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After the largely-successful one we did back in December, which produced 7 genuine, original(-ish) feature-length scripts, I thought we could have another go at one of these extended challenges. I've had an idea for something we could do, and I'm happy to oversee it and be on hand again, although this time I wouldn't take part. That way I don't get more time than the rest of you, which is what happened last time. I sent Don a PM last Friday mentioning that I was thinking of doing another one of these, and he hasn't replied yet. I sent him one yesterday, too, but I know he's a very busy man. Like last time, this is really a thread to raise the possibility of doing a challenge and to guage general interest.
What I'm proposing this time would run for four weeks - the dates I originally had in mind were starting next Monday: May 31st-June 27th. Of course, I don't want to get underway without Don's explicit permission, and I also want to iron out a couple more things before announcing the nature of the challenge, so that Monday start-date may not happen. We'll see.
This challenge wouldn't be exactly the same as the December 7WC, but the ultimate goal would be the same: to come up with a longer script under time pressure. Those of us who took part last time (and Balt) had fun doing it, and I think this one will be fun, too. If anyone's interested, let me know. Of course, if everyone has challenge-fatigue after the OWC, then we can stick this in a drawer! Let me know what you think.
I'd be interested in taking part this time around, Jonny. Not sure if the dates mentioned would be too good for me though with the World Cup coming up.
I might consider thinking about possibly coming up with the potential of participating maybe. You know, if the inspiration strikes me just right. I believe I had just come off my own version of this when the last one came up. I haven't heard anything from him in some time. I might as well share it...
I fully intend to before I actually do anything more on this. He was supportive of the 7WC back in December - even to the extent of stepping in to assure I finished my own entry - and I'm hoping that, in principle, he won't have anything against it. As I said, I've PMed him a couple of times and am waiting on a response. If I haven't had a discussion with him before Monday, I'll push the start date back until I know he's okay with this.
I completely forgot about the World Cup! In that case, I might extend this back to being a 6WC. We'll see. I'm sure you could find time for a bit of writing during the tournament, though - what with all the sickies everyone will be pulling. Also, I was at Wembley on Monday, and if England play like that against a team that can actually finish then I doubt you'll be distracted for long.
In support of keeping your time frame at 4 weeks, a producer won't care if the world cup is on. He just contacted you to see if you can churn something out and he wants to start shooting in 6 weeks. If you tell him that you're not sure because of the world cup, then he'll move on. There's a lot of fish in the ocean.
You are getting that these challenges (this and the OWC) are basically simulations for things that might actually happen to a screenwriter, right? I've had this happen to me several times, and I've churned something out. Granted, most of the time, nothing comes of it, but I end up with script that isn't half bad that I can work with. I ended up making one of my rapid churns a couple years back, and I'm considering another one.
I suggested something along these lines about a year before JonnyBoy took it on.
I agree that it's a good way to practice, but it is only practice is all I am saying. Whether or not this challenge coincides with the World Cup will not make a real difference, apart from maybe a couple less entries - there will not be more for it running alongside the 'greatest sporting tournament in the world'. Of course, if this was reality, it would be no contest between the two, but that's a moot point, as it's blazingly obvious.
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The ?-Week Challenge - Summer 2010
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