Hi, if you have information about a professional release* for this amateur film (made while in high school), I would be very happy to see the links to your sources. Thanks.

*Note that we only support professionally released movies and TV shows.

It was released on the DVD of BRICK in 2005/6, either as a bonus or as an easter egg. A list with the different regional versions for North America and Europe is here: http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=9700 It was on every version except the Scandinavian.

@Iamthesword said:

It was released on the DVD of BRICK in 2005/6, either as a bonus or as an easter egg. A list with the different regional versions for North America and Europe is here: http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=9700 It was on every version except the Scandinavian.

Since this a a very amateurish high school short, the kind that would never ever in a hundred years be considered a professional work, I don't think it changes anything. Just like the Zapruder film is still an amateur clip even if selected for preservation. But I've mentioned this case to other mods so we will see if anyone objects. Thanks.

Thanks for the consideration and putting it into the discussion.

I'd like to make a more general point at the end. If this is the wrong place, I'd appreciate if you'd tell me where to find the right one:

I'd just like to say that what is considered professional or not changes constantly on the base of numerous factors (in the early days around 1900, there was no professional filmmaking at all , but the films should be in a database nontheless, right?). And who's doing it is quite an important factor for that sort of change (f. e. Godards films from the 70s/80s would never have been considered proper films before, even less art). I think that there is no "objective" guideline what can be considered professional or art except that people accept it as that. Thus being said, I think it important that a database like yours (which is also the source for other sites like letterboxd) considers taking films that are "important", even if they are not "professional".

Anyway, I appreciate the time you take for my rather special interest questions and demands. Thanks and have a nice day.

You can read exactly what it takes for something to be considered professional here.

in the early days around 1900, there was no professional filmmaking at all , but the films should be in a database nontheless, right?

There were a lot of people making a living from creating short films that got professional theatrical screenings, but many did not have the title "movie director". But most important was that the movies were released for a mass audience. How society viewed and discussed professional directors evolved over time though.

I think it important that a database like yours (which is also the source for other sites like letterboxd) considers taking films that are "important", even if they are not "professional".

I think that would create a very bad situation. I have seen high school projects that were much better quality (in terms of storytelling and overall craft) than the Rian Johnson one, but those projects would never be allowed since they were not important enough according to your view. Another example, would be the Texas High School Shorts section of the SXSW film festival. A notable film festival but screened as part of a Youth section so those films are not allowed here per our rules. My guess is almost all of those shorts are more professional in every aspect than the Rian Johnson one.

I think overall the current set of rules allow 99 percent of the movies users expect to see and review to be added. The main flaw is that more and more movies are released as part of popular YouTube channels and such entries are not allowed currently.

Thanks for the discussion. Bye.