John Lambie
Creative director, CCG.XM Asia
Site: www.8arts.com
Watching films online is not everyone's bag of popcorn - blame it on the
comfort factor of the average swivel chair. Nevertheless, you should
still swing by 8arts.com, a terrific showcase of Asian animation, short
film and documentary.
This nicely packaged site features an interesting, entertaining,
challenging and sometimes disturbing folio of work from some big wheels
in independent Southeast Asian film, as well as some promising
up-and-comers.
I won't spoil your fun with a lengthy critique of each film, but there
is plenty of quality work, as well as the predictable pseudo-artsy
dross.
You'll enjoy a fast download time and better than standard sound and
image quality, albeit on a smallish RealPlayer screen. But give me small
and slick over big and clunky any day.
However, the site fails to give these young filmmakers what they need
most - publicity. There's little information on the artists, no 'tell a
friend' option, the discussion forum is like a ghost town and I'm still
waiting for that newsletter I signed up for weeks ago. It also fails to
interact with and engage the viewer or create a buzz about the
films.
It could benefit greatly from viewer feedback, ratings and comments.
And while no-one likes to be told the ending, some of the films' precis
do exactly that.
