Online movie forums are where people post what they liked about a best streaming sites, hated about a or what they want to see. A filmmaker can only benefit by being part of these communities. Be prepared for members of forums to post negative comments, but there are also members that post positive comments or offer helpful constructive criticism that can make your next movie better. All you can do as a filmmaker or movie producer is put your work out there and see what type of responses come from viewers.
Online movie forums thrive because it’s a cool way for viewers to become a movie critic from their computer and express their uncensored audience opinion. That is one of things I love about the social medium. The Internet allows people to enjoy freedom of speech, even when it’s just about posting about a movie. I trust the opinions of people that post in forums more than paid movie critics. Most paid movie critics focus on reviewing studio films, art house fare, or offbeat films with known Hollywood stars in them.
The open diversity of movies discussed in forums is amazing to me as a writer, producer, and director. Members that like direct to video urban gangster movies have a place to post their comments. Fans of low budget horror movies have a home on the Internet to be heard. Online movie forums are an entertainment democracy for viewers and producers. The majority of smaller budget indie movies will never be reviewed by paid movie critics or get a first look from mainstream media outlets. The online movie forum community gives indie movies made on small budgets a shot to be seen, to loved, and hated. Every movie gets a fair shake to be reviewed. Film democracy lives!
In a film democracy no filmmaker is safe from movie viewer salvos or roses being virtually thrown. I’ve read posts that start by tearing apart a movie until there is nothing left to attack. When not satisfied enough with bashing the movie a forum member sometimes turns their wrath on the filmmaker by personally shredding them to pieces.
I had one online reviewer go way beyond not liking one of my movies. They personally attacked me over my face. No way I could change that part of making a movie. I think the line was, “Your face makes me sick.” Not only did the viewer hate one of my movies, they hated my face. Hell, I have not ever appeared in a movie I’ve done in a cameo or acting role. That was funny to me. It reminds of the story about the cowboy that catches a terrible beating from another cowboy. The winning cowboy looks down at the losing cowboy asking if he still wants more. The losing cowboy fires back, “Are you crazy?
The only place you haven’t hit me yet is on the bottom of my feet.” I’ve been that losing cowboy on more than a few posts and reviews. Forums can be like a rowdy old west saloon. That’s what makes them fun.
Members of forums post sharp and witty comments I enjoy reading, even if it happens one of my movies is getting flamed. A filmmaker that has thin skin should stay out of forums. It’s like when professional athletes are heckled and cursed at by fans. The difference is that during making a movie there will be no heckling or cursing directed at you while you’re working on set. That’s unless you invite a Guy Terrifico personality friend to the set to watch.
