SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is April 19th, 2024, 2:27pm
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!)

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    August 2016 One Week Challenge  ›  Pounding Sand - OWC
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 2 Guests

 Pages: « 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print
  Author    Pounding Sand - OWC  (currently 2212 views)
Warren
Posted: August 15th, 2016, 10:04pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.35
Typos everywhere, including the title page, not great.

Your scene headings are all over the place.

I feel like the clerk is way to calm.

The rolling cab would blow the low budget out of the water.

Although I liked the imagery of the ending, it's not really trapped in a cab.

Couldn’t find much of a story in this one.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 15 - 27
SAC
Posted: August 16th, 2016, 9:25am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

Location
Upstate NY
Posts
3207
Posts Per Day
0.78
Writer,

Normally, I ignore most typos and misspellings, but I can't here. They're everywhere! Anyway, it's not a bad story you had going. Nick is a character I didn't feel invested in. He's a bit of a prick, and there's nothing that he does throughout the script that even gives him a hint likability. Why is he a drunk? Why so late on the payment? Perhaps if he'd taken out a photograph of his daughter and said, "God, I miss you," then maybe I could've felt something for him. There are other ways to gain empathy from your reader. As is, this story is about a foul mouthed drunk who crashes and dies on the beach. The end. I was also thinking if the cab had rolled, leaving him upside down and pinned, then that might've been fun -- him taking a swig of whiskey as the tide rolled in. Anyway, decent effort for the time given.

Steve


Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 16 - 27
EWall433
Posted: August 16th, 2016, 12:55pm Report to Moderator
New



Posts
423
Posts Per Day
0.11
I really like the character work early on, and Nick always felt like a real person to me. Unfortunately the story unfolded a bit too slowly and, after awhile, seemed like it was spinning its wheels. The ending matches the story in tone, but doesn't really resonate. It's not ironic, or karmic, it just kind of is. On the upside it's a wonderfully creative death and such a horrific scene that it leaves an impact anyway.

So overall I feel like I saw less of a story and more of a snapshot of a character’s last day alive. And since I bought into that character as a real person, I'd actually say that's a completely legitimate way to develop a short. A success generally, even if it lacked in the plot area.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 17 - 27
JEStaats
Posted: August 16th, 2016, 4:10pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer


No sh*t, there I was....

Location
Tucson, AZ
Posts
1735
Posts Per Day
0.62
The title misspelling just made me keep looking and was way too distracting throughout. Was he cab thirty-six or thirty-two? The log line gave away the ending and it couldn't come soon enough for me. I just didn't 'get it'.
Logged
Private Message Reply: 18 - 27
Heretic
Posted: August 17th, 2016, 11:47am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posts
2023
Posts Per Day
0.28
Tragedy's a mostly good man to a bad end, right? I just wanted to see more to Nick than his rough edges. He seemed like an interesting character but we didn't learn enough about his goals to understand why he did some of the things he did. Spur of the moment, sure -- but what was his original plan, prior to whim?

Is there a reason he doesn't go home? Is there a reason he hasn't robbed a store before? Is there a reason he wants to be a cab driver, or alive, for that matter?

There's the tone and premise of a good story here, but we'd need to understand the protagonist more.
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 19 - 27
Conz
Posted: August 17th, 2016, 6:21pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Posts
349
Posts Per Day
0.07
Man, there are a TON of mistakes in this script.  I feel like you wrote this 15 minutes before the deadline.

So this asshole character Nick can't afford his cab.  He robs a convenience store, drives to the beach, sleeps under the cab and dies when the tide comes in...

ok.  That's a weird story.  it wasn't funny, it was just an asshole being an asshole.  You could have been clever with this.  There was a way "sleeping under a cab on the beach" could have been funny, but you didn't get there.

Gotta pass.


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: 20 - 27
grademan
Posted: August 18th, 2016, 7:50am Report to Moderator
Been Around



Location
Wisconsin
Posts
872
Posts Per Day
0.16
I kind of hated the main character. That's the opposite of what you'd expect. I wanted to see how he was going to pound sand. I liked the ending. Typos: Yes. Rushed writing: Yes. Story: Not so much.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 21 - 27
MarkRenshaw
Posted: August 18th, 2016, 9:19am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
UK
Posts
2335
Posts Per Day
0.58
This reads like you headbutted the keyboard 5 minutes before the deadline.

Typos aside, Nick is such a caricature of an alcoholic it is hard to fathom how he's still alive, never mind got a job DRIVING and not rotting in prison or a mental hospital by now.

His end couldn't come quick enough. He had no redeeming qualities nor did we know why he had become such a loser.  

He was kinda trapped in a taxi, OK I'll give you that in a stretch but this isn't low budget by a long shot.

-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: 22 - 27
CindyLKeller
Posted: August 19th, 2016, 10:45am Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Posts
1467
Posts Per Day
0.20
Not sure why, but it won't open for me.

Cindy


Award winning screenwriter
Available screenplays
TINA DARLING - 114 page Comedy
ONLY OSCAR KNOWS - 99 page Horror
A SONG IN MY HEART - 94 page Drama
HALLOWEEN GAMES - 105 page Drama
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 23 - 27
DanC
Posted: August 19th, 2016, 11:14am Report to Moderator
Old Timer


Killing villains since 1980!

Location
Buffalo NY
Posts
1131
Posts Per Day
0.34
I didn't care for it.  He wasn't trapped IN the taxi.  He's really unlikeable.  If you were going for the Dustin Hoffman in Hero vibe, then you forgot that that he's a good guy with a bad disposition.  This guy in your story didn't.  He had no redeeming characteristics at all.

Not much of a story.

Sorry, didn't like it at all.

4/10

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: 24 - 27
PrussianMosby
Posted: August 19th, 2016, 12:24pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer


Posts
1399
Posts Per Day
0.37
Funny line of her calling him an asshole as things seemed to be said.

Slugs are inconsistent and wrong.

Another completely non-linear story; haven't known where it'll be going at all, and enjoyed. Nick is an entertaining character. Complete dork. Viewers would like him, he's unpredictable.

Your presentation with the slugs has hurt the overall impression, which wasn't that bad.

Category weird and different. I was entertained.



Logged
Private Message Reply: 25 - 27
Hunter
Posted: August 20th, 2016, 8:37pm Report to Moderator
New



Location
WA, USA
Posts
121
Posts Per Day
0.04
I really don't think you need to be so specific about the make and model of the car.

The liquor store slug on page 3 needs to be fixed.

I don't get why Nick asks "what?" to the clerk.

So I guess the story here is about alcoholism? That's what I got out of it at least.

Horrifying ending, loved that.


I would love feedback on any of these!
Back to Class: http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-series/m-1453330945/ (comedy series, RECENTLY UPDATED DEC. '16)
Cause & Effect: http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-series/m-1472594865/ (comedy-drama series)
Waking Up: http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-series/m-1452376264/ (comedy series)
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 26 - 27
ChrisBodily
Posted: August 22nd, 2016, 11:41pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Posts
572
Posts Per Day
0.17
"well-lit."

Nice description of the cab.

Code

INT[]/EXT[.][] TAXI - NIGHT



Don't make a habit of this.

You did it again on P3.

Nicks intro needs more commas. Semicolon before "The steering wheel."

P2

"He hit(s) the microphone again, yelling."

Only one exclamation point. And be careful with those; try to use periods.

"Dorothy [c]omes on again."

P3 begins with the same dreaded slug mistake you made on P1.

"[...]Nick's mouth."

Code

INT. Liquor store - night.



Another slug botch, but at least no colon. Slugs need to be in ALL CAPS. Makes them MUCH easier to find and read. And no period; never end a slug with a period.

"four bottles" twice in a row is redundant. It's also needlessly repetitive.

Who's Cleark?

No need to continued unless dialogue runs off the page and onto the next.

P4 Not as bad as I thought it'd be so far.

Nope. The dialogue has to bleed onto the next page WITHOUT action breaking it up.

Had to Google the word "till." Never heard of it in this context.

"Door" is an orphan.

Code

CLERK
Kind[ of] a spur of the moment thing.
Wouldn’t ya say?



Reads better.

Code

INT./EXT: TAXI - NIGHT



See above.

Code

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT



Finally, a slug you got right.

P5 and so far no one's really trapped.

"[...]damn money[,] you cunt."


Quoted Text
NICK (CONT’D)
I got the god [d]amn money!


This one is starting to test me.

"Road" is an orphan.

Is that how Brits spell "lightning?" Are you planning to use a sprinkler or real rain?

P6 I'll survive. I hope.

Passive voice. "Nick’s scrawny little body [flings] around the front of the
cab."

"[...]it[]s wheels, facing the sea."

"[...][,] [c]onfused."

"Unbroken" is an orphan. You never know how many lines or pages you could save.

"[...]poens" There's a word I've never heard before.

"He [opens] it and takes a drink."

P7 Has anyone been trapped yet?

He's a wrestler now?

Those "nothings" might read better (and be more suspenseful) is on their own separate lines. You know, to build suspense.

I think the actions and results should be separated.

"He does this.

Nothing.

He does something else.

Doesn't work, either."

(CONT'D) not needed.

"Collapses."

The botched taxi slug again.

Code

Nick pulls himself out onto the hood of the cab. Out into the
rain[, which] pours into the cab.



Finally, he's trapped, but not for long.


Quoted Text
NICK (CONT’D)
Okay! It’s a little bit to fuckin['][g]
wet out here!


P8 Certainly better than a few pages ago.

No CONT'D.

"Him" is an orphan. You could have saved a page or two.

"Tha[t]’s it. Night[,] Baby."

CUT TO: is usually unnecessary.

"He [a]wakens."

*takes deep breath*

I need some of Nick's brew right now, lol. Whew, what a doozy.

There's a decent enough story in this; too bad I had to slog through every issue I pointed out above to get there.

Story: 7/10
Formatting/grammar: 4/10

I'll flip a coin on this. Heads, consider; tails, pass.

Tails. Sorry.


FADE IN:

Revision History (1 edits)
ChrisBodily  -  August 22nd, 2016, 11:47pm
Accidentally posted before finishing
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 27 - 27
 Pages: « 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    August 2016 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