Welcome to the B-Side Festival Community. We have compiled a list of common questions to help you participate in the B-Side Festival Community. If you have a question and you don't see the answer here, please visit our Community Help Forum. If you still can't find the answer you're looking for, please email us at help+fantasticfest2008@bside.com.

We are eager to know what you think about the B-Side Festival Community. If you have comments or suggestions for improvements, please use the Feedback Widget on the left, or email us at comments+fantasticfest2008@bside.com.

Contents

1. How do I find movie listings, showtimes, ratings, reviews and filmmaker blogs?
2. How do I find filmmaker and filmgoer blogs?
3. How do I find top rated films?
4. How do I rate a film?
5. How do I register for "your b-side?"
6. How do I use My Calendar?
7. How do I create my own blog?
8. How are ratings calculated for 'Top-Rated' films?
9. Troubleshooting...

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How do I...?

How do I find film listings, showtimes, ratings, reviews.

Search: If you know the title of the film, type any portion of the title in the search box and press "enter". If there is only one matching title, the movie page will appear. Each movie page has a video player with trailers, pod casts, and assorted video clips. You'll also find upcoming show times at festivals or venues near you, ratings, reviews, filmmaker's blog and audience comments. If multiple movie titles contain the search word, a list will appear. Click on the name of the desired movie to access that movie's information.

Browse all Movies: If you do not know the title of the film, you can browse all film listings by clicking the "films" tab at the top of the screen in the navigation bar. From the list, you can click on a movie listing to access the movie's information page.

Browse all Movies by Showtime: If you would like to view all movies showing at a particular time, click on the "schedule" tab at the top of the screen in the navigation bar. From the schedule, you can click on a movie listing to access the movie's information page.

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How do I find filmmaker and filmgoer blogs?

To find a filmmaker blog, search for the film title or browse for the film using the "films" tab. Once on the film's detail page, click on the "filmmaker blog" tab.

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How do I find top rated films?

Click on the 'highlights' tab in the top navigation bar. The "audience buzz" section will show highest rated films, most scheduled films, and the films with the most page visits.

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Rate or Review a Film

Once the festival starts, on any film's information page you can rate the film by clicking on the number of stars you deem appropriate. You'll find a rating control at the top of the page near the film's title and towards the bottom of the page, where you may enter a review.

To review a movie, enter a title for your review and review text, along with a rating and click 'add review.' You must rate the film in order to add a review.

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B-Side Festival Community

Register

On the home page, click on 'Register' located at the top of the right side of the screen next to the 'Log in' button

Enter your information in the form:

1. Email Address: Enter your email address. This is the email address to which all bside.com emails will go to.
2. Desired Screen Name: Choose a screen name. Your screen name will be the name others see on your reviews. It does not have to be your actual name.
3. Zip Code: Enter the zip code in which you reside.
4. Password: Choose a password that you will remember. This password is kept confidential.
5. Confirm Password: Re-enter your chosen password for confirmation.
5. First Name: Enter your first name.
6. Last Name: Enter your last name.
8. Read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy for bside.com and check the box confirming that you have done so.
9. Click the 'Register' button.

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Use My Calendar

From any movie's information page or from the festival schedule, you can add a film to your personalized calendar by clicking the next to your chosen showtime.

Once you have added movies to your personalized calendar, click on "show me my calendar" located under "your b-side."

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Create My Own Blog

B-Side community members may create and share personal blogs. If you already have a blog, enter the url for your blog feed under 'blog url' under your profile information. (To get to profile information, click on the 'edit' button on the 'your b-side' page).

Very simple instructions for creating your own Blogger blog can be found here: Create a blog...

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How are ratings calculated for 'Top-Rated' films?

We use the same true Bayesian estimate formula used by imdb.com to calculate their Top 250 films (described here). This formula takes the average rating for a film, and adjusts it relative to other films based on how many ratings it has, as well as relative to the average rating of all films.

This calculation compensates for the fact that a film with only a few ratings will not be as accurately represented by an average of those ratings as a film with many ratings would be.

For the mathematically curious, the formula for the true Bayesian estimate is:

        weighted rank (WR) = (v / (v+m)) * R + (m / (v+m)) * C
        where:
        R = average for the movie (mean) = (Rating)
        v = number of votes for the movie = (votes)
        m = minimum votes required to be listed as Top-Rated (currently 3)
        C = the mean vote across the whole report (currently 3.8)
        

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Troubleshooting

I am having trouble registering...

Follow the instructions for registration. If you still cannot register, please contact help+fantasticfest2008@bside.com.

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I am having trouble reviewing films...

In order to review films, you must be logged in to the website. Once you are logged in, follow the instructions to review a film.

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I am having trouble seeing reviews for films...

Reviews will not be available until after the start of the festival.

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