Webcinema
** Annual Awards 2003 **
for Independent Film-Makers

Welcome to the first, hopefully to become the annual, Webcinema Web Site Review Of The Year for 2003.
The purpose of this review is to highlight, promote and encourage independent film-makers throughout the world through the Webcinema network by acknowledging the best of their web sites. I hope that this will set an example to other film-makers and encourage the wider public and prospective investors to take a greater interest in the work and talent of new and upcoming film producers throughout the world.

Michael Bond, Norfilms.

About Webcinema

Every site in this review is an active member of the Webcinema network of independent film-makers. The network is a way for independent film-makers, whether sole producers, directors, film artists or small commercial or community production companies, groups, etc., around the world to meet, exchange news, views, help and advise each other via the internet. Founded by independent film-maker Jonathan Sarno in New York in the late 1990s the network has grown to embrace the world with active members in Europe, the far East, India, the Middle East and America.

In 2003 Norfilms offered its support to Webcinema members by hosting a link page through which every member with a web site for their company or their latest film could promote themselves and make their site available to all other members. This link page has grown to include a frequently asked questions list and, most importantly, a link for anyone else interested in joining the Webcinema community.

The Review for 2003

Judging any awards is difficult if you wish to remain objective. We all bring our own opinions with us and I'm no different. However, with the experience of several web site designs I hope I've brought some clarity and objectivity to the results.

In all 53 web sites were reviewed for these awards. Of these several links were no longer available and their owners haven't been in touch with alternatives. I have to assume that they have passed on to bigger and better things. The variety of the remainder offered the full scope of tastes and choices.

In making this review I have stuck to a couple of rules: (1) where a company has registered two or more sites, a main company site and a site specific to one film I have chosen only to review the main site as representative of those film-makers; (2) where a member site is devoted to a non-film subject I have skipped it unless they have an independent film-oriented section - this is a review and award for film-makers and we have kept to that policy.

Site Styles and Contents

During the review I was struck the variety of sites on show. From those obviously written by a single inexperienced individual through to those obviously produced by graphic designers. However, this is not to say that "professional" involvement has had a greater, or lesser, effect on my decisions one or two notable cases although they produced attractive and entertaining sites other elements swayed me against choosing them a winner. Of these I would like to highlight one in particular: Brillig Productions

Here is a site that is graphic joy to behold. Teasing and pleasing to the eye, entertaining and amusingly quirky. However, the fact that all this required graphics throughout to create the effect means that anyone using a low rate internet link would have to wait a long time to enjoy the result, and to be truthful I think that this is the one feature that tells against the site (sorry guys!).

One of the themes that struck me throughout the review was how many sites choose to adopt a white text on black background style. Although it enhances the cinematic theme it can be difficult to read. Having said that with so many site adopting it I had to throw my hands up and surrender to the inevitable and ignore that particular point.

Another popular feature is the use of Flash in web sites. Many site optimisation"experts" advise against using Flash if you want your site to be indexed more easily, but again I can see that there is a good reason why Flash can help in downloading graphics, video clips, animation sequences. Where Flash has appeared I have been a little critical but not as demanding as non-film design professionals.

Several sites have slipped into one design style which does upset me and which should be addressed - the use of background images. While a watermark can improve a design you must always be careful to ensure that the overlying text is readable. In some cases this doesn't work and the chosen background images have made reading difficult and distractions - even eye watering. Plain background colours would be better. I won't name names here but anyone exploring the Webcinema link list will soon understand what I mean.

The shape of a web site is going to be effected by the amount of content. Many independent film-makers don't have a lot of material to post at first and may end up overwhelming their site with adverts, graphics, etc.; but one or two have found a very ingenious, minimalist way around this. I want to highlight here: automatic.biz

It's all Danish to me, but a nice, compact and stylish application of design. Why try to fill a whole screen if you don't have a lot to say, this makes things easy to navigate and understand. I'd recommend others visiting just to admire how the site looks and works, and I may even take up the idea myself. The site that shows that so much can be done with so little in the minimalist style - a very neat solution to the problem of presentation.

In all the overall quality of web sites from Webcinema members has a lot to offer, from the simplest to the most sophisticated there are lots of ideas to choose from and through every site we can see the talent skill and work that everyone is putting in to their main work - new generations of film makers.

Finally, I have something to say about one particular site, which I won't name. There is a site that could offend any visitor. Whether this is deliberate or not I cannot tell but when you click to visit it takes over your browser, removing all navigation bars and preventing you from leaving. The only way to resolve this is for a visitor to close and restart his browser. While we might expect this from a porn site it shouldn't happen anywhere else. This is a site that needs rewrite urgently (sorry guys but it had to be said).

** Awards 2003! **

It has been difficult at times weighing up the pros and cons of choosing. Should we be lenient to a one-person site or favour the "professionals". In all I have identified a number of deserving sites that should be awarded for their work this year.

Runners-Up
(1) wickedwitches
From Wicked Witches Productions we have a site that gives you all the information and navigation you need in a clear and efficient fashion. Nothing flashy or fancy, but it works. The only problem I found was that the header graphic wasn't loading properly, but that may have been my web browser.
(2) automatic.biz
The art of the minimal, and I've already said it all in the review.

Best Flash
andreystankevich.com
This is a site which I believe ought to be highlighted. Although it uses white-on-black it is a compact and a superb presentation. Being non-English it has taken the trouble to offer both Russian and English versions for international audiences.

** WINNER! **
nimble-productions
A very nice, simple site. Adopting the black and white theme they have resolved the problems of readability by reversing the style when presenting their text. A minimal site that doesn't try to distract you with anything unnecessary to the message - we are film-makers.

Congratulations to everyone.

Don't forget -
Investors WANTED!
Yes, like any good independent film-maker Norfilms is always looking out for a good healthy investor or ten looking to enter show business! Unlike most Norfilms has have associations with leading UK Bank and finance sources to reduce your risk to nothing (100% principal protection guaranteed by a leading European bank) contact Norfilms for more details and how to become involved with tax benefits, escrow management of funds and a wide slate of commercial productions.

Contact Norfilms and Webcinema
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copyright, Michael Bond
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