Done - done and done.

Aout half of these totally ignored the budget guidance.  I just ignored it as I didn't want to DQ half the field and decided that it wasn't part of the parameters at all. BUt good grief - there were some that would be more expensive to shoot than a low bud feature

Quoted from eldave1 Done - done and done. Aout half of these totally ignored the budget guidance.  I just ignored it as I didn't want to DQ half the field and decided that it wasn't part of the parameters at all. BUt good grief - there were some that would be more expensive to shoot than a low bud feature

I'm not docking anyone for budget. While it's a good idea to keep these low budget in the hopes of them actually getting made at some point, I didn't see it as a hard rule to follow. And some of them might appear to be big budget but could be done with some clever filmmaking. The ones that clearly aren't, well, they're writing samples.

Quoted from ReneC I'm not docking anyone for budget. While it's a good idea to keep these low budget in the hopes of them actually getting made at some point, I didn't see it as a hard rule to follow. And some of them might appear to be big budget but could be done with some clever filmmaking. The ones that clearly aren't, well, they're writing samples.

Ditto to this.
We usually say preferably low budget to attract filmmakers, but I agree some people are clever and like to play around with SFX.

I wouldn't DQ any entry. Everyone's put effort in to be creative with the parameters.

Like I said - I ignored it and didn't take it into account at all in rating.

BUT - for argument's sake.

Then why do we if include it, even if stated as a preference?  This one was - Budget: Preferably Low. Minimal characters. Aim for easy and cheap to produce with minimal SFX.

If what we mean is - any budget you want. There are some writers that may have abandoned what were otherwise stellar ideas based on the budget suggestion. Just have something like - Write with any budget you want, keeping in mind that you may have a better chance of being produced with a low-budget concept.

Based on reading so far I don't think anyone abandoned their idea due to budget preference, but it's possible.
We're encouraging low budget in these early rounds for sure.

But Dave, you make a good point.
For Round 3, Budget will be extended anyway to pretty much what you've stated above. I may even copy your words verbatim.  .

And that's all I'm giving away on that front.
(Insert evil laugh for the third time.)

Write with any budget you want, keeping in mind that you may have a better chance of being produced with a low-budget concept.
I like it!

Quoted from LC Based on reading so far I don't think anyone abandoned their idea due to budget preference, but it's possible. We're encouraging low budget in these early rounds for sure. But Dave, you make a good point. For Round 3, Budget will be extended anyway to pretty much what you've stated above. I may even copy your words verbatim.  . And that's all I'm giving away on that front. (Insert evil laugh for the third time.) Write with any budget you want, keeping in mind that you may have a better chance of being produced with a low-budget concept. I like it!

I nuked my high-budget concept!

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URN KIND

An alien spacecraft lands on a lake carrying an urn from their commander only to be told that the only way to get to the burial ground they are seeking is through an abandoned train station filled with severed heads.

Okay - maybe I didn't nuke a high-budget idea

Quoted from eldave1 I nuked my high-budget concept! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URN KIND An alien spacecraft lands on a lake carrying an urn from their commander only to be told that the only way to get to the burial ground they are seeking is through an abandoned train station filled with severed heads. Okay - maybe I didn't nuke a high-budget idea

Cracking me up, Dave.   Classic stuff, but...
You missed the abandoned public bathroom in a train station... You would have been DQ'd.

Quoted from LC Cracking me up, Dave.   Classic stuff, but... You missed the abandoned public bathroom in a train station... You would have been DQ'd.

Whew......... close one Glad I went with my 2nd idea

For mine, I'm kind of baffled that so many people think it's an extraordinarily high budget. Without giving it away, they must think Lucio Fulci's House by the Cemetery was on par with Avatar. I even wrote with budget in mind, keeping everything dark with just a small light source. I've seen German amatuer movies that would require more money. Oh well.

Quoted from eldave1 Whew......... close one Glad I went with my 2nd idea

You're lucky. You HAD a 2nd idea.

It's a good thing we don't score ourselves as I would've really beat myself up.

LC - What if we just count our best two scores?!?! Come on round 3!

Quoted from eldave1 Like I said - I ignored it and didn't take it into account at all in rating. BUT - for argument's sake. Then why do we if include it, even if stated as a preference?  This one was - Budget: Preferably Low. Minimal characters. Aim for easy and cheap to produce with minimal SFX. If what we mean is - any budget you want. There are some writers that may have abandoned what were otherwise stellar ideas based on the budget suggestion. Just have something like - Write with any budget you want, keeping in mind that you may have a better chance of being produced with a low-budget concept.

I like this idea as well.

I won't DQ anyone for budget but I do give a higher score to a well-crafted story that meets the criteria and has scaled back the budget, simply because it's harder to do this and is part of the parameters.

I scaled back Smiler as per my notes because of budget and I've cut the one in this challenge back considerably because of budget.  It is a bit frustrating when you make this effort and then see loads that have ignored it. If it wasn't a requirement but simply an optional aspect to improve the chances of someone producing it, that would sit better with most people I reckon.

Wahey! I got to them all (had to sack off some important jobs at work though)

Well done everyone, some great stories in there.  I think I scored entries higher in this round than I did last round.

Gotta say... I'm digging having sci-fi scripts to read. Nice change of pace.

And... done.

So, when will the criteria for the next round be announced? Tomorrow?