Quoted from SAC Think it might be a disservice to the writers, not to mention yourself, if you decide to just say - Oh well, no need to read anymore. There could be something in there you missed, a gem perhaps. Everyone has their own tastes, as my script went half and half among those who read. Personally, I'll be damned if I let someone else make up my mind for me as to what's good and what's not. I try not to read any comments prior to reading a script because I don't need the influence. And even if I take a peek here and there and it's negative, I read anyway because that writer wants me and you to read. It's only fair. Even the ones that went over got reads from me. May not have voted for them for that reason, and if they were good I would have said so. Well, there's my rant!

Well put...and I assume this is intended for a chick who never reads more than a few OWC's, but usually gets a ton of reads, even though her entries are almost always pure shit.

I agree 100%...PITIFUL, as always.  This chica has never read more than half of the entries, but always seems to think that's cool.

It's not...it's BS, and I wish I knew which of the pathetic entries was hers, and I'd blow it off, just like she does for most of the writers who submit. and read and review so many entries.

FUCKING WEAK, as always, you know who!!!!!!  

Quoted from khamanna I don't think I'll read any more of these. Everything's been already said - if it's a good entry - many said so. If the entry doesn't work - many said so, why would I read and nod to others... Anyway, I think when it reaches 15 or so reads - that's enough. So I won't read.

Just wondering, how do you vote if you haven't read them all?... I've commented on most, but have certainly read them all and have my little piece of paper next to me with my R,C and P alongside the script titles.

If you haven't placed and an entry and aren't voting, well then kudos for all the reads and the replies that you have done. But I reckon if someone enters the challenge and are voting then they should at least read all entries. Otherwise your voting will be skewed and unbalanced.

Quoted from cbead Just wondering, how do you vote if you haven't read them all?... I've commented on most, but have certainly read them all and have my little piece of paper next to me with my R,C and P alongside the script titles. If you haven't placed and an entry and aren't voting, well then kudos for all the reads and the replies that you have done. But I reckon if someone enters the challenge and are voting then they should at least read all entries. Otherwise your voting will be skewed and unbalanced.

Yet, many don't have the time to read them all and vote. And the best rise to the top. I've been surprised myself at first when I saw that many didn't read all the entries. I read all in the past - but see if you read all it's important you don't skim through them or stop on the first pages. And reading all like that (and I do mean reading - from first page to last, and not skimming) is very hard and might take the fun out of it. And this is supposed to be a fun challenge.

I checked out the loglines and there are found two I want to check out. I'm taking it easy. But in my deffence - I'm reading them in full and paying attention to what I read. And sometimes reread...

You'll start doing this in time - I'm sure of that. Just wait and see)

Quoted from SAC I try not to read any comments prior to reading a script because I don't need the influence. And even if I take a peek here and there and it's negative, I read anyway because that writer wants me and you to read. It's only fair. Steve

I don't read the comments before reading the script, often I don't read them at all. I might have misspoke there.

I'm saying that even if I'm not reading the comments - usually my thoughts of the entry are the same.

All right, guys. Let's not turn this into something personal. You shouldn't be bashing people in the public thread, anyway, because it never makes the person you're bashing look bad. It's just for fun, I don't know why we can't just laugh, appreciate that people will read what they can or choose to do and leave it at that. If someone didn't read a script, that person could always send them a PM, asking them to. There are always more civilized ways to handle these things and this is not it.

This little spat seems to happen in most OWCs, maybe we should just establish a thread for it in advance?

Would keep this thread clean from muck flinging

Quoted from AnthonyCawood This little spat seems to happen in most OWCs, maybe we should just establish a thread for it in advance? Would keep this thread clean from muck flinging

Or we could ask the person who causes the stir most of the time to keep quiet. Maybe even do that beforehand or something.

Quoted from cbead I reckon if someone enters the challenge and are voting then they should at least read all entries. Otherwise your voting will be skewed and unbalanced.

No one has ever said, throughout the history of the OWC and we're talking 10+ years, that everyone entering has to read every single script. Ever! Don used to say in his email that you should try to read at least three. Most people however, feel that reading all of them is their duty.

I agree with Khamanna. It's better to get thoughtful helpful reviews by fewer people that read the entire script and offered not just comments, but suggestions as well, rather than just "this didn't work for me or this was good". Tell the writer why it didn't work and offer up a suggestion or two on how to make it better. I would rather have ten of those reviews than thirty short comments that say it worked or didn't.

I'll try to read another one or two this afternoon since company is leaving.  

This isn't the Nicholls fellowship or the Austin Film Festival. It's the OWC. In my view, the "C" (challenge) has always referred to the challenge of WRITING a script in a week. It's a challenge in exercising one's writing chops and towards that end, everyone who completed a script has succeeded in meeting the challenge.

The reads are just icing on the cake. They may help a writer improve a script or help a reviewer learn some things about script writing. It really isn't any different than all of the other scripts posted here on a daily basis.

I have been lucky enough to have had the time to read almost all of the scripts in all of the OWC's I entered. However, I'm retired with no children living at home - I don't suspect that all writers have the luxury of sitting on the ass for eight hours reading. If you can read all great. If you can read one - that's one read that could provide valuable info to a writer.  IMO, rather than having a separate thread on who reviews and who doesn't review, we're better off just nuking the topic altogether.

Final note - I still think it is better to be constructive rather than shitty when making comments on scripts - but that is my philosophy on all script reviews - not just OWC entries,

I think things have been a little unfair to Khamanna in this thread. She's almost always read my script and I wouldn't mind if she did miss it. She's a regular member with regular input and shouldn't be obligated to provide any more than she already does.

Not everyone is going to read every single script every time. The reasons can range from they're busy and don't have the time to they're lazy and simply can't be bothered and all reasons in between. It might be shitty, but I'd let it go. It's a fucking message board.

Maybe it's just me, but over the years, I've felt a push amongst some members to take the myriad of unwritten rules of thumb initially based on courtesy and common sense and turn them into concrete, enforceable rules... or at least make them official enough to conduct witch hunts. It's nonsense, especially since as unwritten rules of thumbs, they've worked out great. The instances of people not reading scripts/returning reads are sooo low in comparison to the boards at large. It's ultimately on you whether or not you read all the scripts or whatever, but even so, we've got a good thing here. Why not enjoy it instead of fretting about how it's not airtight?

Thank you, Dustin.

I actually did read 22 entries this time and usually its been more.

Its okay, all) I dont hold a grudge or anything) Everyone's been professional (but one) - and that's important. Opinions matter after all and it's their opinion.

Quoted from khamanna I actually did read 22 entries this time and usually its been more. Its okay, all) I dont hold a grudge or anything) Everyone's been professional (but one) - and that's important. Opinions matter after all and it's their opinion.

All I can say is BS!  You do not usually read moire than 22 entries...maybe even never.  Really?  Pathetic and weak.

And to think your comments are in depth and helpful?  Total joke!!  Step into reality, please.

I don't think that everyone should read every script.  However, I do think that if you are gonna write and enter and want your script read (and voted on) that you should be willing to also jump in and help with that process for the other scripts.

Khamanna read 22 stories.  That's cool.  I think a fair amount is somewhere around half of them.  That way, if there are 30 entries, having 15 unique comments is fair.  

What I wish is that if you take the time to read the story, drop a little note on that page.  Hi, read the story, and I liked (or didn't like), give a reason or 2, or check out the comments and see if you agree with the others and just say I agree with the others.

I don't think anyone expects a book back in detail why their story worked or failed.  

I know if I even see a new review with a "I read it, but, it wasn't for me, I didn't care for the humor"  I can live with that.  At least someone read it and felt something, even if that feeling was to run to the porcelain god and barf at how bad it was.

I kinda submitted a pisser mostly because I had too big of an idea for 6 pages.  When this is done, I plan to write it the correct way because i think the story can have merit.  I think the idea is sound and funny.  I just need better execution and more pages.

Hey, Jeff liked it, so, that's a first.  Pretty happy.  Others liked it too.  I thought for sure I'd get slammed b/c it was so bad.  Just so unfocused with trying to put in so much.  And the funny part, the stuff people complained about was exactly what I had to cut.  The original was 13 pages, so, I had to cut half the story.  

If others were in the same boat as me, just not enough pages, then don't fret on the bad reviews that were on things that the real length won't have in it.  I know a few people and what they wrote, and I can tell you all that the real versions, without the page limit, would have been much better.

I wish for the next OWC that the page limit isn't so bad.  Yes, it's an easier read for us, but, there is just no time for development.  Or do a OWC with such a restrictive page limit with a much narrower idea in mind, like the elevator one.  Low to no budget, in a structure with an elevator.  Very narrow premise with a low page count.  

Just my 2 cents.
Dan

Hey you, I read all most of the times in the past when you haven't even with an entry in. What is worse you actually say that you stop after the first page - to bring a writer down. What kind of a clown are you?

You just like the fact that Don is extremely busy - and thats why you decided to start again. Leave me alone please. It's very sad to me that some may buy your act. Yet again that all see through you in time