The One Week Challenge is going to be a little different this go 'round.  For starters, I thought it would be cool to vote on the genre.  The theme for the OWC will be announced this Saturday.

Don

[edit] does this mean anything?

This voting thing is pretty cool Don! One question, where's the horror option? Is thriller considered horror?

Not hundred percent sure I have the time to participate, but I voted for thriller. That could be fun.

Great idea btw, this vote thing.

Pia wants to know where is the mocumentary genre hahaha.....

Very cool idea. <---- My vote for this to become a permanent change to the OWC process. Oh and my vote was for Action/Adventure.

Quoted from Zack This voting thing is pretty cool Don! One question, where's the horror option? Is thriller considered horror?

Zack, I'm saving Horror to Halloween.

Don

Oh! Okay! That'll be a good one!

~Zack~

I think it would be nice to do something that hasn’t been done before. We’ve already seen Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi.

Writers always say they hate Rom-Coms even though millions of people go to see them.

Noir might be interesting. I think Mystery might be too hard.

Action/Adventure? I can’t make up my mind.

I think Fantasy will produce a lot of random nonsensical material -- haha.

Crime will yield a lot of Tarantino models.

Hmmm.

What is Noir?

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack What is Noir?

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1136405910/

I voted for Action/Adventure. I've wanted to see a OWC based on that genre for some time now. Comedy, drama, and horror have all been done twice and I don't think we need another repeat with Sci-Fi any time soon. I agree with Breanne that Crime and Noir will probably yeild too many Tarantino/Sin City knockoffs. Action should be fun.

Just a thought, should the only people who  vote be the ones who participate in it, cause we could end up getting like 20 votes just from random people.

Quoted from The boy who could fly Just a thought, should the only people who  vote be the ones who participate in it, cause we could end up getting like 20 votes just from random people.

No -- you are stuck with whatever the genre ends up being anyway.  And lots of people may or may not decide to play based upon that final tally.

The votes should be for what people would like to read, I think, and that could be anybody.

I created my own genre called Zack, where each script must contain a drawn out action.

Example:

Ed sits on his couch.  He aims the remote control at the TV, and flips through each channel of his 500 channel satellite package.  Twice.


This is why nobody likes me.



(*Action/Adventure*  Couldn't bring myself to vote Rom-Com)

Mike, I think you just struck gold!
I also vote for Zack!!!

~Zack~

Quoted from bert Pia wants to know where is the mocumentary genre hahaha.....

Hey now, be nice.

I messed up on a few things, but some people liked it.

Phil should be happy. I read Pugumentary three times trying to get a hang of how it should be done.

Quoted from tomson I messed up on a few things, but some people liked it.

Actually, Pia’s entry is pretty good. For a tough genre and subject, she did an excellent job. Personally, I think she’s got a shot. And my opinion with a million dollars will make you a millionaire.


Breanne

Eek! So many decisions! I want to pick, but me, being an indecisive one, will probably end up choosing something and it will be too late. If this challenge ends up being a thriller, I'll probably some how transform it into a horror (since both genres aren't too different from each other). Comedies aren't my thing, but I have a feeling it won't be one since we just did one (and my, did I fail ).

So my decision is either between Noir or Thriller.

Sean

Well I jumped straight in with my vote for fantasy...the reason now escapes me cos I haven't got a clue what I'd write.

This is pretty damn cool. Are we doing this every OWC?

I voted for Comedy... Not!

Great idea Don. The voting and the contest. Cheers.

Where's the anime option?  Yeah I know anime is quite a derogatory word because of the fact that there are animes produced in every genre, but still.  My vote is for anime!

Quoted from Alan_Holman Where's the anime option?  Yeah I know anime is quite a derogatory word because of the fact that there are animes produced in every genre, but still.  My vote is for anime!

I have no idea what defines an animé script? the OWE challenge is about working with parameters of genre and concept. Anime entails no specificity and can be about ANYTHING.

So anime wouldn't really be a challenge. Only for the animators.

I think I've lost control of my game....


Phil

ooooooooooo Looks like a race between action and thriller, C'mon action, you can do it

Man, this is cool. I vote...

Noir!

I wanna write one! Whoo!

Quoted from Alan_Holman Where's the anime option?  Yeah I know anime is quite a derogatory word because of the fact that there are animes produced in every genre, but still.  My vote is for anime!

Anime can be classified as any genre so write an anime based on the genre chosen and you wrote an anime.

I voted for Action/Adventure because it is the genre that lets you have a lot of fun without any emphasis on comedy.

Man, what an awesome idea.

This one is gonna be a fun read.


Matt.

Chose thriller since I'm writing one and under these constraints, I would like to read the works.

Gabe

Quoted from tomson Phil should be happy. I read Pugumentary three times trying to get a hang of how it should be done.

Phil is very happy.

Quoted from Alan_Holman Where's the anime option?  Yeah I know anime is quite a derogatory word because of the fact that there are animes produced in every genre, but still.  My vote is for anime!

Chances are you'd be the only one voting anime.


Phil

Keep in mind, everyone, that you should vote for a genre that would challenge you.  And something that you've done before and without any problem.


Phil

I voted crime, just because I haven't written something like this in ages.

Why so many thrillers, there's too many of those these days. : )

Film noir is catching up nicely.  An excellent genre!  I recommend everyone vote for it.


Phil

Awww, I didn't see film noir! I just saw crime and voted for it without really looking at the other genres, haha. Too bad I can't change my vote, I've never done film noir. IT would be very interesting to write.

The more I'm thinking about it, the more I would love to do a Film Noir short.  I have never attempted anything like that and I believe it would be incredibly fun.

Too bad I already voted...

:p

I hope it's a thriller about flowers.

Quoted from dogglebe Film noir is catching up nicely.  An excellent genre!  I recommend everyone vote for it. Phil

i think it would be fun to do a spaghetti western or even a 1950's style Sci-Fi....maybe im just feeling nostalgic

Can we only vote once?

My pick is thriller

--Kotton

I voted..haha...for...hahaha...Come...hahahaha!

It was indeed a surprise to find out that so many people, apart from me, voted noir. Wouldn't have guessed the genre was so popular. Must have been because Simply Noir's success at the reading box office  

Quoted from Helio I voted..haha...for...hahaha...Come...hahahaha!

Am I missing something?  Was porn an option?

I think he meant comedy. You know Helio, sometimes he gets so excited that he misses some of the keys on the keyboard.

~Zack~

I find it interesting 77 people have voted. Who are all these people?

I'm vote number 66.

So when do we hear what we're going to be writing on?

Saturday is when all the info will be announced.

Sounds like a lot of fun.
That picture you have up, Don - the sinking caravan - is that the theme?

I was gunning for action, but the sinking caravan has thrown me off...I don't think I could do anything with that. Now, I wish I'd gone with film noir.

'visit Simply Scripts and buy useless crap you don't need.'

Are you opening a SS-themed shop and will be selling SS coffee cups, mousepads, t-shirts, etc?



Phil

I voted for thriller but there s currently a tie between thriller and Action/Adventure and Noir is one vote behind. This will be a close one but what if noone votes today? will the announcements be delayed?

Film Noir, Film Noir, for the love of God let it be Film Noir!



.....What?..... I like Film Noir a lot, that's all!

Holy crap! 3 genres are tied now. I was pretty sure Thriller was gonna win until now.

This is probably one of the most suspenseful polls I have ever witnessed in my life while on the net. Jeez, I think they should close the poll right when one of those three gets to twenty votes.

I just hope there are no hanging chads, that would suck big time.

I am definitely not in it if it's Noir.  What a stupid boring genre!  It's outdated and the scripts written in that style all sound the same and are utterly predictable.  Do yourself a favour and choose something where people can actually be creative.

Whoever you are that is going to vote next, if you choose thriller it does NOT preclude someone from turning in a Noir script.  But if you choose Noir it does exclude a general thriller.   Vote wisely.

Quoted from mcornetto I am definitely not in it if it's Noir.  What a stupid boring genre!  It's outdated and the scripts written in that style all sound the same and are utterly predictable.  Do yourself a favour and choose something where people can actually be creative. Whoever you are that is going to vote next, if you choose thriller it does NOT preclude someone from turning in a Noir script.  But if you choose Noir it does exclude a general thriller.   Vote wisely.

> That's just dumb. Sorry.

C'mon Noir! I want to write you! This is pretty suspenseful!

Quoted from Parker > That's just dumb. Sorry. C'mon Noir! I want to write you! This is pretty suspenseful!

Prove what I said about the genre isn't true.  And not the part where I express my opinion "What a boring stupid genre".  But the part where I say "It's outdated and the scripts written in that style all sound the same and are utterly predictable".   Prove that isn't true.

Quoted from mcornetto I am definitely not in it if it's Noir.  What a stupid boring genre!  It's outdated and the scripts written in that style all sound the same and are utterly predictable.  Do yourself a favour and choose something where people can actually be creative. Whoever you are that is going to vote next, if you choose thriller it does NOT preclude someone from turning in a Noir script.  But if you choose Noir it does exclude a general thriller.   Vote wisely.

Sorry, but that's pretty uneducated. Personal preference is fine, but saying that the genre is outdated and every script sounds the same is just wrong. Case in point: A Touch of Evil VS the Big Sleep VS China Town VS Angel Heart VS Dark City VS Sunset Boulevard VS Sin City.

If you don't want to participate, fine, but the entire cross-armed pouting thing is a little childish, I think.

Quoted from mcornetto Prove what I said about the genre isn't true.  And not the part where I express my opinion "What a boring stupid genre".  But the part where I say "It's outdated and the scripts written in that style all sound the same and are utterly predictable".   Prove that isn't true.

Usually it's the other way around. you have to prove YOUR claim. Something isn't true until it's disproven...

but look at the examples I gave.

Quoted from Death Monkey Sorry, but that's pretty uneducated. Personal preference is fine, but saying that the genre is outdated and every script sounds the same is just wrong. Case in point: A Touch of Evil VS the Big Sleep VS China Town VS Angel Heart VS Dark City VS Sunset Boulevard VS Sin City. If you don't want to participate, fine, but the entire cross-armed pouting thing is a little childish, I think.

I still think you haven't proven a thing.  Those movies all sound the same.  The outcome is the same. They are set in similar time period, which is MANY years ago.  They have the same sort of characters.  Granted they have little differences - but not much in my book.  Sunset Blvd and Touch of Evil are great movies.  Leave it at that and MOVE on.

And my little "childish" (as you call it) rant is not particularly directed at movies that were made during this time period, when the genre was fresh.  But at modern mimicking of this genre.  And especially at having to read many scripts that mimic this genre.  1 or 2 would be cool.  But to read twenty written by people that have varying experience with the genre is a nightmare.  They will be 1. outdated 2. sound the same. 3. be utterly predictable.  

You want to read them. Fine. Go for it.  

Film Noir isn't even a genre in the truest sense of the word, it is more to do with style.

You can write about absolutely anything you want.

You have a point in that they tend to share similar characteristics, but then again don't all genres/styles of films? Do you really need to watch another action film after seeing Die Hard? You know what's going to happen.

Thrillers are also as predictable.

The only problem with Noir is that it has been so badly imitated and parodied that many writers fall into cliche when producing their scripts.

Pulp Fiction, Seven, Basic Instinct even Taxi Driver, Blade Runner are all Noirs IMO.

Good writers can always re-define a genre.

Can someone  please give me a simple definition of Noir?! I'm feeling really left out and am in desperate need of a hug...

~Zack~

Quoted from mcornetto I still think you haven't proven a thing.  Those movies all sound the same.  The outcome is the same. They are set in similar time period, which is MANY years ago.  They have the same sort of characters.  Granted they have little differences - but not much in my book.  Sunset Blvd and Touch of Evil are great movies.  Leave it at that and MOVE on.

Well, like I said, the burden of proof is on the accuser. Why don't you prove that they sound the same, before you ask us to disprove it?

Quoted Text They are set in similar time period, which is MANY years ago.

While most film noir is set in the 30s-40s-50s (which isn't one time periode, mind you - just like the 70s-80s-90s isn't "one") this is because this is when noir bloomed. So they are in fact contemporary. From the list I supplied there's Sin City and Dark City -and I could throw in Blade Runner and anumber of sci-fi-noir flicks (Gattaca, the Thirteenth Floor) - who aren't set in this era. Beyond that there's The Usual Suspects, Blood Simple and Body Heat just off the top of my head.

Is that proof that not all noir flicks are set in "the same" time period?

Quoted Text And my little "childish" (as you call it) rant is not particularly directed at movies that were made during this time period, when the genre was fresh.  But at modern mimicking of this genre.  And especially at having to read many scripts that mimic this genre.  1 or 2 would be cool.  But to read twenty written by people that have varying experience with the genre is a nightmare.  They will be 1. outdated 2. sound the same. 3. be utterly predictable.   You want to read them. Fine. Go for it.

Thank you kind sir.

Your rant was childish because you basically came off as saying "Well, if it's noir, then I'm not gonna do it!" and made it seem somehow irresponsible to vote for noir because it doesn't encompass as much as "thriller" does. Well, that's the challenge, I'd say. What the hell is challenging about writing a genre that has no tangible characteristics - none that I'm aware of anyway? Thriller is too broad and too easy.

Quoted from Zack Can someone  please give me a simple definition of Noir?! I'm feeling really left out and am in desperate need of a hug... ~Zack~

Like Rick said, Noir is a style. It's often very evident in the actual lighting and cinematography, but on a writing-level it's traditionally characterized by a number of character-types and basically has a bleak outlook on life. the police are either corrupt or inept, the hero doesn't want to save anyone, the dame doesn't want to love anyone, and the villain is often quite pathetic when it comes to it.

The style is rife with revenge motifs and the moral of the story (if there is one) is often that you can't change the world, the world changes you.

There is no simple way of putting it, except to say if you haven't seen a noir film, you progbably can't write one.

I actually think the final lines of Seven sums up the noir mantra nicely: "Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for." I agree with the second part."

That's an optimistic noir.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir

So you can write a noir... and still have it a slasher?(so to speak)

In theory, I guess...but I can't really imagine it. Often film noir deals with what comes after the crime, so it's about finding the killer, not the actual murders.

Quoted from Death Monkey Well, like I said, the burden of proof is on the accuser. Why don't you prove that they sound the same, before you ask us to disprove it?

Well let's see, I made a statement. You accused me of being uneducated and said my statement wasn't true.  Sounds to me like you are the accuser.  So by your rules, you need to prove it.

Quoted from Death Monkey While most film noir are set in the 30s-40s-50s (which isn't one time periode, mind you - just like the 70s-80s-90s isn't "one") this is because this is when noir bloomed. So they are in fact contemporary. From the list I supplied there's Sin City and Dark City -and I could throw in Blade Runner and anumber of sci-fi-noir flicks (Gattaca, the Thirteenth Floor) - who aren't set in this era. Beyond that there's The Usual Suspects, Blood Simple and Body Heat just off the top of my mind.

Look at IMDB and see what is considered Noir.  Here's a link mate http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Genres/Film-Noir/

Quoted from Death Monkey Is that proof that not all noir flicks are set in "the same" time period?

Film Noir.  Bring it.

Quoted from mcornetto Well let's see, I made a statement. You accused me of being uneducated and said my statement wasn't true.  Sounds to me like you are the accuser.  So by your rules, you need to prove it.

Really?

So if you accuse me of murder and I say "you're wrong, I didn't do it" the burden of evidence lies with me because I'm 'accusing' you of being wrong?

Please.

You made a claim which you didn't back up and then starting telling everyone to disprove your claim when they told you it was baseless.

Furthermore, I DID supply proof why were being uneducated so your analogy fails on all fronts.

Quoted Text Look at IMDB and see what is considered Noir.  Here's a link mate http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Genres/Film-Noir/

I think we're all quite familiar with the Imdb. Now, is there anything, specifically, you want to paraphrase from the the top 50 to back up any part of your argument?

One more question. Was the original Pyscho a film noir?

I wouldn't call Psycho noir personally, no.

Here's my guess as to what the theme will be...

"buying useless crap you don't need."

Everyone is trying to figure out what 's in the picture, when I don't think the picture has anything to do with it at all! Ignore the picture! Read the text.

~Zack~

The list on the IMDB website is from the classical film noir period.

You can argue critically that nothing made since that period can be called film noir, however it doesn't prevent you from writing in a similar style.

Quoted from Death Monkey Really? So if you accuse me of murder and I say "you're wrong, I didn't do it" the burden of evidence lies with me because I'm 'accusing' you of being wrong? Please. You made a claim which you didn't back up and then starting telling everyone to disprove your claim when they told you it was baseless. Furthermore, I DID supply proof why were being uneducated so your analogy fails on all fronts.

I didn't see any proof.  Just a list of movie vs movie that actually made zero sense at all.

I am not accusing you of murder but you are accusing me of being inaccurate, uneducated, and childish.  I am neither of the three.  Matter of fact - I haven't accused you of anything.  All I did was make a statement about Film Noir.    

Quoted from Death Monkey I think we're all quite familiar with the Imdb. Now, is there anything, specifically, you want to paraphrase from the the top 50 to back up any part of your argument?

Take a look for the movies you mentioned in the alphabetical index and tell me how many are on the list of Noir films.  You won't find a movie made past 1960 on that list.

Mcornetto

So you are effectively saying that no-one has made a film noir script in over 40 years?

I don't think you really believe that do you?

How about Sin City. Is that a film noir?

Quoted from mcornetto I didn't see any proof.  Just a list of movie vs movie that actually made zero sense at all.

You say: All noir is the same!

I say: These movies aren't the same.

So first of all, why don't you supply proof of you initial claim before jumping on everybody else's throats?

Secondly, do you contest that these films aren't the same? Do you believe them to all sound the same? 'Cause if you honestly do, I will tell you why they're not, but I don't wanna write an essay unless you actually disagree with me.

Quoted Text I am not accusing you of murder but you are accusing me of being inaccurate, uneducated, and childish.  I am neither of the three.  Matter of fact - I haven't accused you of anything.  All I did was make a statement about Film Noir.

That's why it's an analogy. Let me condense it:

You make a claim. You dont' back it up.

People challenge your baseless claim.

You tell them to prove that it's baseless, without yourself having supplied proof of anything.

You see why this irks some people?

In the court-room analogy you initial claim is what needs to be defended, as it's not a self-evident truth. You need to explain, or supply examples HOW/WHY noir is all the same, boring and stupid, before you can ask anyone else to DISPROVE it. Just like a (murder) trial, if you will.

it goes back to what we consider proper debate etiquette. that something isn't true until proven untrue. We must assume that something's untrue until proven the opposite.

I found your statement uneducated and I told you why. I found your attitude extremely childish and I told you why.

Quoted Text Take a look for the movies you mentioned in the alphabetical index and tell me how many are on the list of Noir films.  You won't find a movie made past 1960 on that list.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340855/

The imdb also suggest the films Ichi the Killer, Tightrope and Basketball Diaries as similar films for Monster (2003).

Imdb, like wikipedia, is a good stepping stone to film, but not a peer-reviewed source and it doesn't disclose how it determines genre.

So are you really saying that there hasn't been made a film noir flick in 67 years?

Quoted from Death Monkey http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340855/ The imdb also suggest the films Ichi the Killer, Tightrope and Basketball Diaries as similar films for Monster (2003).

What does this link have to do with Film Noir.  Imdb lists the Genre of this film as Biography / Crime / Drama / Romance.

Quoted from Death Monkey Imdb, like wikipedia, is a good stepping stone to film, but not a peer-reviewed source and it doesn't disclose how it determines genre.

Are you saying that IMDB genre assignments are wrong?

That's it. Going to bed.  

Film noir is not a Genre.

The quote below is fom filmsite.org

Important Note: Strictly speaking, film noir is not a genre, but rather the mood, style, point-of-view, or tone of a film. It is also helpful to realize that 'film noir' usually refers to a distinct historical period of film history - the decade of film-making after World War II, similar to the German Expressionism or the French New Wave periods. However, it was labeled as such only after the classic period - early noir film-makers didn't even use the film designation (as they would the labels "western" or "musical"), and were not conscious that their films would be labeled noirs.

I will agree with mcornetto on one salient point.

The turnout for this OWC is gonna be huge, I think...

AND I don't want to be faced with 40 Noir scripts where maybe 25% of the authors know what the heck they are doing with such a genre.

Maybe less.

Remember, scripts are anonymous.  You cannot pick an author you trust to deliver good noir.  You gotta look at the scripts cold.

Tiebreaker goes to Thriller or Action, I would say.

What's the point of even voting then?

If it's about just doing what the majority is good at then it seems a bit of a farce to me.

The challenge is surely to grow as a writer and to take yourself out of the comfort zone.

I'd be very disappointed if something people have legitimately voted for is cast aside on the whim of a moderator just because they can't be bothered reading them.

Particularly as the term Film Noir is so open-ended that you can do anything:

Even David Lynch has been described as Noir as he emphasises the dream like quality of that genre.

I get sent a lot of thrillers everyday and I'd rather not have to read any more of those.  

I agree with Bert here.

Just look at this thread. We don't even seem to be able to agree on what Film Noir is. How many people will actually be able to write one besides Phil?    

I say let's bring on the mockumentariies!  

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films What's the point of even voting then? If it's about just doing what the majority is good at then it seems a bit of a farce to me. The challenge is surely to grow as a writer and to take yourself out of the comfort zone.

Your point is very true. I just did the NYC challenge and was definitely taken out of my comfort zone with a mockumentary.
I actually voted for the film noir in this poll. The only thing that bugs me as I posted earlier is that it is not a genre and this is where I agree with mcornetto.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I'd be very disappointed if something people have legitimately voted for is cast aside on the whim of a moderator just because they can't be bothered reading them.

No dec, the final say isn't mine haha.  I do not have such power.  It was just a suggestion.

We would spend the whole week debating what noir really is.

And honesty, aside from bad comedy, is there anything more tedious than bad noir?

I also agree with Bert. Mostly because I still don't understand what film noir is...

According to the screewnwriters bible, "film noir (literally night film) describes both a genre and a shooting style - shadowy, cynical, and realistic- and a storyline that features ordinary people in over their heads, no heroes and villains per se, but generally a struggle betweengood and evil within the central character, often ending unhappily."


What time does the voting end? I'm so eager to write.

Gabe

Quoted from Zack I also agree with Bert. Mostly because I still don't understand what film noir is...

If it gets chosen you will find out quick enough. Research is an amazing thing  

Maybe the genre showing the least amount of votes should get chosen.

Quoted from elis If it gets chosen you will find out quick enough. Research is an amazing thing

But I don't wanna research... I wanna write!

Quoted from Zack But I don't wanna research... I wanna write!

You have to research to write
.

Wow this thread sure took an unexpected turn, wasn't the last batman kinda noirish, you can do a lot with noir, the hardest thing is to do it well.  Looks like the top one changes all the time, probably have to wait for the last minute.