unforum

[CelestialFiend]

Are these guys on break or something? Just wondering.

[Tharol]

Think people left on the web page two comments by people.

[qaqa]

Update:

[lexley]

I don't usually say much, but Acting is bad in this one.

[Hylianhero777]

[Val-u-save]

That was... Really well done (aside from the admittedly regrettable acting). The whole video had this weird, dreamlike quality to it. In that way, it almost reminded me of Caughtnotsleeping. Also, I swear to god that this thread was updated with a bulletin about this video around a week and a half ago.

[tijde]

I'm trying so hard to hang in there with this story. The mental health angle and Michael's acting were what made it a standout for me. But as we're seeing less of Michael/Patrick and more of Stormy, I'm losing interest. Shaun's acting has improved, but hers just isn't up to the standard they've set for themselves. Felt like she was kept out-of-frame in this one so she could read her lines. =\ Acting aside, her character seems a bit... retconned in, maybe? Not quite clicking with the other characters.

I don't usually speak negatively about vlogs like this; I just stop watching and keep my mouth shut. But I'd be bummed to give up on this one when its start was so promising. I really think the creators could take some cues from the fans and salvage this. Maybe put Stormy more in the background and bring Eric back into focus. He was kind of a douche, but a convincing one, and loads more likeable.

[AngryDeepground]

I agree the acting needs work, also I saw a copy of twilight in storms things so I have no sympathy for her.

[hsemagliG]

Slenderman uses mega punch

Its super effective!

[Cougar Draven]

[Nimbus]

[Luipaard]

[grieck]

Seriously? They're giving legitimate criticism on what could be improved and they are pretentious douchebags?

To be honest, I only heard of this from the longer tumblr post-line, but here's just a fun thought that Lui was so kind to point out there:

[Luipaard]

[qaqa]

As far as I'm concerned, anyone and everything is fair game for criticism.

While I think some of the above comments are perhaps unnecessarily hurtful and they're not the ones I'd make, the fact is people have the right to make them here - and anywhere - so long as they are not obscene or slanderous. On the Internet we all critique every aspect of everything else we enjoy - film, television, books, comics, music, YouTube projects, and yes, other Slendervlogs. Issues of vloggers "not being professional actors, just doing it for fun" was not considered a problem when the forum came down hard on, say, crap like The Dreaming Room or No Escape From Reality. Because on stuff like that or whoever the "WHY DOES HE MAKE MOVE NOW" girl was, the forum, and fandom, was united. Everyone had a good lol at those, myself included.

The thing is that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, for better or worse. Would I personally come down so hard on the performance in the past video? No, but that's me. In the end, though, everyone else has a right to critique it however else they choose, because I absolutely will reserve my right to critique any vlog by anyone as something legitimate, worthy of a serious discussion, and worthy of a broad range of intelligent criticism like any other creative work out there. I had to explain this same argument when I critiqued a bunch of Slenderblogs months ago, and it was no different then that it is now. This is the Internet, and we are all criticizing something. So when we put our own work there, it too will be criticized on any and every level. That also includes the LESS kind, or sometimes less intelligent or reasonable or mature types of criticism. People will be harsh. People will be mean. People can sometimes be assholes. People can be cruel. And on the Internet we all do that sometimes and we all have that right. And when we put our work on the Internet, we have to expect it, and just go on.

If we say "acting is exempt" then we might as well say "post-production is exempt," or makeup, or Slender Man presentation, or writing. These are all key aspects of the production. If we discount them, what's the point of watching these vlogs? What's the point of discussing them? What's the point of making them for them to be seen? If I only want one kind of criticism, I don't put it on the Internet. I put it in a box and show it to my family. I know I've seen some people criticize stiff acting or other elements in any number of other series, including Marble Hornets, and we didn't always have these flare-ups. But if we believe in what we're making, whatever it happens to be, we take that flak and just go on.

In point of fact, I give Slendervlogs many allowances and passes in terms of budget, acting, production values, FX, etc so long as they're working hard and their heart is in the right place. I think most of us do. But sometimes someone will dislike something, and that's just their right. I'd rather people not be unnecessarily mean, but I will reluctantly defend their right to do it. I can't in good conscience sit here and say I think these series should only be subject to certain kinds of critique, because it's just plain not true.