Here’s how the system works:
Each film is judged on its performance in eight domains. Each domain is worth 100 points, which will either be added or subtracted from its raw score. A film’s REF score is tabulated using its raw score, according to the REF formula, explained below.
The 8 Domains of Regan Excellence in Film
FILM CRAFT ———————————————————————————–
A . Story
Is the film’s story fresh and original or is it trite, cliche, and done to death?
Sample Scoring:
0 Points for Story = It’s completely cliche and overdone.
100 Points for Story = It’s completely fresh, never been done before.
B. Writing
Does the screenplay demonstrate depth, originality, well-crafted scenes, dialogue, and characterization? Or does it lack skillful execution by being incoherent or nonsensical?
Sample Scoring:
0 Points for Writing = The writing is completely flat, unoriginal, or nonsensical.
100 Points for Writing = The writing is well-executed, engaging, original, and realistic.
C. Soundtrack
Is the film’s music enriching to both the film and the viewer experience? Is the soundtrack critically and culturally relevant?
Sample Scoring:
0 Points for Soundtrack = The soundtrack detracted from the film and/or was completely unmemorable.
100 Points for Soundtrack = The soundtrack heightened the vibrancy of the film and enriched the viewer’s experience, full of memorable music.
D. Diversity
Is the cast of characters fully representative of the demographics in the film’s locale? Does it highlight or erase cultural diversity?
Sample Scoring:
0 Points for Diversity = The film’s cast is racially or culturally homogenized in an exclusive, unrealistic, and unnecessary way.
100 Points for Diversity = The film’s cast is, both racially and culturally, fully representative in inclusive and realistic ways.
E. Daring
Is the film ground-breaking in some way, offering something new to the world of cinema? Does it break molds or conform to a cookie-cutter structure of filmmaking?
Sample Scoring:
0 Points for Daring = The film is completely unoriginal, a copy of another film or its peers in the industry.
100 Points for Daring = The film is innovational in a singular way, daring to go where no film has quite gone before.
SOCIAL JUSTICE —————————————————————————
F. Racism
Does the film’s story, writing, or characterization reinforce racist stereotypes or demonstrate unchecked creator bias?
Sample Scoring:
+100 Points for COMBATTED Racism =
The film’s story, writing, and characterization destabilize racist sentiment, stereotypes, and tropes.
+50 Points for ADDRESSED Racism =
The film’s story, writing, and characterization oppose racist sentiment, stereotypes, and tropes.
0 Points for ABSENT Racism =
The film is free of racist sentiment, stereotypes, and tropes.
-50 Points for PRESENT Racism =
The film demonstrates some racist sentiment, tropes, stereotypes, and creator bias.
-100 Points for PERVASIVE Racism =
The film is flooded with racist sentiment, tropes, stereotypes, and creator bias.
G. Gender Bias
Does the film’s story, writing, or characterization reinforce socially-constructed gender roles, presentations, or stereotypes or otherwise demonstrate unchecked creator bias?
Sample Scoring:
+100 Points for COMBATTED Gender Bias =
Film embraces diverse gender presentations.
+50 Points for ADDRESSED Gender Bias =
Film makes notice of diverse gender presentations.
0 Points for ABSENT Gender Bias =
Film is free of socially-constructed gender roles, presentations, and stereotypes.
-50 Points for PRESENT Gender Bias =
Film demonstrates some socially-constructed gender roles, presentations, and stereotypes.
-100 Points for PERVASIVE Gender Bias =
Film is flooded with socially-constructed gender roles, presentations, and stereotypes.
H. Homophobia
Does the film’s story, writing, or characterization demonstrate anti-LGBTQ sentiment?
Sample Scoring:
+100 Points for COMBATTED Homophobia =
The film’s story, writing, and characterization embrace diverse sexualities and romantic attractions.
+50 Points for ADDRESSED Homophobia =
The film’s story, writing, and characterization make notice of diverse sexualities and romantic attractions.
0 Points for ABSENT Homophobia =
The film is free of anti-LGBTQ sentiment in story, writing, or characterization.
-50 Points for PRESENT Homophobia =
Th film demonstrates some anti-LGBTQ sentiment in story, writing, or characterization or creator bias.
-100 Points for Homophobia =
The film demonstrates pervasive anti-LGBTQ sentiment in story, writing, or characterization or creator bias.
RAW SCORE & REF SCORE TABULATION
The raw score is tabulated with the formula:
( A + B + C + D + E ) + ( F + G + H ).
The REF score formula is the raw score divided by 800.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Any film that scores a 0% or lower will be ranked as 0%.
For films starring non-human characters (.i.e. animals, aliens), the racial demographics of the cast will be used to determine the film’s diversity score.
In the event of films that exhibit both positive and negative examples in their treatments of racism, gender bias, or homophobia, two scores will be given and added together, following the formula: A + B + C + D + E + F1 + F2 + G1 + G2 + H1 + H2.
ref score 