fan_eunice (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fan_eunice) wrote2007-08-23 08:16 am
fan_eunice) wrote2007-08-23 08:16 am
(no subject)
I'm about to start writing up disc two, and still feeling a bit weird about doing these so I'm talking it out. One of the things I've always loved best about VVC are the full show and disc reviews that always come out of it. A big part of Vividcon is talking openly about what did and didn't work for the viewer...both at the con during formal vid review or panels, informal discussions, and after the con in review posts. Unlike other forms of vid release where it's generally expected you won't hear from anyone who didn't like your vid unless you specifically ask, Vividcon has always been a place where if you send your vid in the assumption is that it's on the table for discussion. I think that's an incredibly useful tool for us as vidders because it allows for a broad range of opinions that form a jumping off point to work on our weaknesses and get a better idea of what's effective and what's not. And also who it's effective for (a vid that appeals to some people for whatever reason may annoy the crap out of other people), which is crucial in answering questions like who the target audience for a specific vid is...if I'm trying to reach the most number of people I might vid something differently than if I'm directing it at a very specific group of people who have the same read on a show or character that I do or preference in vid styles or music choices. This is all really good stuff. The more of it the better as far as I'm concerned.
I also remember the first year I sent a vid to Vividcon and read several such full reviews in which the reviewer did not like my vid. And, y'know, regardless of context that's never easy to hear. It's that feeling that has caused me to chicken out for...three years running now on doing any of my own show or disc reviews. 'Cause vidders? In general we are a big raging ball of insecurity on the best of days and who wants to poke at that when you know that it takes a pint of ice cream and many tears to friends before you can settle down and look at things from the bigger picture to sort out "someone didn't like my vid" from "someone didn't like ME." Or to recognize that one person not liking your vid doesn't mean it doesn't have an audience, or that they don't want to see more vids from you (just not that one, heh). Even if you do want people to do the same for your vids and think it's valuable (after the ice cream).
I'm not sure I have a point here because it's a tricky balance. I'm a huge fan of the kinds of communal critical discussions we have. I want more people to talk about honest reactions to vids post VVC, so I'm finding it more and more difficult to justify not doing that myself. Which is why I'm not letting myself weasel out this year. I'm also a huge fan of most of the individual people behind the vids, and knowing these kinds of discussions can be...bruising, makes me wince. When I'm trying to write up my own reactions, and when I'm reading other people's. So, yeah..I just kinda wanted that out there.
I also remember the first year I sent a vid to Vividcon and read several such full reviews in which the reviewer did not like my vid. And, y'know, regardless of context that's never easy to hear. It's that feeling that has caused me to chicken out for...three years running now on doing any of my own show or disc reviews. 'Cause vidders? In general we are a big raging ball of insecurity on the best of days and who wants to poke at that when you know that it takes a pint of ice cream and many tears to friends before you can settle down and look at things from the bigger picture to sort out "someone didn't like my vid" from "someone didn't like ME." Or to recognize that one person not liking your vid doesn't mean it doesn't have an audience, or that they don't want to see more vids from you (just not that one, heh). Even if you do want people to do the same for your vids and think it's valuable (after the ice cream).
I'm not sure I have a point here because it's a tricky balance. I'm a huge fan of the kinds of communal critical discussions we have. I want more people to talk about honest reactions to vids post VVC, so I'm finding it more and more difficult to justify not doing that myself. Which is why I'm not letting myself weasel out this year. I'm also a huge fan of most of the individual people behind the vids, and knowing these kinds of discussions can be...bruising, makes me wince. When I'm trying to write up my own reactions, and when I'm reading other people's. So, yeah..I just kinda wanted that out there.