SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is March 29th, 2024, 7:47am
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)
One Week Challenge - Who Wrote What and Writers' Choice.


Scripts studios are posting for award consideration

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    One Week Challenge    January 2017 One Week Challenge  ›  The Venus Heist - OWC Moderators: Mr. Blonde
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 1 Guests

 Pages: 1, 2 » : All
Recommend Print
  Author    The Venus Heist - OWC  (currently 3760 views)
Don
Posted: January 28th, 2017, 10:32am Report to Moderator
Administrator
Administrator


So, what are you writing?

Location
Virginia
Posts
16381
Posts Per Day
1.94
The Venus Heist by Alex Mann - Short, Film Noir - Two women report a heist to the same detective. But can these two best friends turn in their suspects... each other? And which one of them actually committed the crime? 11 pages - pdf, format

Writer interested in feedback on this work



Visit SimplyScripts.com for what is new on the site.

-------------
You will miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
- Wayne Gretzky
Logged Offline
Site Private Message
Scar Tissue Films
Posted: January 28th, 2017, 10:55am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


Posts
3382
Posts Per Day
0.63
I had a bit of trouble with imagining the opening.

It's at night, and we have a shadowy figure entering the building, but then the Bank is still filled with customers. It all felt a bit weird.

The tone, I felt it tried too hard to be a 50's film noir, instead of just being a noiry story.

As for the story: I didn't really get it, I'm sorry to say.

I didn't get why they involved Rikki. It might just be me, but I didn't follow the story's logic at all.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 1 - 22
stevie
Posted: January 28th, 2017, 5:48pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients



Location
Down Under
Posts
3441
Posts Per Day
0.61
Picked the bottom script to start and will work my way up!

Hmm, didn't really get into this one. I had to check the genre as I thought it may have been some type of Blade Runner clone lol.

I think the writer had this good concept worked out but it sorta lost its way as can happen. Some elements of comedy in there, perhaps unintentionally?

Valiant effort but it wasn't for me.



Logged
Private Message Reply: 2 - 22
grademan
Posted: January 28th, 2017, 7:51pm Report to Moderator
Been Around



Location
Wisconsin
Posts
872
Posts Per Day
0.16
The title suggests a female based crime drama.

The author's name suggests a tough guy style.

The logline states the genre as film noir and two best friends are in a hurry to turn each other in after allegedly committing the crime.

So far, looks quite interesting.

Let's see the choices made.

The opening scene reads as a comedy which is an unusual slant on film noir but I'll go with it. Dialogue is laced with standards such as sister and hot cakes. The characters don't have any of the hardness of film noir. The story line is difficult to follow as is the ending. Changing the time line so the two vixens trade barbs while doing the heist and there meltdown as friends would be another way to go.

A romp like this needs to be nailed to work. Not sure what Hammer would say about that.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 3 - 22
AnthonyCawood
Posted: January 29th, 2017, 5:20am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
UK
Posts
4319
Posts Per Day
1.14
The asides in the opening threw me a little. seemed to be trying too hard.

The dialogue seems a little stilted and escalates into agression quickly, without enough setup.

Also felt a little like you'd just written a male character, Rikki, and just changes he to she, him to her etc.

Rikki is a weird PI, he doesn't seem to ever get hired at any point and acts more like a cop.

Then I'm afraid I just got a bit confused by the narrative.

There's some decent writing in here but, and it could be me, it got a little muddled for me.


Anthony Cawood - Award winning screenwriter
Available Short screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/short-scripts
Available Feature screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/feature-film-scripts/
Screenwriting articles - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 4 - 22
MarkRenshaw
Posted: January 29th, 2017, 6:50am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
UK
Posts
2335
Posts Per Day
0.59
This reads as a parody of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. Not sure if that was the intention but it doesn't quite work for me. A lot of dialogue and intercutting scenes, which made it difficult for me to follow.

The problem for me was I didn't buy into the premise. Do people report crimes to detectives or to the police?  They normally report things they want investigating to detectives and crimes to the police, so I wasn't buying into this early on.

It also felt like some of these characters were male, the P.I. especially.

Sorry, not my cup of tea but others may love it.  

-Mark


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 5 - 22
khamanna
Posted: January 29th, 2017, 7:37am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Posts
4194
Posts Per Day
0.79
Lots of visuals in this one. I kind of liked it at the beginning and overall it's not bad at all.

I think you should let us in their heads, explain why Ivy needs to rob all of the sudden - you may focus on the girls's rivalry, I see you brushed on it but that's not enough I think.

It reads very much noir by the way - that's a super hard genre I think.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 6 - 22
eldave1
Posted: January 29th, 2017, 2:42pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Southern California
Posts
6874
Posts Per Day
1.95
A tough one from a logic perspective at it's very premise - Two separate women report a bank heist to the same detective rather than to the police and the Detective takes the case rather than directing them to the police. Also a bit of a logic stretch that in all of the multiple heists involving dozens of customers - no men are around without any explanation is to why that would be.

  


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 7 - 22
Dreamscale
Posted: January 30th, 2017, 10:44am Report to Moderator
Guest User



Sorry, but right out of the gate, it's obvious this writing style ain't for me.  It's trying so damn hard to be cool, but for me, it's irritating.

Why do we have "ESTABLISHING SHOT" in 3 scenes? Really?  Completely unnecessary.  There are also a whole lot of "DARK CORNER" scenes.  Is this the exact same dark corner each time?  If not, that's an obvious mistake that wold be Hell to try and figure out in production.

I really dislike the snarky style, not naming characters, but saying, "we'll call her...Asswiper, how about?  Yeah...that's hat we'll call her.  Does that work for you, Reader?  If not, how about you call her anyfuckingthign you want to, because I'm  not going to name her, because it's so cool to write like this and show everyone what a talented writer I really am.

End of rant.

OK, so what kind of bank is open at night?  Really?  Just a terribly fake setup here.

"OFFICE OF RIKKI WESSON, P.I." - Seeing (or writing) this Slug numerous times should have told the writer that it's not a great Slug...at all.  It just sounds terrible.

So this "Witness" has only 1 eye?  That's very odd.

Oh...now it's OK to reveal the Witness's name?  Why is that?

Well, there is a heavy "noir" feel to the script and writing, so maybe I should try not to hate it so much?

Page 3 - Why are you repeating the Slug again?  Looks to be exactly the same Slug we're already in.  OK, so it's a different night or time, huh?  Think how that will look on film?  You end the scene with Amy talking, then the next scene is the same place with a different chick walking in.  That's don't work, brother.

Page 8 - Wow...now we have INTERCUTS going on?  Oh man...

OK, the end.  I don't get the end at all, but at this point, I don't think it really matters.

This isn't for me in any way...the story, the writing, the characters, the dialogue...none of it.

But, it's a tough genre and you definitely seem to know your noir, so points for that for sure.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 8 - 22
Conz
Posted: January 30th, 2017, 10:49am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Posts
349
Posts Per Day
0.07
Full disclosure – There is no genre I’m less versed in than Film Noir.  I would have been terrified if I got stuck writing in that genre.  I would have just had every character talk about “dames and gams” and had them say “see” after every line of dialogue.  So with that said I think you got a crappy draw and will judge accordingly from that.

I like the first page.  That style of writing is snappy, and I personally appreciate it.

If I hadn’t already said I’d be lenient b/c of my lack of noir knowledge, I’d probably give you crap for describing your characters with just about the only 2 actors I know prominently from said genre.  Also, Bogart as a woman is not drawing an image in my brain at all.

You. Slimy. Bitch. – Ok, what’s the poop?  - not a big fan of this dialogue exchange.

Again with these descriptions.  “This is noir, so just picture this old actress in this role… I’ll wait for you to google.”  I’m not enough of a film historian to know what Marlene Dietrich looks like on the spot… but I appreciate you mixing her with a current day actress.

Oh and Rikki is in no way coming across as a woman to me.

“Back in black!” – I don’t get it.

Jeez, didn’t expect the teller to bite it.

It’s getting jumbled for at this point, kinda losing track which woman is which.

I guess this is a solid little story.  Kinda figured they’d both be in on the robberies, but like I said, this had to be a tough genre to crack.  Honestly, I don’t even know if it was successful.  To me it just seems like you took the film noir archtype and turned him into a woman… unconvincingly and then just peppered in some nods to actresses of yore.  But, like I said at the top, I don’t know any better, so all in all this isn’t bad.


I'd list my "work" here, but I don't know how to hyperlink.  

"Career" Highlights
-2, count em, 2 credits on my IMDB page.  
-One time a fairly prominent producer e-mailed me back.  
-I have made more than $1000 with my writing!
-I've won 2 mugs... and a thong.  (polaroids of me in thong available for $10 through PM)

@vc_wg - because I crave attention
Logged
Private Message Reply: 9 - 22
Digitaldecayfilms
Posted: January 30th, 2017, 12:32pm Report to Moderator
New



Location
Seattle, WA
Posts
50
Posts Per Day
0.02
Well, I guess you have all of the elements of a classic noir and I did like some of the visuals, but for the most part, this script really had me scratching my head.

Why does she use a knife?!?  Why not a gun?  Why don't any of the bank guards have guns?  Why go to the same P.I. instead of the cops?  Why would Ivy go at all?  Just a ton of logic gaps here.

She murders the teller completely out of left field, completely against the whimsical tone you had throughout.

I don't really have more notes for you.  The writing was competent enough (although you use the term "graces" twice, both of which felt out of place), but the story was just nonsensical to me.


Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 10 - 22
Zack
Posted: January 30th, 2017, 8:06pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Erlanger, KY
Posts
4487
Posts Per Day
0.69
How many customers are in the bank? You never specify.

"An unseen woman inches towards..." How do we know this if she is unseen?

You've now introduced "The Witness character three different times. Not good. It's actually slowing down the read for me.

You have Rikki pick up the newspaper in one action line, then you have Amy slam the paper down in the next. I'm confused.

"What's the poop?" I really hope this is a typo and you meant "Scoop".

You keep describing your characters by comparing them to other actresses (I'm assuming), but besides Jennifer Lawernce, I have no idea who you are talking about. This doesn't work.

The exchange between the Hamilton Bank Teller and The Robber on page 6 is awful.

I'm forcing myself to continue at this point. I'm sorry but I'm calling it quits. I really don't like to be so negative. I really like the title, for what it's worth. If you give this a rewrite let me know and I'll give you my thoughts on it.

~Zack~
Logged
Private Message Reply: 11 - 22
Cameron
Posted: January 31st, 2017, 12:59am Report to Moderator
Guest User



This one was a bit of a wrestle, very messy and just couldn't get to grips with it. Some typos and formatting issues didn't help matters, but the story just roams all over the place and the dialogue isn't good enough to reign it in.

Not for me I'm afraid,

Cam
Logged
e-mail Reply: 12 - 22
DanC
Posted: January 31st, 2017, 3:27am Report to Moderator
Old Timer


Killing villains since 1980!

Location
Buffalo NY
Posts
1131
Posts Per Day
0.34
I can't add much more than what everyone else said.  I found it very confusing.  Unless they are both bank robbers, this made no sense.

Why involve the PI??  That makes no sense.

Film Noir is very hard to write, believe me, I've tried in the past...

I think you gave it a good shot, but, to try to cram so much into so few pages hurt this story.

It might make a cool story to come back to and write it the way it should be written, with a man as the lackey.

Good luck but, sadly, it didn't work for me.

Dan


Please read my scripts:
http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-series/m-1427564706/

I'm interested in reading animation, horror, sci fy, suspense, fantasy, and anything that is good.  I enjoy writing the same.  Looking to team with anyone!

Thanks
Dan
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 13 - 22
LC
Posted: January 31st, 2017, 6:00am Report to Moderator
Administrator



Location
The Great Southern Land
Posts
7582
Posts Per Day
1.34
I also tried but couldn't really make head nor tail of the story.

I think the terms: 'sister' 'dame', 'hotcakes' 'dollface' et al really only work if it's a male noir character speaking to a female. Do cell phones belong in noir? I'd replace the cell phone with a cigarette (even though it's politically incorrect), wafting smoke, a black cat, someone skulking in the shadows in silhouette. In really capturing the essence of noir there needs to be a slower darker mood too. The opening read to me as a super hero villain heist with its high energy.

You captured some of the noir feel,, to your credit.

I was quite envious of the person who was allocated noir, now I see the challenge with it being a female cast only.

'You know how to whistle, don't you Steve? You just put your lips together, and blow ...'

You need a guy and a gal imh, just to get off the starting blocks. So much of it is intrigue and sex and crime all  mixed together.
Good effort.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 14 - 22
 Pages: 1, 2 » : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    January 2017 One Week Challenge  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006