There were 22 scripts submitted by 23 writers:

On The Grassy Knoll by Puddin' Tane - Short, Sci Fi - Bill and Barb discuss their future on the grassy knoll. 3 pages

Homa by Claude Cooper - Short, Horror, Scifi - A man's home network of smart-speakers becomes demonically possessed. 6 pages

The Loop by Mobius - Short, Sci Fi, Horror - A boy gets a visit from his future self and his life changes forever. 6 pages


Due Process by 0 - Short, Sci Fi - An old-school criminal falls foul of the law in a world where the judiciary has been privatized and justice streamlined. 6 pages

Passwords by Anonymous - Short, Horror - A boy is harassed by an online opponent. 6 pages

Route 13 by Autonomous Anonymous - Short, Horror, Sci Fi - A gangster messes with the passengers on an automated trolley. 3 pages

Collapsing Memories by Arthur V. Darke - Short, Horror, Sci Fi - An old man suffering from dementia tries to save a woman from the memories of his past.

Voice Assisted Homicide by Glenda-the-glass-hole - Short, Sci Fi - Franny loves his geek life and his reliance on it leads to murder. 6 pages

CC by Don - honest! - Short, Horror - An Augmented Reality ghost hunt hits close to home. 6 pages

Divided We Fell by The Tiger King - Short, Horror, Sci Fi - When mysterious lights appear in the sky, a man must protect his pregnant wife from an ominous threat. 6 pages

Terms & Conditions by Francis Bacon - Short, Horror - A desperate dash to answer a call of nature leads to an unexpected diagnosis. 6 pages

Dream Job by Farch Carbone - Short, Sci Fi, Drama - With a promotion to the top of his plant-based meat company in his sights, an ambitious tech worker preps for the presentation of his life. 6 pages

The Californians by Highly Derivative - Short, Sci Fi, Dystopian - A dystopian reimagining of Hansel & Gretel set in a post apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly virus, militiamen, and cannibals. 6 pages

Catastrophic Disassembly by Jake Gittes - Short, Horror - A nanorobot virus threatens the existence of the human race. 6 pages

Lurking Trauma by The Awoken Tiger - Short, Horror - Eager to improve his Wife's mental health, a desperate Husband buys a device to help her manage old childhood trauma, by altering her mind. What could possibly go wrong? 6 pages

The Big Bad by O'Brother Grimm - Short, Horror, Sci Fi - Making it out of the woods will be saving Grace. 2 pages.

Retribution by The Masked Avenger - Short, Horror - A young black couple are cyber-targeted because of their protest rallies, but can they count on the police for help? 6 pages

Woke by Isaac A. Clarke - Short, Sci Fi, Horror - A man wakes up from an artificially induced dream state to find himself in a factory where humans are experimented on and slaughtered like cattle. He must escape while avoiding some very familiar faces.  6 pages

Metallic Pill by 0 - Short, Horror, Sci Fi - An innovative biotechnology transforms a married couple. 6 pages

The Bad Planes by Don Day Elbano - Short, Sci fi, Drama - A young girl chronicles her existence in the age of technology in 2028 America. 6 pages

Echo of Guilt by Alexa - Short, Horror - Modern technology serves as Judge and juror.  6 pages

Thanks Don

Cheers Libby and Don!! WOOOOOOOOO, script o’clock!! Best of luck to all x

Exciting, will be reading later.

nice showing! And just like last time - 22 entries.

Yeah!

Best pen names I've seen.  Love it!

Great turn out. Thanks Libby and Don.

I've read a batch and enjoyed them so far. Gonna go through a five or six a day so I don't get script fatigue and start skimming.

Thanks, Don and Libby for the contest.
I didn't get to enter this one, maybe next month.

I'll stick around to review some shorts.
Good luck to all!

Thanks Don and Libby, that's tomorrow's reading sorted.

Whoohoo, great turnout!

Looking forward to reading.

I will read a few this week. Have been laid up with a bad flu bug since Friday arve lol and only just got out of bed to have a shave and shower. Absolutely smashed me

Quoted from stevie I will read a few this week. Have been laid up with a bad flu bug since Friday arve lol and only just got out of bed to have a shave and shower. Absolutely smashed me

Jebus, I know you lucky souls down under (how I miss the place) are fairly corona free but maybe get tested. I had essentially what you’re saying now in Feb in London, as did my flat mate. He lost his sense of smell, I ended up with a lung infection and was out of action for over a month (likely was the virus).

Don’t mess around, get the Medicare card out and go pester a gp!!

Ditto to that. Have you not been singing happy birthday when you wash your hands, Stevie?

Quoted from stevie I will read a few this week. Have been laid up with a bad flu bug since Friday arve lol and only just got out of bed to have a shave and shower. Absolutely smashed me

It's probably something you picked up on 1 of your night's out, Mate.  Remember, unde17 equals problems...especially when you do that dirty thing you like so much.

Quoted from Cameron Jebus, I know you lucky souls down under (how I miss the place) are fairly corona free but maybe get tested. I had essentially what you’re saying now in Feb in London, as did my flat mate. He lost his sense of smell, I ended up with a lung infection and was out of action for over a month (likely was the virus). Don’t mess around, get the Medicare card out and go pester a gp!!

Sorry to hear.  Hope you mend quickly

Wow, Cam and Stevie. Get well soon, both of you!

Alright Dave and Kham, long time not speak!

Thanks guys, I’m fine now but at the time we didn’t have any testing and didn’t think it was in the UK/knew the symptoms fully like the smell thing, so essentially just thought I’d ride it out...not a clever idea so if anyone feels flu like and drained for multiple days get checked.

The highlight was attempting a competitive game of soccer-ball after the flu bit had died down. Was about as effective as a comatosed hamster and was literally seeing stars just stumbling around after confused opposition players, defo not to be messed with!!!

Hey cheers for the concern guys. I‘m ok. Didn’t have any real cv symptoms. I hardly ever get sick but when I do it’s spectacularly ill lol.  I don’t get much sleep with my night work and I‘ve been doing a lot of walking on top of my normal weight programs. Guess my old body was just telling me to slow down MF lol    

Haha, well so long as you’re confident it’s nothing Stevie. My fave Aussie saying was “she’ll be right”, sounds like you’ve actively applied the rule with great success, stay safe bud!

Lol yeah she’ll be sweet Cam.  It has been cold here too but I refuse to wear jumpers and shit so prolly got a chill from that. I’ll be back pumping iron on Tuesday lol

Yeah, Aussies are tough, right, Stevie?  Just don't go to work until you're fighting fit.
That said, it's icy here and I've got the sniffles, but that'll be as far as it goes. Oh, how I long for a heatwave.  

Nice to see you back on SS, Cam. It's been a while.

Glad to both are feeling better.

I would be curious to get an an it body test as I had a vicious  flu like bug in mid February after travelling Through various uk airports etc Odd are that it wasn’t Covid, but still interesting to know.

Script wise I had an idea provisionally named covid-30 where a new bug emerges and a select few who experienced Covid-19 without medicine etc had a special blood that the wealthy reaped to have injected into themselves for Lots of cash - couldn’t bring it together in a short, but I liked the idea.

Haha, sweet as Stevie! And hey Liby! Yeah I got side tracked with life and production stuff/trying to flog my disasterpieces to unsuspecting fools...turns out they were suspecting, the fools.

Stuck my head in though on Friday, saw the challenge with about 12 hours to spare and just stuck something in (that's clearly middle of the road and deserving of all the abuse it will get), but it's super fun to be back and genuine thanks for setting up this awesome wee challenge!!! Missed you guys.

Hey Bill! Yeah, a lot of folk seemed to have had a flu around then so there's always a chance, especially if you've been hanging out in airports. At least the worst thing about them is no longer a £5 Starbucks and grumpy check in staff, bloody covid...

Quoted from Cameron Alright Dave and Kham, long time not speak! Thanks guys, I’m fine now but at the time we didn’t have any testing and didn’t think it was in the UK/knew the symptoms fully like the smell thing, so essentially just thought I’d ride it out...not a clever idea so if anyone feels flu like and drained for multiple days get checked. The highlight was attempting a competitive game of soccer-ball after the flu bit had died down. Was about as effective as a comatosed hamster and was literally seeing stars just stumbling around after confused opposition players, defo not to be messed with!!!

My daughter and her husband went through a similar experience in March.

Every classic Covid symptom for a period of ten days.

Two trips to to the ER for both of them. Sent home without being tested both times. Insanely, at the time they were sick, the requirement for tests included that you had to have travelled to a foreign country even though at the time the US was in the top 4 countries with case counts.

Now, they wanted to get an anti-body test so they could donate plasma. Can't get one because you have to have been tested positive for Covid even though we effing know must the COVID cases in March were never tested.

Makes you want to choke someone.

Okay -  I am through them all - nice job everyone - some real entertaining reads.

Now back to my DVD conversion project -  time to get the wife's chores done. Thanks to Don and LC!!!

Quoted from eldave1 My daughter and her husband went through a similar experience in March. Every classic Covid symptom for a period of ten days. Two trips to to the ER for both of them. Sent home without being tested both times. Insanely, at the time they were sick, the requirement for tests included that you had to have travelled to a foreign country even though at the time the US was in the top 4 countries with case counts. Now, they wanted to get an anti-body test so they could donate plasma. Can't get one because you have to have been tested positive for Covid even though we effing know must the COVID cases in March were never tested. Makes you want to choke someone.

Yep, similar thing happened to us. My colleague went home sick on a Thursday - Feb 27 I believe - and had vomiting, diarrhea and chills. Like clockwork, I woke up on Saturday and had no other symptioms, but I had to vomit. Then came the fever. And again like clockwork, my wife got it on that Monday and had to be hospitalized for a few hours to get fluids and IV motrin.  I called the hospital Sat. morning and they said the same thing to me, Dave, that if I hadn't traveled to China  and I had not been around anyone known to have COVID, or I was not short of breath, I couldn't get tested. This was March 1. By March 13 we were under a stay-at-home order.

Ran a low grade fever a couple of weeks ago and got tested and I was negative. I'm thinking that after a full day of wearing a mask and breathing in our own CO2, our bodies run a little hot, in the 99s and low 100s sometimes.

Frightening time.

AJR

Quoted from ajr Yep, similar thing happened to us. My colleague went home sick on a Thursday - Feb 27 I believe - and had vomiting, diarrhea and chills. Like clockwork, I woke up on Saturday and had no other symptioms, but I had to vomit. Then came the fever. And again like clockwork, my wife got it on that Monday and had to be hospitalized for a few hours to get fluids and IV motrin.  I called the hospital Sat. morning and they said the same thing to me, Dave, that if I hadn't traveled to China  and I had not been around anyone known to have COVID, or I was not short of breath, I couldn't get tested. This was March 1. By March 13 we were under a stay-at-home order. Ran a low grade fever a couple of weeks ago and got tested and I was negative. I'm thinking that after a full day of wearing a mask and breathing in our own CO2, our bodies run a little hot, in the 99s and low 100s sometimes. Frightening time. AJR

Did you get an anti-body test or just a regular test?

And - YES - one thing I have learned from this is not all of my body's aches, pains and cold like say symptoms are germ related.  Can't tell you how many times over the last few months in l lockdown where I had a runny nose or a slight fever and had the - oh- oh moment - only to have those things evaporate within a day or two - tells me that I vastly underestimated other factors that made me feel shitty - pollens, dust, etc. etc.

I got a regular test - a 4 minute drive to the hospital, a tent set up outside, and literally 30 seconds to test you. You roll down the window of your car, lean your head back and get swabbed.

I think my doctor phoned in the script for the antibody test but I'm not sure I want to do it. I hear they are inaccurate up to 50% of the time.

I've been a little overboard with the masks and sanitizing because one, I'm an essential worker, responsible for managing office buildings, making sure the tenants and all my employees are safe. And two, I have a rare genetic lung condition, similar to but not as serious as cystic fibrosis, so if this thing gets into my lungs, I will probably not do well.

AJR

Quoted from ajr I got a regular test - a 4 minute drive to the hospital, a tent set up outside, and literally 30 seconds to test you. You roll down the window of your car, lean your head back and get swabbed. I think my doctor phoned in the script for the antibody test but I'm not sure I want to do it. I hear they are inaccurate up to 50% of the time. I've been a little overboard with the masks and sanitizing because one, I'm an essential worker, responsible for managing office buildings, making sure the tenants and all my employees are safe. And two, I have a rare genetic lung condition, similar to but not as serious as cystic fibrosis, so if this thing gets into my lungs, I will probably not do well. AJR

Got it - stay safe, mate

Sorry, am I in the right place? Just went through two pages of 'covid19' comments to get here. I thought there was a thread for that?

Well, that’s all read, and 18 commented on. If I missed yours and you want a read… you’ll have to take it up with my writing partner, lol. Or send me a P.M.

Mine (script) is getting raked over the coals a bit, but I anticipated that. The positive energy surrounding some of the feedback far outweighs the negative, so… yeah, no bad mojo over here.

Great turnout, and tales of Sci-fi woe. Anyway, they’re calling for a crazy thunderstorm, so I better go button down the hatches in the garden. See you on the other side of this OWC.

Read and commented on them all, and have submitted by voting ballot too.

When's the next one?

Yes, little bit of a tangent, there, Rick.

Back to our regular discussion of OWC spectacularness.  

I'll see if I can move a couple of those posts but some are a bit of a mix of both.
...

Anthony, (when's the next one) I agree! Love it when SS is buzzing.

All I will say is: don't go away for too long cause there's plenty happening in the very near future, right here on SS.

Quoted from LC I'll see if I can move a couple of those posts but some are a bit of a mix of both.

No worries, lol. Not necessary. I was just mentioning that it got derailed a bit. All good!

You know me Libby, always lurking around somewhere or other

Sorry Lib I started the derailment detailing my woes      While I was sick over the weekend I noticed I had urinary pain. I googled some info and learned that your body produces chills and sweats to combat these type of infections especially if it was kidney disease. Spent two shit nights not sleeping and crawling to the toilet to squeeze painful liquid    Went to the docs this morn and he took a sample, put me on anti biotics.  My wife still think I had a flu bug too which it may have been but it pretty much wouldn’t have been Covid.  For a start how the hell would I catch it?  I’ve been working in the supermarket since the shit began and prolly never came within cooee (Cam, that’s for you, bro ) of getting it.  I live in the Gold Coast which is like 670k pop spread over like 50 kms.  We had bugger all cases here - any were from the dreaded cruise ship or Asian tourists.  So whole suburbs would not have had anyone even with mild symptoms.

Anyway I’m exhausted from being in bed for 3 days.  I’ll try and read a few by the end of the week  Cheers guys and here endeth the medical hijacking, Dr Lib

Commiserations, Stevie, sounds crappy, and I'm sure I speak for all of us in saying I hope you feel more sprightly very soon.

I have it on good authority reading terrific Future Shock scripts is a terrific panacea.  
...

For further plague reporting:

https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-Chat/m-1584208975/s-1110/

Read/reviewed some more. Only have a few left but leaving them till tomorrow as I've a headache and I don't want to take it out on the scripts.

I am enjoying the reads, there are just quite a few that don't match the parameters - more than usual. It is understandable, doing near future sci-fi with a horror element and low budget is not easy!

Today it struck me that not a single script on AI sex robots. I thought there would be one for sure - then I realized Jeff didn't enter   

lol Dave

Quoted from eldave1 Today it struck me that not a single script on AI sex robots. I thought there would be one for sure - then I realized Jeff didn't enter

Quoted from eldave1 Today it struck me that not a single script on AI sex robots. I thought there would be one for sure - then I realized Jeff didn't enter

Bahaha    Funny shit, Dude!

Haha, Simply Scripts OWC Covid support network section, sorry dudes and dudettes for kicking that off, and sorry to hear Dave that the states appear as useless as the UK on this one...grrrrr.

VERY LAST THING ON IT! Christ Stevie, nightmare mate (still loving the Aussie-isms though). Just watch if it doesn’t go away as the virus bit drops off and generally damages/infects organs, mainly lungs but can be others, after that part is gone.

Anyway...AI sex robots!! Have to have a good pun name...I, Blowbot? Bi Centennial Man?The Iron Giant *****? Short Circuit 3 (not a pun name but soooooo tantalising a film prospect that it’s filthy)? Sorry

Quoted from Cameron Haha, Simply Scripts OWC Covid support network section, sorry dudes and dudettes for kicking that off, and sorry to hear Dave that the states appear as useless as the UK on this one...grrrrr. VERY LAST THING ON IT! Christ Stevie, nightmare mate (still loving the Aussie-isms though). Just watch if it doesn’t go away as the virus bit drops off and generally damages/infects organs, mainly lungs but can be others, after that part is gone. Anyway...AI sex robots!! Have to have a good pun name...I, Blowbot? Bi Centennial Man?The Iron Giant *****? Short Circuit 3 (not a pun name but soooooo tantalising a film prospect that it’s filthy)? Sorry

Robocop - ulate?

Quoted from eldave1 Robocop - ulate?

Hahahaha, yes Dave!!! Winner!! That’s outstanding

Lol all good Cam. I’m getting used to pissing fishhooks     Just wish I could have a longer sleep in between at night

Lol I like the robot title from you and Dave.  Jeff would star in one set at Ram’s training at the Coliseum: a giant metallic blow up Jeff (with a neutral gender Bush thing) blows everything off the Dreamscale when it attempts to mate with the Ram’s O Line

Quoted from Cameron Haha, Simply Scripts OWC Covid support network section, sorry dudes and dudettes for kicking that off, and sorry to hear Dave that the states appear as useless as the UK on this one...grrrrr. VERY LAST THING ON IT! Christ Stevie, nightmare mate (still loving the Aussie-isms though). Just watch if it doesn’t go away as the virus bit drops off and generally damages/infects organs, mainly lungs but can be others, after that part is gone. Anyway...AI sex robots!! Have to have a good pun name...I, Blowbot? Bi Centennial Man?The Iron Giant *****? Short Circuit 3 (not a pun name but soooooo tantalising a film prospect that it’s filthy)? Sorry

The Proliferator - "Cum with me if you want to get off. "

Quoted from stevie Lol all good Cam. I’m getting used to pissing fishhooks     Just wish I could have a longer sleep in between at night Lol I like the robot title from you and Dave.  Jeff would star in one set at Ram’s training at the Coliseum: a giant metallic blow up Jeff (with a neutral gender Bush thing) blows everything off the Dreamscale when it attempts to mate with the Ram’s O Line

Stevie's dream is to stroll along the City By The Bay, hand in hand with his 49ers, and then, 1 by 1, he could sneak off into the sunset for a quick 69er.

HA!!!!!

Votes are due in by the 12th, correct?

Believe so Zack

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Believe so Zack

Yep. Should have just checked the announcement thread. lol

Read them all now. Mine is getting a kicking but it's all good as I think I've figured out how to fix the issues people have with it.

I have one clear favourite and will vote tomorrow.  I think I'll be a bit more sympathetic than normal to those that didn't quite hit the criteria as it was hard to tick all the boxes this time and was a worthy challenge.

Quoted from Liar Well, that’s all read, and 18 commented on. If I missed yours and you want a read… you’ll have to take it up with my writing partner, lol. Or send me a P.M.

OK, I lied… that’s all read and 20 commented on. The other two I’ve read a few times but am having issues coming up with anything productive to say. Not that they’re bad… just not my bag, or I didn’t quite understand what thee author was going for and I don’t really want to leave a half hearted review. Maybe I’ll try again later, but I’ll wait and see if the reads/comments catch up first, hopefully everyone’s commenting… hard to tell nowadays.

Mind you, most, if not all, have about 70-80% comments and there’s still 3 days to go - which is pretty good participation compared to previous OWC’s where 30 plus scripts would only garnish maybe 20 or so (comments), dropping the average participation a little more, which is understandable; 30 scripts @ typically 6-10 pages is a lot to read. Now I’m just rambling.

I didn't enter so can't vote, but of the ones that I read, the delightfully ambitious "Dreamscape Mindfcuk" is the standout. I always like the ones that swing for the fences (and they often suffer in OWCs).

Been really fun to read these so far. The average quality on Simply is impressive these days.

Almost finished and some great creativity as usual. it always amazes me that the script are so different and diverse.

However, I do seem to be a bit of a grinch this time around, especially due to one criteria...

"Budget: For production purposes, ideally your script should be self-contained with minimal cast, no huge set pieces, not too ambitious SFX, if any."

I remember one OWC when I was called out for failing the criteria and it bloody well chafed, as I had put a lot of effort in to doing so, but in reality I had missed a key element. Annoying.

So I can understand if some feel aggrieved.

We all have different options on these things, and some stuff is easier to film than expected. However, a fair few, whilst they have great ideas, push this a bit too far.

Strangely enough I seem more relaxed over whether it is horror, or sci-fi

what would a OWC be without a debate

Every script read and reviewed... Terms and Conditions ftw!

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Almost finished and some great creativity as usual. it always amazes me that the script are so different and diverse. However, I do seem to be a bit of a grinch this time around, especially due to one criteria... "Budget: For production purposes, ideally your script should be self-contained with minimal cast, no huge set pieces, not too ambitious SFX, if any." I remember one OWC when I was called out for failing the criteria and it bloody well chafed, as I had put a lot of effort in to doing so, but in reality I had missed a key element. Annoying. So I can understand if some feel aggrieved. We all have different options on these things, and some stuff is easier to film than expected. However, a fair few, whilst they have great ideas, push this a bit too far. Strangely enough I seem more relaxed over whether it is horror, or sci-fi what would a OWC be without a debate

I didn't DQ any although I thought several did not meet the horror and/or sci-fi element so I rated all - note - seems to be that DQ/did not read have the same impact on the scoring anyway - just not counted.  So I think if you wanted to downgrade a script for not meeting the parameters you would actually have to downgrade your rating for that factor rather than DQ ing it.

Anyway - the budget one in Sci/Fi horror ones are a bit of a challenge for me to assess since I don't know what is easily done with cheap computer animation vs. costly special effects. i.e., I can kind of tell when a drama or a thriller is going to be expensive - but sci-fi - horror images are much harder for me to get my arms around given the state of technology.

I kinda agree with Dave re budget, I'm not a line producer so it's tough.

My rule is that if it appears that there is the need for extensive physical effects, large casts etc then that will pile on the budget.

But computer graphics and green screens can make a lot of things within the reach of smaller budgets.

Least that's how I understand it... and I wouldn't DQ for budget unless it was very, very obvious.

The problem with the Sci-Fi genre is that it's almost impossible to pull off without some sort of budget.

Visual effects can be done on a home computer these days, and they can look damn good if the director knows how to shoot for VFX. Making assets like flying futuristic cars or spaceships would be more expensive than things like fire or explosions or gigantic holograms.

I wouldn't DQ any script for budget based on VFX unless you know what it would take to make it happen. Even VFX that might be expensive on the page can be done for cheap as long as the filmmakers aren't worried about how it actually looks.

Quoted from ReneC Visual effects can be done on a home computer these days, and they can look damn good if the director knows how to shoot for VFX. Making assets like flying futuristic cars or spaceships would be more expensive than things like fire or explosions or gigantic holograms. I wouldn't DQ any script for budget based on VFX unless you know what it would take to make it happen. Even VFX that might be expensive on the page can be done for cheap as long as the filmmakers aren't worried about how it actually looks.

Concur - and in my case, I don't know enough to know (Donald Rumsfeld?) . For example, there was one script I liked with a toilet that disappears into a wall revealing a chasm beneath, If that was physically done I assume it would be expensive. I just assumed that there would be a cheap VFX way to make that happen,

Quoted from ReneC Visual effects can be done on a home computer these days, and they can look damn good if the director knows how to shoot for VFX. Making assets like flying futuristic cars or spaceships would be more expensive than things like fire or explosions or gigantic holograms. I wouldn't DQ any script for budget based on VFX unless you know what it would take to make it happen. Even VFX that might be expensive on the page can be done for cheap as long as the filmmakers aren't worried about how it actually looks.

I suppose you have a pretty good point there.

Quoted from eldave1 I didn't DQ any although I thought several did not meet the horror and/or sci-fi element so I rated all - note - seems to be that DQ/did not read have the same impact on the scoring anyway - just not counted.  So I think if you wanted to downgrade a script for not meeting the parameters you would actually have to downgrade your rating for that factor rather than DQ ing it. Anyway - the budget one in Sci/Fi horror ones are a bit of a challenge for me to assess since I don't know what is easily done with cheap computer animation vs. costly special effects. i.e., I can kind of tell when a drama or a thriller is going to be expensive - but sci-fi - horror images are much harder for me to get my arms around given the state of technology.

No DQ’s here, but as the challenge had a specific budget theme, not an open budget, I have kept that in mind, but only on a couple, the rest I have let fly.

I seem to be more relaxed on the genre element- again, the right music, angle, colour of shot etc can change a script.

This made me think. On the dystopian angle, which occurred a few times, I would love an open budget, give it all, challenge - what bleak future we could all predict. Spooky.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw [redacted]

Remind me, which one. I love his old scripts.

My fav, if I recall, was the doll maker. Class.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer No DQ’s here, but as the challenge had a specific budget theme, not an open budget, I have kept that in mind, but only on a couple, the rest I have let fly. I seem to be more relaxed on the genre element- again, the right music, angle, colour of shot etc can change a script. This made me think. On the dystopian angle, which occurred a few times, I would love an open budget, give it all, challenge - what bleak future we could all predict. Spooky.

Or the dystopian present;)

Quoted from eldave1 Or the dystopian present;)

Yeah, fair point. Weird world.

We could almost make the timeline in the next year. It could be interesting.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Did you not see we turned The Dollmaker into a short film? I helped produce it and just a few days ago it went over 17 million views on YouTube. They are working on a feature version at the moment and keeping me in the loop, which is exciting.

Wow!! Nice work. 17M is super impressive.

This seemed not as easy a challenge as I hoped it might be.

Still, it's not called a challenge for nothing.

A few people nailed the criteria.

I notice where writers decided to just go with one genre they just omitted the horror or SciFi element under the logline, sometimes even added drama etc.

Regardless, I am super grateful for the turnout and the enthusiasm.

Definitely a great challenge, Libby. You actually made me think outside of the box a little bit.

When I first read the parameters, I thought it was going to be easy. After a week of thought, I had nothing. I wrote mine in :30 minutes just before the bell with an idea from my daughters friend that happened to be visiting. Otherwise I'd be sitting this one out.

Nice challenge. Thanks LC!

Good one, Zack!

I've had the same thing happen with OWCs - something clicks, or opens up that I didn't think of before.  I think it was an opening image - close up of an eye, or something - I think Dave pointed it out and then we created a thread in Screenwriting Class, I'd have to look it up again... Yep, here it is:

https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-screenwrite/m-1571265713/s-new/

That one made me think.

John - your daughter's friend. We grab nuggets of inspiration from the funniest places. Looking forward to discovering what that was.  

Quoted from MarkRenshaw [redacted].

Class.

I kept a handful of his scripts from Movie Poet. Great stuff.

Ratings done. My takeaway is that sci-fi and horror are not as close as they might first appear. Dystopian visions of the future are chilling but not in the same way as the gut-punch visceral shocks of horror. Tough challenge.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Class. I kept a handful of his scripts from Movie Poet. Great stuff.

Having not read his stuff before, I looked him up on this site. Damn. Good stuff. (Though, I read his short "Numbers" and recognized it. Have no idea where I ran into that one before.)

Right then, that's my votes in. That was a blast. Cheers Libby and Don, been a good while for me in entering one of these beasts and it didn't disappoint.

We always get a good standard in the OWC's overall but there were a few scripts that really blew me away here. I mean there were even some that didn't meet the parameters but were exceptionally good, really impressed. Mine was a complete disaster but I'll explain when the reveal happens what went down as I'm pretty embarrassed for lowering the standard, but the joy of reading some of the work more than made up for the rightful pasting I'm getting.

Well done all, thanks for the brief coronavirus help group session and roll on the next one!

Cam

P.S. I usually leave music choices in my reviews but forgot this time. Lots of Massive Attack, Underworld and Leftfield seemed to go well with the futuristic madness. If anyone's looking for a new futuristic knob twiddling effort Storm's End is a banger - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0NbkCwyOIk

Cam, I love Massive Attack. Weren't even on my radar until my husband sent me Teardrop.

Alien is the absolute masterpiece of blending horror with ScFi, imho. You all should catch Memory: The Origins of Alien, on Netflix and Prime. Just ignore the hokey wtf opening scene. For its time it is amazing and the evolution of how it came to be is riveting stuff.

Very happy most of you seemed to enjoy my first outing at an OWC.

And, like I said earlier, stay tuned for some great stuff coming up on SS.

Quoted from Cameron P.S. I usually leave music choices in my reviews but forgot this time. Lots of Massive Attack, Underworld and Leftfield seemed to go well with the futuristic madness. If anyone's looking for a new futuristic knob twiddling effort Storm's End is a banger - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0NbkCwyOIk

Nice. Gonna add that to my writing playlist. Good lookin' out, Dude.  

Since we're sharing futuristic writing music, here's one of my favorites.

Hey LC! Yeah, Mezzanine is a ridiculously good once in a generation type album, Teardrop/Angel/Intertia Creeps especially. Weird side fact, it appears that Robert Del Naja (who basically is Massive Attack) is also Banksy! Some people have all the luck in getting smacked on the head with the talent stick...

And cheers Zack! Gave it a blast, wasn’t aware of it before but it was catchy as mate, shall clear my musical schedule and do a deep dive over the upcoming admin session I’ve got lined up. Muchos gracias bud!

Banksy! Really? I did not know that.
Smartarse. Him, I mean.   If it's true...

Haha, smartarse indeed, with his mad shredders and crazy shizzle. Appears to be true! Someone figured out that whenever Massive Attack were on tour Banksy artworks were coincidently appearing around the cities they played in, then fellow triphop person Goldie was getting interviewed about Banksy and accidentally referred to him as “Rob”, so there seems to be something there. But someone else mentioned that it’s actually likely to be him and a few others from Bristol under the one name, so who knows...

Anyway, I’ve hijacked this thread with corona virus stuff and now Banksy...back to scripts...SCRIPTS!!! They were awesome

Quoted from Cameron Anyway, I’ve hijacked this thread with corona virus stuff and now Banksy...back to scripts...SCRIPTS!!! They were awesome

The next OWC will be Massive Banksy Attacks, and it must include at least one hijacking.

"Protection" the best MA album for me. Who can argue with Tracy Thorn and Tricky? Yanks just don't get good music.... or good films for that matter a lot of the time.

Though I was highly tight for time, I was able to push something across the finish line. I’ll try to explain what hell I was thinking when the reveal happens, because a number of people didn’t get it (and I can even say that without blowing my cover because it happened to more than one script).

Have not written up a lot of reviews, haven’t found time to read them all but have read more than I commented on. I write it up without checking comments, but when it comes time to post I see if I actually said anything not already mentioned. No point making a post of “and I agree with what’s already been said.”

Will try to get to more tonight and tomorrow.

In case you’re curious what was so time-consuming this past week, I moved my family out of NYC. Was changing jobs anyway, just moved up the move a few weeks before the city burns to the ground.

Quoted from Zack Votes are due in by the 12th, correct?

Yes, by midnight edt us&a.

Okay, someone other than me post on the 'Guess Who Wrote What' thread???
Or I might start to think Future Shock has it in for me.  

So far a big echo...

Quoted from LC Okay, someone other than me post on the 'Guess Who Wrote What' thread??? Or I might start to think Future Shock has it in for me.   So far a big echo...

Nothing wrong with what you’re doing, Libby.

Tis the time of day/night that we’re in.

UK is dark, as in wee hours of the morn. Eastern seaboard is after midnight in America.

It’s about 10:30 PM in my neck of the woods (think I’m the only one around here on CST).

Chris, Rene, Jeff and Dave over at Pacific time, around 8:30PM. So, all good if there’s crickets, it’s literally… crickets, as in deep dark night.

It's usually this quiet (on SS) when I surf the net this time of night for me. Rarely do I see anyone post around this time, err... except for people on the west coast of Canada/America. Sometimes.

Oh, and SS just slowed to a crawl. Hope Don’s not suffering another DOS hit.

*edit* Nope... it's fast again, we're good.

Thanks for the time-zone rundown, Rick.

Get your votes in, stragglers. Not long to go now...

I got my votes in a couple of hours ago. I had to basically ignore the criteria though, half of the scripts didn't have horror at all or just paid lip service to it (mine included). Nearly all had sci-fi though, and nearly all tried to keep the budget in check, so it's a win to me.

Besides, we're allegedly competing against an A.I. written script. That's all the horror we need.