Thanks so much for all your hard work, Don.

So many scripts, so little time. I'd better get to it.

And I'm finished.

Gotta hand it to everyone, that's some damn good writing out there. Even the scripts that were questionably apocalyptical had me going, and whilst I know I've only been here for a short while (5 OWC's I think), that's the strongest lot I've read.

Well done to all, it'll be interesting to see how the voting goes, and especially exciting to have the additional voting criteria/judges.

Cam

P.S. Thanks again Don and Pia

A few more to go.

As ever I feel the variety is wonderful and that, as normal, many will benefit from a post OWC tidy up.

Mine has struggled but I knew the weaknesses in advance and alas I have proved to be right. I look forward to explaining the concept behind mine. However, it is the first one I written in a while that I may work on afterwards, which is a nice outcome.

Back to reading.

Read & reviewed them all. Some do seem like very last minute entries but hey, that happens.

The majority definitely do look like people brought their a-game this time. I think if I had to pick one I'd struggle, but I'd have more recommends and considers than previous OWC's.

Those were a joy to read. If I seemed harsh to anyone I do apologize. I do try to give a balanced review but sometimes I get a bit less forgiving after reading so many in a row and forget writers have put a lot of effort forward. I did enjoy all of them in one way or another. I hope my notes are useful.


And many thanks Don for organizing these. I get so much out of them and it's the one thing guaranteed to bet my arse in gear and do some writing.

-Mark

I've been reading and commenting when I can and have probably gone through half. There are a TON of entries so it's quite a challenge to those who get through them all and major props to those who did already. I think we had like 30 plus scripts if I remember correctly though I don't know if I've seen 30 different reviewers throughout the comments. Stuff comes up and it's only Tuesday so we'll see who comes out of the woodwork yet.

The creativity here always astounds me. I love seeing all the different ways people approach the contest and how different they were from my take. Awesome to see.

That said some scripts you could tell were first drafts or close to it along with what I think may be some newer writers which is totally ok. Lord knows I've submitted a few crap drafts in the past and to create, write, and fully edit a complete story in just one week is a huge task in itself so congrats to all who even managed to try. The OWC is an EXCELLENT way to practice the craft and improve. And if you took the time to enter I would assume you are in that boat along with the rest of us.

Judging from the feedback so far, I'm quite happy with my script this time. I feel like I finally delivered on my idea though I'm still pissed I missed a few blatant typos. Was working on mine up until an hour before deadline when I had to hurry and submit before heading out for the night. Ugh. There is never enough time. lol

I think I have 4 more to go, and the last 7 have been pretty poor, IMO.

My comments are getting more and more harsh and for that I apologize.  Hell, I already managed to piss 1 person off to the point where they jumped in and tried to defend their writing.

I have to disagree with the quality here...for me, it's probably the worst I've seen, with only 1 or 2 memorable entries, and another 1 or 2 that were better than just OK.

ARGH!  Oh well, I appreciate any effort at all, so again, my apologies to those that are fuming at my words.

Have read and reviewed a few but won't be doing all of them - the open theme has created a lot of - although well written most of them - high budget fantasy scripts lol  that will never be filmed.

So anyone who wants a read PM me and I will oblige. I'm not a fan of the anon thing now as most know lol; I think its way past its use-by date IMO. Cheers all

Quoted from Dreamscale My comments are getting more and more harsh and for that I apologize.  Hell, I already managed to piss 1 person off to the point where they jumped in and tried to defend their writing.

Right now, I've buttoned my lips for a while, but alas the dam has broken. Jeff, WTF? This really got my goat, and why are you apologising when you clearly don't mean it?

You managed to get someone (who to any trained eye was a newbie) to pack it all in. That to me is unforgivable. This site, so far as I understand, is supposed to be a place for amateur's to hone their craft, and in turn gain access to production companies if their work is up to scratch through the Shooting the Shorts part. It's not a place for you to vent your spleen, and pretend you're Bruckheimer. Thank the lord above that Cam D and Dave assessed my first attempt, or I'd have been heading the way of Yosemite too.

I'm fine with criticism, I work in architecture so my skin's that thick there's a bloody turtle shell on it, and whilst I've had it argued before that your input is both knowledgeable and useful, I'm afraid in large I'm going to disagree. Below are some pearlers from your reviews thus far:

Quoted Text Oh no...not another script with no named characters..please...NO!!

In Need of Refuge - I guess someone should have tuned up The Seven Year Itch, Withnail and I, Layer Cake, Drive, Fight Club, 12 Angry Men, etc...

Quoted Text I don't want to be mean, but this is just very, very blah, and I wan t to thank you for ending this on page 5.

Winter Bunkerland - What on earth does the above even offer in terms of a useful crit?

Quoted Text Hobson's Choice - WTF?  OK, had to google it - never a good thing, unless one is looking up a location.

Room for One More - Did you honestly just criticise someone for your lack of knowledge to a reference? Google it, educate yourself, and move on.

Quoted Text Not for me.  No idea what you were going for, but...uh...fuck...no grade.

Ruby Pie and the Butterfly Girl - Why didn't you stop at "not for me"? Is the second part in any way necessary or useful?

Quoted Text Dialogue is downright painful.  I wish this was a pisser, and I'd laugh, but I know it isn't and am trying not to laugh.

For It Is Written - Again, what are you bringing to the table here? Can someone use the above to actually improve their writing?

Quoted Text So, looks like zero named characters?  How can I give a shit about anyone if no one even has a name?

Nero - As above, with a bit of added zest.

Quoted Text Nothing much happened and there's no way anyone will remember this.

The Last Days of Demons - Are you speaking for all of us here? Judging by the comments section I don't think so.

Quoted Text Shotguns do not fire a bullet, so this entire scene is fucked.

The Magician of Peacock Springs - Fair point, until the latter half.

Right, I could have listed a thread's worth of these snippets, but I'll resist. Jeff, reign it in. You've no doubt got some reasonable and fair points to put across, but all it comes across as is just vitriolic rambling. If you want to give a professional(esque) opinion, give your attempt at a professional opinion, not a personal one. So far as I can tell (like the majority of us) you are still largely an amateur which rules the professional element out, but you can at least try.

As I've said above, putting someone (again, clearly a new writer) off the forums through rage fuelled ramblings is just ridiculous behaviour. If you've got a point to make, just make it and leave the aggro behind, as your reviews currently appear to be as useful as a hedgehog turning up to fix a broken boiler.

Cam

P.S. Also, stop scoring scripts in the threads. I could be wrong but I think Dan C had been picked up on it in a previous challenge, not sure why the same doesn't apply to yourself.

I try to read all the posts, but during OWCs it's easy to miss quite a few.

Who left the forum?

For the record, STS is no longer featured at SS. The SS home page is successful as it is.

As far as scoring the scripts go, it says in my original post, to not score the scripts. Wait until you get an email that will ask you to do so.

Hi Pia,

I thought Yosemite said he was leaving, re-read his post and maybe he isn't. Might have lost that detail when the red mist descended.

Regardless, my points above still stand. The comments from Jeff are in my opinion out of control, and certainly in this instance he's insulted a new writer's work to the point that he's gone and revealed himself early. I'm not sure where a mod, such as yourself, stands on all of this.

If someone's looking for feedback, as the initial box on each script states, they shouldn't then be open to expletive filled rants which in many instances are incorrect, and at the least questionable.

Cam

Quoted from Cameron Thank the lord above that Cam D and Dave assessed my first attempt, or I'd have been heading the way of Yosemite too.

You're welcome! I'm curious if I may ask, what script was that?

Screenwriting is a hard hobby and not for the faint of heart in that you are exposing a little part of your soul for the world to judge. It's not for everybody as this board has seen dozens of times when people don't like the comments they receive. I got took to the woodshed often (and still do) when I've posted work on here but it made me better and I can take it. I want that harsh style of feedback actually because it's what produces quality work for me faster.

That said, I think any criticism is fine, as long as it's constructive criticism. I have't stumbled upon the script in question above, but I'll keep an eye out for it as I keep reviewing. Some people can't take the heat though and that part of writing. You need to develop thick skin if you want to share your work with others.

Quoted from Cameron I thought Yosemite said he was leaving, re-read his post and maybe he isn't. Might have lost that detail when the red mist descended. Regardless, my points above still stand. The comments from Jeff are in my opinion out of control, and certainly in this instance he's insulted a new writer's work to the point that he's gone and revealed himself early. I'm not sure where a mod, such as yourself, stands on all of this. If someone's looking for feedback, as the initial box on each script states, they shouldn't then be open to expletive filled rants which in many instances are incorrect, and at the least questionable.

Relax, Cam, everything's going to be alright.  It really is.

I don't recall Yosemite Sam commenting on a single entry...in fact, he hasn't posted a comment since 2010!

In terms of "insulting" a new writer, I think you're way off base, in that first of all, he's not a new writer, and secondly, I don't see where I insulted him in the first place.  I backed up my comments when he jumped in to defend his script, and if you followed along, I was 100% correct in what I said, whereas he was 100% incorrect and didn't even know what he had named his own characters.

If you feel my feedback is inaccurate, please, do tell and show.  The funny thing is that the vast majority of peep's feedback is completely inaccurate, as most know so little about writing and reading over and over again how well a script is written, when there are mistakes bleeding off every single page is quite funny.

There are plenty of other comments by other SS'ers that could easily be thrown into your little list you put together of my quotes, so don't go singling out me.

You may not understand it, but as I always say, I do mean to help and although I may be harsh or even "insulting", it's meant to strike a chord and help peps going forward.

Quoted from Grandma Bear As far as scoring the scripts go, it says in my original post, to not score the scripts. Wait until you get an email that will ask you to do so.

I shorry about that...I was not aware.  My bad.

I really appreciate Cam bringing this to our attention.  He's a Hell of a Brother!

Quoted from CameronD You're welcome! I'm curious if I may ask, what script was that?

In Need of Refuge

Hang about, are you serious Jeff?

Quoted Text There are plenty of other comments by other SS'ers that could easily be thrown into your little list you put together of my quotes, so don't go singling out me.

Where? Take a look at my "little list" above and point to someone else dropping an expletive or going at this the way you have been for this or the last few OWC's. You're killing it mate, absolutely sapping the fun out of what is supposed to be an enjoyable challenge. It's like Buzz Killington on steroids.

Folk don't go into this expecting to be battered over the head with a stick in the shape of a Dreamscale review, or maybe they've got that used to it they do. If you've got the smarts to help people move forward with their work, do it in the correct way, like everyone else does. Don't go around abusing everyone's work and thinking that you've done a good job, as trust me, folk just ignore it.

Seriously, sort it out.

Cam