Would you consider my short film gratuitous?

[dallywhitty]

I apologise if this was posted in the wrong section. I recently shot and edited a short film for my Media Studies course, under the apparent delusion that I could do as I wished. Prior to filming, the planning stage involved researching a genre of my choice (I opted for horror) as well as a director (Dario Argento, whose influence is evident in the video). The film is about childhood trauma and revolves around a teenage girl who, trapped in the memory of sexual violence which was inflicted upon her at the age of six, opts to commit suicide. A knife and a birthday card are both used as phallic instruments and the child-like nature of the character is reflected through various props.

It wasn't until I'd nearly finished editing the footage that I was told I would have to cut select shots for reasons of Health and Safety and the belief that it would cause problems for the college in the eyes of the examiners. As somebody who doesn't condone censorship, it has pissed off both myself and my girlfriend, who agreed to star in the film.

I told both teachers that I was reluctant to cut it and that removing the shots in question would drastically alter the tone of the film. Suddenly, the issue seemed to be that the implied rape was seen as inappropriate ("like showing pornography in class") and gratuitous. I was presented today with two options: I could either cut roughly thirty seconds from the film (everything from 2.50 to about 3.25) and submit it in a cut form or replace it with newly filmed footage. I agreed to the latter option as it seemed like the lesser of two evils, but I can't help but feel that I've sold my soul to the devil for matters of convenience. Lester Burnham would not be proud. Oddly enough, nobody had a problem with the shot of the bloody arm towards the end of the video!

The film itself:

Hysteria

I have some issues with it - the dragging of the feet looks dodgy and there's a lot of background noise (easily overlooked when you're editing the footage in a noisy room!) - but I'm happy with it.

I'm interested as to your views and as to whether anybody has had similar experiences with teachers imposing cuts upon their creative pieces.

[DesertFoxGoggles]

It angers me how inconsistent their arguments are.

[Offender_Mullet]

Weird. Crazy. Twisted. LOVED it. That was nuts!

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

Weird. Crazy. Twisted. LOVED it. That was nuts!

Thank you!

[Prim]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I told both teachers that I was reluctant to cut it and that removing the shots in question would drastically alter the tone of the film. Suddenly, the issue seemed to be that the implied rape was seen as inappropriate ("like showing pornography in class") and gratuitous. I was presented today with two options: I could either cut roughly thirty seconds from the film (everything from 2.50 to about 3.25) and submit it in a cut form or replace it with newly filmed footage. I agreed to the latter option as it seemed like the lesser of two evils, but I can't help but feel that I've sold my soul to the devil for matters of convenience. Lester Burnham would not be proud. Oddly enough, nobody had a problem with the shot of the bloody arm towards the end of the video!

I'm interested as to your views and as to whether anybody has had similar experiences with teachers imposing cuts upon their creative pieces.

In my opinion, it's total BS (especially the bolded part) if the video in your post is the original footage, and not the newly filmed footage. A movie that has some backbone will push boundries without being gratuitous, which I think your film here does. So, when are you making a feature film?

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I'm interested as to your views and as to whether anybody has had similar experiences with teachers imposing cuts upon their creative pieces.

I'm in my last year at my University for film production and media arts so...

I have never personally had a problem with censorship, and I have never heard of a instructor asking someone to cut a film. However...

If the university was paying for your film or they somehow had their name attached (and they don't since you don't credit your school) then they would have grounds for asking you to make cuts, but from what I understand thats not the case. But if it were, it would be justifiable.

In the end though, its much ado about nothing. Really what are you losing by submitting a cut version of your film? You already made the original version public and I'm guessing that that is the version most people will see. And the cut film will only be for getting a grade correct? So probably only viewed by your instructor.

If you really want to go to bat for this file a complaint with your department chair.

[Foggy]

You're probably around the same age as myself, I do the BTEC version of the course, so we make many different things, but I've never been forced for censorship, however, there will be one argument you can always use, "These are themes explored within my chosen director films" or head for the BBFC website and look at what is allowed to what age rating and tell them "It's suitable for my target audience".

I also really loved the short, very eerie and disturbing

[Hawkguy]

dallywhitty, I'm a film student, and your choice of genre, director and overall style are the exact ones that are HUGE influences to me. For that alone, I have a ton of respect for this

.... and it's because of that that while I was reading about the issues people have had with your film, I seriously felt annoyed. I would hate to have that happen to me. The 'pornography in class' excuse is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in a while....in my film classes we've been shown much more explicit material (although I don't know what level of school you are in, so I shouldn't really compare).

I hope it doesn't discourage you from doing more work like this, I personally love it.