When Aspirational Feedback Models Hit Indie Reality?

Hey everyone,

I've been grappling with something on my last few projects. The 'candor without cruelty' model, like Pixar's Brain Trust, sounds amazing in theory, honest feedback delivered constructively. I've tried to implement elements of it on my indie sets.

However, in practice, it often feels different. When you're running on tight schedules, with a crew that's worked together for years, or even friends you've known for ages, that 'candor' can sometimes get mistaken for undermining, or even just feel blunt when there's no time for the 'cruelty-free' padding. Hierarchies are usually pretty clear on indie sets, and sometimes asking a gaffer who's been doing this for 20 years for 'candor' on a shot concept feels... awkward, at best.

So, my real question is: when does this 'textbook' approach to feedback NOT work on a fast-paced indie set with established hierarchies or pre-existing relationships? And what do you do instead?