Coma by Stephen Brown (stebrown) - Short, Sci Fi - The struggle to hold on to someone we have lost is a strong emotion... sometimes too strong an emotion to let go. 5 pages  MoviePoet August Competition 2nd place - pdf, format

This was a sad, but sweet, story, Stephen. I really liked it. At first I didn't know what was going on, but then I figured it was like The Matrix, except they didn't have the money to do it. There's really nothing for me to say except that this was very good and I can see why it made second place.

Sean

Cheers Sean, pleased you liked it.

Went for a kinda bittersweet feel.

Hi Ste,

I haven't read the other stories, but I felt this was a good story.  Well told and kept my interest throughout.

Happy you got placed.  Another good read.

All the best.


Javier

Hey Ste, thanks but you've really depressed me now. That's a compliment by the way, I thought this was really good and very moving. Good stuff.

Cheers Javier/Alffy, pleased you both liked it.

I just watched 'Nil By Mouth' again last night. Forgot how depressing that film is lol so you have no sympathy from me Alffy.

Very interesting read Ste.  Congrats on the 2nd place finish with this.

I'm not really sure what to take from this or what I'm supposed to feel.  Although there is sadness here, like all have said already, I don't really get the feeling that's what you were going for completely.  I actually see some happiness, or hope here but maybe I'm reading too much into a 5 page script.

Anyway, quite unique and well done.

Nice job!

Cheers for the read Jeff

Yeah the end is supposed to be a bit of a mixed bag. They're both dead but they are together. The premise is that heaven/hell or whatever isn't a place we go to but is just whatever we think it is.

On a sidenote, not that I'm saying the whole coma thing is completely original, but sat down watching 'Fringe' the other day. First episode of a new series by the writers of Lost. What happens about half way through but the main character is given drugs n stuff to be able to talk to someone in a coma. haha, just made me laugh.

Pleased you liked it mate.

Hey Ste,

I've read this at MP. I really enjoyed, one of your bests so far.

You're becoming a writing machine...

Cheers Nik, pleased you liked it.

Stephen,

I was sitting here waiting for the Presidential debate so I thought I'll read something quick. This one did not come up for me at MP last month. If it had, I would have given it a Very Good!!

You have improved a lot. I like that. It's always a pleasure to see someone take feedback and use it to better themselves.

I have nothing to offer you in regard to this one, but that's  pretty common.... the better something is, the harder it is to find faults. I thought this one offered more sci-fi than most others that month at MP so good on you for that. It was also a nice romantic tale. In a way not too different than Mr. Z's...

Big Congrats on your 2nd place showing!  

Thanks Pia

Yeah, I try to take all the comments on board. Still a lot of things to improve on though.

Quoted from me In a way not too different than Mr. Z's...

Hey, hey cheers for the compliment haha.

Pleased you enjoyed it.

Ste

First off congratulations on the second place in MP. I didn't read any of the other entrants that month but on the basis of  this I take it first place was something special. This is very strong work you got here.

I loved the inroductory prose & the first page in general. Your choice of adjectives fit perfectly with the serene, dream-like surroundings.

No real complaints about it, its an exceptional piece for a five pager. An interesting concept with the right pitch of of feeling & emotion to grab the viewer whilst not coming over as cheesy or over sentimental.

I liked the reflective exchange before Simon attaches the timer to the computer. It could easily have come off a tad mawkish but you handled it with adequate restraint & subtlety. I really felt for Simon more then some feature length protagonists I've encountered.

Like any decent five pager there is so much room for expansion & further development, this is no exception.

I think you could weave an interesting back story around this as to how Jo got to be in a coma. Then chronicling Simon's discovery of this kind of technology,a sort of personal mission he takes on which gradually consumes his life. when the plug is pulled (apologies for the pun) when he's so close to achieving his goal, he can't accept it & takes the ultimate action, as documented here.

A sorta' futuristic Lorenzo's oil with sunny beaches & fade to whites Not the most feel good story in the world but has the makings of a powerful drama (if handled correctly of course)

Great job again, mate

Col.

another good story with a great sci-fi premise.

Your last few scripts you have been playing around with harded boiled Noir, but I feel it is when you write about human suffering and domestic misery is when you are at your peek performance.

Those kind of the stories from you i have enjoyed the most.  

Cheers again Col.

Mr Z took first place that month with his script. You should check it out, tis a goodun.

This is a script I am planning an extension too. Kinda just sketching out a treatment at the moment and trying to get some sub-plots to give it a bit more weight. Hopefully will get to the writing part sooner or later.

Ste