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A TRUE anarchist would do the Halloween OWC in August. Or September. But October? Pah, how traditional...
We actually had a shit-storm of biblical proportions a few years back, with the Halloween OWC, when the genre wasn't horror; it was comedy, with the theme being pumpkin carving. Don still has bruises from this one.
It kind of makes sense, though, Phil. I mean, would you have an Easter-related OWC in November? It's just how people are, that they like things that're familar to them. October = Halloween. December = Christmas. You know, like last year where it's all stream-lined.
Yeah but these chuckleheads got nasty because the October OWC wasn't horror. It was a Halloween-theme, but that wasn't good enough for them. It was pretty ridiculous. If someone wants to write a horror script, he should write one.
You don't need a OWC challenge for it. And you don't need a 7WC to write a feature.
I do. I need the motivation. Last year, I got 50 pages into a feature, furthest I've ever been because of the 7WC. I think it was because I said I was going to do it and had a timeline. I didn't finish but I would've. The script had a couple of technical difficulties.
But, I'm sure other people are like me and work better with a timeframe than doing it on their own.
Yeah but these chuckleheads got nasty because the October OWC wasn't horror. It was a Halloween-theme, but that wasn't good enough for them. It was pretty ridiculous. If someone wants to write a horror script, he should write one.
You don't need a OWC challenge for it. And you don't need a 7WC to write a feature.
I agree with this completely. If you want to write a script, please write one. You don't need these little challenges to write something that you want to write. That's where I thought the last 7 week challenge was a bit weird because it had the "category" of write what you want.
What I personally get out of these challenges is not writing what I want, but a mystery theme and genre that might inspire me to write something different. I like the combination of theme and genre since it is enough to keep the topic narrow, but not handing us an outline.
And the 7WC? Let me remind you all of where this one started (again). Originally, I had suggested a one month challenge, and then demonstrated it could be done. The topic and genre would be decided not by anyone here, but by the Inktip newsletter that comes out right before we start. If we started one this week, here's what I would have popped out of that newsletter as the topic: "We are looking for completed feature-length high-concept smart action or sci-fi scripts. We are not open to low-brow material or mindless popcorn blockbusters. Instead, they should engage the audience with a well-crafted, visceral yet intelligent story. Examples of films in this mold are "Inception" or "The Bourne Identity." We are not open to scripts in other genres (no crime dramas, etc.)." Some people liked it, but no one was really open to it at that time. But again, it's about the challenge of writing an assignment, not writing something random. Remember that an initial goal in this industry is to be writing full time which most likely entails writing what someone else wants you to before you can write whatever you want. Just sayin'.
So while looking at these things and complaining about them, remember the spirit in which they're given. The idea is not to motivate you to write anything. If it does, that's great, but the motivation should come from within you. If you're not motivated to write, then these challenges may not ultimately help you. The point is to be challenged. If your first short was an OWC, then you need to write more. The OWC is honestly a terrible start because it doesn't allow your mind to run. You're writing with limits out of the gate. Be unlimited first and then strap it down later.
I would wager the ones who complain the least are the ones who write the most. If you can't handle the challenge, then accept that perhaps the theme and genre aren't for you. Comedy at Halloween? Perfect challenge. Horror at Halloween. Why haven't you already written this one?
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The ?-Week Challenge - Summer 2010
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