Quoted from Grandma Bear That's interesting Chris. I've never heard of that happening before. Pants keep telling us we don't write anything worth being filmed by Hollywood here so we should take any critique we can get, but we're not professional reviewers here either... Personally I listen to all criticism, good or bad, but only change if the suggestions feel right to me.

Glad someone finally mentioned that. True we do see some people who have been thin skinned, bristling at the first negative comment, but - how encouraging can it be to see comments on your work like "this script sucks, everything in it was dumb, man I tried to read it but couldn't, it's stupid and it sucks".  Not exactly the way to encourage a fellow writer.  There's a way to be good and constructive and ,then there's just negative commentary.  And it's too easy to go on the attack when someone does bristle at feedback, which is counter productive for everyone.

Quoted from mikep I tried to read it but couldn't.

But sometimes that's the truth if it is very badly written with spelling and grammar mistakes in every line and no attempt made at all to stick to standard scriptwriting format despite there being great software out there, some of which are free (Celtx for example), then that kind of response is quite valid.

Of course it should be backed up with reasons why you found it difficult / impossible to read along with some hints / tips on how to improve (get a dictionary or use the spell checker being good ones)

Quoted from Gaara But sometimes that's the truth if it is very badly written with spelling and grammar mistakes in every line and no attempt made at all to stick to standard scriptwriting format, despite there being great software out there, some of which are free (Celtx for example) then that kind of response is quite valid. Of course it should be backed up with reasons why you found it difficult / impossible to read along with some hints / tips on how to improve (get a dictionary or use the spell checker being good ones)

Right - I agree. There have been a few instances where I've had to throw in the towel before finishing reading a script, but also a few with horrendous formatting, spelling, where I stayed until the bitter end ( and I admit playing my part in the "Warrior" thread which became just a shameless free for all ...well not that shameless).  But a concern is  seeing more reviews that are just lists of negative points without being actually helpful. Some read more like an assault than a review.

I received the following pm a while back after criticizing a script:

Quoted Text dogglebe, dont be jealous that you didnt come up with the idea first. We all know that u havent had any big writing credits that people have had a fit over like Welsey has had with his 2 series. So if you want to bash anyone on their writing, do it to your self and some of your bad writing.

Phil

Yikes. Someone was a Gloomy Gus that day.

Quoted from mikep Yikes. Someone was a Gloomy Gus that day.

Methinks he was a little low on potassium.


**Sorry, inside joke**

And let's not forget Phil's and JD_OK's banter over Newton's Cradle. Another discussion that was better than the script in question.

Quoted from sniper And let's not forget Phil's and JD_OK's banter over Newton's Cradle. Another discussion that was better than the script in question.

Now that one I do remember.  I remember reading and reviewing that script only fro JD to turn around and tell me that I had not read it and was just repeating what others were saying.  True some of what I said might have been said previously but if people keep mentioning certain things then those things must be a major problem that really stands out.

That is the main reason I have never reviewed anything else by him. Well that and I don't think I have seen anything else by him.

Quoted from Grandma Bear That's interesting Chris. I've never heard of that happening before. Pants keep telling us we don't write anything worth being filmed by Hollywood here so we should take any critique we can get, but we're not professional reviewers here either... Personally I listen to all criticism, good or bad, but only change if the suggestions feel right to me.

Why do you keep lumping yourself in with the bad writers of which I speak? There is no reason for you to get defensive. If you would like me to review something of yours, by all means PM me. I'd be more than happy to review your work.

Quoted from mikep Yikes. Someone was a Gloomy Gus that day.

They are not gloomy gusses. They are bad writers who write bad scripts, but they think they're the sh** because mommy tells them so. Dogglebe has proven the point.

The bottom line is this....you can have someone tell you that your script sucks and here's how to fix it or you can have a producer throw it in the trash and never take the time to tell you how to improve. Personally, I would take door number one.

You said earlier (forgot where exactly) that no scripts on this site was good enough to be produced by Hollywood.

I took offense to that because you basically seemed to think that everything here is crud. Maybe I misunderstood you. That's always a posibilty. IMHO, there's more to film than Hollywood and Don has said many times that at least once/month he is asked by an author to remove a script due to it having sold/optioned/produced (whatever). I have also read hundreds and hundreds of scripts here, produced and unproduced. Some have been really good too.

I do not lump myself in with bad writers. I don't lump myself in with anyone. I write for fun mostly. I have no illusion. that anything I write will be produced by Hollywood. Even if I was a brilliant writer, sheer numbers would make it hard to be produced by Hollywood. Less than two hundred films produced every year and over 50 000 NEW scripts registered yearly.

My comment about us not being professional reviewers is true too. Some do a better job than others, but "professional" means someone who gets paid to do so. We are all pretty much "friends" here. Lets try to help each other both as writers and reviewers.

Quoted from Grandma Bear You said earlier (forgot where exactly) that no scripts on this site was good enough to be produced by Hollywood. I took offense to that because you basically seemed to think that everything here is crud. Maybe I misunderstood you. That's always a posibilty. IMHO, there's more to film than Hollywood and Don has said many times that at least once/month he is asked by an author to remove a script due to it having sold/optioned/produced (whatever). I have also read hundreds and hundreds of scripts here, produced and unproduced. Some have been really good too. I do not lump myself in with bad writers. I don't lump myself in with anyone. I write for fun mostly. I have no illusion. that anything I write will be produced by Hollywood. Even if I was a brilliant writer, sheer numbers would make it hard to be produced by Hollywood. Less than two hundred films produced every year and over 50 000 NEW scripts registered yearly. My comment about us not being professional reviewers is true too. Some do a better job than others, but "professional" means someone who gets paid to do so. We are all pretty much "friends" here. Lets try to help each other both as writers and reviewers.

Here's the post that you are referring to:

"Except over half of these scripts would never be produced, because in their current shape they are not good!"

So yes, you did misunderstand. For whatever reason you have taken this very personal and I'm not sure why. Never once was any of this directed at you. Did you even read the "comedy" script that sparked this whole thread? I'm guessing not.

Quoted from Pants They are not gloomy gusses. They are bad writers who write bad scripts, but they think they're the sh** because mommy tells them so. Dogglebe has proven the point.

I proved this?  How?

Quoted from Gaara That is the main reason I have never reviewed anything else by him. Well that and I don't think I have seen anything else by him.

I think JD has only written that one script, but he's revised it five or six times.


Phil

Maybe we should start having The Review of the Month award. We could have a sticky thread where all the winning reviews get placed. It'd be a good way to show  examples of what a good review should look like, as well acknowledging those who make the effort to give decent reviews.

How about a review guide / template?  Something like

REVIEW OF (insert title) by NAME

Opening Thoughts:
what drew you to the script?

Plot:
Discuss the plot here. This includes plot holes, missing or magically appearing characters, the use of a Deus Ex Machina (if one is used) and any other thing related to plots

Characters and Dialogue:
Discuss characters and their dialogue here. What did you like or dislike about the characters? How do you think they spoke? Believable or Wooden? Was the lead character interesting enough to carry the film? If it is a horror / monster movie then the villain / monster can be discussed here as well

Errors in Format:
what was right or wrong with the scripts format? Was there any spelling or grammar mistakes? If so were they just a few or a seemingly never ending barrage of them?

Closing Comments:
What did you think about the script overall? Can you suggest ways to make it better? What would you add or leave out if you had written it?


(and for a laugh how about a STAR rating out of 10?)