Part of the joy I get from listening is that even when I disagree with, say, Mike about, for the sake of argument, Pan's fucking Labyrinth, it feels like a disagreement with friends. Critique is only valuable when you respect the opinions of the people giving it, hence why I come back.

I don't think Ash is trying to be argumentative.

The thing is, unless the guys only discuss films they've worked on, we'll just be getting regurgitation of Cinefex articles or interviews from other sources. By only discussing films they've worked on, they're severely limited in the number of episodes they can make.

There are podcasts which focus on VFX, interviews with writers, etc. Down in Front's space touches on all these things, but tries to get at the heart of "how could this be better", and by extension "how can we be better film makers". This is different from criticism, which often doesn't provide workable solutions to the problems it raises.

If anything I'd like to hear a little more about how to do stuff better, but considering this is a free service I don't think it's my call to make. Personally I'm more than satisfied with a couple of hours of free entertainment once a week.

I think Ash feels much the same way, and interpret his earlier post as a way to start discussion.

I thought it would be an interesting conversation, rather than just making statements. There are lot of people who liked AtB, I'm Scotty no-mates who thought it was under whelming and I thought there would be plenty to leap to its defence.

Never mind.

I quite enjoy tea.

Yes, lets all talk about our feelings.

But seriously, can you quantify what it is about it that you enjoy? The character relationships? lighter fluid in a super-soaker? I honestly don't understand.

Still in love with Edinburgh, fuck ya's.

Multi-cultural are we.

George also runs the excellent Dr. D facility in Sydney (which, in my fantasy life where I don't have bills to pay, I would intern at, right after animal logic).

^ Holy shit, this is great. Do I like Linkin Park now?

I see it like this: back and forth with a films creators give DiF credibility. If that's going to happen again, or continue, there needs to be a level of respect afforded to the people who actively engage with the panel.

It doesn't mean their choices are the correct ones, or that we have to agree. It also doesn't mean that the boys can't hate-fuck the shit out of things. It just means the way DiF as a collective behaves in 1 to 1 communication (their professionalism) will influence how DiF develops in the future. I think we'd all like to see Down in Front become something with more weight.

Given the circumstances it was well handled, despite Jim's understandable irritation with Rian's evasion of structural questions.

The thing which I appreciated from his back and forth is he does appear to believe in the choices made. I'd love to hear a live discussion with him, and see if there could be another way of telling the story which addresses some of the criticism, but maintains his core story line.

Snails*

*not French, but ate them in France

What's your weirdest, irrational compulsion?