, so it's time to rally for whoever you think should win! Make yourselves heard!

What none of us contestants can do is generate enthusiasm for ourselves. It will either come or it won't. You can't beg for praise without waking the Beast of criticism.
 
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orsonwelles orsonwelles commented | 2 months ago
 
I'm not going to start some sort of debate here, but what I feel you're missing is that I wasn't starting some sort of flame on the people here, I was just voicing my opinion, all I wanted was feedback on my story, which I got so lovingly from you. Also, I'm not sayingthat I will make the best short film ever, I'm saying the potential is there, also I don't
know what was up with the whole flaming me by having my name be orson welles, and me being criticized for not entertaining people. The first time I heard about this contest was 5 days before it ended, so I had to fully flesh out this story idea and film the pitch within the five days. There's nothing else I could've done with me having to work and go to class.
In regards to my story, I didn't want to spoil anything and also the story wasn't completely finished in regards to jokes and what not. But i appreciate you're honesty, and to tell you the truth I hope you're ideas don't get picked just like you hope mine don't, because I feel a star wars themed toy story with real toys with plots that involve the love boat
(lol, are you kidding) and some sort of adventure in toyland that has no real coherence would do more harm to the franchise name then good. Sorry to be harsh but I can't go down that easily. I guess we'll see what the verdict is soon enough.
 
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David I. David I. commented | 2 months ago
 
Hey uhhh, whats up guys, did anybody see my pitch? because i thought it was pretty freaking cool. She said she was looking for something funny with a kick ass lead and I think I delivered. any comments?
 
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probot probot commented | 2 months ago
 
You want honest feedback? Ok. But I don't think you're going to like it...

First, anyone who invokes the name of, let alone calls himself, OrsonWelles, had better know a little something about entertaining people, and I'm afraid that's what your pitch failed to do, otherwise people would be discussing it already without your prodding. To then proclaim that your fanfilm could transcend FanFilmdom and fit right in to the Star Wars Canon is a rather bold claim to say the least and outright blasphemous at worst. You used the full 5 minutes allowed but kept rather important plot points secret so as not to spoil your jokes, and yet you expect us to trust you that it would be hilarious. Unfortunately, you gave us no reason to trust that you have a sense of humor, composition, editing, or effects, all of which would be needed to pull off any Star Wars fanfilm worth watching. Ms. Munn specifically stated that pitches that make her laugh would win her over, which is probably why so many people proposed parodies. I strongly disagree with you about what constitutes doing "justice" to the Star Wars name. If you don't believe that a parody or mockumentary format can work, then maybe you need to watch Kevin Rubio's classic "Troops."

We all have our own criteria as to what rises above the crap that most fanfilms in fact are. In my opinion, most fanfilms fail by taking the wrong aspects too seriously, or by putting jokes where none belong. Of course part of what makes fanfilms great it that you don't really have to answer to anyone else's tastes, because you are taking back the night; using a universe you love and making your own vision with it. However the other edge of that sword is the merciless scrutiny of other hardcore fans with their own sense of "justice." For example, plenty of people would consider Star Wars mixed with "The Love Boat" to be blasphemy. All of these ideas are bound to have both fans and haters. Ultimately, the fans decide. That's the nature of the game. It's also what drives it. Aspiring filmmakers see so many bad fanfilms, people not "getting it right," that they feel they need to show the world how it's done.

The other problem is that I think you greatly overestimate how much you can get done in the 6 hours you would get with Ms. Munn. Your story is way too long in my opinion to realistically believe you could get it done in the alloted time.

To put it in Star Wars terms: Like Luke, you are young and idealistic, but you need to complete your training. Like Han Solo you feel your charm will get you through. But like Darth Vader you have let your arrogance blind you. And like C-3P0, you might want to tone it down or someone might be tempted to [metaphorically] hit the power switch and shut you off. [as in not watch your fanfilm]

Overall it's a mildly intriguing story idea but a weak pitch. Sorry to be so harsh. Best of luck to you, kid! I truly hope one of your supporters comes to your defense, because your idea wasn't too bad, but the pitch was not optimal, so I don't really know how awesome your idea even is.
 
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orsonwelles orsonwelles commented | 2 months ago
 
hey everybody here, I want to get some feedback from you regarding my pitch. Because every post I read on here talks about the same few pitches and how technically sound they are, or how good with effects the person is, etc, etc. But when it comes to the actual story,I feel that mine is pretty good, and when I say that I'm not being overconfident, I genuinely feel it's a good plot, andto be honest, the few pitches that I've seen have a terrible plot for a star wars short film. I mean lets be honest, parodiesand mockumentaries and what not, are not going to do any justice to the actual star wars name. The reason I'm saying all this is because I'm a competitive person with a genuine love/passion for film and star wars, and I just feel my pitch isn't getting any credit, and I really wanna make my short film. Sure I didn't make it with a 1,600 + dollar camera but I did what I could and i feel the idea standsup to other pitches that get a lot of credit for how well put together they are. I feel that the more exposure a pitch getsthe more the people running this competition are gonna look at it. So if I could at least just get some feedback
for my story idea that would be great. thanks
 
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Nos402 Nos402 commented | 2 months ago
 
Olivia twittered that she narrowed it down to 6! When do we find out who? I don't see it anywhere here?
 
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awalker2334 awalker2334 commented | 2 months ago
 
@mhawk80 Thanks for the shoutout. I really appericate it. Hope you and everyone else has a great time here watching the winner make their fan film or just chatting about Olivia, star wars, or any other cool subject.
 
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