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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1 2 3  Previous   Next
So is this a database of what?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantBrowneye
Registered: May 11, 2007
Australia Posts: 5
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I've been a bit peeved lately. I recently added a lot of Blu-rays to my collection but it would seem that the prevalence of region 2 Blu-ray profiles in the database is VERY low. So I have to add them manually.

So I did the research, the referencing, the cross referencing, and contributed two Blu-rays which apparently wasn't good enough for the database.

So it would seem the fixation here is to not have ANY data profiles? I'm confused. From what I have read here in some of the posts there seems that having a database is not the goal.

Especially considering the contributors for Region 2 Blu-ray is low you would expect some need to get contributions in the database.

Maybe the overarching desire for accuracy is forcing contributors away?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSpaceFreakMicha
Jesus-Freak
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Germany Posts: 1,774
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Quoting Browneye:
Quote:

So I did the research, the referencing, the cross referencing, and contributed two Blu-rays which apparently wasn't good enough for the database.


Did you do everything according to the contribution rules?

Or did you use third-party databases (like copying cast & crew from imdb.com instead of entering them as they can be found in the movie ending credits)?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Netherlands Posts: 6,018
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And did you mention the sources you used in your Contribution Notes? If you fail to do so, your contribution will be declined.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKathy
Registered: May 29, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 3,475
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I can understand your frustration when your contributions get declined after all that work. What did invelos say on the contribution page as far as why the contribution was declined?

It might be the screeners made an error in declining your contribution. If so, resubmit it with an explanation of why you feel they made an error and, if the contribution follows the rules, it should be accepted.

But, it is possible that your contribution did not follow the standards that invelos has in place to make the database as accurate as possible. Did you check out the rules before submitting? It is very easy to make a mistake if you haven't contributed before. Of course I've contributed many profiles and still make mistakes!   

One of the most common errors in contributing is a lack of documentation. It is important to detail exactly where you got the data you are submitting.

Another mistake, and one that will automatically cause your contribution to be declined, is the use of a single third party source (such as IMDb) as documentation. There are legal issues that make a single source unacceptable and therefore can not be contributed. Another problem is that a single source can easily propagate data that is not accurate and the goal is to make DVDP as accurate as possible.

The best, and most accurate, source of data is from the DVD itself. Data, especially Cast and Crew, should come from the DVD or its credits. If the information is not available from the DVD then you can go to other MULTIPLE sources. Documentation needs to be provided on those sources so that the voters and screeners can find that data.

Whew...after all that it seems difficult to contribute but it really isn't. It just takes a little time and practice to learn what exactly is needed in contributing to the database. If you have any questions just come to the forums.

Finally, don't take no votes or contributions personally - everyone gets them. When I get them I see what the problem is and, if I made a mistake, fix it. If I think I am correct and I still get no votes I let the screeners decide and keep my data local.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to the database - every contribution is important. Good luck!

Edit: I see others got to the point as I rambled - Grandpa always said I had "verbal diarrhea"!
 Last edited: by Kathy
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantBrowneye
Registered: May 11, 2007
Australia Posts: 5
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I used a third party database as my base level of information but it was cross checked with other databases. It took me an hour just to do one Blu-ray.

If you have to sit and watch the credits of a blu-ray thats just COMPLETELY over the top. I dont have players near my PC. And whose to say whats on movie credits is accurate.

I can see now why there's a distinct lack of Blu-ray profiles on here (for region 2 at least). There seems to be a bias towards looking for reasons to reject, not reasons to accept.

I would have thought something is way better than nothing at all. Theres got to be a trade off between PERCEIVED inaccuracy and having usable data.
 Last edited: by Browneye
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSpaceFreakMicha
Jesus-Freak
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Germany Posts: 1,774
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Quoting Browneye:
Quote:
If you have to sit and watch the credits of a blu-ray thats just COMPLETELY over the top. I dont have players near my PC. And whose to say whats on movie credits is accurate.


Quote:
I would have thought something is way better than nothing at all. Theres got to be a trade off between PERCEIVED inaccuracy and having usable data.


Sorry, but like it or not, the rules are there for a reason. For example it is a legal problem to copy data from imdb.com to DVD Profiler and contribute it. Without as pecial contract imdb.com data is "for personal use only".

And since no one here wants to see Ken getting letters from imdb lawyers... better have less but correct data instead of much incorrect data.

And believe me, it does not take that long to type in the credits for a normal movie (only TV series are a bit ...exhausting...). You say you sat down for one hour, checking and cross-checking databases... it normally takes only about 10 minutes for cast and maybe 20 minutes for crew when you just type in the credits. 

So please, take a deep breath, read the rules and be a valuable contributing member. The first contributions take some time because of the long list of rules, but you will get used to it quickly. 
 Last edited: by SpaceFreakMicha
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,330
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The accuracy that we are concerned with here is accuracy to the actual DVD/Blu-Ray discs. That is why Cast/Crew info must come only from the film credits on the actual disc (with the exception of Uncredited cast only... which must be well documented to add).
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDarklyNoon
No Godz, No Masterz
Registered: May 8, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Germany Posts: 1,945
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I can only say I am contributing alot R2 Blu-rays, of course if you buy it first day when it is out, you are often the 1st one to contribute

cheers
Donnie
www.tvmaze.com
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Netherlands Posts: 6,018
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If you don't have a Blu-ray drive in your PC, what you can do to get the movie's cast and crew credits right is
1) download an existing profile (Blu-ray or DVD) for the same movie
2) copy the cast and crew from that profile
3) paste it into your Blu-ray profile
4) prepare a report for this profile only
5) print the report
6) now sit down in front of your BR player and TV and check whether your pasted cast and crew matches the actual credits on your Blu-ray disc (sometimes credits vary across releases)
7) make changes in your profile if necessary to match the actual credits
8) submit your contribution, stating in your contribution notes from which profile you copied cast and crew (provide the UPC) and also that you verified them against the actual credits.

You should be OK then.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMsPaula
Ms Paula
Registered: March 14, 2007
United States Posts: 168
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In addition to what everyone else has said, if you feel that the cast/crew information is just too much work, don't submit it with your contribution.  You can of course use that 3rd party info in your local db anyway - it's just not contributable.  And as you said, getting something into the database is much better than nothing at all - especially in a non-region 1 area where the number of active contributors is low.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantkdh1949
Have Gun Will Travel
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 2,394
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Quoting Browneye:
Quote:
If you have to sit and watch the credits of a blu-ray thats just COMPLETELY over the top. I dont have players near my PC. And whose to say whats on movie credits is accurate.

What is supposed to be contributed to the online database is precisely what's in the movie credits, so what's in the credits IS accurate by definition.

Quote:
I would have thought something is way better than nothing at all. Theres got to be a trade off between PERCEIVED inaccuracy and having usable data.

You see a difference between PERCEIVED inaccuracy and having usable data.  It is an inaccuracy not a PERCEIVED one if a credit list someone contributes doesn't match what's in the movie credits.  It if isn't what's in the credits it is simply inaccurate.

If you want to contribute a profile with cast/crew data but don't have a player handy, do as dee1959jay suggests and print out a list from an existing profile and check that against what's on your DVD.  It isn't easy, but it's not really that much trouble, either.  As an alternative, you could start with  that list you got from a third party database and verify IT against what's in the credits.  If the credits match you can go ahead and contribute it.  If they don't match (wrong order, different spelling of names or roles, "uncredited," "scenes deleted," "archival," "credit only") change your list to what's actually in the credits.  The last 4 examples (in bold) should NOT be included in any contribution with the exception of the "credit only" ones which should be included without the phrase "credit only."  And "uncredited" cast can only be included if you can document (1) that they actually appear in the film and (2) where they exist in the film.

On the other hand, as MtnMike suggests, if you don't want to go to the trouble of verifying the cast/crew, you don't have to include ANY cast/crew data.  Especially if you are contributing a new profile.  Just submit all the data that you can determine using the Blu-Ray title you've got.  Once it's been accepted, some other user will no doubt add the correct cast/crew list later on.
Another Ken (not Ken Cole)
Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges.
DVD Profiler user since June 15, 2001
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorNexus the Sixth
Contributor since 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Sweden Posts: 3,197
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It's a database of video discs.

IMDb already exists, why copy it?
First registered: February 15, 2002
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsurfeur51
Since July 3, 2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
France Posts: 4,479
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Quoting Kinoniki:
Quote:
It's a database of video discs.

IMDb already exists, why copy it?


For me, it's a database of movies. I have nothing to do with plastic silver discs, but I am very interested by what they contain. As for IMDb, at least their actors' names link properly, which is not the case when you copy what you see in end credits. And I do not speak of blatant errors on credits where we find things like Jean Claude Forest, or Francois Truffaut, who do not exist at all.
Images from movies
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributoreommen
DVD nerd
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Netherlands Posts: 485
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Quoting Browneye:
Quote:
I've been a bit peeved lately. I recently added a lot of Blu-rays to my collection but it would seem that the prevalence of region 2 Blu-ray profiles in the database is VERY low. So I have to add them manually.

(...)
Especially considering the contributors for Region 2 Blu-ray is low you would expect some need to get contributions in the database.

(...)


Well, I disagree with you that the number of titles in region B is low. However, there are a lot of countries in that region. There may be few in your country. You'll find a lot of BluRay's in the UK, Dutch and German localities, for instance, which you could use as a base for entering a title in your own locality/country. Though there are exeptions to the rule (hence the request for checking), the items genre, year, CoO, cast, crew and studio's tend to be the same. Covers and overview, RRP/SRP, age certificate, release date and MC vary very much from country to country.

If you're stuck with few other contributors in your country, the burdon of contributions fall on those few. We can't really change that from across the globe.
Eric

If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorliorb22
This is all a joke.
Registered: March 13, 2007
Israel Posts: 693
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Quoting Kinoniki:
Quote:
It's a database of video discs.

IMDb already exists, why copy it?


If someone likes the data IMDB provides, he can simply buy/use programs like Movie Collectorâ„¢.
I'm all for accuracy, that's why I love DVD Profiler so much.
October 12th, 1985. Tonight, a comedian died in New York.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 13,201
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Quoting Browneye:
Quote:
I used a third party database as my base level of information but it was cross checked with other databases. It took me an hour just to do one Blu-ray.

Invelos does not allow this due to potential legal issues.  Most 3rd party databases do not allow the wholesale copying of their data and Invelos respects that stand.

Quote:
If you have to sit and watch the credits of a blu-ray thats just COMPLETELY over the top. I dont have players near my PC. And whose to say whats on movie credits is accurate.

For Profiler purposes, the film credits are the only accurate source.  While you may think it is over the top, it is far less work to sit an copy the credits.  I know I have yet to spend an hour doing so.

Quote:
I can see now why there's a distinct lack of Blu-ray profiles on here (for region 2 at least). There seems to be a bias towards looking for reasons to reject, not reasons to accept.

I would have thought something is way better than nothing at all. Theres got to be a trade off between PERCEIVED inaccuracy and having usable data.

It's not about perceived inaccuracy.  Like it or not, Invelos lives in a litigious country and they have to cover their butts.
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Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
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We will teach it to them again.
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 Last edited: by TheMadMartian
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