Why My Film "Tent Of Terror" Won't Pass Inspection on Filmhub
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| Image source: Filmhub.com |
As an aspiring indie filmmaker, I recently faced a major roadblock in my journey with my short film, "Tent Of Terror." After putting countless hours into my project, I was excited to submit it to Filmhub for distribution. However, instead of a green light, I received feedback detailing technical issues that I simply cannot tackle on my own. Here’s a rundown of the seven significant reasons my film won’t pass inspection, and what I’ve learned from this experience.
1. All Artwork: Name Not Provided or Illegible
One of the first hurdles was related to the artwork associated with my film. It appears that some images were either missing the title or had text that was hard to read at thumbnail size. This is crucial, as a clear title helps viewers immediately recognize the film and creates a professional impression.
2. Pre-roll Issues
The feedback indicated that my film doesn’t start immediately. Ideally, a movie or episode should commence within two seconds of playback. Unfortunately, I had some pre-roll content that needed to be edited out. The suggestion was to add a couple of black frames to give a clean start.
3. Duplicate Frames Throughout
It was pointed out that my video contains duplicate frames. These inconsistencies are problematic because they can affect the overall quality and pacing of the film. The process of identifying and eliminating these duplicates felt overwhelming, especially without support.
4. Audio Out of Sync
This was a tough pill to swallow, but it turns out that the audio in my film isn’t properly synchronized. At the timestamp provided, there’s a noticeable delay that can distract viewers and detracts from the viewing experience.
5. Audio Fail
Even more frustrating was learning that my audio had a few significant issues. The feedback mentioned problems like distortion and inconsistencies in audio levels. With recommendations that audio levels should be at least -24 LUFS and free from artifacts, I realize just how essential proper sound mixing is for a successful film.
6. Captions [English]: Incomplete
Closed captions are important for accessibility, yet my English caption file was lacking. It included only dialogue, missing essential elements for the hearing impaired—it's a reminder of how inclusivity should be a priority in all projects.
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| Tent Of Terror Poster designed by Thea Arnold ©2025. Thea Arnold. All rights reserved. |
7. Trailer: Duplicate Frames Throughout
To top it off, my trailer also encountered the same issue with duplicate frames, which can severely undermine its watchability. A trailer should excite potential viewers, and duplicate frames definitely diminish that excitement.
Conclusion
Despite watching numerous tutorials and trying to patch these issues, I came to the realization that I can't solve this on my own. I didn’t attend film school, and the technical side of filmmaking can often feel overwhelming for someone still learning the ropes. Moving forward, I understand the importance of professional input and plan to hire an expert for future projects to ensure a smoother process.
For 'Tent Of Terror', it’s already three months old, and at this point, I’m ready to move on rather than invest more time and resources into fixing what can feel like insurmountable problems. This experience has reinforced my commitment to growing as a filmmaker, and I look forward to applying these lessons to my next project.
It’s disheartening to share that 'Tent Of Terror', will currently only be available on YouTube and Vimeo on Demand. I had high hopes that this film would reach a wider audience through major distribution platforms, but for now, this is the best option. I truly believe in the story and the work that went into creating it, so I'm hoping that my next film will have the opportunity to break through the barriers and find its way to larger platforms.
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