When I first joined this site, I read two feature length scripts and wanted to kill myself for it.  They were painful reads but I thought I had to read them to the very end.  I don't think I posted reviews of these because I didn't want my first reviews to be, "You really really suck at writing."

Now I only read the first fifteen to twenty-five pages of a feature.  From there, I decide if I'm going to continue reading or just write a review based on what I read.  If the first fifteen or twenty-five pages of a script has poor characterization and is dragging, I'll review just this.  

Sometimes, the author will say, "It gets better after twenty-five pages.  For the most part, I don't believe this.  Why would the characters suddenly become realistic and interesting at the point that I stop reading?  Why would the story improve at this point?

If you send a script to Hollywood, you have to grab the reader right away.  If it doesn't grab him, your script ends up in the circular file.  No one is going to read your script, hoping it improves halfway through.  No one wants to watch a movie that gets better halfway through.

When someone reads your script, whether here or in Hollywood, he or she is doing you a favor.  There's a lot of scripts out there to reads.  He didn't have to pick yours.

Don't thank him with crap.


Phil

So I posted this a little over a year ago. Not much has changed since then and what seemed to be a phase at the time has now become standard. In fact, I think the shorts have gotten even shorter. I'm not resurrecting this thread to reiterate my original concerns. Honestly, I don't think we'll see more people writing features or even shorts on the longer end of the spectrum any time soon. I think the boards have changed somewhat since I first posted this. There's a helluva lot more people than before, many of them now regulars. It seems like the majority write primarily or even exclusively shorts yet seem pretty damn serious about screenwriting in general. So I ask. Thoughts on features? Are you trying to work yourself up to them? Not sure how to approach them? Already written one or two? Or do you just prefer shorts? Sometimes it seems like people just prefer shorts. Other times, it's a "pussy on the pedestal" situation (40 Year Old Virgin, anyone?).

Personally, I prefer features. I love movies so I try to write them myself. To me, shorts are shorts. College stuff. Calling cards for writers. Whatever. They're simple. They're fun. But they've never seemed like serious business to me. I've written a bunch but most have been for the OWC and have served as exercises for me. There're a few I'm particularly proud of but it's a lot more satisfying for me to write scripts that are intricate and full of guts. Shorts can be both but generally can only go so far. There's also way more opportunities to get personal with features as they take so much time to plan and write.

I'm still hoping features will pick up around here some time in the future. I've been around here a while now and they already feel like dinosaurs. Thoughts?

As a member of the, I mostly write features club. I don't always post them on SS purely because they have lazy readers.

You write a short - you'll probably get at least 250 oppinions. A feature, probably three; and only if you beg.

I do as many reviews as I can.

Somebody return the favour.

My over riding desire and firm intention is to write feature length screenplays, and eventually nothing but feature length screenplays.

For me the shorts that I have written are a means to this end. As I have previously mentioned, I have been through a long period during which I wrote nothing - seven years in total (and ten since my last feature, almost to the day now).

When I first began writing years ago, I began with shorts - some of them just 1 page long - but they were then as they are now, just a means to an end, a way to flex my creative muscles - I have no particular interest in short subjects, and if, and when, I get back to writing features, it is highly probable that I will cease to produce shorts at all, they having served their purpose (though I may do the odd OWC and the like).

I floated the idea of running a 6WC about features - where everyone taking part would try and write a full-length feature in six weeks, starting November 2nd - a few weeks ago. People expressed an interest, and I'll actually come back to it in the next few days (once the OWC is over).

I definitely think it's to do with the easiness of reads. People are more likely to comment on your 4 page high school reunion gag than your 115 page samurai epic...so which are you more likely to submit? I am surprised how many people (and anyone who frequents these boards, I am NOT talking about you) post a script and are hardly ever heard from again, perhaps occasionally turning up to reply to reviews of their own script. That seems a shame. I also think it might be a 'producable' thing - I've had a couple of shorts that attracted brief interest from producers via email, and that got me excited enough to write more, but since nothing came from that I've lost the motivation to try writing more. But if people are really anxious to see their work onscreen, then they have more chance if they're writing and posting shorts...

From a personal point of view, I'd love to write features. I haven't actually finished anything since my August OWC script, and it's driving me mad...the feature I started in May, which I genuinely thought I'd have wrapped up in a matter of weeks, is still dragging on, and is slowly driving me mad. It's not a length, thing, either - I'm just struggling to get the thing onpage. I've been writing like crazy for the past week, trying to get it done...we'll see. Shorts definitely have their place - they're a great way for beginners to get started (much better than trying to write a whole action film, for instance), they can be used to dabble in new genres or styles, and some ideas just work better as shorts.

But I do think that features - good, original features - are the ultimate goal. I agree that part of the problem is that until you've written one, it is 'up on a pedestal', so to speak. Again, this is where the 6WC may be able to help. Keep an eye on the 'Screenwriting Class' board over the next week...

James,

Thank you for standing up and being counted!!!

I'm writing features, but nothing I feel respectful about as yet.

It was an obligation for me to submit a script for the Shiva webseries game that Michael developed, and I generated a helluva lot of material and my finished draft is far from good, but it was a challenge and an exciting project to be involved in.

Right now, as we speak, I am trying to put forward energy toward 50 pages of script for Cielo that's been just "sitting" and Zack's had personal problems. The thing is: I think the important thing is the intent. Many of us are working really hard, but it might not SHOW right away as a finished script.

I think this all boils down to the fact that we should be LOVING WHAT WE DO AND NOT JUST TRYING TO GET SOMETHING!!!!!!

I feel actually that I am truly blessed to be able to just be here with you people. I think that's reward enough and I'm the person that OWES AND BIG TIME!!!!!

I've got full scripts on my computer that need to get read and I'm a slow reader. One of my first projects is to write a detailed review of George's book Fempiror Chronicles. Which!!!! I will say I am BLESSED TO READ!!!!  

One thing is certain! There's no shortage of work to be done and that's the exciting part!

Sandra

JonnyBoy, I was one of the ones who pledged a full length script - and then withdrew it. Why? Because I think It's wrong. The truth is i believe this site is ready for a top 50 unproduced showcase, with all the problems that entails.

How?

Follow sticky's rules.

Then go with general oppinion.

It's how most scripts from spec drag themselves out of the slush pile.

Yeah! I know this is hard and requires a big OK from Don.

What the hell..

I'm proposing it!

Quoted from dogglebe When I first joined this site, I read two feature length scripts and wanted to kill myself for it.  They were painful reads but I thought I had to read them to the very end.  I don't think I posted reviews of these because I didn't want my first reviews to be, "You really really suck at writing." Now I only read the first fifteen to twenty-five pages of a feature.  From there, I decide if I'm going to continue reading or just write a review based on what I read.  If the first fifteen or twenty-five pages of a script has poor characterization and is dragging, I'll review just this.   Sometimes, the author will say, "It gets better after twenty-five pages.  For the most part, I don't believe this.  Why would the characters suddenly become realistic and interesting at the point that I stop reading?  Why would the story improve at this point? If you send a script to Hollywood, you have to grab the reader right away.  If it doesn't grab him, your script ends up in the circular file.  No one is going to read your script, hoping it improves halfway through.  No one wants to watch a movie that gets better halfway through. When someone reads your script, whether here or in Hollywood, he or she is doing you a favor.  There's a lot of scripts out there to reads.  He didn't have to pick yours. Don't thank him with crap. Phil

I understand what you are saying. I have a hard time though NOT reading an entire script once I determine that it is an obligation for me.

When I commit to something, I can't NOT do it. I'm just obsessive like that. There have been the very few scripts that I just can't read through, but they are the exception. Once I commit, I commit. My goal is to try and bring the other person to realizing their fullest potential and I can't do it any other way. It really sucks sometimes, because I'd like to run away, but I can't.

We'll all just keep trying.

Sandra

It can take me over two hours to read a 30 page short and post my comments if I do it in detail - this is partially why I don't do features much, but I also find that many of those I have looked at are pretty poor - and I don't particularly want to spend my time struggling to get through a 120 page script when it is of little or no interest (especially as I currently have 54 produced screenplays on my laptop I wouldn't mind reading - from "Kane" to "Zombieland"!).

I do want to make an effort to read more features here, and if I do ever have one of my own to post, will obviously have to do so to ensure I get some reads! I should say though that I have seen some very good shorts disappear into oblivion with little or no reads so it is not just a question of the page count. Some scripts obviously just attract more attention than others.

Quoted from Niles_Crane It can take me over two hours to read a 30 page short and post my comments if I do it in detail - this is partially why I don't do features much, but I also find that many of those I have looked at are pretty poor - and I don't particularly want to spend my time struggling to get through a 120 page script when it is of little or no interest (especially as I currently have 54 produced screenplays on my laptop I wouldn't mind reading - from "Kane" to "Zombieland"!). I do want to make an effort to read more features here, and if I do ever have one of my own to post, will obviously have to do so to ensure I get some reads! I should say though that I have seen some very good shorts disappear into oblivion with little or no reads so it is not just a question of the page count. Some scripts obviously just attract more attention than others.

I'm completely weird now. I don't care about "The Reads". I care about the moment and what I'm learning from everyone.

Michael Cornetto and Pia and Gary and Tommy and Mike and Phil and  many others have  taught me so much and I'm so grateful!

Sandra

You know, I'd love to post a feature on here. A whole bunch. But, a problem arose. Just can't finish them.

I could go through the entire list of features I started on my flash drive and they all span between 02/2003 to present day.

I will be absolutely satisfied when I do finish one, and I'd be sure to post it up here promptly.

Shorts are not my thing. I usually invest time in writing features, and several at a time.

Speaking of which Aaron...when are we going to see something new from you? Your list of upcoming scripts seems to change almost daily - I'm curious to see what you've been writing!

Thanks man, well Wang is coming next, but I'm currently editing that. Which reminds me, I never found out how to import a PDF to SS?

I didn't look at the date of this thread at first - i thought James had just started it!  DOH!

It's funny cos I had never done a short a year ago, then did one for the january challenge and have done a few now.
I'm working on a feature, have been for some time. Actually have started three but they are in varying degrees of progress.
It is hard to find time for it and reading a feature can be tough too.

Remember we had two OWC's pretty close together, and people have been doing Thief and Killer before that.

I think Jonny's concept will be good. I would still like to see a project between a few of us? just my opinion, but the motivation of some deadline pressure seems to work for some people, me included.
Cheers