And three of them involved innocent people crossing paths with cannibals (or some form of crazy people).

What does this say about the writers here?  I know that some people like these scripts, but come on!


Phil

There are two more.  Cornetto's "Becoming" and "Runaway Girl" which is in FD format.  Oh the humanity.

Neither of those deal with cannibals or crazies.

Your point is valid, but I would chalk it up as a coincidence.

I assure you that one of those stories is going to get read. But I think its the new thing now a days especially for horror. Either canniabls or people getting tortured.

Gabe

With those two others, half of today's scripts have the same storyline.  

The same tired storyline.

The same tired cliche storyline.

Can't everyone come up with an original idea?  It doesn't have to be a totally original, but you have to make an effort.


Phil

At least the one script has that Tyler Perry/Andrew Lloyd Webber thing going on.

Maybe those were Don's favorite genre?  

You don't like "Cannible/Crazy people killing teenagers" scripts Phil? Hmm... well then don't read them!  

~Zack~

You don't need to tell me that twice, Zack.  The first time, in fact, wasn't necessary.

If a guy with a knife is the scariest thing you can come up with, then you're not very imaginative.


Phil

I'll imagine YOU with a deformed infant head! That's scary.

You write to get produced... I write for FUN. I enjoy doing it, and as far as I can tell people enjoy reading my stuff.

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack You write to get produced... I write for FUN.

You don't need to tell me that twice, Zack.  The first time, in fact, wasn't necessary.


Phil

Phil has intimidated me so much that I'm afraid to start on my 'cannabis' script.

The spelling is just too close for comfort.

Has anybody actually read the first few pages of "Chris Halvorson's Cannibal?"

I cannot bring myself to post on the thread, but will mention it here.

Go check it out.  Several good laughs to be had.  Very "Cabin-esque".

Quoted from bert Has anybody actually read the first few pages of "Chris Halvorson's Cannibal?" I cannot bring myself to post on the thread, but will mention it here. Go check it out.  Several good laughs to be had.  Very "Cabin-esque".

Quoted from Cannibal ...are harvesting cocaine from a field. They then take one and start smoking it.

What the hell?

Let it be known that if your script stars with the letters C-A-B or C-A-N it is doomed.

This shall be know as the "SS Can Cab Curse"

What? Are you saying it's bad for a writer to enjoy writing their scripts? Hell, a writer who doesn't have fun writing is a writer who's work I wouldn't even use to wipe with.

~Zack~

I'm saying to show a little originality.  Grab your shovel.  Go in the back yards.  Dig up that mason jar with the word IMAGINATION on it. And cram it back in your collective heads.

And raise the bar a notch or two.

'Cabin-esque' you say?  I didn't want to single any of the scripts out, but Chris did put his name in the title...


Phil

Quoted from bert Has anybody actually read the first few pages of "Chris Halvorson's Cannibal?" I cannot bring myself to post on the thread, but will mention it here. Go check it out.  Several good laughs to be had.  Very "Cabin-esque".

I started reading it a bit earlier, then fell to the floor laughing, and did a little spinning-around-the-floor-like-Curly-from-The-3-Stooges kinda thing.  

In the words of Otto Premminger as Mr.Freeze " It was wiiild...reeeeeal wiiiiild".

Quoted from Zack What? Are you saying it's bad for a writer to enjoy writing their scripts? Hell, a writer who doesn't have fun writing is a writer who's work I wouldn't even use to wipe with. ~Zack~

So you hate almost EVERY single writer in hollywood?

I was going to mention this in the chatroom, but Phil beat me to the punch.

Honestly, if the scariest thing you can imagine is a guy with an ax (or machete or whatever), what kind of horror writer are you?


Phil

I think that the most scaring thing to be heard by someone trying to be a screenwriter is named of unoriginal.

Hey,

Quoted from dogglebe Honestly, if the scariest thing you can imagine is a guy with an ax (or machete or whatever), what kind of horror writer are you?

A guy that writes slasher movies. And I don't know how out of the box you can get with that. Ax, knife, machete, there are only so many things you can slash with.

But I get your point, I'm not really a fan of this type of thing either. But some people are just into those genres(and the stuff that comes with it).  

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good thing that you're trying to encourage innovation but if that's what they want to write thats what they'll write.

sheepwalker

Its a win-win situation. The writer should write what he or she likes. But also, he or she should show that passion by stepping the stakes up. I think peole can agree with that.

Gabe

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Its a win-win situation. The writer should write what he or she likes. But also, he or she should show that passion by stepping the stakes up. I think peole can agree with that. Gabe

I agree with that point, and I try to look at it from a different perspective.  A lot of times it's preached on here that writers should "write what they know", which is good advice, but then it comes back into a hypocritical area when presented in this context.

Really, look at the authors of the majority of these scripts.  They probably range in age from 13 to about 21 or so, which is a big demo for horror movies and probably the majority of what these writers watch.  The alternative is the "Tarantino hitman scripts".

In short, they're simply writing what they know and what they enjoy.  True, the results aren't the greatest things to ever grace simply scripts, but at least it's an effort.  As they write more, get more confident in their abilities, and grow as a writer, maybe they'll take a crack at something else.

I know I did.

Quoted from Shelton Really, look at the authors of the majority of these scripts.  They probably range in age from 13 to about 21 or so, which is a big demo for horror movies and probably the majority of what these writers watch.  The alternative is the "Tarantino hitman scripts". In short, they're simply writing what they know and what they enjoy.  True, the results aren't the greatest things to ever grace simply scripts, but at least it's an effort.  As they write more, get more confident in their abilities, and grow as a writer, maybe they'll take a crack at something else.

Writing what you know does not necessarily pertain to the story.  How many people know what it's like to be chased by a stalker?  Or travel to a distant world?  Or any fantasy tale?

Your personal experiences can be used in developing your characters and serve as a basis with how they interact with other characters.  If you and a sibling always argued, incorporate it in a script.  If your father would always ask you personal questions at inopportune times, use it.

But don't write sex scenes if you've never had sex.  Virgins shouldn't write erotica.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe But don't write sex scenes if you've never had sex.  Virgins shouldn't write erotica.

So, what are you saying?  That you shouldn't write a slasher script unless you've brutally murdered somebody?

I'm saying don't write sex scenes if you haven't had sex yet, though it does apply to other genres to a point.

Those who write slasher scripts, here, are generally rehashing other slasher scripts/movies.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if some writers, here were rehashing other scripts here that were rehashed from other movies.

If all you're writing a slasher script just to put some grisley murders down on paper, then seek help.  But if you want to write a good slasher flick, then develop the characters so we give a shit when someone gets killed.

I wrote a more detailed review of Chris Halvorson's Cannibal.  After reading so many pages and stopping, I couldn't remember any of the characters' names.  I know a couple got killed.  Two guys smoking freshly picked cocaine got killed.  And there were a bunch of stupid cops running around.  That's pretty sad....

BTW, Chris, you should take your name out of the script title.  It's because, well...damn.

There has to be something in a script based on reality.  And if you can't work from experience, do even a little research for it.


Phil

Seems like I missed the best part of this argument yesterday but I think I've learned from the posts.

Don't write about cannibals or cannabis, don't write a slasher unless you've got some good scars to prove you've got experience of the genre.  Don't write a hitman script unless you've popped a few people...just for fun.  Don't think about writing anything that might have been covered by an existing film, best check imdb, but do write what you know.  So my next script will be about a man who goes to work everyday for a bit of money, comes home, watches TV and complains about his day, the fact that he's skint and all he wants to do is watch the match with a nice cold pint without his woman interepting with questions about clothing and make up!  I think I'll call it: A working mans dream about a better life with definately no cannibals and any vicious murders what so ever. LOL.

Seriously though, I do agree that scripts need to have some kind of originality.  Churning out a story that's been done a hundred times is going to get you noticed but I think for someone who hasn't produced a feature before it can be beneficial.  Writing a genre you're confident with, takes away the pressure and helps build your writng skills.  However, contradicting myself, I agree that putting in the effort to create a story that pushes yourself into an uncorftable corner is the best thing to help you develop as a writer.  Forcing yourself to learn something new can only make you a better writer.

What?!? No writing about cannabis?

I wanted to write a script about a guy I know who took stole some large plants, dried them in the clothes dryer, then took off to sell the stuff on a motorcycle with the weed in a garbage bag under his butt. Write his adventures in getting where he was going.  

No more cannabis scripts...  

Cindy

Quoted from dogglebe   Two guys smoking freshly picked cocaine got killed.

I don't suppose this script gave any details as to where one could get a cocaine tree from did it? Does it grow in little plastic bags? and would it be suitable for a house plant?

Quoted from Murphy I don't suppose this script gave any details as to where one could get a cocaine tree from did it? Does it grow in little plastic bags? and would it be suitable for a house plant?

Dude, didn't you see Crocodile Dundee 2?  Everyone knows the best coke is in Colombia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine

The plant is pictured just under history.  I don't know about picking it up and just smoking it though.

Quoted from Shelton The plant is pictured just under history.  I don't know about picking it up and just smoking it though.

I was not under the impression you could pick cocaine from a tree and smoke it, Maybe you can but I think it needs to be processed first, even crack needs to be manufactured. I just thought the image of picking some coke from a tree and smoking it was very funny.


Anyway, back on topic. I dislike crap films and scripts lacking in imagination as much as anyone, I dislike that so many of the films produced today are just formula driven films that are all so alike but with different character names and settings. I watched 27 dresses last week, the things I could of done with my time instead! I feel guilty for wasting my time watching such drivel.

But, Zack is right, people get paid for writing this stuff, people get paid a lot for writing this stuff. As much as it pains me audiences want to see this stuff too. So for a wannabe screenwriter to concentrate on writing mindless drivel is not necessarily a bad thing, these are the scripts that hollywood are buying, as much as some of us may dislike it, don't blame the writers but blame Hollywood and society.

And as Shelton said, it is much easier to write more imaginative and intelligent scripts when you have learned your trade and the mortgage has been paid.

And I really think you started to go off course when talking about only being able to write a slasher movie if you have had experience of being a slasher! That makes no sense. One of the most innovative and different screenwriter of recent years has been Charlie Kauffman, Do you think he really went inside John Malcovich's head before writing his script? No, he just used his imagination, just like a wannabe slasher writer imagines what it is like to be in a serial killers head.

You are right, some of these scripts are crap, there is nothing going on that interests me. But other people are interested in them, that is the way of the world ain't it? would be boring if it were any different.

Quoted from Murphy One of the most innovative and different screenwriter of recent years has been Charlie Kauffman, Do you think he really went inside John Malcovich's head before writing his script? No, he just used his imagination, just like a wannabe slasher writer imagines what it is like to be in a serial killers head.

I'm sure that Kauffman researched psychology a little bit before writing his script.  I doubt he earned a psychology degree, but there was some truths to the workings of a mind in his writing.

Quoted from Murphy You are right, some of these scripts are crap, there is nothing going on that interests me. But other people are interested in them, that is the way of the world ain't it? would be boring if it were any different.

The fact that so many people are churning out the same fictional farts makes the world a boring place.  You want to write a slasher script?  Fine!  But make it an original one.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe The fact that so many people are churning out the same fictional farts makes the world a boring place.  You want to write a slasher script?  Fine!  But make it an original one.

Do you hear that, everybody?  Phil has granted us a reprieve, and we are free to write a slasher script should we choose to do so.

Shout it from the rooftops!  Today, is a glorious day indeed!

Lay off the pipe, Mike.  I'm just trying to get some people to raise their standards.


Phil

Can I show an example of what you are saying? Here is one that I made:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/TheManthatKilledBambi.pdf.

Detail: I never went to The Drugs Ville or The Crazy Asylum Hospital.

By the way I will post all Phil's reviews of my craziest short scripts.

Oh, he is a serious and honest guy in what he say , believe me!

Quoted from dogglebe Lay off the pipe, Mike.  I'm just trying to get some people to raise their standards.

I believe I already covered that in my "comfort zone" post, but please feel free to pontificate to all of us low-life pipeheads some more.

The problem with this thread is that the Chris Halvorsons of the world ain't ever gonna see it.  This is one of those threads that is preaching to the choir.  Maybe our pal Zack might take a little something away from this thread, but it looks like it mostly pissed him off haha.

And why are people always so surprised that the Horror board is mostly a vast wasteland?  Why should it be any different from the video store down the street?

Try going to Blockbuster, grabbing the clerk by the collar, and shouting, “Quit stocking your shelves with all these crappy horror films!!”

Good luck.

Zombies and Jason and Slashers and Cannibals -- and of course -- the motiveless hitman -- are here to stay.  What can you say?  Don't rent 'em.  Don't read 'em.  

Just look at all those boxes on the shelves, shake your head, and move on.

Quoted from bert Try going to Blockbuster, grabbing the clerk by the collar, and shouting, “Quit stocking your shelves with all these crappy horror films!!”

There's a reason why I belong to Blockbuster Online.  It's called an order of protection.

Quoted from bert Zombies and Jason and Slashers and Cannibals -- and of course -- the motiveless hitman -- are here to stay.  What can you say?  Don't rent 'em.  Don't read 'em.

You want to write one of these stories, then write an original one.  Be different.


Phil