On the Lot judges off the mark
May07 Filed in: Entertainment
I am not great TV addict but last night I was watching the 1 minute comedy video contest on On the Lot and I was hooked and angry. What more do you want!
I am not remotely interested in these ongoing Pop Idol type shows where you listen to expert judges pontificating and planting seeds in your mind, before you are pummeled with requests to vote what you think. I know nothing about music, or dancing except I know what I like. Also, as I don't often buy anything, my opinion is almost worthless on the who's an upcoming star show. But after last night, On the Lot judges opinion had me thinking, if they are the voice of their industry, film making is doomed.
There are 18 videoclip makers trying to be amusing in 60 seconds of film. Fair play to most of them, they had a witty thread, the filming was really pro level and they all lasted 60 seconds. Then the whole show was spoiled by judges who wouldn't know what dissent was if it bit them in their conformist ass.
In my opinion, Carry Fisher was more offensive than the Southern boy film maker she was ripping a new one for. His clip, Get a room, involved a dork. She thought he looked more like a special needs kid, so she was offended. Maybe the part was miscast and if he had had the resources, the director could have found a better "looking" actor, but anyone could tell, surely, that the star of the clip was a parody of an idiot, not a direct representation of a slow or mentally challenged man. I took my hat off to the filmmaker for keeping his cool and saying, "It really wasn't that bad." ie as bad as Carrie Fisher was making out.
But that leads on to the main issue of judges who would not disagree with each other. Carrie Fisher was disgusted, the young zippy judge who obviously had a real talent for critique just went along with her, and then the director of Pretty Woman, that oh so hysterical movie (rolls eyes) actually was more politically despicable than anything he was criticising the film maker for. Call a special needs person, retarded? Huh, which school of political incorrectness did you get thrown out of?
The whole show made me feel sick as I saw safe homogenisation and hypocrisy ooze from the screen. The Brit director was trashed, mainly because the judges didn't see dark satire as "Hollywood" humor. And the American reference to farting was "sophisticated" while the Italian's was potty humor? They liked the South African because it was sexy, whatever, it was funny but no more so than any other clip. And what was funny about the 360 degree special effects clip. It was "Star Wars" clever technically, but I don't recall dominoes, explosions and slapstick being that in vogue in comedy any more.
The judges opinions were not helpful, especially as they didn't like what was challenging. And for them all to always have the same opinion, sucked the big one. And how out of touch are they when they said, Oh, this would probably do well on the internet, but for a mainstream audience, no. Excuse me, film makers, you are getting swallowed up by the internet, or didn't you notice that? The show was quite a good coincidence, in fact, because I wrote only yesterday on Blog About Your Blog, about how video content providers are sitting on a fortune, simply because supply is dwarfed by the demand from Youtube and other users. Seems far better to go it alone than cow-tow to Hollywood.
I will continue watching, because unlike Pop idol where the judges are far better entertainment than the contestants, these film makers actually entertain, rather than pay lip service to what Carrie Fisher deems OK.
I am not remotely interested in these ongoing Pop Idol type shows where you listen to expert judges pontificating and planting seeds in your mind, before you are pummeled with requests to vote what you think. I know nothing about music, or dancing except I know what I like. Also, as I don't often buy anything, my opinion is almost worthless on the who's an upcoming star show. But after last night, On the Lot judges opinion had me thinking, if they are the voice of their industry, film making is doomed.
What is the Lot?
There are 18 videoclip makers trying to be amusing in 60 seconds of film. Fair play to most of them, they had a witty thread, the filming was really pro level and they all lasted 60 seconds. Then the whole show was spoiled by judges who wouldn't know what dissent was if it bit them in their conformist ass.
The judges failure to judge fairly
In my opinion, Carry Fisher was more offensive than the Southern boy film maker she was ripping a new one for. His clip, Get a room, involved a dork. She thought he looked more like a special needs kid, so she was offended. Maybe the part was miscast and if he had had the resources, the director could have found a better "looking" actor, but anyone could tell, surely, that the star of the clip was a parody of an idiot, not a direct representation of a slow or mentally challenged man. I took my hat off to the filmmaker for keeping his cool and saying, "It really wasn't that bad." ie as bad as Carrie Fisher was making out.
Judges 1,2,3 agree?
But that leads on to the main issue of judges who would not disagree with each other. Carrie Fisher was disgusted, the young zippy judge who obviously had a real talent for critique just went along with her, and then the director of Pretty Woman, that oh so hysterical movie (rolls eyes) actually was more politically despicable than anything he was criticising the film maker for. Call a special needs person, retarded? Huh, which school of political incorrectness did you get thrown out of?
Creative edgy film making is dead?
The whole show made me feel sick as I saw safe homogenisation and hypocrisy ooze from the screen. The Brit director was trashed, mainly because the judges didn't see dark satire as "Hollywood" humor. And the American reference to farting was "sophisticated" while the Italian's was potty humor? They liked the South African because it was sexy, whatever, it was funny but no more so than any other clip. And what was funny about the 360 degree special effects clip. It was "Star Wars" clever technically, but I don't recall dominoes, explosions and slapstick being that in vogue in comedy any more.
The judges opinions were not helpful, especially as they didn't like what was challenging. And for them all to always have the same opinion, sucked the big one. And how out of touch are they when they said, Oh, this would probably do well on the internet, but for a mainstream audience, no. Excuse me, film makers, you are getting swallowed up by the internet, or didn't you notice that? The show was quite a good coincidence, in fact, because I wrote only yesterday on Blog About Your Blog, about how video content providers are sitting on a fortune, simply because supply is dwarfed by the demand from Youtube and other users. Seems far better to go it alone than cow-tow to Hollywood.
I will continue watching, because unlike Pop idol where the judges are far better entertainment than the contestants, these film makers actually entertain, rather than pay lip service to what Carrie Fisher deems OK.
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