For most of recent history, up until about 60 years ago, the act of creation was just a part of life. Everyone sang or played an instrument or wrote or performed or danced or Something.
But recording technology turned creative output in to a path to fortune and fame. Suddenly, if you weren't exceptional, then why were you trying at all?
This concept is, of course, bullshit.
TV never had a real amateur moment, and filmmaking barely did.
TV came close in 69 with the videofreex, but the FCC made sure that any potential home video might have had for artistic expression would be stiffled by distribution problems.
The video resolution of the 80s unlocked film a little (toxic avenger, El mariachi, an absolute glut of horror films and pornography) but distribution was still limited to single physical copies.
The internet changed that. Even before YouTube there was Wax, or the discovery of television among the bees.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_or_the_Discovery_of_Television_Among_the_Bees
But now we're well in to the Era of Professionals. TV is what other people do. We're left with infotainment and lifestyle vlogging and playing video games.
If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing badly.
We shpuld participate in the act of creation. It is a vital part of human existence.
We have nothing to fear but failure and ridiculue.
Failure isn't worth being afraid of. It is worth celebrating.
Ridiculue is trickier, but it's cultural. I have done my best to establish a culture free from ridicule at the maker space. People have room to try new things without having to worry that they won't be good at them.
Not everyone plays by this rule, and most of us slip up occasionally. Usually, recognition and apology comes a moment later, trust is important here.
We have a few regulars who are bad at this. Cynics. Children of the 80s. Those whose self defense mechanisms are dependent upon casting dispersion. Ridicule is a good mechanism for stifling that impulse.
Set new norms. Make a space in which creativity can be explored.
Every one of us has a high quality camera. Most of us are reading and writing on it right now.
Video editing isn't a mystical unknowable art. The software is free (kdenlive) and reasonably easy to use. Basic special effects are possible. Simple editing is easy.
I'm not good at this! I mean, I'm good enough for my purposes, but others are faster, more precise, more purposeful. That's fine! Sloppy editing doesn't render a thing unenjoyable.
Maybe we need a fediverse film festival?
What might a fediverse film festival look like? Would you be interested in participating?
Alright, fediverse film festival it is. I'll start working on the logistics.
Okay, logistics:
1) we do most of this through peertube.
2) There's a website (and probably a gem cap) with info. Probably hosted on like neocities or whatever.
That bit is easy.
But then like, categories and awards. Do we crowd source votes? That seems like it could go badly. So we have judges, I guess? Yeah. Judges.
And prices. I can fund a couple of prizes through the maker space.
That seems like the way to go?
