Audience ratings

We mostly rate our films and episodes by the Motion Picture Association film rating system. Though we use custom ratings to effectively narrow down what content is applicable to an audience.

Our MPA film ratings

G - General Audiences. All ages admitted. Nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children.

PG - Parental Guidance Suggested. Some materials may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give "parental guidance". May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.

PG-13 - Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers. 

R - Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before viewing it with young children. (Pickyman Studios has no films that meet this rating.)

Most of our films are PG-10. This means those films are aimed at audiences that range from children transiting into middle school (junior high) and anyone else over that age. Basically, it is recommended for people 10 and over in age.

By starting in late 2021, we will begin to list the film/episode rating in the description of the film. Containing the MPA rating and a more detailed description of the film's content.

Quality score

In order for our audience to better understand the quality of the film/episode, we use our quality score system. The score covers the quality of the resolution, audio, editing, acting, and other things. When we first release a film/episode, we will release its quality score. Over time, we may revise the score due to changes in expectations, the scoring system, and generally, comparisons with newly released content.

Our scoring system

Our system consists of a rubric. The number of points goes by Above Standards (5pts), At Standard (4pts), Approaching Standard (3pts), Below Standard (2pts), and Unacceptable (1pt)

VIDEO:

5: - The content is above 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. - The content is above 60 frames per second. 

4: - The content is at 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. - The content is at 60 frames per second. 

3: - The content is at 720p (1280x720) resolution. - The content is at 30 frames per second. 

2: - The content is at 480p (640x480) resolution. - The content is at 27 frames per second. 

1: - The content is below 480p (640x480) resolution. - The content is below 27 frames per second. 

AUDIO:

5: - The audio is very smooth between clips. - The audio can be clearly heard without the need to raise the volume. - Music is perfectly applied and appropriate for scenes. - Sound effects aren't cheesy, unnecessary, too loud, too soft, and perfectly timed. 

4: - The audio is smooth between clips. - The audio is clearly heard. - Music is applied well at appropriate times. - Sound effects aren't unnecessary, loud, soft, and well-timed. 

3: - The audio is fairly smooth between clips. - The audio is mostly clear to hear. - Music is applied too early or too late. - Sound effects are pretty cheesy, a little loud, a little soft, and maybe off-timed. 

2: - The audio is choppy. - The audio is mostly hard to hear. - Music is cheesy, loud, soft, early, late, or inappropriate. - Sound effects are cheesy, loud, soft, or out of time. 

1: - The audio is choppy. - The audio is hard to hear the entire time. - Music is very cheesy or excessively loud, soft, out of time, or occurs at very inappropriate times. - Sound effects are very cheesy or excessively loud, soft, or fully delayed. 

EDITING:

5: - Hard cuts are clean and time relative. - Dissolves are representing time passing. - Advance editing. I.e. green screens, CGI, etc. - Text is professional and not excessive. - Mess-ups are not traceable or seen. 

4: - Hard cuts flow and relate to the time. - Dissolves are placed appropriately of time passing. - Text is spelled correctly and is pretty professional. - Mess-ups are not seen. 

3: - Some hard cuts feel choppy and may jump in time, but the cuts fairly flow. - Dissolves are used incorrectly or too short, too long. - Text is spelled correctly; maybe some excess text. - Mess-ups are just cut out before they happen; or a very faint "ACTION" is heard or actors are delayed. 

2: - Most of the hard cuts chop and jump in time. - Dissolves are used incorrectly and are too short/too long, or excessive. (And generally any other transition.) - Text is spelled correctly; change in fonts, displayed too long or too short, or excessive number of text. - Viewers can clearly see a mess-up occur, hear "ACTION", or failed to remove a clip/failed to complete editing a scene. 

1: - Cuts chop up the entire time, constant jump in time. - Dissolves are completely inappropriate and excessive. (And generally any other transition.) - Text is spelled incorrectly, changing fonts, displayed way too long or way too short, or the number of text is overly excessive. 

STORY/PLOT/THEME:

5: - The entire story/plot/theme was clearly planned. - The story/plot/theme makes sense.- The story/plot/theme make viewers want to see more, intrigued, excited, or watch to watch more. 

4: - The entire story/plot/theme was clearly planned. - The story/plot/theme makes sense. 

3: - The story/plot/theme was mostly planned. - The story/plot/theme mostly makes sense. 

2: - The story/plot/theme was partially planned. - The story/plot/theme kinda makes sense. 

1: - The story/plot/theme was made up during production. - The story/plot/theme doesn't make sense or not really at all. 

ACTING:

5: - Actors are clearly very confident and act higher than their best ability to be that character. - Actors are not seen smiling or laughing during any scene (unless it was meant to be.) - When the actors say their lines they sound realistic and sound like the set emotion. 

4: - Actors are clearly confident and act to their best ability to be that character. - Actors are not seen smiling or laughing. (unless it was meant to be.) - When the actors say their lines they sound real and emotional. 

3: - Actors are somewhat confident and try to act to their best ability to be that character. - Actors are seen smiling or laughing sometimes. (unless it was meant to be.) - When the actors say their lines they sound pretty real and emotional. 

2: - Actors are barely confident and try to act to their best ability to be that character. - Actors are seen smiling or laughing a lot. - When the actors say their lines they sound not really real and emotional. 

1: - Actors are not confident and don't act to their best ability to be that character. - Actors are seen smiling or laughing the whole time. - When the actors say their lines they sound fake, scripted, or non-emotional. 

We use this rubric and put it to the test with our films. We also use this rubric for Picky+ Partner Content Minimum Standards.