Hi All,

This idea is based on something I read on one post to the effect, "what would happen if the only thing you could do on the discussion board is review scripts?"  

I'd like to try a five day experiment.  Starting Monday, March 6th, I'd like to hide all the discussion threads except the "Unproduced Screenplay Discussion" section.  This will only be an experiment to see if the discussion board can survive with a much, much more narrow focus.  

Please vote and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Don

I think some of the development boards would be worth keeping as well such as Screenwriting Class and WIP (on occasion), but for the experiment, it would be interesting.

Could this possibly turn into a permanent thing or something that would happen, like once a month?  

-Zavier

I'd probably get a lot more done -- with scriptwriting and the stuff I am actually supposed to be doing -- if some of the chat were streamlined.

Would I miss it?

I dunno.  But sure.  Let's find out.

Wesley can have a happy week at the very least.

1. General Chat (10140 messages)
2. My Work In Progress (4929 messages)
3. Short (3067 messages)
4. Getting to know you, getting to know all about you... (2656 messages)
5. Movie, Television and DVD Reviews (2597 messages)
6. Horror (2534 messages)
7. Questions or Comments (2184 messages)
8. Screenwriting Class (1902 messages)
9. Movie/Television Rumor (1850 messages)
10. Film Contests and Call for Scripts (1328 messages)

In my opinion, if everything but the "Unproduced Screenplay Discussion" section were  cut, this board would die.

-Zavier

This is a fantastic idea. Both as an experiment and as a reminder of what the boards are really about. Let's give it a go!

I like the idea of all the extra threads, but I guess it could be interesting to see what happens.

Quoted from Nixon Could this possibly turn into a permanent thing or something that would happen, like once a month?   -Zavier

Zavier,

I haven't thought this all the way through.  I just want to see what happens.  I know that during that week you (Zavier) wouldn't have much to do (you do an excellent job on the Movie Rumor page, btw).  I can pretty much guarantee you that your section is safe from any changes.  Quite honestly, based upon the 'rapid' rate of changes I make to the site, nothing much will come of this.  On the other hand, (just musing here) what would happen if I split the discussion board into two sections - pure screenwriting and everything else.  Not saying it is going to happen.  

Don

Actually, General chat is the big culprit, and the board that Wesley harps on the most. Most everything else is actually related to the craft in some way.

If you split it into two sections, how would the actual function differ from what it is now?

Quoted from Don I know that during that week you (Zavier) wouldn't have much to do (you do an excellent job on the Movie Rumor page, btw).

   The price I pay for having three online classes.

But seriously thanks for the kind words Don. Maybe Im being over protective or it's the fact that I hate change, but I really like were the board is right now and would hate to see it change.

-Zavier

I've thought about this a little more and foresee a problem.

I am 100% sure this will happen, too.

There are too many chatterboxes around here (sure, I'm one), and all this "chatter" would simply move to the Script threads.

And suddenly you would have tons of scripts with "hot" or "superhot" threads -- but the posts would have nothing to do with the script -- it would be musing on upcoming films or "things I hate" or "I can't believe that f'ing Tanuki is still around" and stuff like that.

Those "hot" files on a script should be earned fair and square -- but if there was no outlet to house idle chatter, they would be a dime a dozen.

I like looking at the "General Chat" and "Let's get to know more about you" topics because I probably chat more than review scripts most of the time. But if you want to do it, do it.

Like Starsky says in Starsky and Hutch: Do it.

Sean

let's try it!


Phil

1 week every few months wouldn't kill the board, I think for those who care about screenwriting it will give them even more of a push to read things and build up their ideas.

Sure a few people may disappear for that week and we'll all see this as them not caring which will hurt them in the long run.

At the end of the day I think people chat it up in those script threads as well so the boards won't change all that much.

I'll probably read like 5 more things this weekend anyways but a week without "fun" threads forces you to actually look and read things you might not read otherwise and reviews help especially if you do it like George.

Yeah, come to think of it I'll probably get to everything on my to-do list without all the distractions haha.