The July, 2008 One Week Challenge

Quick rundown of the rules:

You have to write a script based on the genre and theme of the OWC, to be announced here.  The script must be in a generally accepted screenplay format.

The script should be no more than fifteen pages.  You have seven days (count the hours) to submit it to the One Week Challenge link.  All scripts must be submitted by 11:58 pm eastern daylight time on July 25th.  This link will help you determine what time it is eastern daylight time.
The authors' name will be removed from the scripts for the first week (or so), and then will magically appear on them...as if by magic.  Don't say if you've entered.

Don't start guessing who wrote what for at least a week.

No betting!!

Don't enter unless you intend to read some of these scripts.

And now for the theme and genre:



genre:  drama

theme:  "The guys at the post office are never gonna believe this."

The quote should be in the script and it should bear significance to the story.  Don't just toss it in there.


Good night.

Phil

Sweet! I'm entering this one.

Just one question--does it have to be strictly Drama or can it have elements of other genres too?

Okay so is everyone excited or what?

Hello......  anyone out there?

I'm surprised that people haven't chimed in their willing ness to play, or their disgust in the theme and genre.


Phil

Okay, so I'm a ghost then. Thanks a lot.

Quoted from ReaperCreeper Okay, so I'm a ghost then. Thanks a lot.

Of course not Julio! But these OWC's used to create such a buzz that the silence here seems strange.  

I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the genre.  With Utah's famous Pioneer Day swiftly approaching, everyone is getting into the holiday spirit.  The fact that you chose DRAMA when everyone was expecting a jolly historical piece is absolutely disgusting and I will not participate.

I say we make our own one week challenge that is more in the Pioneer Day mood.  I can't wait for the 24th and this silly challenge won't burst my holiday bubble.

Are you joking Tyler?  Can't really tell.

I'm a little bit disappointed that it's Drama because the last OWC was Drama.  I'll give it a go if I feel inspired but otherwise it's a miss for me.

Quoted from mcornetto I'm a little bit disappointed that it's Drama because the last OWC was Drama.

Each time I do comedy, people throw little fits.  And with two horror anthologies going on right now, there's no need to do one here.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Each time I do comedy, people throw little fits.  And with two horror anthologies going on right now, there's no need to do one here.

People are going to throw fits no matter what you choose but that is no excuse for being uncreative about choosing the genre.  If you're going to piss people off you might as well do it by picking something like Mockumentary or Mystery or the hundreds of other choices there were besides Drama.  I know that Drama can encompass may other genres but the thought of writing a drama is so uninspiring. IMO anyway.  

I have no problem with the genre but the "quote" chosen for us couldn't have been more cliche/unoriginal. I mean, seriously.

Quoted from mcornetto Are you joking Tyler?  Can't really tell.

Yes.  I was joking.

The theme and Genre are fine.  If you think it's bland that just means you don't have the tools to spice it up.

Spicing it up is not the problem. Spicing it up to the level I want to is.

Quoted from dogglebe The July, 2008 One Week Challenge genre:  drama theme:  "The guys at the post office are never gonna believe this."

Not a drama but anyway:

http://www.toxicshock.tv/news/wp-content/uploads/postal_movie_poster.jpg

I've got an idea but it's more of a comedy. Will try and come up with something.

Working for Royal Mail, I should be able to come up with something good for this but sadly my brains long since died a tradgic death with too much TV.

I think I've got something that could prove promising.

Never written a drama, so we'll see.

That line does read comedy...i guess the challenge is to make it a drama. And not rediculous. hmmmm...

My thoughts exactly Brymo. What I've written so far is very much a comedy. It has a lot of conflict though....does that count? haha

Quoted from stebrown My thoughts exactly Brymo. What I've written so far is very much a comedy. It has a lot of conflict though....does that count? haha

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1154562084/s-0/

Look at that, read the logline, and notice that the genre and theme were Drama: At the end of a family barbecue.

Then skim the script.  Don't worry about commenting on it or anything, just give it a good once over.

And lastly, look at my justification in the thread.  Yeah, it's pretty much a comedy that I tried to bullshit my way out of.  I wouldn't worry about it.

I think entries are going to be way low this time around.  The "use this line of dialogue" angle isn't my favorite approach to these things.

Quoted from Shelton I think entries are going to be way low this time around.  The "use this line of dialogue" angle isn't my favorite approach to these things.

With so many of our members on school holidays, I would've thought that entry numbers would be up. As for the use of the line, I reckon it's a good idea, because a lot of short film festivals call for specific lines of dialogue to be in the films so that they know that the films are new. So I think having to write a specific  line of dialogue is good practice.    

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, fundamentally, I was just saying that it's not my favorite route to go when writing things like this.  The upside is that stories will be pretty varied.

Not sure what the turnout will be really.  Feedback on here just seems slow though.

For sure. The theme "The guys at the post office are never gonna believe this"  leaves it wide open for interpretation.

I won't have time to write anything, but I will read.

I'm interested in seeing what kind of "going postal" scripts you guys come up with.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear I'm interested in seeing what kind of "going postal" scripts you guys come up with.

Hahaha. You've just forced three writers to change the title of their script.

Yeah Mike, I actually read that script while the boards were down. Just haven't read too many of your scripts, so had a look at a few.

I remember a debate going on during the last OWC about what a drama is, so won't go into that again. I've written the major parts of mine and it is blatantly a comedy (worlds still do collide though) so it's too late to change it really.

Ste

Great script by the way.

You're not supposed to tell people if you're going in it or not, people.

I was just lying...or was I?

Quoted from stebrown I remember a debate going on during the last OWC about what a drama is, so won't go into that again.

Ha ha, yeh, I think that happened on my script thread...


Any way, this is a hard one! It's a new one to me because I've never done one where you have to have a quote as the major part of the script.

I have this idea, but I don't know if it's that shocking to where the guys at the post office aren't going to believe it...

Sean

I just thought I'd say hello on the thread since people are saying it's quiet.

It probably runs in cycles.

I'll be doing my best to write for this one and hopefully I can read most if not all depending upon how many are submitted.

Good Luck to everyone!

Sandra

Here's some noise from me...to quote the late and great Warren Zevon...Awrooo! Werewolves of London! Feel free to join along if you like...

Quoted from Blakkwolfe Here's some noise from me...to quote the late and great Warren Zevon...Awrooo! Werewolves of London! Feel free to join along if you like...

Does anyone know the name of the Chinese restaurant in this song?


Phil

Lee Ho Fooks

Thanks.

Phil

I'm new but this challenge looks intriguing. Are new members allowed to compete in this?

Everyone is. Wonder how many are actually not going to include postal workers.

Anyone up for some chow mein?

A nice, relaxed, OWC might be a total blessing.

Quoted from bobtheballa I'm new but this challenge looks intriguing. Are new members allowed to compete in this?

Yes.


Phil

You people got fifty hours to submit.  Don't disappoint!


Phil

Ahhhh!!!!

Uhoh, just got a better idea that's more of a drama. Looks like it's going to be a late night as I'm busy tomorrow.

Ah hell, I just remembered this. Wonder what I can concoct in the next few hours...?

And as for genre, has fantasy or adventure ever been done? I know it's hard to squeeze an adventure into a few pages, but it would be a challenge.

Quoted from George Willson I know it's hard to squeeze an adventure into a few pages, but it would be a challenge.

Phil?  Any word on the more than a few pages challenge?

Oh geez, okay so... how significant should the quote be?

Does it mean there has to be postal workers???

1.) The quote has to be in context with the story.

2.) No.

As of now, 5:59 pm edt, those folks who have submitted a script should have received a confirmation email from me.  If you have sent in your script, but not gotten a confirmation, then email me.

Don

Tick, Tock.  six hours to go.

Here's a postman song for all you writers who took on this challenge. I dedicate this song to the memory of my brother, Thomas Wayne Lefteruk. That jokey card you never got... I'm glad that now you can deliver it to a lot of old souls.



http://www.esnips.com/doc/c205.....ers---03.-Mr.Postman

Sandra

I was hit by an idea 30 minutes ago.

I'll love pressure!!

Time is running out...

Dess....pera..dos....Why don't you come to your sens-es...You been out riding fences...for so long, now....

Just wondering.  I know this is a challenge and by that nature all that enter are winners but is iScript jumping on this one?  Haven't heard anything about it but they usually hook up the script the Council of Elrond demm worthy.

Looking forward to reading some of these entries.  Wondering how many will actually be dramas and how many will actually use postal workers. May the best man/woman (maybe/maybe not including me) not win because this isn't a contest.  

Yeah. It should be good, Michael. The challenge always gets the site fired up.

The scripts are up here.

Don