I noticed yesterday that today makes exactly five years since I joined the discussion board here. It's been a ride thinking back on it. To imagine that the memories are basically virtual, having been almost completely gleaned through text. I've never personally met anyone on the boards, and only conversed on the phone with one. I've met people on here that I will never forget for good reasons and some that are better forgotten. I'll never know what I would have learned through taking a screenwriting class, but I'm certain that I've learned as much from being a part of this community than I would have most anywhere else.

I started on SimplyScripts by posting a script. Two actually. It was a horror flick called Vengeance and a thriller called The Soul Keeper. While the stories were clever enough, they were ripe with "we see's" and camera angles, just like anyone else when they first strike out into the screenwriting adventure. I also started by begging people to read my scripts without my offering anything in return, and then whining about no one reading them. I believe I lurked for a couple months waiting for someone to post the accolades I clearly deserved for my masterpieces before I posted anything, and then I posted (of course) on my own scripts' thread asking people to read it. So when I say I've been there for the typical newb progression, I have. I actually joined initially to post in my own threads.

The third script was the Fempiror Chronicles: The Initiation of David, and I still hadn't figured out how to get anyone to read anything on here, and I was frustrated. A couple people had touched it, but nothing big. I posted a couple of things on the thread hoping to grab some attention, but no attention was grabbed and it sat in obscurity. About that time, there was another newb who just went by the name of Bert who was also curious about how to get his script (some POS he posted called The Farm or something) read. Wesley and the Curse (in his typical annoyed-with-the-newbs fashion) suggested we read each other's and the exchange program began.

I got rather adept at reviewing after a time, and the reviewing helped me in writing my own scripts which continued to improve. I also went back and kept rewriting the ones I'd done before, more Vengeance than Soul Keeper, though through its sequels, I kept revising Fempiror as well.

There were many notable people and scripts on here, and some of them are still around. Alan Holman and Banana Chan, for instance. I remember it before he revised it to hell and made it crap. Trailer Runs/Security was quite amusing for a time and gave us fits. Kevin Revie is still around, though we will never forget his alter ego Stifler, his A-List series, and his obsession with Paris Hilton. Balt v1.0 who ended up banned for his incredibly aggressive and foul-fingered posts. He's tame now. The Cabin for being one of the worst scripts on the site that someone opens every once in awhile for the "ass shining in the moonlight." The SimplyScripts board-related script revolution of 2005 that didn't begin with SimplyNoir, but that SimplyNoir (by Bert and I) just brought to the forefront.

Before I moderated the Screenwriting Class, it was overseen by someone called The Producer, who stepped down because he didn't have time or something, and since I spent a lot of time giving advice in there anyway, I asked Don if I could be the board's moderator. He agreed.

Since I joined, I've changed jobs and had another child. I've been produced once by some Australians and twice by myself. I decided some time ago that when the time finally comes that I do this for a living get into the professional ring, I'll still hang out on the boards to offer what I can. I've had times when I've been very, very active and others times when I've all but disappeared, so whether I have time or not, not much will change. I've never been able to go for long, though, because this virtual place has friends. I know some of you better than people on my street.

I have tried other boards in my time. I've been to TriggerStreet. It's not a lot of fun. I've hit a couple others, but this is the one that's home to me.

So, I've enjoyed the first five years I've been here, and as long as Don keeps the boards going, I'll keep hanging out here.

George,
Happy Anniversary!

I only joined around 8 months ago and being completely new to the format made all the mistakes you did when first starting out and still have a way to go. For the most part, the community and folks here are a good bunch and always willing to help. I for one am greatful to SS and all those who Moderate. So a big thank's from me George.

I wonder if I'll last that long.... Hmmm.

Anyways. You deserve praise for many things GW. Patience and tolerance spring to mind of late. Congrats.

RV

Quoted from George Willson Wesley...suggested we read each other's and the exchange program began.

Hey, I remember that.

So, yeah, the idea for the script exchange board pretty much grew out of that, didn't it?  The ol' Fempiror for Farm swap.

And now Wesley thinks exhanges are a bane on the boards haha.  No pleasing some people.

A lot of stuff has emerged kind of organically as the board has grown over these past few years.  The One-Week Challenge springs to mind, for sure.

Like George, I have moved from a place where I once had lots of time to read and write to a place where I have far less.  I still wait patiently for the pendulum to swing back in the other direction, as I am sure it must eventually.

But again like George, I find it impossible to stray from the boards for too long, even if I am far too busy to justify doing so.  It is seldom dull.

That, and there are a number of authors here whose opinion I value far more than any stranger I might pay $300 to read one of my scripts.

It is tough to put a value on that.

Quoted from George Willson While the stories were clever enough, they were ripe with "we see's" and camera angles, just like anyone else when they first strike out into the screenwriting adventure.

You just couldn’t resist taking a stab at people who use “we see.” haha

Quoted from bert Like George, I have moved from a place where I once had lots of time to read and write to a place where I have far less.  I still wait patiently for the pendulum to swing back in the other direction, as I am sure it must eventually.

That’s how I feel, at least about the reading. I still write a lot but I just don’t have much time to spend here lately.

It’s been four years for me. It’s amazing how you can spend four years with people almost exclusively on the internet and develop such a strong familial bond.


Breanne

Quoted from bert And now Wesley thinks exhanges are a bane on the boards haha.  No pleasing some people.

I still think exchanges could be the cornerstone to why writers stick around other than the dirty jokes and myself...

George, not to break my usual schtick but I've appreciated the help and entertainment provided by you and honestly I never really got a useful review until you and Bert read that old ninja series back in 05 I think it was.

Two years without much going on. We didn't have half the boards we have now when I joined.

Good post GW.

I hope you will be here for another 5 years! (cliche, yeah true, sue me)

I joined September -05. Deleted my account once and re-joined.  

I've read more scripts than I can count, but I also have gained "friends" whom I trust to read my rough first drafts and will be honest and tell me when they suck. I read their stuff too of course. Mostly via e-mails nowadays. Currently reading one by Greg.

I have met a few SS members and some I speak with regularly. Even trying to work some into my reality show. We'll see how that goes.

This place has been a GREAT resource for me. I wouldn't trade it for the world. This is where I learned how to write scripts...okay, okay, maybe not perfect, but I'm still learning. I cringe when I think of the first script I posted here. Be My Valentine. Let's just say, I've got more mainstream since!

Quoted from George Willson I decided some time ago that when the time finally comes that I do this for a living get into the professional ring, I'll still hang out on the boards to offer what I can. I've had times when I've been very, very active and others times when I've all but disappeared, so whether I have time or not, not much will change. I've never been able to go for long, though, because this virtual place has friends. I know some of you better than people on my street. I have tried other boards in my time. I've been to TriggerStreet. It's not a lot of fun. I've hit a couple others, but this is the one that's home to me. So, I've enjoyed the first five years I've been here, and as long as Don keeps the boards going, I'll keep hanging out here.

The same goes ditto for me. I have no idea "what" the "thing" is that draws me to the people here, but I feel that they are very special individuals and its "them" that I admire. I think the screenwriting itself, is almost, in a weird way, not the important thing at all. But rather, it's a means of connection to some amazing minds. The screenwriting itself, would be a dead thing if it weren't for the characters that live inside of Simply.

On another level, it's like the idea of trying to write spectacular stories with all of the mechanics in tact, but not a shred of connection to the living spirits of people that run around on our planet on a daily basis. We need to live and incorporate life into our writing or it's a dead thing and isn't really art at all, but forged in a "paint by numbers" kind of mentality.

Simply offers all of the constructs of knowledge and craft as "paint by numbers" would, but it goes beyond that, to a higher level of craft. It's highly chaotic and intensely intense at times, foolish and whacked out at other times, but it's never dead.

Congratulations on the 5 years anniversary, George!!!!!

And thank you so much for sharing,

Sandra

Five years! wow. I wish to spend so much time here, too.

Quoted from George Willson Kevin Revie is still around, though we will never forget his alter ego Stifler, his A-List series, and his obsession with Paris Hilton.

Ah yes, the great A-List phenomenon which no longer exists on this site but, believe it or not, can still be seen by looking up the SS discussion board archives on this website.  I browsed through some stuff including that thread from years ago and it got a chuckle out of me

I've been around for four years and have to say it's been fun to watch the board evolve. The number of members is an obvious change but I also think the dynamics of the board now are completely different from when I started or even compared to two years ago. There's also much more of a melting pot going on in terms of writers, tastes and styles. It's inspiring to see that everyone is still able to benefit tremendously from the site after so long, even with different goals in mind. That's the one constant I've seen over these four years and the one that seems to be the most important to everyone involved.

I went around looking for a video to mark this momentous time for you.  Well, needless to say I mostly found wedding anniversary videos.  But I did find this charmer and I hope you enjoy it.  



The description for this video is "My husband says the fifth year is the year of the clothesline and I wanted to share this joyous occasion with the world."

Then I started thinking about how a clothesline could be considered analogous  to these forums.  Like how we hang our screenplays here for them to dry.

So may your clothesline contain many varied clothes this coming year. May you have enough clothespegs to hold them firmly in the breeze.  And when you finally bring them in, may the birds not have shit on them.  

Cheers.

I honestly have no clue how long I've been around -- I think it was since 2006. Wow.

I'm pretty sure I read your Vengeance script, George. I just don't remember anything about it. Nothing. Only your name and the title spring to mind.

--Julio

EDIT: Reaper Creeper Joined on April 28th, 2006