Quoted from Dreamscale It's almost as if some peeps don';t know what comedy even is, which I find hard to fathom.

That's why I didn't bother trying to do one.

Quoted from Dreamscale ...a few little to no effort at all.

Says the guy who yet again bottled out of entering a script.

Quoted from Dreamscale It's almost as if some peeps don';t know what comedy even is, which I find hard to fathom.

I don't think that's a fair criticism. You might indeed know what comedy is, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to translate it onto the page. Comedy works different on the page than onscreen. Take a script that's a failed attempt at comedy. I think it's much more likely that the writer doesn't understand how comedy *works* than just flat out doesn't know they're supposed to make people laugh.

Comedy's fucking hard. I think it's a completely different art form from writing, even though the two can intertwine in a number of ways, and I swore off of it for that very reason (and out of respect for the comedians who do it). It's like hip-hop. It's music, but it's more than that, and a non-hip-hop musician would be foolhardy to think he could produce quality hip-hop just because he's a musician too. You listen to comedians in interviews, it's an entirely different way of thinking that goes into it.

For me, it's much, much easier to wrap my head around producing in the vein of Tarantino's work than Louis CK's work.

As promised I have tried hard to get into the mindset the writer intended and enjoy what's on offer. I haven't always been able to manage it... but just because I don't like a certain brand of comedy doesn't mean that it isn't comedy. It just doesn't resonate with me.

Every writer that's entered... and I'm completely shocked and surprised (in a good way) at there being 34 entries... deserves a pat on the back for having a go. For trying to make us laugh, keep a smile on our faces, a big thanks from me. This has been the best OWC I've been a part of so far.

I've read most of them all now. Will go back and comment on the last remaining few in a day or two.

Have read some interesting scripts and I've seen 3 or 4 stand outs, a couple of  'really out there' scripts, a couple of pissers... The variety has been quite good and being only 6 pages ( well most of them anyway) it hasn't been too hard to read the lot.

For my own script I have been receiving, on the balance, generally favourable comments which is heartening and surprising, for a script which I knew was underdeveloped and roughly edited.

Six months on SS is proving to be a wise investment in time and energy.

My apologies if my words were misinterpreted.

Comedy doesn't have to work to be comedy, but there has to be an attempt at making the entire script a comedy.  Many of these did not seem to do that, but maybe it's just me.

Dustin, trust me, I wanted to enter this so badly, but was so bummed by the theme of superheroes, there was no way I was going to submit a serious attempt.  As I said, I almost threw together a big old pisser, but plans changed Friday, and I decided it was for the better that I simply stayed out.

34 entries is great and I applaud each and every one...but as usual, it appears like the majority of those writers are not commenting, which sucks ass.

were the perameters that this needed to be sidesplittingly funny?  that's usually when people try to write endless dick and fart jokes, or stupid pratfalls... which some obviously have.

the contest was to write a superhero comedy.  that can be interpreted many ways.  "comedy is subjective, blah blah." i know, just saying.

Quoted Text Comedy doesn't have to work to be comedy, but there has to be an attempt at making the entire script a comedy.  Many of these did not seem to do that, but maybe it's just me.

It's not just you. Every script didn't have to be side splitting. Comedy itself is broken up into a multitude of genres Alternative, Dark, Deadpan, Spoof and a lot of others but there were at least 7 scripts that didn't attempt anything but depressing dramas.
It doesn't have to be a laugh from start to finish but at least show some attempt in the script to crack a smile.
An email went out before this started given the master list, it also put the 3 went that over to the bottom and  asked to read them if you wanted. Personally I think that is harsh considering some peeps need very little influence not to read  scripts. An email should also have said there are at least 7 scripts that didn't attempt any form of comedy don't read those either considering that was actual premise.
I personally read all 33 out of respect to those who took their time to enter, at the end every script should have 33 reads or less for those 3 that went over.
But we know it doesn't go way...

Ah well that's my rant for today

Quoted from irish eyes Ah well that's my rant for today

Rant agreed with and appreciated!!!

I'll keep my eye out for some of these "dramas." I did read FM, which some people called a drama... even a *good* drama (WTF?). I could see it torn up and rewritten from scratch as a drama, but as is, I found the idea to be a stretch. That's just one script though. No idea what the others are like.

It has been a good challenge. Difficult to pull off.

I think when you have a topic like superheroes, and a six page limit, you have to get out the block quickly. In a feature you can take much longer - watch Groundhog Day and see how long it is before the big ticket funny scenes cut it.

We pretty much all agree there are various types of comedy. Some we like more than others, personal tastes. Some will be sketches, 'two men walk in a bar, one is a superhero' type scripts, which suits the criteria. Others will go for bigger stories. I would have been interested to see what would have happened if they also had to be low cost and filmable.

I know many don't share this, but when you have a six pager I often think it has to be low budget as you are clearly trying to appeal to low budget producers.

Mine has got the feedback it deserves, and whilst comments vary, I can accept its limitations - it has many. But that was the idea I had in a week, which is really five days max when things are taken into account.

Visual humour can also be difficult to get across on the page. In the UK there was a famous comedy called Fawlty Towers. In this, John Cleese does a German goose march through the bed and break fast he runs because some German guests have turned up. On the page this could come across as the opposite of funny, but in some ways it's one of the most immortal scenes from that brilliant series.

Likewise two men in a bar can be far more dynamic than comes across by the time expressions, intercutting, props etc are included.

All in all this has been a worthy challenge, alas one I didn't excel in.

Quoted from James McClung I've only read a few thus far. Only one genuinely made me laugh. I'm impressed with the variety though. OWC scripts can run a little repetitive depending on the genre/theme. For the most part, I think the writers made a good effort too. My own script is a complete bust. I blew it with the last rewrite and realized it at the worst possible time: AFTER submitting but BEFORE the scripts were posted. By the time it was up, I was already over it. Whatever. Onward with the other scripts!

Sorry James.  It can be hard to devote so much time to something and then realize it's not gonna work.  

I have finished reading all of the scripts.  There were some good ones, I mean really good ones.  Some not so good, and some WTF did I just read ones.

I think the biggest surprise for me was the lack of comedy or superheroes in the short.  Some were dramas.  Some had barely a superhero at all.

I knew the superhero + comedy + 6 page limit was gonna be very very hard.  I had to basically load a pisser b/c I took everything original out of my story.  It sucked.   Although, some people seemed to like it.  It could have been so much more.  

I'm sure everyone can say the same thing, given the parameters.  I applaud everyone who had the guts to enter this very difficult OWC.  

My fav were:
Johnny come lately
Erection Man
Mother Nature's Joke
Googleman
Flying High Again  
Making the perfect hero
The talk

I liked some others, but, I thought those were the cream of the crop.

But, good job, and remember, today will end, tomorrow starts anew and can be the day that you take that next step with writing.  

Dan

Comedy is a genre. There are different types of comedies within that genre.

Blonde didn't say it has to be funny from beginning to end. He said "comedy". It's either the funny situation or dialog. It could be a romcom or whatever, just fall under a comedy.
That's what the requirement was in my understanding and most (if not all minus two or three - I haven't read them all, can't tell) did fine I think.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer I know many don't share this, but when you have a six pager I often think it has to be low budget as you are clearly trying to appeal to low budget producers.

I also look for low-budget ones for some reason. I started training myself long time ago and can't stop. Although it's not been a requirement and can't be punishable.

Yeah, mine got the feedback it deserves as well.

Quoted from DustinBowcot As promised I have tried hard to get into the mindset the writer intended and enjoy what's on offer. I haven't always been able to manage it... but just because I don't like a certain brand of comedy doesn't mean that it isn't comedy. It just doesn't resonate with me. Every writer that's entered... and I'm completely shocked and surprised (in a good way) at there being 34 entries... deserves a pat on the back for having a go. For trying to make us laugh, keep a smile on our faces, a big thanks from me. This has been the best OWC I've been a part of so far.

Who are you and what have you done with our Dustin?  Space Phantoms must have broken through the barrier again.  Or is it the Pod People.  Damn them and their sleep shenanigans.

Seriously, that's nice Dustin.  There were a lot of decent scripts.  Like I have said elsewhere, Superhero genre + comedy + 6 page limit is very freaking hard.  I had to basically cut everything that made mine unique just to fit the page limit.  I hated my entry.  But, some seem to like it.

Dan