Pixar's 'Candor Without Cruelty' on an Indie Set: When Does it Break?

Hey everyone,

I'm directing a gritty, character-driven short right now, and finding myself grappling with feedback. I've been trying to foster that 'candor without cruelty' vibe, like Pixar's Brain Trust model, where everyone can critique and elevate the work no matter their role. We're moving fast, tight schedule, tight budget, as you can imagine.

What I'm noticing is that sometimes, with established crew relationships or when I'm giving feedback to, say, my lead who I've worked with for years, that 'candor' can feel a lot like 'cruelty' or at least, like it's stepping on toes or undermining authority, even when it's genuinely about the work. I've tried framing things as 'what if we tried this' or 'does this feel right', but it still feels like the dynamics shift.

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