Every filmmaker knows negative film reviews are an inevitable part of the business. Like all artistic endeavours, filmmaking is subject to interpretation, and that subjectivity can seem quite brutal at times. It takes courage to put your work out in public. You’ll be praised, dissected, mocked, and sometimes misunderstood.
As a filmmaker, you can receive legitimate reviews with well-thought-out content or offensive comments from trolls whose only mission is to try and upset you. After you’ve put so much time and effort into the film and have such high hopes for success, it’s often heartbreaking to have your enthusiasm crushed by a faceless person. Still, film reviews are vital as they provide a conduit to engage with your fans and let others know about your work. The key to publicly recovering from a critical review is responding in a way that protects and controls your image. Here are some ways to handle those negative reviews.
How to Survive Critical Film Reviews
1.Know When to Respond
Try not to respond in the heat of the moment. Step away from the review for a while until you’ve recovered somewhat from the initial shock. While taking this step back, don’t reread the review over and over. Just put it away and take a fresh look at it after some time. When you return, you will be better equipped to respond calmly, and you may discover that you misunderstood the reviewer’s intent.
Often it isn’t as bad as initially thought. The best time to respond is when you are emotionally and physically on top of your game. If you’re tired and spent several days obsessing over a bad review, you may not respond as well as you could. Filmmakers don’t often keep regular hours and work into the night. To keep your health at an optimum level, consider supplements. Some companies today offer vitamin boosts through skin patches on a sustained release. Le-vel thrive reviews show these patches can keep energy levels up throughout the day.
2.Always Be Gracious
When you are ready to respond, assume the reviewer gave the review with good intentions. Always thank them for viewing your film and that they took the time to comment. If you are unsure of something, ask politely for clarification. If the review is wrong on key points, explain your position in a very calm, straightforward way. Your response may help others when reading the review. The key to an effective response is to be polite and gracious, never combative.
3.Try Not to Take it Personally
It’s hard not to take critical film reviews personally because you’ve spent a significant amount of time and energy creating the work. The film you made is an extension of you. Bits and pieces of your psyche are in that movie. Think about all the movies you’ve watched. Some have been in your favourite genre, but you certainly haven’t enjoyed all of them. It’s often a matter of taste. Consider how the reviewer’s personal preference may have clouded the review of your work. They may not have connected with the film, which could be just a matter of personal taste.
4.Consider the Valid Points
Sometimes others can see things the film creator overlooked. Once you step away from the review and come back to it, consider whether there might be some elements of truth. The reviewer may have offered valid points that can help you improve in the future.
5.Know When to Disengage from Critical Film Reviews
After you’ve responded to a negative review and the dialog continues in a negative cycle, quit engaging. Although you should always assume everyone has the best intentions, that isn’t always true. Social media is laden with trolls, people whose only intent is to upset you. If you encounter trolls, ignore them.
Think about your image and how you want your response received. Remember how far you’ve come – you made a film. That’s a huge accomplishment. You can’t satisfy everyone, but you can control your image when you respond positively.
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Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for technology and films. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have a positive business experience.
