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Think if I wrote it as a haiku I'd get it done on time?
Over sins known and not stands Ray, rendered skull in hand, under harvest moon.
EDIT: WTH was I thinking? That sux! The entire first line is an unfilmable. No title or log line. At least I have a single character, action and setting. I don't think dialog is absolutely necessary.
However, I do ask that someone make a refferee call on whether you'd rather have a slug line or dialog? (I believe the title and log lend themselves naturally to a first line.)
* * * EXAMPLE A * * * Title - Log line SLUG Character + Action
* * * EXAMPLE B * * * Title - Log line Action CHARACTER Dialog
Not sure if letting others do half the work is a good idea. Maybe 3/4 of the job might be fairer.
I don't know if page-length is always a fair indication of work put in. I do completely agree there should be a minimum-page count, though - it would just stop the rush of one-, two-, and three-page scripts that annoy everyone and subsequently get an inordinate amount of attention at the expense of other entries.
The other rule (and I know the OWC isn't about rules) that I really, really hope is enforced is the 'Helio rule'. Or if not a rule, at least an honour-based understanding. One entry each. If everyone knows they only have one entry, they're going to put all their efforts into that. If they know they can enter two or three, they'll split their focus and I'd argue the end results will be poorer. You've got two good ideas? Pick the best.
Those two very simple tweaks would cut out a lot of the tension that always seems to happen. Let's leave the tension-making to the genre and theme, eh?
And please don't announce this to other boards. It would be great if we could keep the number of entries under twenty, especially if they're twenty entries from members on SS.
And please don't announce this to other boards. It would be great if we could keep the number of entries under twenty, especially if they';re twenty entries that are members on SS.
Phil
Dang it!
I really wanted to enter, but I can't be bothered writing a script.
A lot of the moviepoet members drop off their scripts, here. I, for one, don't want to read forty scripts based on finding a relic in grandma's underwear drawer (or what the theme is) when half of them are from people aren't SS members who don't read other scripts.
And, please, no pisstakes. If you can't do the genre/theme, don't write something else and submit it as a OWC. The spirit of the OWC is to write something you may not consider writing in a specific amount of time. If a director approached you, looking for an adolescent horror script involving a hamster cage, and you wrote a slasher script about a hamster cage, this director wouldn't want your script.
If I knew the genre and theme I might try my hand in it -- But it wouldn't be horror or all out horror if I did. I'm currently, 3 years on going with my autobiographical comedy and I don't want to get off track with it. As with "Coffin Canyon™", I am holding it to no set time it is done or complete, just when it gets there. I've worked on "Coffin Canyon™" for nearly 10 years and each draft is so much different and better than the one before it. I actually wrote 4 drafts in One year on it. My comedy hasn't even been through 2 drafts yet. A OWC would be nice for a change of pace and because the commitment isn't all encompassing, but again Theme is everything. 12 pages would be good, maybe 10. And a tame, kid orientated "spooky" theme rather than an all out horror theme.
Hmmm... Just data: http://www.the-numbers.com/market/Genres/Horror.php
http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/budgets.php Under "Most Profitable Movies, Based on Return on Investment" almost half are horror films. Think BIG! boyzNgirlz.
There has been a lot of speculation regarding the rules and such for the October OWC. I'd rather have waited until the genre and theme were announced before laying out the rules and the future of the OWC.
These rules are subject to change at the last minutes:
Going forward ALL OWCs will be run and advertised solely on the discussion board with the exception of the October OWC. There will be no announcement on the main site (simplyscripts.com) nor a newletter blast. However, once the deadline has been reached, I will be blogging about the entries on the main site. There will be no iScripting of a selected script since iScript won't be getting the exposure they normally get by having the announcement and newsletter. The whole anonymity will be preserved.
The October OWC, however, will be open to all comers and be advertised across other sites as well as a newsletter blast. One selected script will be iScripted. As usual, that selection process will be totally unfair. I will pick three scripts that I liked and send them over to iScript to select the one script that best showcases their talents. There will be no anonymity on the October OWC. Everyone will know who submitted what from day one.
There will be a maximum and minimum number of pages. There will be a limit of one entry per person, however if you think you can get away with a second submission without me catching on, go for it. If I catch you out, tho, only your first entry will go up.
Special note - It may be like my OWC entry resembles a pisser, but please keep in mind that I may be very inebriated while writing at 10:35 PM, Saturday night. Let's all keep this in mind for all the entries. If some dialogue happens to sound like it's coming from lobotomized idiots, could just be some weak dialogue.
I know each and every entry will be fantastic. I can already see my feedback...
"This is a strong effort. I really like how you wrote that character. Nice work. Great job!"
There will be no anonymity on the October OWC. Everyone will know who submitted what from day one.
I like this change, now I know who I'm talking to. I never went back to comment after names were revealed. If I wrote something for OWC, pretty sure i read all the others. Rather address those who wrote it directly. First time I read it.
The page limit needs to be solid IMO. Part of the challenge. Squeeze it in or don't enter. Looking forward to this one.
Why should we waste our time and read scripts from those who don't reciprocate?
Not exaggerated at all.
There are plenty of people here who do frequent Movie Poet and who do reciprocate reads. Your statement was insulting to those people and frankly bigoted. Also, it implies that the problem with the OWCs lies with these people alone which is not true.
Gonna echo Phil here. If they don't have an account, why bother. No different then Don putting and asterisk next to the names of those who've properly participated in past OWCs.
Many wouldn't read scripts from new comers until they've commented on at least three. I don't find that bigoted. I think its fair. I'll definitely read all of those from veteran SS members, and anyone new who's commenting.
If I don't have the time (or desire) to read all the scripts, atleast I can weed out the ones from the regulars here. I don't see a problem with that. Is it any different than not reading a script because I don't like the logline?
Gonna echo Phil here. If they don't have an account, why bother. No different then Don putting and asterisk next to the names of those who've properly participated in past OWCs.
Many wouldn't read scripts from new comers until they've commented on at least three. I don't find that bigoted. I think its fair. I'll definitely read all of those from veteran SS members, and anyone new who's commenting.
James
That is not the issue. People who drop off scripts and expect them to be read without reading anything in return are scum. Unless they don't know any better in which case they are ignorant scum.
However, the issue I'm having is slamming people from a specific site or even just people who have come only for OWCs and read scripts during the challenge. Even though people might only participate on the boards during the challenge does not make them any less a part of this forum. Some even end up sticking around.
It's not a case of Simplyscripts vs. Moviepoet. It's a case of reading scripts from active members of the board vs. those who drop off their scripts and not participate in thread discussions.
I have no problem with someone who belongs to both sites.
However, the issue I'm having is slamming people from a specific site or even just people who have come only for OWCs and read scripts during the challenge.
If they've read scripts in previous OWCs, then they have an asterisk next to their name, NO?
Not bashing anybody. This site is the bomb. Had nine filmakers ask about my latest short. Three from simply's facebook account.
Jeff!!! Get on FB pronto you old man.
I don't see any ill will towards newcomers. Last OWC that PHwhittcroft lad wrote the best of the bunch IMO. Yet, he's never here outside of OWC. Much like Cam17 (Cameron) those guys rock out some serious scripts. Yet, modest board members. In other words, they have lives. But!!!! They're board members.
If they've read scripts in previous OWCs, then they have an asterisk next to their name, NO?
Not bashing anybody. This site is the bomb. Had nine filmakers ask about my latest short. Three from simply's facebook account.
Jeff!!! Get on FB pronto you old man.
I don't see any ill will towards newcomers. Last OWC that PHwhittcroft lad wrote the best of the bunch IMO. Yet, he's never here outside of OWC. Much like Cam17 (Cameron) those guys rock out some serious scripts. Yet, modest board members. In other words, they have lives. But!!!! They're board members.
I still don't get your gripe Michael.
James
My gripe is this statement and has nothing whatsoever to do with you James.
Quoted from dogglebe
A lot of the moviepoet members drop off their scripts, here. I, for one, don't want to read forty scripts based on finding a relic in grandma's underwear drawer (or what the theme is) when half of them are from people aren't SS members who don't read other scripts.
I'm kind of torn. I mean, I think it would be nice to know who wrote what because if you're a fan of a certain writer, then you would want to be sure to read what they have entered right away... and Babz's Werewolves of London Challenge went well...
but then again, I like the mystery of the OWC, and like to guess at who wrote what, too.
Cindy
Award winning screenwriter Available screenplays TINA DARLING - 114 page Comedy ONLY OSCAR KNOWS - 99 page Horror A SONG IN MY HEART - 94 page Drama HALLOWEEN GAMES - 105 page Drama
I don't think whether the challenge is anonymous or not makes a big difference. People still critique the same way. Look at the recent 7WC, I think it was successful.
FEATURE:
Memwipe - Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller (114 pages) - In a world where memories can be erased by request, a Memory Erasing Specialist desperately searches for the culprit when his wife becomes a target for erasure -- with his former colleagues hot on his trail.
The scripts weren't posted anonymously in the original challenges.
When iScript became involved and we voted on the best script, so things went anonymous to be fair. Don also did it so every script would get a fair chance at getting read.
Dialog must include Zack's quote "I hope this little dispute never ends. I'm laughing so hard I'm gonna s*** out an A**-spider. Hahahahhahaa."
Re: Annonymity As I understand it, only the OCT will be "open". No annonymity. IMO, I think having at least one of these "open" competitions a year promotes an standard demonstraing that personal relationships are QUITE important in the industry. Wolves gang up together IRL. Friends develop alliances and work together IRL. People in the industry may very well exclude others based upon their personal behavior and correspondence.
Herman's right, as well. The 7WC had everyone pretty much equally tearing apart each others' works, albeit to varying degrees of utility. I don't think anyone escaped unscathed or fluffed.
Re: Who's getting read Phil has a perfectly legit POV on "Time Management". If you don't wanna read a non-SS regular's orphaned infant entry dropped off at the temple's doorstep - cool. It's a FREE country and no one's paying for anything around here, so gopherit. (I'll likely do the same!) If you wanna read everything - cool.
Re: Rules, rules, rules... hmm... A: Boss can run his shop anyway he wants. B: Pirate's Code. C: IRL, don't producers and directors argue with studio bean counters over casting, content and minute run time? Each means $$$$? I suggest/support making a contest (or two) as close to the real world as possible once in a while. See B, above.
It hasn't always been horror... and what a clusterf--- that turned out to be. When it was horror, it was always a specific type of horror, gothic horror or adolescent horror. The point was to keep your basic slasher stuff out of the challenge.
Due to an surprising undercurrent of interest, I propose a PISSTAKE OWC Due a minute late for work, @ 9:01am EST on April Fools Day!
~ ~ ~
Between two and three pages long. Points added or removed (at discretion) for every quarter-page below or above the assignment.
Generally accepted format expected. However, you are encouraged to push those to the breaking point of being flagged. "Technically it's acceptable, but... d@mn!"
Action and dialog are to be made as howlingly ludicrous as possible. You wanna make a pisstake? Fine! Gopherit, Ace! But if too many people whine... "It's not amusing. It's just confusing." ... then it gets gonged out of the competition. So be reasonable. Somewhat. Maybe.
~ ~ ~
One JURIED AWARD by SimplyScripts administrators BEST OF SHOW!
One MOB AWARD by the rest of the rabble here BEST FOOLERY!
There were entries like that in the last OWC, Ray. Quite a few.
I'm not for it though - I think it's a waste of time. Why to read...comment.... And what kind of comments it should be - doesn't work for me as it's not foolish enough, sorry
When's the theme and deadline posted? If the theme and page count are right i'll do it. I'm really trying to polish a script to enter some contest with next year and doing my best to finish my comedy, so anything too heavy won't be ideal for me.
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