Polished enough for the time given. I think, in the end, the scripts should be readable and make sense. I don't think that's too much to ask. I get there may be a lot of new writers in this challenge because it was advertised outside the site, so formatting errors and the like are understandable, but not necessarily excusable. Formatting, grammar, typos and such, are just bad editing or the writer just doesn't know all the ins and outs yet. Poor story structure is another thing. Either it's good or it's not. It makes sense or it doesn't. One week is a short time to get it all just right, so the best of the bunch will almost always rise to the top.

That said, kinda sad I didn't enter this go round. Had a collaboration on the table and left it there. Couldn't find the motivation this time. But a pretty cool challenge nevertheless. Good job, Khamanna!

Quoted from Steven Well maybe now you can redact this post? Having these things consolidated would almost certainly give away which I wrote.

What difference would that make? I picked up all the same "breadcrumbs", and anyone with half a brain who has been reading the posts would know the same thing.

Re reads by the usual suspects only, this is often the complaint when reading begins in an OWC. This is why Don gives a big window for reading and reviewing. In an open challenge there's bound to be some who don't twig to the community expectation of quid pro quo. Unfortunate but common.

Look back at the July OWC , most everybody who entered left comments on all entries. Some just don't get as excited as some of us to get on it straight away, or there's work/family commitments etc. so they take longer.

I've read a few (reviewed one so far) but I'm not in it this time around.

Some people imh need to chill and not be so harsh with their critiques. Focus on: will this make a good film imh. Does it meet the challenge? And try not to just agree with the person's review before you. I know from experience that can get very tedious. He/she doesn't need to hear about the watermark a gazillion times.  

You men folk sound a little serious and stressed.

Quoted from LC Re reads by the usual suspects only, this is often the complaint when reading begins in an OWC. This is why Don gives a big window for reading and reviewing. In an open challenge there's bound to be some who don't twig to the community expectation of quid pro quo. Unfortunate but common. Look back at the July OWC , most everybody who entered left comments on all entries. Some just don't get as excited as some of us to get on it straight away, or there's work/family commitments etc. so they take longer. I've read a few (reviewed one so far) but I'm not in it this time around. Some people imh need to chill and not be so harsh with their critiques. Focus on: will this make a good film imh. Does it meet the challenge? And try not to just agree with the person's review before you. I know from experience that can get very tedious. He/she doesn't need to hear about the watermark a gazillion times.   You men folk sound a little serious and stressed.

Libby, when most peeps read and review, they read and review before they've read other reviews, at least that's the way it should  be.

I think when someone hears the same thing numerous times, it gets through top them that something may need some attention.

You want nurturing, positive, uplifting reviews, take it you Mom and Grandma.  You want real, honest feedback, get it right here.

Quoted from Dreamscale Libby, when most peeps read and review, they read and review before they've read other reviews, at least that's the way it should  be. I think when someone hears the same thing numerous times, it gets through top them that something may need some attention. You want nurturing, positive, uplifting reviews, take it you Mom and Grandma.  You want real, honest feedback, get it right here.

100%, couldnt agree more with every part of that.

I know people say that but comments such as: I agree with the previous poster prove otherwise. I'll own up to the fact I've read other people's comments in the past and I'd bet three quarters of us do. It's human curiosity. I'm sure some don't too. And I'm sure other people's comments don't in fact influence original thought, however there is only so many times identical feedback can be posted without it being boring and unproductive to the writer.

I also think you can be constructive without being a hard-arse and mean about your comments too. Anon is not an excuse to be rude though I think some people tow this line.

Hey, you're renowned for your 'honest' comments, Jeff, and a lot of your comments are sound, and some I don't think are apt.  People love drama on the boards. We all love drama.

I also know this type of back and forth has been done to death each OWC about whether harsh criticism is warranted - I'm just giving my opinion, that's all.

Will this script make a good film? That's key to me.
Carry on.

Quoted from LC I also think you can be constructive without being a hard-arse and mean about your comments too. Anon is not an excuse to be rude though I think some people tow this line.

Where do you draw this line though, feels like you are sitting on a bit of a high horse.

I know my comments are direct but they, for the most part, are constructive. I provide a way that I think the script can be made better IMO. At the end of the day the writer needs to make the decision whether to use the advice or not. Yes, every once in a while I'll take a 'humorous jab' to cut through the regular/similar reviews, if anyone really takes offence please feel free to PM me and I will refrain from smart arse comments.

I personally don’t come here to get my ego stroked, be as brutal as you want, if you think it’s shit tell me, but tell me how so I can try make it better. Or if you truly think it's a no hoper tell me that to. I’d rather not waste my time on something that people really aren’t enjoying, not every script is salvageable.

There's one thing that has changed over the years as far as the OWC goes that keeps some people away now. It used to be that people who didn't read any scripts were sort of shunned. Now, you're shunned for not reading all of them. A lot of people don't want to commit this. It's just too time consuming. It takes longer to read and give useful comments on all the scripts than it does writing one. If this doesn't change, I predict fewer and fewer entries in the future.

Quoted from Grandma Bear There's one thing that has changed over the years as far as the OWC goes that keeps some people away now. It used to be that people who didn't read any scripts were sort of shunned. Now, you're shunned for not reading all of them. A lot of people don't want to commit this. It's just too time consuming. It takes longer to read and give useful comments on all the scripts than it does writing one. If this doesn't change, I predict fewer and fewer entries in the future.

I try to read them all as one can learn as much form reading as they can from writing (IMO).

If I were King - there would be a minimum - you must at least read and comment on as many scripts as those who commented on yours - e.g., you get 15 reads - your min read is 15 of others.

Quoted from eldave1 If I were King - there would be a minimum - you must at least read and comment on as many scripts as those who commented on yours - e.g., you get 15 reads - your min read is 15 of others.

Dave for King, I think that sound like a good idea.

Quoted from Warren Dave for King, I think that sound like a good idea.

Agree 100%!

No reason in the world someone who decides to enter can't give back what they receive.

And the sadder thing may be how weak much of the feedback really is.  Often a few lines that can't take more than 1 minute to come up with.

Like my feedback, hate it, laugh at it...you're always going to get some tidbits that will help the actual writer and those that read, but maybe didn't see what I was referring to, but now can look back and say, "hey...yeah...I get it now".

IMO, it does no one any good when we have 10+ writers not commenting at all...and most of those no commenting writers have given us a God Awful script that we others spend time reading and trying to help.

Quoted from Steven Having a typo in an insulting post is never a good thing.

Typo fixed

Just my opinion, others seem to like it. Personally I think it would be a shame if it comes out tops because of your general lack of participation on this site in general.

This OWC would be the most you have ever commented on anyone else’s work, even if they are one liners.

I'll admit, I don't give very elaborate reviews and feedback but I think it's a confidence issue. I'm still fairly new at this and I don't won't to mislead anyone either. My technical critiques are basic at best so I primarily give feedback on the storyline.

I think I've reviewed more than 3/4 so far, so I try to do my part!

Quoted from JEStaats I'll admit, I don't give very elaborate reviews and feedback but I think it's a confidence issue. I'm still fairly new at this and I don't won't to mislead anyone either. My technical critiques are basic at best so I primarily give feedback on the storyline.

I think any feedback can be useful, right or wrong. It gives the writer a different perspective. As I said before, at the end of the day the choice of whether they use it or not is entirely up to them.

I do think it can be hard to give much useful feedback on a 12 page script in one line though.

Quoted from Warren Typo fixed Just my opinion, others seem to like it. Personally I think it would be a shame if it comes out tops because of your general lack of participation on this site in general. This OWC would be the most you have ever commented on anyone else’s work, even if they are one liners.

Yea I dunno, I don’t typically critique others work as I don’t feel qualified to do so. If there is a formatting or “how to do something” type of question I’ll give my opinion. I’m also more active on /r/screenwriting over on Reddit.

I write pretty frequent as I am scatter-brained, and I need an outlet. If people read and give an opinion, cool. If they don’t, that’s fine too.