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However, that is usually the case in real life as well, outside of festivals. The bias on here towards genre stories mirrors the bias towards speculative stories in the real world.
Personally I hate films/stories that are essentially lectures about real world problems. I, like most people, watch films to escape from the drudgery of the real world.
Once you've seen one film about an issue..homosexuality, slavery, poverty, racism etc etc...you've seen them all. The only thing that changes is their location.
Your comment makes me shake. I completely disagree. Entertainment can work differently.
What you write about films reads like: let's buy a ticket for Batman vs Spiderman 4, munch some snickers, and forget stuff in a second. Escapism fulfilled.
But, there is no escape from life. Relaxation and pleasure you only get through confrontation and beauty.
It screams from between the lines of your comment that you have given up on that. But sorry, then go to the subcontracted labor, watch mindless stuff and mow the lawn. There'll be a Bud in the fridge tomorrow.
There are different movies that have the power to follow you to the parking lot of the cinema and into your life. To get across message and meaning is just the hardest stuff. It's where people move each other, reflect, and find real escape.
The topic allows you to write about absolutely any subject you wish, in absolutely any genre. How much leeway do you need?
You can have a pro-abortionist vs abortion argument Donald Trump vs Hilary Clinton trapped in the same cab Black vs White Human trafficker vs former slave Liberal vs right winger Transexual vs Muslim Cleric Homosexual vs Homophobe Alien vs Human
You can take the most extreme philosophy and write about it, or the most cutting edge scientific theory.
Absolutely anything. Just write about whatever issue troubles you the most deeply.
I just probably won't care, because I've seen them all a trillion times already. Just as you complain about Batman vs Superman 4...I've already seen "I'm a gay in [insert location here], and it's really hard" at least a hundred times. I've seen a thousand films about human slavery. It still exists. Nothing will change that, until we completely change the economic system.
Anyone who actually gives a shit about the state of the world probably shouldn't spend a single second wasting their time making/writing films. They'd be better off doing charity work, working for the UN, or starting some fair trade business.
Just as you complain about Batman vs Superman 4...I've already seen "I'm a gay in [insert location here], and it's really hard" at least a hundred times.
I don't know if this isn't floating too much into politics, however, it seems when it is about world politics or humanity's problems you end up at this point
Tons of people say that today, but what does that mean? ... a rhetorical question of course… Anyway, reducing problems to such phrase when it comes to shove, stays a way of obey. I admit it's a good and safe position to handle life today, and from where one can easily let others who debate look, well, ... naive, preachy, inexperienced, having a good men attitude, ... with just blocking.
Regarding the challenge, we also could write about a conflict in family, holidays, neighborhood, drugs, whatever… character and conflict-based. But the topics are most times fiction of all kind and locations. I'd prefer to read personal stories of other writers, built on conflicts they know from their here and now – without morphing things into a taxi. And those don't have to be Good Men preachy things or politics. There's also culture.
Personally I hate films/stories that are essentially lectures about real world problems. I, like most people, watch films to escape from the drudgery of the real world.
Agree 100%. As soon as a movie, TV show or book starts to feel preachy or lecturing, I leave. I want to be entertained, amused, thrilled etc. I don't want to be reminded of all the crap in the world I read or see in the news or other information media every day.
Yeah, I agree on both of your comments. And I also see a massive phone call attack on the horizon - think I'll just read those who stay short and don't make it a ten minute epos, if any.
The best short films I see here build on conflict. Here the location directs the way. Why OWCs no time go into a character based theme of "today", about the "here and now" puzzles me. Writers should go into society's debates too and not always lurk in up in the sky fiction or scripts bound to location.
Still lost on why a setting in a taxi or an Uber precludes the exploration of themes related to today. You could put a transexual and a priest, a cop and a black man, a 1 percenter and a Occupy Wallstreet, etc etc in a taxi. The location does not limit the theme
I don't know if this isn't floating too much into politics, however, it seems when it is about world politics or humanity's problems you end up at this point
Tons of people say that today, but what does that mean? ... a rhetorical question of course… Anyway, reducing problems to such phrase when it comes to shove, stays a way of obey. I admit it's a good and safe position to handle life today, and from where one can easily let others who debate look, well, ... naive, preachy, inexperienced, having a good men attitude, ... with just blocking.
Regarding the challenge, we also could write about a conflict in family, holidays, neighborhood, drugs, whatever… character and conflict-based. But the topics are most times fiction of all kind and locations. I'd prefer to read personal stories of other writers, built on conflicts they know from their here and now – without morphing things into a taxi. And those don't have to be Good Men preachy things or politics. There's also culture.
1. I don't want to get into a long political debate, but it means that nearly all of the problems in society are created by the world wide economic system that puts a price on every single thing in the world and creates an artificial system of scarcity whereby some have a lot of money and the vast majority have absolutely nothing...and they are mired in poverty and have to turn to crime, drugs or whatever as an escape.
People need money to live, and due to the system withholding money from the many, they have to resort to criminal, or even legal destructive behaviour.
The problem is exacerbated by a media/advertising that creates a culture of turbo consumerism meaning everyone believes they need material products to have self worth.
Environmental destruction, poverty, disease, drug abuse, inequality, anger, frustration, crime, human trafficking, piracy...All the issues we might care to talk about are a mere symptom of that fact.
If you want to solve those problems there is only one action to take: Try and change the entire world's economic system. You won't do it with a film. You can have a go...see Zeitgeist...but I was also there when that whole movement fell apart with infighting as always happens in fringe politics groups.
If your primary goal is to effect material change in the world, then screenwriting is not the best way to do it.
Technology, realistically is the only way.
2. The topic includes all of that, if you want, or they want. People don't generally write it because they find it boring.
There's a reason fantastical stuff sells the most in literature, comic form, film etc. The simple fact is everyone has familial conflicts, trouble with disease, money troubles etc. They have to live it every day...few people want to add to their own problems by being subjected to even more problems about people they don't know.
Besides the stories are as cliched as any genre flick:
People find it hard to get on due to differences in age, gender, sexuality, race, nationality and we have to learn to overcome such superficial differences.
Drugs can be fun, maybe even enlightening, but they are also a slippery slope.
People in different neighbourhoods have different ideas on how to live, there are some good things to be said about suburbia, some good thing about the ghetto, some good things about living in the wilderness, and some bad.
That's all there is to it. We already know.
Ultimately, I still don't see what the problem is:
You can tell any story you want in this topic.
A junkie in a tax, looking back on all his drug related moments whilst waiting for his dealer to whom he owes money to come and kill him. Or maybe he's just going through withdrawal whilst waiting for ambulance workers to get him out.
What better location is there than a taxi for a story about family conflict? The father in the front, the mother, daughter and son in the back dealing with their issues in the claustrophobic environment.
Where better to view the neighbourhood than stuck in the back of a taxi?
I just don't see the problem. There's a million things you can do. Obviously I get that you'd like to read those type of stories, but if when given the chance to write them people aren't really interested in doing so...it's just the way it is, isn't it?
Only just seen this. I've been ill and I'm still ill which is why I'm out of the loop, so it means I'll not be able to take part and I'm gutted as I love doing these.
Best of luck to all who enter, I'll try to review some.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
Only just seen this. I've been ill and I'm still ill which is why I'm out of the loop, so it means I'll not be able to take part and I'm gutted as I love doing these.
Best of luck to all who enter, I'll try to review some.
Nothing will change that, until we completely change the economic system.
I completely disagree over any "entirely change everything" logic. You just push that stuff in my direction. And Zeitgeist??? Really that conspiracy rubbish. I gave me five minutes.
Perhaps you check out how many sociopolitical terms and problems you've thrown out here in your posts today. You brought in everything from slavery, Clinton and Trump to gender while my original post was only…
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The best short films I see here build on conflict. Here the location directs the way. Why OWCs no time go into a character based theme of "today", about the "here and now" puzzles me. Writers should go into society's debates too and not always lurk in up in the sky fiction or scripts bound to location.
Okay, there's the one term "society's debates" you jumped on. But society's debate could be anything.
Obviously I get that you'd like to read those type of stories, but if when given the chance to write them people aren't really interested in doing so...it's just the way it is, isn't it?
No. We got terrific drama writers and screenplays on simplyscripts who take any chances. Those fight their ass off to press their writing personality and identity into an elevator.
Drama wins every Oscar by the way.
Though funny to say my original post didn't even proclaim for drama. I proclaim for conflict based topics. Genre doesn't matter.
Furthermore, I even disagree with how you see stories and movies and their impact in general.
People in different neighbourhoods have different ideas on how to live, there are some good things to be said about suburbia, some good thing about the ghetto, some good things about living in the wilderness, and some bad.
That's all there is to it. We already know.
No, not to me. There's new almost every day that I don't know.
Following comes in a second, don't know if you heard of it: There was a crazy story here recently about a Chinese visiting Berlin. He wanted to report a theft and somehow those stupid cops let him sign an asylum application instead, put him in a refugee hostel for two weeks, on his HOLIDAY.
You underestimate what people, not only me, could come up with imo. What they read and know, or have seen with their own eyes.
But I get your point; I should let things play out in the taxi.
Only just seen this. I've been ill and I'm still ill which is why I'm out of the loop…
Dude, bummer…
Bad advice: Take some Sudafed and wash it down with a Rum Hot Toddy.
Good advice: Plant or tend to a garden. Without a doubt it’s the most therapeutic thing I know; physically and emotionally. Also, a great place to harvest new (writing) ideas… OK, bad pun but, I’m serious.
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