Which films do you think were violating the rules?
And for those films you list - do you think they were violating them in the same extend or less or even more?

And let's not go over all 71, just the 30 in the pre pre final?

I ask that, because I saw all available ones, and I already discussed the issue about the mod element with Smeagol, and we all think that next THAC will have a more explicit remark about the MOD element.

But other than that, I found nothing that disturbed or offended me in a serious manner, but that is in the eye of the beholder, so if you find something offensive you are entitled to your opinion, and maybe you have spotted something that was missed.

On the other hand, I think the question is "Does it matter?" And the only moment when it indeed matters is when it comes to the final round. And I doubt that the best 15 films will have anything questionable (according to the present rules) in them.

Take my film (THACOSIS), the main actor lies on the bed and whispers "!@#$ !@#$ !@#$" - compared to the curses he could have said, and to what we are used to hear anyway the word "!@#$" is almost outdated, old fashioned. Which is the reason why nobody (or at least I hope nobody) thought of it as inappropriate. And also my character wasn't offending someone. - After I finished THAC I went to the ER because my 2 year old son pinched his finger quite badly, and honestly I was concerned about him loosing his finger. You can imagine that I connect to my son quite a bit. At the same moment you throw a baby out of the window... (I am exaggerating, it happened of cause only in your film). Still in relation to that your film came across as quite sick.

Now when I think about the rest of the movies, the most things that happened were that apples, aliens, monsters, gangsters were shot, and nobody of us belongs into that category. That is most likely the reason why the rest of the films were not disqualified. It is a question of proportions. Still if you find an example as severe as yours. Let's talk about it...

Cheers Arend

No, that's incorrect.
I'm defending Cheshire because he did a great job on his own.
Don't blame your lack of imagination on Cheshire.
I don't care that I'm in the top 30. Of course I'm delighted, but I know I'm not going to win.
It was in the rules. It stated that there would be no sexual content in the film.
I liked Vik's but, rape is clearly a sexual matter.
It doesn't matter about the top 30. Like KG said, you didn't get in. Be quite and move on.
And darkman, I'm not stupid. Your all clearly not calm. Your all blaming everything on Cheshire.
He did a great job, and I'm not just saying that.
Cheshire deserves way more credit.
-Kevin

Last edited by Brickcellent (January 6, 2010 (12:40pm))

and there goes all your respect points

Kind of funny. I am currently in two video contests that just finished in which people are complaining and having "heated discussions" about judging and winners. And I hardly ever enter contests...

The Judges decision is FINAL. Whining about why you didnt get through will lead you NOWHERE. SO DROP IT!

Its not like complaining will suddenly get your movie through. And feedback will be given in the Results Chat. Just listen to yourselves. Its like Youtube....

Could this be locked? I see no need for discussion anymore.

-MRB

You're right. And I'm better at making movies without time-pressure

We agree with Smeagol (and Vik) that there are other entries that have questionable content and should not, in our opinion, have made the top thirty.  However, this issue is much bigger than any contest.

Something to think about…

How we dress, who we hang out with, the books we read, etc. - including the films we create are a reflection of who we are and what we believe in/stand for.  If we produce films that portray “dark” situations, or curse, or purposely offend to get a laugh, then we should expect to be criticized and even have our films avoided.  That is the choice one makes when delving into such material.

Secondly, unfortunately, this choice impacts your ability to share your talents with others.  You will be disqualified from any reputable competition, and if you aren’t, parents will not allow their children to watch your films.  There are many up-and-coming “brick filmers” who could benefit from your skill if you chose more family-friendly material.  After all, Lego bricks are marketed to children.  Choosing to use them as your objects of animation carries with it some responsibility. 

Thirdly, films containing offensive material can negatively impact this site.  Some may choose to avoid it entirely after stumbling across an offending film, and that would hurt all of us. This competition has certainly opened our family’s eyes to the “darker” side of Lego animation, and we are going to be much more diligent about which films and whose films we watch.  Perhaps those who do produce such films and don’t wish to change would most benefit by creating their own site specifically for all those animators who prefer “dark” or offensive material.  Then this kind of debate and upset will become less necessary.

Last edited by BuilderBrothers (January 6, 2010 (05:28pm))

pwned

Builderbrothers made some excellent points. In Australia we recently had some controversy regarding a comedy TV show where they made jokes of kids with cancer.
A moral line needs to be drawn and BiM have been upfront in promoting family values.
Considering the Lego medium and it’s kids/toy relationship that is a good idea.

I doubt VIK would make find this topic funny if he had any exposure to it directly. Like someone he knew (Mother, Sister, Girlfriend). The one point most here have missed is rape is an act of violence not sex.

Of course it won't. Once someone makes up their mind, they usually stay with that thought unless they they ponder over that kind of stuff for a while. I do agree with BuilderBrothers though, although no one really thinks of this, there is a "dark side" to everything, including Brickfilms.

I think (just look at the huge argument in the Mr. Depressing entry by filmyguy) that it's not actually what happens when something is made like that, it's the thought behind it. I think someone said something like "but it's only peices of plastic being replaced with red bricks.", but it's the thought of the dog getting run over as a crude form of animal cruelty that I see it as. Just imagine if you were a little kid and your dog got run over, and you were forced to see it.