The problem is that people take things too seriously.

The problem is that we have this site in the first place, and put value on others' opinions over our own.

That's the issue. By having a site like BricksinMotion we encourage people to fit the consensus of what a brickfilmer should be. It was less prevalent in the early brickfilms because the community was smaller and their interests were more eclectic. As we've grown and gotten more central things have gotten tighter and tighter. There are lots of great brickfilms that don't fit the mold, I'm sure, but it takes the kind of person who can respond to criticism without conforming to the mindset of the critic to create them. Don't get me wrong, this site is a great resource, and someone who knows how to develop on their own will benefit immensely from it. However, I have no doubt that sites like ours have really messed up a lot of budding talents by allowing literally anyone to critique them- again, not the fault of the site, but a side effect. When you put someone with average tastes and writing skills in front of a film and tell them to critique it, they're going to be prone to point out any technical flaws before addressing the plot, and if they do go so far as to do so, their critique can usually be summarized with "good story/bad story". We're not a community of intellectuals; for the most part we're kids who do other things and comment on a film occasionally. If we aren't putting a lot of effort into a review, technical aspects are the easiest thing to pick apart.

I don't think we as a community will ever have or have had a "golden age", the term alone kind of puts me off as it makes a good period of films sound great, but I think the key to having great films is taking the initiative and making films for our own enjoyment.

I'm not unhappy with the current crop of films in comparison to the older films. We have tendency to remember the past as better than it was, sure, but even worse, we like to remember it as shorter than it was. We're looking back at almost 10 years of brickfilms being produced regularly now. I could probably count the brickfilms I find truly affecting or strongly endearing on one hand. There are lots of great films (although even so, still not nearly as many as ones I didn't enjoy), but excellent films are rare. Looking back at the dates these films were published, they're spread out over years. To say they were all the result of amazing community support is not accurate. In fact, many were likely only posted when they were finished, some were the director's first published film. These directors just had the discipline to see the examples set by the community, decide what they liked about it and what they didn't, and aspire to that standard.

I know I'm all over the place here, I apologize if what I'm writing seems confusing, but ultimately I guess I'm saying that nothing will coerce the brickfilmers of this site to make better brickfilms, and we shouldn't be trying. Let them decide what better is, and go their way about things. It's a sad fact that the forums will lead to some people who won't catch on and may end up being an ultimately uninteresting (subjective) director, but we should let them do that if that's what they want to do. Critique films the best you can personally, help people out with things you think they need help on, and then let them go. People were making things for a long time before the advent of the internet. I think they can figure things out. I can't help but feel like more involvement in making "good" film makers in a concerted effort by the community as a whole will just make things worse. The best possible solution to influence people to see your way is to make the films you want to see, and set the standard yourself.

Dunno, might take flak for this, but it's kind of how I'm seeing things.

I hate to point fingers, but I think some of the fault falls on animators (I won't name people but you know who I'm talking about) who do use amazing sets and crazy CGI graphics in the first place, and they get a lot of views for it, so people think 'Oh my! If I want a lot of views I should do that as well!' I'm not saying that those mentioned films don't have great stories, but it takes a back seat to the effects in others' mind's.

People are taking views and subscriptions and publicity too seriously. They need to look at themselves a bit more, decide what they really want to make, not what others would want them to make. I for one can't really think of a good story, at least not one with a perfect plot and emotion. But a brickfilmer should make something that makes them happy, not just what others want. Currently, like Littlebrick said, CGI, perfect animation, most views are all what people are pressured into making or else they get "mehs" or "could've been better" comments. I predict, for example, Mobildeli's egypt film, no matter how good its technical aspects are, won't be remembered in the future unless the there is a great story behind it. Listnening to other older members' favorite films, I see that the views are minimal, some under a couple thousand, if that. People should focus more on story, along with the quality they want. Some older films have terrible quality, but a true story would make you forget about the technical aspects, and focus more on the characters, the plot, the emotion created.
Anyone can pick up a plastic figure, make it move and talk, but only those who truly create a drawing story are remembered.

Too bad none of this applies to me cause I suck at making up stories that involve the watcher.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days

I completely agree with everything said. I have nothing to add, sadly. :C

-JK

Last edited by Just Kidden (November 6, 2010 (04:28pm))

I have to agree with much that has been said.  In my opinion, there was no "Golden Age" of brickfilms, just an "Early Age" where brickfilms were new and exciting.  Sure, there were several films and film makers with great stories, yet there were some poorly done films, too.  There just weren’t as many people attempting the craft, and those who did tended to take it more seriously.  Also, I give a big thumbs-up to all who say a good story trumps all the special effects in the world.

That being said, I must say that I have seen some great brickfilmers on this site (a couple have entered the most recent contests) who care a great deal about plot and seem to use special effects to enhance the story, not to get views.  If fact, I remember reading on the YouTube thread that at least two (I believe) members of this site have declined YouTube partnerships because they didn't want advertisements in their films, so obviously money was not motivating them.  I doubt that subscribers are the driving force for these animators.   

As Squash pointed out, we always make the past "rosier" than it was.  I think some of the brickfilmers currently on this site have made some excellent films.  Sure, there is room for improvement, but I see great potential, and it is evident that they put much thought and effort into their productions.  It is true that when we critique films, we often focus on the animation or effects, but those are the easier things to correct.  Personally, I often don't comment at all on a badly written film.  The animators often need nothing short of private tutoring to help improve the story, and a website is not the place to write a tome on how to create a decent plot. 

Since brickfilms have become better known and enjoyed by more people, more “kids” are going to try making them.  That is going to produce a lot of lousy films, and the makers of them will eventually quit and fade away; but a few will take their hobby seriously, try to improve, and an amazing film maker or two will be the product.  If someone wants to try special effects or do a completely CGI brickfilm, why not?  There is nothing wrong with trying new things.  People may be "wowed" by a “cool” effect, but only a solid and engaging story will keep most folks impressed in the long run. 

In conclusion, let’s not be negative about the current brickfilm “generation.”  While many mediocre films may be produced, some truly inspiring films will be also, and I am personally excited to be a small part of it.

Littlebrick, you hit the nail on the head (I think that's the saying). Anyway, I agree 100% with what you've said. Story has been thrown out the window by a lot of brickfilmers, and it's just making them less and less enjoyable.
I agree with everything else that has been said here too, by the way.

In response to the last half of Lechnology's post, I just thought I'd point out PIXAR, because with CGI they still tell amazing stories. It's not the inclusion of CGI to a story that's the problem, it's when CGI replaces the story that things start to turn bad.

GIANT ALIEN BANANAS FROM OUTER SPACE UPDATE THREAD!

I think we should re-name this, "The Truth Topic", as everything is completely true. Now let me add my rant, though I'd say a lot of what I'll say has already been said.

Anyways, in my honest opinion I find really good brickfilms quite boring. That sounds like a silly complaint, but to be honest I enjoy seeing films more from your average brickfilmer then someone like ZachMG. The reason is, is simply because you don't know what to expect. There's a certain quality about imperfection, so sometimes you see a film with bad quality, a bad set, but you love it. As LittleBrick said, there's more to a film then technical aspects. If a film has a story, even if it's very simplistic, it can make it. Examples can be seen in films such as "The Dandelion" (FilmsByDan) and "Mouth" (LGFBstudios). Don't get me wrong, I still like "Stranger Then Fishin'" and the like, but you can catch the general idea.

Aside from that I'd actually like to say something about the community. One thing I can't stand is people thinking it's "Cool" to always critique a film. Sure, reviews and stuff are important, but I just personally feel that sometimes you should just say something simple but nice about a film. Sometimes it can help more then pointing out the faults. I would be glad to see this a little more.

I see what you're saying LegOpinons, when a reviewer posts a review on a motion picture in a newspaper, they certainly don't say "the lighting looked weird at 1:2:14" and "The set was too basic" they say things about the story. And lets get one big thing straight, there is no such think as "cool" when reviewing a film, that tells nothing to the director, that's just saying that you don't have anything to really tell the director and just want to post as not to anger any impatient directors. If you have nothing to say, don't post.

I once talked with an award winning author an she said this "Only certain people can get good ideas." basically, you have to write a whole story, characters, dialog, what they do, then you can storyboard, don't make the effects a priority, or a necessity, make them a last resort. try to do everything in production, not post-production. And only use effects to enhance a story, not create it.

Last edited by RealBrick (November 7, 2010 (06:54am))

This thread is amazing. And, like Duke Boy said, we've turned too much toward comedy- I admit, when I first joined, I tried to use my "Hapless Series" to get popularity. Looking back, its the worst thing on my channel- even worse than the animations I did when I first learned about stop motion animations. The quality was HD, the set huge, and titles/credits great- yet it wasn't funny.

What I'd like to see is a good drama. I want to see someone make a brickfilm that pulls the viewer into the story, actually makes them emotionally attached to characters as a real drama would. Make a story that is truly amazing and original. Technical aspects would only be used to enhance it, for if it has a good story, it doesn't matter how its made. If there is someone would makes this (or made it), I applaud you, for it is a feat few can achieve. Even real dramas vary in story quality, only a few actually pull the reader in.

If I was any good a story-making, I'd change my "Le Mime" into a drama.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days