Q: What is your system for rating machinima?
A: Here's a breakdown of the 'star' system:
***** - outstanding
**** - excellent
*** - good
** - average/flawed
* - mediocre at best
NO STARS - A black hole where creativity goes to die
Q: What right do you have to judge peoples' machinima?
A: As much right as any critic of any artistic medium has, which is not much...
Q: I am the creator of [insert name of machinima here]. I don't like what you wrote about my work, subsequently I have no more confidence in my film making and will not be continuing to make machinima. Happy now?
A: Quite the opposite, the purpose of my criticism is not to discourage but to encourage a higher standard of work amongst machinima artists. Let's take a look at this rather famous quote on the subject of criticism:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt [Paris, 1910]
If you don't have time to read it all let me summarise Teddy's argument: The man who tries and fails is the real hero, maybe one day he'll succeed but if he fails at least he went out swinging. Also critics are pansies. While I refute the last bit, I believe that nobody should be discouraged from trying to make machinima if they truly believe they have a story to tell. If your video has a great positive reception and a small minority doesn't like it then try to see what they're saying and if it doesn't fit in with your goals fuck them. If however your video receives a mixed response then that doesn't make it bad, it just makes it divisive (like Wes Anderson movies or Lady Gaga). The worst case scenario is that your machinima is universally panned by everyone from me to the YouTube comments. Then you need to seriously look at what is the main criticisms are and evaluate whether or not you can overcome them to produce a more successful work of machinima.
Q: I think you are an idiot and a hack. I don't like the review you wrote of that thing which I like. I want to write a hate email full of misspellings, capitalisation, aspersions on your sexuality and insults regarding your mother because that will make you change your mind. Can I?
A: Um, no. Any email sent featuring angry tirades and juvenile rants will not even be read, it's a one-way trip to the 'Deleted' folder for you.
Q: I am a rational human being who acknowledges your point of view but respectfully disagrees. Can I write a polite, well structured and non-hostile response to a review, perhaps with arguments directly counter-pointing those made in your piece?
A: Why yes, any email where a contrary opinion is postulated with decorum and respect will subsequently be read with decorum and respect. The Internet is often discussed as a new 'democracy', however what should be a large Grecian senate has rather skipped the Classical era to tremble before the marauding barbarians of Internet trolls and fanboys. I can't guarantee your points will change my mind on a piece (or the score I have given it) but it's nice to know that at least some people can write whole sentences and not suffer apoplectic fits if their viewpoint is not shared.
Q: Can I recommend a current machinima not distributed via the major channels (Machinima.com etc)?
A: Certainly.
Q: Will you be reviewing past greats of machinima i.e. early series of Red vs Blue?
A: Perhaps I will do a series of All-Time Classics or large retrospectives on popular series/figures in the industry but I can't commit right now.
Q: Are you yourself a director/producer/writer/actor of machinima?
A: Not yet, though I am aware of the logistics of filming and have experience with script writing.
Q: I have a script for a machinima I would like to make one day, will you look at it and give me feedback?
A: I wouldn't feel confident critiquing a strangers work at such an early conceptual stage as the script. My advice would be to find someone with a dramatic eye or script knowledge and ask for some constructive feedback. Look out for writing workshops and guides to fine tune your work, don't be afraid to rewrite and rewrite until you feel happy.
Q: Can you give me some tips for making my own machinima?
A: I'm not really qualified to give out specific advice, however I would recommend the resources found at http://www.virtualflicks.net/ including guides for the most prevalent machinima engines as well as notes on storytelling.
