Quoted from Mr. Blonde When it comes to slugs, it's a differing opinion sort of thing. When I do them, I keep it simple. If there's only one house in the entire script, I do "INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN/BEDROOM - DAY/NIGHT". It's always helpful to specify the room if you're using more than one. Then, you can add in the details in prose (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't). I don't like extraneous details. As for what's expected, not much. Obviously, you'd want to get in touch with Don, touch base, then get your dates set up (about a week to build it up, a week for the contest--or however long it's going to be, a week or so to review, then the results). Sometimes for Don's sake, you let him in on the premise (although I'm fairly certain he likes to be surprised, like we all do). Then, you can mainly copy an old "The such-and-such-a-year One Week Challenge Topic Is..." post and update the dates on it so they coincide with your contest and update the information inside. Then, pretty much, keep an eye out in the threads, make sure nobody's burning the site down and have fun. That paragraph makes it seem like there's a lot involved, but there really isn't.

Brain fart by myself also, yeah mention the room too.

Just waxing here:

To me, the gender swap aspect of the challenge was genius.  It's a great test for woman to write men and men to write women, not only from a gender filter perspective - but from an unfamiliarity perspective. i.e., we all eventually have to write characters outside are own skin. Characters that we are not familiar with. It is akin to Christians having to write Atheists, etc.

The key, at least from my perspective is to start with a principle that any man can possess 100% of the traits and value of any woman and vice versa and let your particular character, not their gender, determine which ones are present or not. It is difficult for sure as we all have filters piled on from our age, culture and gender.

The nick in the challenge is the shortage of female writers. Uncontrollable, for sure. But it would have been ideal if there was an even split of female and male writers.  

I did enjoy the reads more than any other OWC because the stories were so different. Thanks again to SS for hosting these things.

OK, Dan, so you raise a number of questions/issues and it's great to see how different peeps respond.

Let's tackle the Slug question first.  Is there something wrong or incorrect about using a generic Slug like, "INT. HOUSE - MORNING"

Well...it depends.  On the outside, this is the kind of Slug you'll see repeatedly in every script from every writer, so if you want you don't your scripts to stand out for all the right reasons, write your Slugs like this.

But, as a few have correctly said, there are a couple things to take into consideration:

Are there more than 1 house in your script?  If so, you definitely can't just use HOUSE over and over for different locations.  So, who's house is it?  You can name it something like DON'S HOUSE, but if Don is married, then it may be DON & SUE'S HOUSE, but Don and Sue may have kids, and DON & SUE'S HOUSE just reads too long to me anyway, so I go with a last name - SMITH HOUSE.

Secondly, what room are you in, when you're in this house?  It matters so much to set your scene properly, and the only way you can do that is by starting with a solid Slug.

SMITH HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM

How often do you see a script starting off like this, "BEDROOM - NIGHT"?  Now, the script may take place in that single location, but usually not, and as you get into features, you'll find you may have multiple bedroom scenes in different bedrooms in different houses.  So, whether or not you're writing a simple 1 locale script, get in the habit of writing exact Slugs...strong Slugs...informative, visual Slugs.

The best scripts and movies make their locations characters, just like the human and animal kind of characters.  Think about CASTLE DRACULA, the killing fields in Hostel, THE OVERLOOK HOTEL in The Shining.

Treat your settings like you want to treat your characters.  You may be shocked how much better your scripts become.

Dan, you also ask how to write a short that doesn't go over the page limitations.

Peeps have given you some good ideas already, and I know some peeps' minds work differently than others...OK, everyone thinks and works differently.

Here' a quick thought.  When I was a kid, I mowed lawns as my Summer job.  I had a partner and we'd get as many clients as we could, get as much money for each job as we could, and then set up our weekly schedule.  Until we had cut each lawn a few times, we had no idea how long each would take.  We also had no idea if we bid the prices out correctly.

But, after a few weeks, it was pretty clear how long each lawn cut and which were good deals for us and which were bad deals.

Basically what I'm saying is that it takes experience to "know" what kind of plot will fit in 10 or 12 pages and what won't.  From there, you'll start to be able to plot out your story and action in your head and you'll actually see where things will fall on the page.

Trust me, I have had numerous OWC scripts that didn't work out as I intended, but that was years ago.  For the most part, I wait until Thursday or Friday before I write anything, because for me, the planning is what takes the time, and I don't want to start writing until everything is planned out in my head, but when the words do hit the page, sometimes, things change, like the ending, but because I've plotted out all my action and dialogue, space is not the issue.

Quoted from Dreamscale Dan, you also ask how to write a short that doesn't go over the page limitations. Peeps have given you some good ideas already, and I know some peeps' minds work differently than others...OK, everyone thinks and works differently. Here' a quick thought.  When I was a kid, I mowed lawns as my Summer job.  I had a partner and we'd get as many clients as we could, get as much money for each job as we could, and then set up our weekly schedule.  Until we had cut each lawn a few times, we had no idea how long each would take.  We also had no idea if we bid the prices out correctly. But, after a few weeks, it was pretty clear how long each lawn cut and which were good deals for us and which were bad deals. Basically what I'm saying is that it takes experience to "know" what kind of plot will fit in 10 or 12 pages and what won't.  From there, you'll start to be able to plot out your story and action in your head and you'll actually see where things will fall on the page. Trust me, I have had numerous OWC scripts that didn't work out as I intended, but that was years ago.  For the most part, I wait until Thursday or Friday before I write anything, because for me, the planning is what takes the time, and I don't want to start writing until everything is planned out in my head, but when the words do hit the page, sometimes, things change, like the ending, but because I've plotted out all my action and dialogue, space is not the issue.

I actually agree with all of this.

For Slugs I personally have a fondness for Master slug and mini slugs. It just looks better.

This is how I write shorts:

I think of a feature, then remove reason and accountability.

Wow, am I glad I'm not the only one that feels a little beat up after this OWC. I took the genre I was given (totally out of my comfort zone) and did my best, only to find that I was either way off base or it was just really misunderstood. A parody is a form of comedy, yes? I'm sure you can guess which one I'm talking about but, with a parody, shouldn't preconceived notions of characters be thrown out the window? Albeit, it wasn't too funny. Sorry!

Like Ashlie said, repeat #7-9!

Just wait until next time!
John

Quoted from JEStaats Wow, am I glad I'm not the only one that feels a little beat up after this OWC. I took the genre I was given (totally out of my comfort zone) and did my best, only to find that I was either way off base or it was just really misunderstood. A parody is a form of comedy, yes? I'm sure you can guess which one I'm talking about but, with a parody, shouldn't preconceived notions of characters be thrown out the window? Albeit, it wasn't too funny. Sorry! Like Ashlie said, repeat #7-9! Just wait until next time! John

If it's the one I'm thinking of then yes. Parody is really difficult. You really have to know the subject matter inside and out in order for you to make fun of it.

I wrote a film-noir parody a few years ago and it was a big process for me.  I actually had a mental breakdown! Bu,t once the dust settled, I realized all that research was soo worth it!

We all struggled I believe. But it's not nearly as bad as we may think. We only fail when we don't try,

Comedy is hard.

Almost supernaturally hard.

Don't feel bad about it. All the comedies I read had a lot going for them. I'm just not really into them/

Quoted from eldave1 This is how I write shorts: I think of a feature, then remove reason and accountability.

If you do that, the script will be as good as it gets.

This is why I love this site.  I thank you all for the helpful advice you gave.  I actually learned a lot here.    Jeff, you are so right about learning what works in the space and time provided.  This is the 4th OWC where I had a decent idea, but, the execution was awful.  

My plot ideas are simply too long and complex for the time and space allowed for the OWC.  The next one I do will be broken down first and planned, as if I were writing a feature.

If this has shown me anything, is that no matter how long, or short, the story is, you really have to plan, especially if there is a page limit (and lets face it, TV has a ton of page/time limits ranging from 5 min to 2 hrs), so, I hope to try to do better next time.

Now if I could just some love for my story...eesch.....

Dan

Quoted from DanC This is why I love this site.  I thank you all for the helpful advice you gave.  I actually learned a lot here.    Jeff, you are so right about learning what works in the space and time provided.  This is the 4th OWC where I had a decent idea, but, the execution was awful.   My plot ideas are simply too long and complex for the time and space allowed for the OWC.  The next one I do will be broken down first and planned, as if I were writing a feature. If this has shown me anything, is that no matter how long, or short, the story is, you really have to plan, especially if there is a page limit (and lets face it, TV has a ton of page/time limits ranging from 5 min to 2 hrs), so, I hope to try to do better next time. Now if I could just some love for my story...eesch..... Dan

Just count yourself lucky...at least you can faux comment on your own work...This is grueling, to say the least, for me.

And my take from this OWC is one part: helpful advice on writing shorts and structure and one part:  

Quoted from Female Gaze This is grueling, to say the least, for me. And my take from this OWC is one part: helpful advice on writing shorts and structure and one part:

Grueling?  Seriously?  Why do you say that, Ash?

Are you getting negative feedback?

Do you agree with what's being said, or have you been completely blindsided?

Quoted from Dreamscale Grueling?  Seriously?  Why do you say that, Ash? Are you getting negative feedback? Do you agree with what's being said, or have you been completely blindsided?

It's only grueling because I'm super impatient. I actually haven't read any of my feedback on purpose. (Ok, I glanced  )

But that actually isn't the issue here. I am more and more curious about what it is we as writers put out into the world. I assumed we were all one community of artists that had a desire to give the world something from our own mind. Something beautiful and strange. A commentary on the world we live in.

So now I'm wondering...

What bearings do the character's we create have on people's view of gender norms? Does it really matter?

Like when I commented on another writer's work about his female character being presented a little off...his response was '  I don't think Simplyscripts is the place to start an argument or point out someone's ignorance on specific gender related things.'

But, if not here...then where? I'm sure a lot of you guys meant no offense in a lot of things presented in OWC...but it was still a little startling to see that 'that' is how you want female character's presented to the world. Pisser's or not. It just shocked me.

Just poppin in to say sorry for my absence and that I finally have some time to myself tonight and all of tomorrow. Gonna see if I can't read a good handful by tomorrow. I just glanced at some of my scripts reviews and wow, it seems I missed the mark by a mile. Oh well, I had fun writing it.  

~Zack~