Stranger in a Strange Land

No, not the classic 1951 Robert A. Heinlein novel.  Nope, not the 1986 song off of Iron Maiden’s classic Somewhere in Time CD, either.

Welcome to the July 2017 OWC, ladies and gents.  You are being tasked to write a properly formatted script between 9 and 12 pages, not including the title page (scripts under 9 pages or over 12 pages - even by a single line - will not be eligible for voting).

The scripts are due on Friday, July 21 at 11:59PM EST and must be submitted to: SimplyScripts.com/owc.

Theme:  Stranger in a Strange Land

Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Comedy – NO PISSERS, please!

PARAMETERS:

Location – Any actual place in the world.  Location should be a key here and needs to be identified.  I would recommend using a locale you are familiar with or have researched.

Characters – Maximum of 4 human characters – PERIOD.  This includes background or “extra” characters.  Because of this stipulation, using any settings where there are a multitude of people doing whatever people do in such areas is a no-no.  Any script that violates this stipulation will not be eligible for voting.   You are allowed to have animals/creatures, which do not count towards the 4 maximum, however.

Concept – Looking for a “fish out of water” idea, as in your main character(s) being in a place that is foreign to him/her.  This does not necessarily mean a “foreign” country - but it could be.  The theme of “Stranger in a Strange Land” does not necessarily mean the place has to be “strange” either - but it could be.

Period – 2017.  No Flashbacks to earlier years.  No Flashforwards to the future.

Budget – Open, but limited to real-life existing structures and creations.

This is an open ended challenge with only a few parameters, so please, make sure you do not mess up these few “rules”.

There will be a Review Page E-mailed to you for you to score the scripts you read.  Please only give scores to scripts that you have read, and for a change, I am giving the go ahead to rate your own script as well – just be honest.

Timeline:  July 21 at 11:59PM EST - Scripts are due.

This isn't a contest - it’s a challenge.  There are no official prizes…but you never know.

Free to submit.  One entry per person.

You can revise your script as many times as you wish up until 11:59PM EST on July 21.
Do not put your real name on your script – this is an anonymous challenge.  However, please use your real name when submitting your script.  After the challenge closes you can either have your script removed or resubmit your script with your name on it.

Participants are strongly encouraged to read and comment/review the other scripts submitted - if you don’t plan on going along with this, please don’t enter a script.

Please put © on your title page.

Best of luck and I hope everyone enjoys this challenge.

I just checked in to see if Jeff was going to post before Midnight(past my bedtime)...and he already posted! Kid is on the ball!

Quoted from leitskev I just checked in to see if Jeff was going to post before Midnight(past my bedtime)...and he already posted! Kid is on the ball!

The Kid has 4 little kids coming to stay for the weekend, so I better be on the ball!!

Parameters very well stated, Jeff. Excellent challenge.

Great challenge mate! I had to google the theme as I'd heard of it but wasn't 100% sure what it was. It does get mentioned in Billy Joel's 'We didn't Start The Fire' lol.

One query - can we use a ghost or spirit in it? And does that count as one of the 4 chars? TIA brother!

Quoted from stevie One query - can we use a ghost or spirit in it? And does that count as one of the 4 chars? TIA brother!

I don't see a problem with a ghost or spirit, but if it's a "human" ghost or spirit, that would count toward your character max.

Thank you for that clarification, Jeffrey  ;D ;D

So four lesbians, one of whom is out of place somehow... got it!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood So four lesbians, one of whom is out of place somehow... got it!

laughed my ass off

Sounds like a good challenge. My only bitch... I mean complaint is 9 pages. 5 to 7 minutes is what most festivals want... Next challenge can we please do shorter page length?

Quoted from Pale Yellow Sounds like a good challenge. My only bitch... I mean complaint is 9 pages. 5 to 7 minutes is what most festivals want... Next challenge can we please do shorter page length?

When someone else runs the next one, I'm sure they can accommodate this request. Me?  Nah...too short, IMO.

Festivus!!!!

The Moon.
Never been there.

But I can use the moon right? Or another planet?

Anyway--- I think you should let "extras" slide Jeff. As long as "extras" don't have speaking roles and are only in the background (A city street might have people on the sidewalks, for example).

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley The Moon. Never been there. But I can use the moon right? Or another planet? Anyway--- I think you should let "extras" slide Jeff. As long as "extras" don't have speaking roles and are only in the background (A city street might have people on the sidewalks, for example).

No, you cannot use the Moon, because we're not able to get there right now - yeah, we've been there, but we have no planned flights to the moon right now, so it ain't gonna happen.

No other planet, either.  This takes place now, and there are no planned flights to other planets.

No city streets or cities, period, as that would include alot of "extras", and we ain't doing anymore peeps than a total of 4.

I really thought the parameters were extremely clear.  Please try and stay within the parameters...shouldn't be that difficult.

You gave us a juicy one! Let the wheel turning begin...

Just to close off a potential loophole, can you confirm that the animals/creatures can't talk Jeff?? I'm trying to fight off the urge to implement a frog chorus of sorts...

So, as long as I have been there, it's OK??  So I've been to the fantasy world Drugula and know the pitfalls well .  So, that's a go??

Fingers crossed.
Dan

If I feel better, I might try.

Quoted from Dreamscale Location – Any actual place in the world.  Location should be a key here and needs to be identified.  I would recommend using a locale you are familiar with or have researched.

Quoted from Dreamscale Concept – Looking for a “fish out of water” idea, as in your main character(s) being in a place that is foreign to him/her.  This does not necessarily mean a “foreign” country - but it could be.  The theme of “Stranger in a Strange Land” does not necessarily mean the place has to be “strange” either - but it could be.

Quoted from Cameron Just to close off a potential loophole, can you confirm that the animals/creatures can't talk Jeff?? I'm trying to fight off the urge to implement a frog chorus of sorts...

I didn't say anything about animals/creatures talking, so that will be up to you...BUT...the intent here was to have serious scripts, set in the real world.

As Don just reposted, "any actual place in the world".  I am not aware of any actual places in the world where animals and creatures talk.

Quoted from Dreamscale As Don just reposted, "any actual place in the world".  I am not aware of any actual places in the world where animals and creatures talk.

Well there's a plethora of films out there with talking animals, based in the real world, and invariably they end up with animals being in foreign locations as they tend to get lost. Just pointing it out for you!

Regardless, wasn't going to do it, but it's a risk that you can have 20 different animal characters in a short homage to Homeward Bound.

Quoted from Cameron Well there's a plethora of films out there with talking animals, based in the real world, and invariably they end up with animals being in foreign locations as they tend to get lost. Just pointing it out for you! Regardless, wasn't going to do it, but it's a risk that you can have 20 different animal characters in a short homage to Homeward Bound.

Cam, I don't understand what you're talking about.  Apart from a recent OWC that I wrote with some talking animals, I don't recall seeing any other OWC scripts with talking animals.

I don't know why anyone would want to write a script with a theme of Stranger in a strange land, involving talking animals.  Maybe I'm missing something?

Quoted from Dreamscale I didn't say anything about animals/creatures talking, so that will be up to you...BUT...the intent here was to have serious scripts, set in the real world. As Don just reposted, "any actual place in the world".  I am not aware of any actual places in the world where animals and creatures talk.

Started out thinking I had a perfect understanding of the parameters - it tends to get fuzzier as questions are asked and answered. Also makes me think being the one establishing the parameters and arbitrating the rules has to be a huge ass ache. Anyway - to add to the confusion:

* ...actual place in the world...[b][/b]

Seems that this is really -  any actual place in the world as it would typically exist in it's natural state right now.

e,g., - no empty New York City Streets because they are not empty now. Desert highway - go for it.  New York Hotel room - fine.  Would be rational then 4 or less people would be there. New York restaurant - nope.

This clarification:

Quoted Text I didn't say anything about animals/creatures talking, so that will be up to you...BUT...the intent here was to have serious scripts, set in the real world. As Don just reposted, "any actual place in the world".  I am not aware of any actual places in the world where animals and creatures talk.

Muddied the waters for me. In  a prior post - ghosts or spirits were okay - I'm not aware of any place where they actually exist (i.e., any more than talking animals or aliens, etc. ). So, I do think it would help to say specifically whether your characters must be human or not. If so, ghosts, talking animals, aliens should be out. If not so - If not so, they're in. By way of example - you could have the ghost of Wyatt Earp wandering through modern day Death Valley?

After all that diatribe - I'll bet most of the issues after these are written will be whether or not the writer met the premise of "A stranger" - in a "Strange Land."

Quoted from Dreamscale Cam, I don't understand what you're talking about.  Apart from a recent OWC that I wrote with some talking animals, I don't recall seeing any other OWC scripts with talking animals. I don't know why anyone would want to write a script with a theme of Stranger in a strange land, involving talking animals.  Maybe I'm missing something?

Jeff, refer to Dave's point re spirits/ghosts, didn't want to point that one out and exacerbate the situation but Dave did it for me. Was trying to help you, not hinder this whole process, and yes talking animals exist quite regularly in the movies in apparently real scenarios, so I see no reason why they can't in this OWC as they don't seem to be getting clamped down upon in the initial brief.

Anyway, as I said, I'm not using the talking animals ploy myself, was merely pointing it out as a potential loophole. Regardless of the freshly stoked frog chorus temptation I shall resist...

Enjoying this, Jeff?  :D

Funny thing is that this same scenario with questions upon questions about the challenge/competition went on every single month for eight years or however long MP was around.

Theme: Love

Genre: Western

Questions...

Can there be talking horses in this?
Can the new sheriff be a robot?
Can this take place in Indonesia?

And on and on, and then when the scripts were posted, not single one would have a talking horse, a robot sheriff and none of the stories would take place in Indonesia.  ;D

Just how it goes Jeff. Hope the Big Kid has fun with the little kids.  ;)

Quoted Text Can there be talking horses in this? Can the new sheriff be a robot? Can this take place in Indonesia?

Damn - that was the one I was going to write!

Excellent challenge. Enough constraints to keep people focused, but enough flexibility to allow for real variety in the entries. Good one.

Might have to give it a go - if I get a decent idea...

This reminds me of when I taught middle school. I'd give a very clear writing assignment, and the kids would ask question after question. Can I do this, can I do that, how about this, is this okay, I don't understand what you're asking. I dealt with it all by saying, Be quiet and start writing.

Quoted from Stumpzian This reminds me of when I taught middle school. I'd give a very clear writing assignment, and the kids would ask question after question. Can I do this, can I do that, how about this, is this okay, I don't understand what you're asking. I dealt with it all by saying, Be quiet and start writing.

You know, that's a reasonably solid point to make, but there's nothing worse than getting all down, dirty and creative, battering out a script, entering it and then getting a load of people saying it doesn't count because it's not met the rules. That's happened in other OWC's and there's nothing worse than winging and moaning your way through the review phase because you never bothered to question it, and here we're allowed characters of the spooky variety, but Mr Ed is to stay well clear. Go figure.

I think the questions/points made were valid, and if asked really shouldn't be causing any real grief or serious problems, as they appear to be doing.

Hmm, I was ready to bow out when suddenly I came up with an idea. Can't promise anything though. If I write it down and then don't like it I won't submit.

But mine also has something that could make it ineligible. And there's no way to ask a question as I would lose all the anonymity.

But if talking animals or ghosts or vampires are in then I'll go ahead and write mine. It has nothing to do with aforementioned characters but has its own thing going.

The problem for me is the 4 human limit.  Like what was said above finding anyplace in NYC that isn't crowded isn't realistic.

Also, the real location is hard too.  If I wanted to do a story set in a small western town, you're telling me that I can't until I research it first.  

But I typically see more than 4 characters in most shorts.  You're basically saying that we have to use settings to set the fish out of water and not show clicks of people.  That let's out places like school because it is impossible to write a story set in a school that has 4 or less humans in it.

And I find it odd that ghosts are OK but talking animals aren't???

Dan

Hey, Dan, hope you feel better to finish that story of yours.

About 4 characters limit - maybe you can go around it. I don't mean have more and 4 and still submit.  
Here's what I'm saying - I'm planning to sort of "conceal" some characters in mine. I mean they'll be implied but will never make an appearance. If there's a possibility for you to do the same that would be good.

Quoted from DanC You're basically saying that we have to use settings to set the fish out of water and not show clicks of people.  That let's out places like school because it is impossible to write a story set in a school that has 4 or less humans in it.

After hours. On a weekend. After some sort of plague/apocalypse. In a dream. In a virtual reality simulation.

No it isn't. The whole idea of these challenges is to get creative, right?

Are ghosts real?  Some peeps totally believe in them.

Is Bigfoot real?  Some peeps believe.

Are werewolves and vampires real?  Again, some believe.

Talking animals?  Well...uh...

The 4 person max parameter is meant to make you think outside the box, use settings where you don't have a ton of peeps wandering around.  Thinks small, and then take it BIG!

Quoted from Dreamscale Are ghosts real?  Some peeps totally believe in them. Is Bigfoot real?  Some peeps believe. Are werewolves and vampires real?  Again, some believe. Talking animals?  Well...uh...

Okay, last time I'm going over the animal thing. Ghosts, Bigfoot, vampires, not real. Koko the gorilla who understands over 2000 words, and can hold down a conversation with sign language, real. And that's not going onto parrots and whatever.

Serious question now. Can a scene be set with multiple dead bodies in it, or do these eat into our 4 characters? NOT mucking around, actual 100% serious question.

And maybe my question will be answered together with Cam's.

I wonder if we can have background snoring or something like it - will it count towards our 4 character limit?

I believe this is the last from me.

OK, listen...the idea here is to come up with a script with 4 or less human characters.

The blurb about animals/creatures was meant to "add" to your options, as in someone or some peeps are in an area where there are animals or "creatures".

The talking animals thing should not be used to circumvent the limited characters.

As for dead humans, I guess that's fine, but again, I wanted this to be contained to 4 actors.  If you want a creature, obviously, that would probably mean extra actors in suits or the like.

Hope this makes sense.  It always amazes me where all these crazy questions come from, or even why they're thrown out.  Thinking outside the box is always appreciated, but let's not stray too far out of this box.

Ta Jeff, I'm good to go now

Quoted from Cameron Okay, last time I'm going over the animal thing. Ghosts, Bigfoot, vampires, not real. Koko the gorilla who understands over 2000 words, and can hold down a conversation with sign language, real. And that's not going onto parrots and whatever. Serious question now. Can a scene be set with multiple dead bodies in it, or do these eat into our 4 characters? NOT mucking around, actual 100% serious question.

Cam, you can say these mythological creatures aren't real, but many do believe in them, just like many peeps believe there are many other unknown, undiscovered creatures.

Just because someone decides to write a script about a 35 foot alligator, doesn't make that concept "not real".  Now, if that 35 foot alligator lived in a city of many more 35 foot alligators that drove flying cars, it ain't gonna be deemed a real world concept.

Make sense?

Jeff, as above, let's draw a line under this. I'll confidently maintain there's more people in the world that believe they can speak to their moggie than believe in Bigfoot, but we could be here till the end of the challenge debating those semantics.

And for the record, I see the Alligators on bikes, I don't believe in flying cars either

What about my question? I asked about background snoring. I know background voices are a no go, but what about noises? This should be a legitimate question, too.

What if a character has multiple personalities? Does each count as a character?

Just kidding!

I have another contest to do this weekend, but hopefully I'll come up with some orphan-infested aside-riddled ing-laced drivel during the week!

Quoted from leitskev What if a character has multiple personalities? Does each count as a character? Just kidding! I have another contest to do this weekend, but hopefully I'll come up with some orphan-infested aside-riddled ing-laced drivel during the week!

The Orphan would count as a character

Quoted from Dreamscale Cam, you can say these mythological creatures aren't real, but many do believe in them, just like many peeps believe there are many other unknown, undiscovered creatures. Just because someone decides to write a script about a 35 foot alligator, doesn't make that concept "not real".  Now, if that 35 foot alligator lived in a city of many more 35 foot alligators that drove flying cars, it ain't gonna be deemed a real world concept. Make sense?

Doesn't really make sense to me. Simply making it four real-life  human beings does. But once you describe the parameters in terms of what peeps believe in - then it's just 4 characters, regardless of form - period. Regardless of whether they are animal, alien, ghosts. Peeps belief systems are as widely varied as the questions about OWCs.

I'm just going to go with my own gut for mine and in my view, all types of characters count will count as legit when I am viewing others - if it works great - if not, I wrote a short anyway.

Khamanna - from my view - the person snoring would count as a character. IT is a person making a sound whether they are in scene or not. Just my take

Quoted from khamanna What about my question? I asked about background snoring. I know background voices are a no go, but what about noises? This should be a legitimate question, too.

Kham, this is Jeff's show, but IMHO, background noises do not count as characters. Think of it from a producer's P.O.V. Do you need to hire an actor to snore? No. Anyone can do that or easily get free audio clips to take care of it.

Is it a specific person talking in the bg, someone that needs to be named? Then it's definitely a character.  :)

Quoted from Grandma Bear Kham, this is Jeff's show, but IMHO, background noises do not count as characters. Think of it from a producer's P.O.V. Do you need to hire an actor to snore? No. Anyone can do that or easily get free audio clips to take care of it. Is it a specific person talking in the bg, someone that needs to be named? Then it's definitely a character.  :)

Saw this after I posted. For what it's worth - I would count it as a character. No different than someone screaming out of scene. Again - just my view

Thanks Pia! I'll just assume Jeff thinks the same.

Snoring or laughter or crying might come free as special sound effects in some filmmaking/editing software. I'm not sure but that's what I always thought.

Uhhh...as to characters named or not named making noises OS...is it really something that's important to your concept/script?  I don't see how it could be.

Stick to 4 maximum human characters and you're golden.

Cam, back to the real or non real creatures - I purposely said animals and creatures are allowed and don't count toward your character count.

If you're in a jungle, there will be animals.  If you're underwater in an ocean, there will be fish.  If you're in the Pacific Northwest, there may be a Sasquatch.  If you're in a haunted house, there may be ghosts.

I don't know why any of these things would need to talk, though.

Yes, that's important to my script. I guess that's a "no" to my question.

I'll try another aproach to the script then but not sure if it will work.

Quoted from Dreamscale Are ghosts real?  Some peeps totally believe in them. Is Bigfoot real?  Some peeps believe. Are werewolves and vampires real?  Again, some believe. Talking animals?  Well...uh... The 4 person max parameter is meant to make you think outside the box, use settings where you don't have a ton of peeps wandering around.  Thinks small, and then take it BIG!

I BELIEVE :) in all the above. :) haha

As my auntie used to say, there's some nice tight parameters there.

I like it. Of course, I'm drawing a complete blank but I always do at the start. I'll have a think and see if the old noggin can come up with something

Oh and the questions in this thread made me lol, but they always do!

I think i'll have a go......

Sorry Kham, I missed this part...

Maximum of 4 human characters – PERIOD.  This includes background or “extra” characters.  Because of this stipulation, using any settings where there are a multitude of people doing whatever people do in such areas is a no-no.  Any script that violates this stipulation will not be eligible for voting.   You are allowed to have animals/creatures, which do not count towards the 4 maximum, however.


My bad.  :)

Quoted Text Cam, back to the real or non real creatures - I purposely said animals and creatures are allowed and don't count toward your character count. If you're in a jungle, there will be animals.  If you're underwater in an ocean, there will be fish.  If you're in the Pacific Northwest, there may be a Sasquatch.  If you're in a haunted house, there may be ghosts.

Christ on a bloody bike, still at this??

Right, simples are that if we're sticking to realism then there's as much validity in a talking wombat, blue whale or donkey as there is in a ghost or a Sasquatch (aside from the band Sasquatch, but there's three members there so you'd struggle with just the one spare character). A few others have pointed this out too, so I guess I'm not alone here.

To go back a good few posts, all I was pointing it out as to the lack of limitations on animal count, and so if the animals could talk (as we've established they apparently can if we're getting creative, or Koko makes a star appearance), then you could have multiple talking parts, and essentially re-create the Jungle Book.

Anyway, I've enjoyed the debate about wildlife, and as Stuart Little appears to have made $300 million there's clearly a market for it. I'm not using animals, but for the sake of it I may do a short Noah's ark re-creation where they all have a good singalong, and a mute Sasquatch looks on with frustration in its eyes.

Keep in mind...

Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Comedy – NO PISSERS, please!

Maybe this helps?

Quoted from Dreamscale Keep in mind... Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Comedy – NO PISSERS, please! Maybe this helps?

Just pointing out - as usual - that not all comedy ones are pissers. These challenges can get perps confused on this when they read, as too often well written comedies are dismissed as pissers when most aren't. Funnily enough I'm not doing a comedy for this one lol.

When I read the theme criteria, the first thing that hit me when the 4 char max came up was, naturally, the Beatles. That's why I asked Jeff about the use of ghosts. I had an idea about Paul and Ringo being trapped in Abbey Road studios or the Cavern, and the ghosts of John and George appear to save them. Now, this we would be a cool story that I will prolly will write one day but I came up with a much better one and will do that.

So blame me for the ghosty debates and good luck all! :(

Quoted from stevie Just pointing out - as usual - that not all comedy ones are pissers. These challenges can get perps confused on this when they read, as too often well written comedies are dismissed as pissers when most aren't. Funnily enough I'm not doing a comedy for this one lol. When I read the theme criteria, the first thing that hit me when the 4 char max came up was, naturally, the Beatles. That's why I asked Jeff about the use of ghosts. I had an idea about Paul and Ringo being trapped in Abbey Road studios or the Cavern, and the ghosts of John and George appear to save them. Now, this we would be a cool story that I will prolly will write one day but I came up with a much better one and will do that. So blame me for the ghosty debates and good luck all! :(

For what it's worth - that one - at least to me - would qualify in terms of characters. Not  sure about the stranger in a strange land angle. Regardless - sounds interesting

We had one of those 4 character limits before for the shark one. I had exactly 4 characters. But I had a church with a rifle aiming out of it. You couldn't see the character, and he didn't say anything. But Jeff said it was a blatant disqualification. So expect strictness on this rule. No radio or tv broadcasts, planes in the sky, fire engine sirens...make it a world with 4 people(or less). Shouldn't be that hard.

Quoted from leitskev We had one of those 4 character limits before for the shark one. I had exactly 4 characters. But I had a church with a rifle aiming out of it. You couldn't see the character, and he didn't say anything. But Jeff said it was a blatant disqualification. So expect strictness on this rule. No radio or tv broadcasts, planes in the sky, fire engine sirens...make it a world with 4 people(or less). Shouldn't be that hard.

It's not hard at all.

For instance, if you want to go the very easy route, set it in a single room...or a house, apartment, structure, where there's no more than 4 peeps.

Again, what I was going for here, is to enable peeps to write a script that could be so easily shot and executed.  I may not be a low budget fan, but far too often, peeps write scripts in which there are literally hundreds, or thousands in the shots, and it just doesn't have to be that way.

Enbrace this, you guys and dolls.  It's not that tough.

So, my talking lesbian horses and the lesbian robot sheriff in Indonesia is all good then? Just asking for clarification.   :P ;) ;D

Quoted from Grandma Bear So, my talking lesbian horses and the lesbian robot sheriff in Indonesia is all good then? Just asking for clarification.   :P ;) ;D

Anything and everything is all good.  I have 4 grand kids over, so whatever.

Ok. I'm about to sit down and write my story. Beware!

i was going to build my entire story around a band of cheetah warthogs, but after reading the rules, I guess I'm sunk.

Gary

I'm currently in the process of writing mine. I'm so excited, I've never entered one of these writing challenges before, and now that I'm a lot more active on the boards, I hope to continue... Excited to see what everyone else has done as well. Good luck everyone!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend, filled with planning and writing their OWC script.

I'm hoping to enter as well, but haven't really thought about anything yet, as I had 4 grand-kids over, and I need a little peace and relaxation, which includes lots of booze.

Anymore questions, fore away!!!

I actually do have a question... My idea for the script I'm writing for this challenge is actually based off an urban legend... However, I am putting my own spin on it and everything meets the criteria. And the writer of the original urban legend is unknown and as far as I know, hasn't copywritten it. Would this be allowed...or no? If not I may just have to skip this challenge because I literally just completed this screenplay today and really don't want to write another one... guess I should have asked first though? :/

Quoted from Tyler King I actually do have a question... My idea for the script I'm writing for this challenge is actually based off an urban legend... However, I am putting my own spin on it and everything meets the criteria. And the writer of the original urban legend is unknown and as far as I know, hasn't copywritten it. Would this be allowed...or no? If not I may just have to skip this challenge because I literally just completed this screenplay today and really don't want to write another one... guess I should have asked first though? :/

Sounds OK to me, bro.  You may want to include something on your title page that says this is not an original idea...maybe Pia can help here.

If you meet the parameters set, you're golden, as far as I'm concerned....

BUT...

I do want to let you know that it's rarely wise to be done so quickly.  If it's written in first draft form, that's great, but hang out, think about it, rad it over several times, make corrections, edit again, and don't submit until you've really taken it all in.

Know what I'm saying?

Quoted from Dreamscale Sounds OK to me, bro.  You may want to include something on your title page that says this is not an original idea...maybe Pia can help here. If you meet the parameters set, you're golden, as far as I'm concerned.... BUT... I do want to let you know that it's rarely wise to be done so quickly.  If it's written in first draft form, that's great, but hang out, think about it, rad it over several times, make corrections, edit again, and don't submit until you've really taken it all in. Know what I'm saying?

Awesome! Glad I can use it! And yes, I was going to put something like that on the title page :) also, definitely not submitting this right away, I'm very OCD and re-read and re-write A LOT!! haha.. but thanks for the heads up, appreciate it.

This is also another question, but where exactly on the title page should the copyright symbol go? And I understand we aren't putting our real name on the title page, I'm just kind of wondering what exactly does need to go on it, and what needs to be left off...and where it's supposed to go on there. Thanks, man, much appreciated. :)

Doing another contest this weekend... NYC Midnight with Kev.. so have barely thought about this idea but I plan on working on it this week.... after my scalloping trip! :)

Quoted from Dreamscale You may want to include something on your title page that says this is not an original idea...maybe Pia can help here.

For the OWC, I wouldn't worry about it, but after the writers' reveal, you can add on the cover page, based on the urban legend blah blah.

I haven't got anything done yet and not sure I will. I was bit by a spider in bed last night, probably hitched a ride inside on our dog, and I have been bedridden since. All my joints swelled up so I can't move. Couldn't even get out of bed and had a fever and chills. Hopefully it won't last too long.   :-/

Quoted from Grandma Bear For the OWC, I wouldn't worry about it, but after the writers' reveal, you can add on the cover page, based on the urban legend blah blah. I haven't got anything done yet and not sure I will. I was bit by a spider in bed last night, probably hitched a ride inside on our dog, and I have been bedridden since. All my joints swelled up so I can't move. Couldn't even get out of bed and had a fever and chills. Hopefully it won't last too long.   :-/

Thank you for the info! And that's horrible! I hate spiders... hopefully you recover quickly :)

Oh and another question I just thought of...if there's a scene where the National Weather Service announcer gives a warning on the radio... That doesn't count as a character, does it? Aren't those "voices" automated, anyway? This is actually a legit question. If it DOES count as a character, I would probably have to take it out...however I was hoping I could possibly leave it in, as it gives the location to my script.

Wow. It's amazing what writers will come up with to not write.  ::) ;D

Pia I need to say this!!  Spider bites are no joke.  Certain ones can cause skin and cell , organs, to suffer necrosis and die.  My uncle who loves being the dumb tough guy ignored the bite until he lost part of his leg due to rot.

Don't be dumb like him.  If it doesn't improve quickly, seek help.

Not sure I will, or can enter.  Been having a bout go lately.  Seeing a cord PT specialist now.

Will write more later.
Dan

No idea where "The Swamp" is so not sure what spideys you've got round there, but I second Dan's concern. If you're swollen up and bedridden, that isn't a normal reaction, if it was nothing to worry about you'd normally just get an itch and slight swell around the bite. Go see someone Pia!!

I had all day yesterday to write and I drew a complete blank....sod all...nothing!

:-(

Going to struggle, I won't have much in the way of free time now, all my writing is usually  done at the weekend. Not counting myself out yet.

Too much crazy shit happening on my end, so I won't be able to participate. I think this is the first OWC I've had to bail on since... probably the superheroes. (That one would've been fun, though.)

Even if I were planning on entering, I have no ideas. Maybe a post-apoc, but I already did that in the last challenge. And I wouldn't gave time, let alone to write a decent script. I always try to write two drafts minimum, four or five + if I'm lucky.

My folks and I are in the process if moving at the beginning of the month, so I might not even be able to read many. Oh well. Hope it's fun.

Wow, unless peeps are just trying to throw everyone off, it sounds like a very poor turnout this time around. I sure hope not.  Maybe I should write 2 scripts and break my own rules.

Pia, I hope you recover quickly.  I despise arachnids.

We are going through our Monsoon season and had a powerful storm roll in around 11:00 PM,and knock out power here until the morning.  We didn't sleep well, as we were way to hot without the A/C blasting and fans running overhead.

Tyler, open up some old OWC entries to see how different peeps handle the copyright thing on their title page.

Quoted from Dreamscale Wow, unless peeps are just trying to throw everyone off, it sounds like a very poor turnout this time around. I sure hope not.  Maybe I should write 2 scripts and break my own rules. Pia, I hope you recover quickly.  I despise arachnids. We are going through our Monsoon season and had a powerful storm roll in around 11:00 PM,and knock out power here until the morning.  We didn't sleep well, as we were way to hot without the A/C blasting and fans running overhead. Tyler, open up some old OWC entries to see how different peeps handle the copyright thing on their title page.

We did an entire OWC based on Urban Legends - I didn't recall any issues and I don't think a single script had a based on. I would think that generally they are in the public domain - although that might be an urban legend

When the theme and open genre were released, I thought 'piece of cake'. Now, after tossing three different drafts out the window, I'm starting my fourth and will see this through to the end! I'm down but not out!

Pia - Consider it a consensus and make sure you do the right thing!

All the best - John

I have a few ideas. Nothing solid yet. My challenge will be the time to write, but that's always the case. I'm still in!

Yeh, I finished my serious effort earlier today, just need a tidy now before submission. There'll be a good few folk, Jeff, don't fret.

Pia it could also be a tick, and they can give people Lyme disease.

Dan

I summarize the margins as I see them laid out


- create a concept around a specific main location and character(s) who preferably are not familiar to this surroundings

- 4 human characters total (excluding animals, creatures)

- story must be set in 2017

- genres Drama, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Comedy

- 9-12 pages


If I forgot something please call me out. Personally the page count is the biggest hurdle for me. I usually tend to walk with 5-6 pages. Unfair.

No, honestly, well thought out, Jeff.  

Will try, will try. Just got one lousy idea yet but damn it's the OWC.

Quoted from PrussianMosby I summarize the margins as I see them laid out - create a concept around a specific main location and character(s) who preferably are not familiar to this surroundings - 4 human characters total (excluding animals, creatures) - story must be set in 2017 - genres Drama, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Comedy - 9-12 pages If I forgot something please call me out. Personally the page count is the biggest hurdle for me. I usually tend to walk with 5-6 pages. Unfair. No, honestly, well thought out, Jeff.   Will try, will try. Just got one lousy idea yet but damn it's the OWC.

Remedy:

Write 6 pages

Add Orphans

It'll get you to 9

Quoted from eldave1 Remedy: Write 6 pages Add Orphans It'll get you to 9

;D Classic Dave.

I'd personally complain if the page count was not enough.
No one's ever been bounced for writing under the page count, right? Penalised for going over, yes, but I've never read feedback: 'ooh, you went under, story's great, but I'll give you a pass'.

Adjudicator's rules I suppose.
Without rules the world can go to chaos!

Hmm, perhaps I'm going to establish a revolutionary quadruple spacing before each slugline. Combined with an orphan havoc, as Dave suggested, and a location map image at the midpoint... then I might get it done :-)

Well, Jeff takes it serious, so I give my best to get a 9. in there.

Currently I arrived at the end of page one… so it's gonna be a long, long way

Okay, serious question. Jeff stipulates 'No Pissers'. When does a comedy get defined as a pisser? When it's not funny? It's still a grey area in my books and I think everyone has a variable definition. A little help?

I had two pages but the story sucks. Back to outlining.

Quoted from JEStaats Okay, serious question. Jeff stipulates 'No Pissers'. When does a comedy get defined as a pisser? When it's not funny? It's still a grey area in my books and I think everyone has a variable definition. A little help?

A pisser isn't a comedy, although some find them funny. A pisser is something that is deliberately written badly. It's usually a seasoned writer who's just breaking all the screenwriting 'rules' on purpose.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw It's usually a seasoned writer who's just breaking all the screenwriting 'rules' on purpose.

Lols, my last two OWC's have been accused by some of being pissers, so as an inverse compliment I'll take the "seasoned writer" cape and wear it with pride! Ta Mark

Quoted from JEStaats Okay, serious question. Jeff stipulates 'No Pissers'. When does a comedy get defined as a pisser? When it's not funny? It's still a grey area in my books and I think everyone has a variable definition. A little help?

Stevie is the arse who invented the phrase, but I think many of us have taken it to mean different things.

What Mark said is definitely correct, but IMO, it goes much further than just screenwriting rules being broken.

For instance, 99% of the crap that The Asylum turns out are pissers, IMO.  All the Sharknado movies are pissers.  Sea Beast is a GIANT pisser.

Basically, for me, any and every time a movie or script isn't taken seriously (when set is a serious situation), it's a pisser.

For classic examples, please read any of my pissers or ask Mark Moore, as he is another King Pisser.   ;D ;D ;D

So what was that one Asylum movie you liked?  ;)

Quoted from ReneC So what was that one Asylum movie you liked?  ;)

I don't know if I've liked any, but there are many pissers I love...like Sea Beast, for example.  Or, Up from the Depths.  Just absolutely hilarious.

Apologies for those familiar already, but for those who seek further clarification:

Pisser - U.S.

piss-take
nounBRITISHvulgar slang (and Aus/NZ
noun: pisstake
an act of mockery.
synonyms:     take-off, satire, send-up, burlesque, lampoon, pastiche, caricature, skit, squib, imitation, impression, impersonation, mockery, mimicry, travesty;


PISS-TAKE / PISSTAKE noun colloquial (chiefly Britain, Australia, and New Zealand) [1975]: An attempt to make someone or something seem silly; something that is done to tease or make fun of someone or something; an act of copying someone else's behavior and manner in a humorous way; an amusing imitation a parody; lampoon.

Etymology: From the phrase take the piss.

TAKE THE PISS (chiefly Britain, Australia, and New Zealand; very informal) [1945]:

1) To make a joke about someone or to make someone look silly (often + out of ); to tease, especially aggressively; to make fun of, to mock, deride, satirize. <“You should wear miniskirts more often - you've got the legs for them.” “Are you taking the piss?”> [[Where this ‘piss’ [as in ‘take the piss (out of)’] may be the one used in the expression piss and vinegar [1920s and still in use]: Energy, enthusiasm, cheekiness.]]

2) To treat someone badly in order to get what you want. <£50 for that old thing? That's just taking the piss.> [[Note: This second definition does not refer to the etymology of piss-take.]]

(Oxford English Dictionary, Macmillan Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of Slang, Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang, and Cambridge Idioms Dictionary)

'Pisser' has a completely different def to us Aussies but let's face it we all get the gist of what we mean when referring to an OWC entry.
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"  ;D

I personally think the only way out of this is to review a script according to your own judgement and assessment. I quite wrongly assessed an OWC script as a pisstake once and regrettably offended the writer. I just thought it was over the top. His view was legit.

As usual one of the parameters of the OWC is NO pissers/pisstakes. That's cause primarily we are challenged to write a conventional (i e., not 'out there') script according to the theme, genre, parameters.

Ultimately try to be respectful and constructive with all reviews. If a script is not you're cup of tea, not funny in your opinion, over the top in your opinion, some kind of send up -  don't review it if you don't want to. If you think it's  an hilarious spoof then do make comment.

In the history of the OWC there's usually one that gets through despite best efforts. Some have gone on as memorable and infamous.

I'll shut up now. :)

Okay, got it...but no guarantee! Here's another definition: When you read your newly drafted screenplay and realize you just pissed away a couple days of your life? It's a pisser.

A "true" pisser is written as a pisser on purpose.

There are many pissers that aren't intended to be pissers.

The parameter "NO PISSERS" simply means, try and write a serious take...don't write a terrible script on purpose for laughs.

Quoted from LC Apologies for those familiar already, but for those who seek further clarification: Pisser - U.S. piss-take nounBRITISHvulgar slang (and Aus/NZ noun: pisstake an act of mockery. synonyms:     take-off, satire, send-up, burlesque, lampoon, pastiche, caricature, skit, squib, imitation, impression, impersonation, mockery, mimicry, travesty; PISS-TAKE / PISSTAKE noun colloquial (chiefly Britain, Australia, and New Zealand) [1975]: An attempt to make someone or something seem silly; something that is done to tease or make fun of someone or something; an act of copying someone else's behavior and manner in a humorous way; an amusing imitation a parody; lampoon. Etymology: From the phrase take the piss. TAKE THE PISS (chiefly Britain, Australia, and New Zealand; very informal) [1945]: 1) To make a joke about someone or to make someone look silly (often + out of ); to tease, especially aggressively; to make fun of, to mock, deride, satirize. <“You should wear miniskirts more often - you've got the legs for them.” “Are you taking the piss?”> [[Where this ‘piss’ [as in ‘take the piss (out of)’] may be the one used in the expression piss and vinegar [1920s and still in use]: Energy, enthusiasm, cheekiness.]] 2) To treat someone badly in order to get what you want. <£50 for that old thing? That's just taking the piss.> [[Note: This second definition does not refer to the etymology of piss-take.]] (Oxford English Dictionary, Macmillan Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of Slang, Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang, and Cambridge Idioms Dictionary) 'Pisser' has a completely different def to us Aussies but let's face it we all get the gist of what we mean when referring to an OWC entry. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"  ;D I personally think the only way out of this is to review a script according to your own judgement and assessment. I quite wrongly assessed an OWC script as a pisstake once and regrettably offended the writer. I just thought it was over the top. His view was legit. As usual one of the parameters of the OWC is NO pissers/pisstakes. That's cause primarily we are challenged to write a conventional (i e., not 'out there') script according to the theme, genre, parameters. Ultimately try to be respectful and constructive with all reviews. If a script is not you're cup of tea, not funny in your opinion, over the top in your opinion, some kind of send up -  don't review it if you don't want to. If you think it's  an hilarious spoof then do make comment. In the history of the OWC there's usually one that gets through despite best efforts. Some have gone on as memorable and infamous. I'll shut up now. :)

That's a shit load of information :) - Nice background work.

In addition to - one who urinates - the dictionary also offers the following for pisser:

- an annoying or disappointing event or circumstance.
- an unpleasant person; a person who causes difficulties.

Both of which might also apply to this situatiion.

Hey Moderator Jeff,

Just submitted my script, but in the OWC submission link the genre is locked on "horror". I've specified what I need my genre changed to for whoever is doing the collation of everyone's work (Don?), but best fix it for the rest of the peeps on here.

Cheers

Cam

Quoted from Cameron Hey Moderator Jeff, Just submitted my script, but in the OWC submission link the genre is locked on "horror". I've specified what I need my genre changed to for whoever is doing the collation of everyone's work (Don?), but best fix it for the rest of the peeps on here. Cheers Cam

Thanks, Cam.  We'll get this fixed.

Cool, let me know if you want me to resubmit

I'm probably out. I did another contest, flash fiction, with Dena this weekend. When I sat down to think about the OWC, every idea I had ran into the character limitation wall. I am never a fan of that parameter, but especially when combined with the fish out of water. To show the fish being out, you usually have to show land creatures.

So good luck to all. Maybe some idea will slap me in the face and I'll jump in.

I've no problem limiting this to four characters, however many circumstances people find themselves in, there are bound to be others there, as well. So far, what I have takes place where there are bound to be others, I've just chosen not to acknowledge them. My issue is I don't know if that comes off realistic or not. But anyway...

I'm out  I'm afraid. I'm still drawing a blank and I've too much on for the rest of the week now. Gutted as I love taking part in these.

Best of luck to those who enter and if I get chance I will review some.

Quoted from SAC I've no problem limiting this to four characters, however many circumstances people find themselves in, there are bound to be others there, as well. So far, what I have takes place where there are bound to be others, I've just chosen not to acknowledge them. My issue is I don't know if that comes off realistic or not. But anyway...

Well...let's see how it goes on this.

The idea was to set this in a locale where "extra peeps" wouldn't be an issue.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw I'm out  I'm afraid. I'm still drawing a blank and I've too much on for the rest of the week now. Gutted as I love taking part in these. Best of luck to those who enter and if I get chance I will review some.

Bummer to hear, Mark.  The week is still young and IMO, at least, it should be so easy to come up with an idea that works under these parameters.

Quoted from leitskev I'm probably out. I did another contest, flash fiction, with Dena this weekend. When I sat down to think about the OWC, every idea I had ran into the character limitation wall. I am never a fan of that parameter, but especially when combined with the fish out of water. To show the fish being out, you usually have to show land creatures. So good luck to all. Maybe some idea will slap me in the face and I'll jump in.

I love the fish analogies, Kev, but am bummed to hear you're out.  Hope you can swim to shore and jump out of the water, right into this OWC.

Stranger in a strange land, fish out of water, and it has to be set in a realistic version of the present...hard to create the fish out of water without multiple characters. It's the characters that create the fish out of water effect. Like a rich kid transferring to a ghetto school, or a jock in ballet class, or Dena in Brooklyn.

Quoted from leitskev Stranger in a strange land, fish out of water, and it has to be set in a realistic version of the present...hard to create the fish out of water without multiple characters. It's the characters that create the fish out of water effect. Like a rich kid transferring to a ghetto school, or a jock in ballet class, or Dena in Brooklyn.

Who knows, mine might be a disaster, but I didn't find the challenge that bad to work around. Put a character in an unfamiliar situation/place, which by itself should lead to all sorts of directions to go in.

I've seen a load of OWC's in previous efforts written with less than four characters so it's definitely doable. I reckon it just becomes an issue when it's presented as a parameter, but it was fun to think of ways around it.

Good challenge Jeff

Quoted from leitskev Stranger in a strange land, fish out of water, and it has to be set in a realistic version of the present...hard to create the fish out of water without multiple characters. It's the characters that create the fish out of water effect. Like a rich kid transferring to a ghetto school, or a jock in ballet class, or Dena in Brooklyn.

Or Jeff washing his thong

Quoted from Dreamscale Well...let's see how it goes on this. The idea was to set this in a locale where "extra peeps" wouldn't be an issue.

Yup. Totally get that, Jeff. I'm usually the first to cry foul when one runs awry on the parameters. I don't think it'll be too big an issue for me. Out of sight, out of mind.

Finally settled on a story I like, even if it is cliché. Now I just need to find time to write the darn thing, and keep it to 12 pages...

Nice challenge, Jeff.

No pissers, stevie.

Quoted from Andrew Nice challenge, Jeff. No pissers, stevie.

Lol Andrew I haven't done a pisser for ages!  And my entry for this is so far from a pisser that its funny  ;D

Okay - first draft done - time for a beer.

Quoted from Bushnado For classic examples, please read any of my pissers or ask Mark Moore, as he is another King Pisser. ;D;D;D

And here's me minding my own business ;D;D;D

Just for that I feel a Friday night special ;D;D;D

  

Quoted from eldave1 Okay - first draft done - time for a beer.

You like beer???  I took you for a wine sipping dude. Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy...I'm a very happy person.  ;D

Will try to enter this OWC since, to everyone's amazement, I actually like Jeff and consider him a good friend. We've known each other for quite sometime and we've stayed friends and supported each other through life's tougher times.

I've lost three days though due to that nasty spider event last Saturday, but I'm back and feeling almost normal. Got several ideas. None of which are comp winning ideas, but if they entertain me, that's all I need.  :)

Quoted from Grandma Bear You like beer???  I took you for a wine sipping dude. Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy...I'm a very happy person.  ;D Will try to enter this OWC since, to everyone's amazement, I actually like Jeff and consider him a good friend. We've known each other for quite sometime and we've stayed friends and supported each other through life's tougher times. I've lost three days though due to that nasty spider event last Saturday, but I'm back and feeling almost normal. Got several ideas. None of which are comp winning ideas, but if they entertain me, that's all I need.  :)

Good stuff Pia!  Takes more than a pizzly spider to keep you off the keyboard

Quoted from Grandma Bear You like beer???  I took you for a wine sipping dude. Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy...I'm a very happy person.  ;D Will try to enter this OWC since, to everyone's amazement, I actually like Jeff and consider him a good friend. We've known each other for quite sometime and we've stayed friends and supported each other through life's tougher times. I've lost three days though due to that nasty spider event last Saturday, but I'm back and feeling almost normal. Got several ideas. None of which are comp winning ideas, but if they entertain me, that's all I need.  :)

Will you put a spider in it that suffers some horrible fate?  ;)

Damn. Now I want to put a spider in mine.

Restarted tonight, 4 pages in. Very limited writing time until Friday, we'll see if I can make the deadline.

Sorry Jeff, wanted to support your OWC (and it really is a great theme) but don't think I have the time. It's not just the hours spent putting something together, but then also reading and constructively responding to a few dozen other entries - it's only fair, but in total it's a big commitment.

Good luck to all who do get something in!

Quoted from ReneC Will you put a spider in it that suffers some horrible fate?  ;)

Depends. Is it allowed to talk?  :D

What's the stance on the number of reads - everyone has to read all?

Wow, seems like there are a bunch of stories coming! Great spirit!

Quoted from Grandma Bear Depends. Is it allowed to talk?  :D

AHHHHHHH!!! Not again, please don't even joke about it, just in case!! Let's pretend this never happened and talk about the weather instead.  :'(  :'( :'(

Good to see peeps are churning out some scripts.

Also good to see most seem to be OK with the challenge.

You know it's funny, because no matter what you come up with, someone will be unhappy with it...and others will do everything in their power to circumvent the parameters.

This wasn't meant to be "hard" so to speak, just a good challenge and try to get peeps away from writing scenes and scripts in big populated locales.

I've had a rough week and am not sure I'm going to get an entry in, as I honestly haven't even given it a thought, but then again, most who run an OWC don't participate, so maybe this is a good thing.

Quoted from Grandma Bear ...to everyone's amazement, I actually like Jeff and consider him a good friend. We've known each other for quite sometime and we've stayed friends and supported each other through life's tougher times.

Thanks, Pia.  The feelings are mutual.  You cool peeps!   ;D ;D

Well I wish my question ever gets answered.

Quoted from Grandma Bear You like beer???  I took you for a wine sipping dude. Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy...I'm a very happy person.  ;D Will try to enter this OWC since, to everyone's amazement, I actually like Jeff and consider him a good friend. We've known each other for quite sometime and we've stayed friends and supported each other through life's tougher times. I've lost three days though due to that nasty spider event last Saturday, but I'm back and feeling almost normal. Got several ideas. None of which are comp winning ideas, but if they entertain me, that's all I need.  :)

Can't stand wine - it was my first bad drunk as a child and ever sense even the smell bothers me. Thank God for beer.

Hoping a for a quick recovery with your bite (try rubbing some beer in it)

Quoted from khamanna Well I wish my question ever gets answered.

Which question is that Khamanna?  Restate your question and I'll do my best to answer it.

First draft done yesterday. Now to hit submit! JK

Solid little simple story I think.

This one was a tiny bit tricky cause the rules were very constraint. Fish out of water/stranger in a strange land themes are almost a genre in them-self and with it being a short and having only 4 characters, it seemed a bit tight. Not complain at all. Restrictions breed creativity and this one, like a lot of OWCs forced me to get out of my comfort zone when writing which is a good thing.

Now let's see how much spit it's gonna take to polish this story here and make it shine.

Quoted from khamanna What's the stance on the number of reads - everyone has to read all?

This question?

If it were up to me, I'd say yeah, everyone who enters should give every script a chance - which does not mean a full read.  But, there's no way to in force that and every single OWC, we have a few peeps who don't read any, or maybe 1 or 2.

I say do your best to read and comment on as many as you can, and try and give the ones you don't read a look, at least.

@khamanna, like always, you just read as many entries as you can. It's not required to read them all.

And done. I missed the last challenge - good to be back in the game. Will be interesting to see what folks come up with.

Just "cracked" a shred of an idea i had a few months ago, and think i can make it work here...  i think.

Quoted from CameronD @khamanna, like always, you just read as many entries as you can. It's not required to read them all.

I try to read them all, but I don't comment on them all. Sometimes I have nothing to really add to the comments, or I feel my opinion is clouded by personal bias or something subjective like that, or I want to leave a little mystery as to which one is mine (you know, the only one without a comment on it from me, and I don't like leaving comments on my own to throw people off.) Most of the time I just run out of time if there are a lot of them to read.

Quoted from Cameron Hey Moderator Jeff, Just submitted my script, but in the OWC submission link the genre is locked on "horror". I've specified what I need my genre changed to for whoever is doing the collation of everyone's work (Don?), but best fix it for the rest of the peeps on here. Cheers Cam

Cam, this is now fixed.

Quoted from Dreamscale This question? I say do your best to read and comment on as many as you can, and try and give the ones you don't read a look, at least.

Yep, thanks. Wanted to make sure that the rules on that hasn't changed. I can't guarantee I'll be able to read them all if there are 30plus entries.

I look at all, read the first few pages to select my reads - that I do, sure. I just don't comment on those I haven't read in full as my feedback is mostly about a story.

Quoted from ReneC I try to read them all, but I don't comment on them all. Sometimes I have nothing to really add to the comments, or I feel my opinion is clouded by personal bias or something subjective like that, or I want to leave a little mystery as to which one is mine (you know, the only one without a comment on it from me, and I don't like leaving comments on my own to throw people off.) Most of the time I just run out of time if there are a lot of them to read.

I never read without leaving a comment - really doesn't leave anything for the writer. Even if it is something short and sweet.

I'm totally with Rene here - if there's personal bias at play I don't comment. Like it's hard for me to fully understand and love Starwars entries or those referring to StarWars, those that center around a certain type of music or musicians, or humor I'm too foreign for. I might read those in half or read but leave no comment. I agree very much with Rene - if I can't offer much objectivity I don't comment.

Quoted from eldave1 I never read without leaving a comment - really doesn't leave anything for the writer. Even if it is something short and sweet.

Totally agree.

As everyone knows, I am notorious for "I'm out on page whatever", but I always say why that is, and amazingly, the comments I leave after reading less than a page even, are usually more than many leave after a complete read.

Quoted from Dreamscale Cam, this is now fixed.

Ta Jeff, Don let us know it was all good last night. Looking forward to seeing everyone's work now, roll on the weekend!!

If you can use the asterix system , Jeff, which Don used once before to show who has read a few entries thus eliminating anyone who has read ZERO from actually being voted the 'winner' (which happened last OWC and on a couple of other occaisons) then great

Quoted from stevie If you can use the asterix system , Jeff, which Don used once before to show who has read a few entries thus eliminating anyone who has read ZERO from actually being voted the 'winner' (which happened last OWC and on a couple of other occaisons) then great

Neat idea. Call out the asshats.  ;D

Ugh...had to submit early since I'm travelling the next couple days. I'm going to get spanked big time this go around. It'll be well deserved! Maybe even enjoyed!

Good luck everyone - can't wait to start reading!

I don't wear an ass for a hat;)
~John

Quoted from stevie If you can use the asterix system , Jeff, which Don used once before to show who has read a few entries thus eliminating anyone who has read ZERO from actually being voted the 'winner' (which happened last OWC and on a couple of other occaisons) then great

That will be to The Don.  I'll see what I can do...

Finished my first draft, editing it right now! I'm excited. :)

After that last ass kickin' I took, it's time for round two.

I have an idea...almost an outline. Just running out of time. If I get one entered, it will be written in the 11th hour.  :-/

This one may have been covered already, but are we limited to the genres mentioned? Like, Western isn't there. Can I write a Western? Not that I'm going to, but just asking.

I cannot promise to read all of them. I try best I can but I have a full time job, a husband and three dogs. :-/  

Not sure I'll make it in this one although I do like the Kid's challenge.

Ok, I wrote something and printed it out to read through.

My entry could use a flashback. Ugh, and usually, I don't even have a need for them.

Good that we, who is normal people and like to use their week in full, still have a day left!

Quoted from stevie If you can use the asterix system , Jeff, which Don used once before to show who has read a few entries thus eliminating anyone who has read ZERO from actually being voted the 'winner' (which happened last OWC and on a couple of other occaisons) then great

Stevie, Don agreed.  We will have some form of the asterisks system in place.

Quoted from SAC This one may have been covered already, but are we limited to the genres mentioned? Like, Western isn't there. Can I write a Western? Not that I'm going to, but just asking.

Yes, limited to the genres in the challenge parameters.

At first, I was going to use "open" for genre, but then started thinking about things like syfy, which wouldn't fit the rest of the parameters.

I really want to enter something, but I've had a busy week and still haven't given it any thought.

We still have approximately 38 hours to go, so you never know.

Best of luck to all the entrants. I won't be able to enter, however I will try to do some reads.

Quoted from Dreamscale At first, I was going to use "open" for genre, but then started thinking about things like syfy, which wouldn't fit the rest of the parameters.

Surely it could? A Vanilla Sky-style piece where someone finds themselves in a deserted location (but filmed in a 'real world' location, e.g. a museum, park or something), only to discover it's a computerised dream world run by an experimental project in 2017 and therefore not real? Strange land, limited characters.

Quoted from JonnyBoy Surely it could? A Vanilla Sky-style piece where someone finds themselves in a deserted location, only to discover it's a computerised dream world and not real? Strange land, limited characters.

Not sure, Johnny - the first parameter was:

Quoted Text Location – Any actual place in the world

Quoted from eldave1 Not sure, Johnny - the first parameter was: Location – Any actual place in the world

Filmed in a real world setting. Somewhere you could get for cheap - an office lobby on the weekend (where they work in life, just empty), for instance. If I'd had time to put something together, that's the route I was going down - a familiar location, but made strange.

Quoted from JonnyBoy Filmed in a real world setting. Somewhere you could get for cheap - an office lobby on the weekend (where they work in life, just empty), for instance. If I'd had time to put something together, that's the route I was going down - a familiar location, but made strange.

Be interesting to see what others thought - for me it would still be questionable. An empty office would be just fine, IMO. An empty office turned into something it is not (e.g., a spaceship, an office on another planet, etc, etc.) would be dicey IMO.

Quoted from eldave1 Be interesting to see what others thought - for me it would still be questionable. An empty office would be just fine, IMO. An empty office turned into something it is not (e.g., a spaceship, an office on another planet, etc, etc.) would be dicey IMO.

Ha, thanks goodness I didn't actually write it then!

Quoted from eldave1 Be interesting to see what others thought - for me it would still be questionable. An empty office would be just fine, IMO. An empty office turned into something it is not (e.g., a spaceship, an office on another planet, etc, etc.) would be dicey IMO.

Agreed.

The idea was to keep things "simple", in using real life things/structures, etc.  I didn't want any flying cars or the like.

Done and submitted. Now I put the script away and forget all about it so I don't find more mistakes and resubmit. No resubmitting for me!
Good luck to all.

Same to you

I'm sorry Jeff, but it looks like I'm out. I wrote one, but it didn't want to be any longer than five pages. I tried to come up with more stuff, but it would've just felt like filler.  :-/

Quoted from Grandma Bear I'm sorry Jeff, but it looks like I'm out. I wrote one, but it didn't want to be any longer than five pages. I tried to come up with more stuff, but it would've just felt like filler.  :-/

I understand, Pia.  No big deal...

Quoted from Dreamscale Stevie, Don agreed.  We will have some form of the asterisks system in place.

Excellent news brother

Just noticed the deadline is midnight Eastern time. 9pm for me. I kinda forgot about that. Hard to manage, but I'm trying!

Quoted from ReneC Just noticed the deadline is midnight Eastern time. 9pm for me. I kinda forgot about that. Hard to manage, but I'm trying!

Yeah, that's the usual deadline.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!   ::) ::)

Quoted from JonnyBoy Surely it could? A Vanilla Sky-style piece where someone finds themselves in a deserted location (but filmed in a 'real world' location, e.g. a museum, park or something), only to discover it's a computerised dream world run by an experimental project in 2017 and therefore not real? Strange land, limited characters.

I just finished something and realised it might fall under this type of banner, even though it's not that specifically, and even though the actual filming would take place 'real world location'. I think it'd get slammed. Oh well, I'll post it after.

Be interesting to see what pops up, I'll def read and review some..

Quoted from LC Oh well, I'll post it after.

Why not enter anyway? You will still get reads and suggestions how to improve the story. Some people, especially those who takes "winning" seriously, will always slam any script that doesn't quite fit within the set parameters. I can't enter mine, because it's almost four pages short and that would be a little too much. I will probably post it after the OWC though.  :)

Won't be entering this time, too much on.

Will try and read some though.

Best of luck all and thanks Don for the chance.

Entered. Up till 2am last night finishing.  Thainks Don and Jeff, you guys are great! Look forward to reading what everyone came up with this go round.

For the first time I think I've submitted with time to spare! Already I'm winning! ;)

My only fear is that some people may read mine and think it doesn't fit the theme. I will argue it 100% does, but not in a way most would be expecting. We will see.

Also, when submitting, there was no option I found to submit an outside link, only to have SS host it. Did I miss something?

Best of luck to all. As always looking forward to all the feedback and entries. These are great writing exercises.

Quoted from CameronD Also, when submitting, there was no option I found to submit an outside link, only to have SS host it. Did I miss something?

I think if you've got an outside link it'll probably reveal who you are, as you'll be hosting it under your name on a different site. That's my guess anyway.

Quoted from CameronD Also, when submitting, there was no option I found to submit an outside link, only to have SS host it. Did I miss something?

No. For the challenge, I host the scripts as some folks may be able to figure out who wrote what based on dropbox links.  Once the challenge is over, you can update with a dropbox or outside link.

Don

Had a last second idea, sketched it out this morning, opened FD to write...then realized part of my story didn't meet the requirement. Oh well.

I really wish we wouldn't make these things so constrictive.

Quoted from leitskev Had a last second idea, sketched it out this morning, opened FD to write...then realized part of my story didn't meet the requirement. Oh well. I really wish we wouldn't make these things so constrictive.

;D ;D ;D ;D

Actually, I agree with you, but many dislike the open ended challenges - as if they need to be penned in.

IMO, this is pretty open ended, though.  We have a theme, we have a number of genres to choose, a character limit, and a stipulation being set in 2017 and using real "things".

I don't see where the problem lies here.

I don't like the 9-12 page count. Mine is a thriller with almost no dialogue. It's a lot of action. It probably would play nine minutes as film at only five pages. 6-12 pages are good. Having 9 pages as the minimum doesn't make any sense to me at all. Besides, most filmmakers looking to make a short film, are usually looking for stuff near the 5 minute mark.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I don't like the 9-12 page count. Mine is a thriller with almost no dialogue. It's a lot of action. It probably would play nine minutes as film at only five pages. 6-12 pages are good. Having 9 pages as the minimum doesn't make any sense to me at all. Besides, most filmmakers looking to make a short film, are usually looking for stuff near the 5 minute mark.

I understand what you're saying, Pia, but at this stage in the game, it's way too late to make that change.

The reason i set the page count at 9-12 was because I find it almost unfair when peeps write a very short script compared to others at 12 pages.  And, readers tend to read the shorter ones, because it involves less time, which again, to me, is not fair.

I do hear you, though.

It seems more open ended than it is. For example, let's say they challenge was to write a story with a bowling alley, hedge clippers, and a naked midget. No one probably has a story like that lying around. But there's a ton of room to get creative. The bowling alley could be magical, it could be a dream, there could be feuding gangs, there could be a troupe of circus people who bought it and are trying to run it, it could be in the future, in the past, there could be a mime throwing invisible balls.

Fish out of water combined with character restriction and the requirement to be real and in the present is a hard combo of things.

Dena and I do these MYC midnight competitions. They have prose and screen. They divide the writers, like 2000, into groups of 25 in the first round. Each group gets its own parameters. I think they probably use a program to generate it: genre, location, object.

Something like that.

For the flash fiction last week, we had fantasy, fountain, and food truck. So we had to use those things. The judges are not overly strict, as long as it has elements of those things, and the story is good, you'll be ok. We recently did the screen one and survived to the final round and finished 4th, won like $400.

The mix of things you need is speciifc enough that no one has a story lying around, but open enough where it's not too hard.

Anyway, good luck, I'm supporting! I'll read and review some anyway.

Quoted from Dreamscale ;D ;D ;D ;D Actually, I agree with you, but many dislike the open ended challenges - as if they need to be penned in. IMO, this is pretty open ended, though.  We have a theme, we have a number of genres to choose, a character limit, and a stipulation being set in 2017 and using real "things". I don't see where the problem lies here.

And you have to have some kind of parameter since it is a ONE week challenge. Otherwise, if too loose anyone could submit any script they've worked on for any length of time.

All that diatribe aside - it would be interesting would day just to have a short challenge. No restrictions but make it more than a week

Quoted Text . For example, let's say they challenge was to write a story with a bowling alley, hedge clippers, and a naked midget.

I've really enjoyed this challenge, that is until my script gets torn apart of course  :'( . It's definitely been tighter parameter wise to what we normally get, but it was good to get pushed that little bit more.

The above naked midget challenge however, now that sounds right up my street. Possibly restrict it so it has to be a romance, and then we're looking at a proper creative mind bender.

Looks like I'm in.  It's horrid, but, I'm in...

Dan,  

ps, now, back to bed....

Quoted from leitskev It seems more open ended than it is. For example, let's say they challenge was to write a story with a bowling alley, hedge clippers, and a naked midget. No one probably has a story like that lying around. But there's a ton of room to get creative. The bowling alley could be magical, it could be a dream, there could be feuding gangs, there could be a troupe of circus people who bought it and are trying to run it, it could be in the future, in the past, there could be a mime throwing invisible balls. Fish out of water combined with character restriction and the requirement to be real and in the present is a hard combo of things. Dena and I do these MYC midnight competitions. They have prose and screen. They divide the writers, like 2000, into groups of 25 in the first round. Each group gets its own parameters. I think they probably use a program to generate it: genre, location, object. Something like that. For the flash fiction last week, we had fantasy, fountain, and food truck. So we had to use those things. The judges are not overly strict, as long as it has elements of those things, and the story is good, you'll be ok. We recently did the screen one and survived to the final round and finished 4th, won like $400. The mix of things you need is speciifc enough that no one has a story lying around, but open enough where it's not too hard. Anyway, good luck, I'm supporting! I'll read and review some anyway.

Love the sound of these, Kev. Those are the type of challenges that get the creative juices flowing.

Saturday morn here in oz and I have about 5 hours to get mine done. As usual I always vow to get them done early in the week but it never happens lol! Luckily I have about 9 pages written so only have to finish it and edit.

Lib, enter your please!  Mine is sort of in the parameters so hopefully perps will 'allow' it. I had this really great idea at the same time it was announced and this script had to be wriiten so this will be my entry. It does the 4 char max to a T and will be ok on page length.

Don, when i submit in a few hours can you confirm please that you received it and it was readable? i have a new laptop and am using these new pdf reader hings - Adobe have started charging money now, good on them, grr - so keen to see how they come out after I send it in, cheers mate

Good job, guys!  Keep 'em coming!!!

gotta bow out, which pains me.  6 hours and 3 pages of notes will not a script make.  just wasn't a good week for me to sit down and write a script, which sucks bc i liked the idea... well, the semblence of an idea I mapped out.  best of luck.

I wish I was in...

I hadn't put pen to paper in a while, but this challenge had me nibbling on the laptop for the last week. I'm glad to participate again, hoping it's a good icebreaker to get back in the mix.

First challenge I followed the code of war, but I usually don't catch others breaking the rules when I read anyway. Regardless, I wouldn't mind some weird in the entries.

An hour and 24 mins to go, peeps!  C'mon, you stragglers - and Mark's pisser!

You can do it!

Stevie, you arsehole, you better deliver a SOLID OWC this time, bro. I'm counting on you!!!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I literally just submitted mine... I'm so upset though because I was literally up ALL night trying to perfect it, and touch up the ending, when all of a sudden, RIGHT before I have to leave for work, Writer Duet, the website I was using (for free) to type it on, kept popping up and promoting the "new pro" version ad, every time I would hit the back space button, or any button to type ANYTHING for that matter... And of course I had no time to work on it today... so needless to say the ending is pretty rushed (but it's still the basic idea that I had wanted to end it with). I had A LOT of fun writing this...and it was good practice. I was just excited and wanted to make it as good as I possibly could, since this is my first ever OWC. However, it's still all in good fun, and I'm very excited to read/review what others have written. Good luck to everyone that enters!!! And just HAVE FUN WITH THIS!!!

P.S.

Looks like I'll be purchasing the "pro version" of Writer Duet...  ::)  :P

Submitted. Didn't even have a chance to give it a once-over, but it's done. Phew!

Quoted from stevie Lib, enter your please!

Okay, I'm in, last minute. You and Pia encouraged so I thought what the heck.
The Kid, and others might slam me on a dodgy parameter and slipshod ending but I'm prepared for that. It's always a bit of fun anyway.

You'd better be in Stevie.  ;) Ironically you took a stand on my last cause I broke a rule so you have to read this one or else there'll be trouble.  ;D

Quoted from oJOHNNYoNUTSo I hadn't put pen to paper in a while, but this challenge had me nibbling on the laptop for the last week. I'm glad to participate again, hoping it's a good icebreaker to get back in the mix. First challenge I followed the code of war, but I usually don't catch others breaking the rules when I read anyway. Regardless, I wouldn't mind some weird in the entries.

Good to see you Johnny! I like weird too. :)

Couldn't upload

Damn I thought I was just in time, typed in my logline and all but in the second window I couldn't open a file to send it over...

Quoted from PrussianMosby Couldn't upload

Email it to webmaster@simplyscripts.com

Quoted from LC Okay, I'm in, last minute. You and Pia encouraged so I thought what the heck. The Kid, and others might slam me on a dodgy parameter and slipshod ending but I'm prepared for that. It's always a bit of fun anyway. You'd better be in Stevie.  ;) Ironically you took a stand on my last cause I broke a rule so you have to read this one or else there'll be trouble.  ;D

In like Errol, Lib!  Don the legend is posting the scripts now!  Unbelievable championness!!

Quoted from Don Email it to webmaster@simplyscripts.com

I did. Thanks.

The Scripts of the July 2017 OWC are live here:

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1500694561/

- Don