Yasmin, when we planned Moving Fashion, we knew that some of the contributors were bound to overshadow others, in the sense that they were bigger names and therefore some people would pay most attention to their contribution, no matter how good or bad. We decided, therefore, that everyone should have their own slot -just as would happen in a real film festival. As you will see if you read the information accompanying the project, each film is first screen for one weekday only and then again at the weekend after its screening date. We appreciate that this can be frustrating for people who have only recently joined the project, especially because people tend to regard websites as information banks rather than time-based broadcasters of entertainment like cinema or television. I hope you support the fact that we are constantly trying to re-think the web-platform-format, and offer up projects structured in different ways, rather than repeat the same old formats. All it means for you is that you have to come every day.

In spite of the number of mails we get saying 'when can i see x or y's film?'. I think we were right. The sequential nature of the series and its 'stripped and stranded' policy means that every single film has been considered on its own merits. In the event, this has brought difficulties: I think we were perhaps wrong to start screening the 'curated' films before we could get the Galliano footage on the site for people to edit (should be week beginning 21 November at this rate). People's enthusiasm for the project and desire to contribute seems to have transmogrified into negativity recently, with people mistaking the opportunity to post intelligent critique for a chance to bicker amongst themselves and level juvenile rants at the contributors. I prefer to imagine this is because people wanted to have a go themselves and this burning desire got channeled in the wrong direction than to assume that there are a lot of attention-seeking idiots out there with scant concern for who may be reading their words (certainly, I've had mails from our contributor base expressing qualms about posting new work)...

Personally, I hope this turns a corner because it's clear so many of our visitors are really well-informed and are highly creative: hopefully this will be reflected in the challenge to produce their own 30-second films. Will you?

Yeah it is a shame the turn of this board in the last couple of weeks. For some strange reason people started just criticize with really bad attitude. I hope people get it and start exchanging ideas about the content of showstudio in a more mature way..Personally, I think Moving Fashion is a really great project Penny.

Are we going to be able to edit footage and submitted? (the Galliano think you mentioned)
i understood correct this?

The project was being over-optimistic in thinking viewers would post only intelligent critique. Vicious and insulting is usually the rule rather then the exception on online forums. It was just a matter of time before it happened here.

I've posted some things on forums and later wondered 'I wonder if they realise I'm kidding?' It seems obvious at the time but later it hits me that sarcasm and irony may not have filtered through. Maybe that's happened to some people here.

If someone wants to trash people without backing it up with argument then there's no need to take it seriously or personally. It's just someone's psychic poison being released into the online ether. It may be a natural reaction to strike back and get angry but if you just forgive, forget and ignore the poster will quickly realise they are not getting the attention they're looking for and are ultimately just making themselves look bad.

What sort of dialogue where you expecting from the people on the forum (myself included)? Its can be hard sometimes to give constructive words over the project when its shown in a linear fashion so people really have only the days films to critique. This means that its hard to make comparisons on the previous work unless you do it at weekend when you can review the work as a whole.

The diversity in themes and and style are another thing that galvanise peoples opinions. Perhaps coaxing the threads along with something to discuss might help. Leaving things to their own devices are proving to be problematic.

If you have already seen a movie you should be allowed back into see it, this is a simple task involving cookies that your developers can add. This would mean that perhaps the talk can be a little more engaging and it would stop people saying one liner put downs as they can compare and contrast previous work, or perhaps group work that is thematically similar and have threads based on this.

But really on the other hand, some of the opinions are valid and have the contributors never had harsh words said about their work? The internet affords a layer anonymity that people can hide behind and not need to justify their words. But were talking about people who have been the industry for years, they must lead a sheltered life if they have never heard things like this said. Dont take it personally, the work is personal, this i understand, but take the emotions away from the equation and look objectively at the criticism and if its bollocks then discard it and move on, what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger.

I really like the format but i dont think it was all thought out 100% in terms of execution or the problems associated with the forums.

Perhaps a quiet word to people you think are OTT might help.

Just dont send the boys round... you'll start a real flame war.