Quoted from leitskev I am guessing people that submit scripts are assigned reads in order to participate. With 200 scripts, how many people read ZP? Probably not many. That guy that gave the poor review may not have even really read the script. He had to give a review, so he did. He went in with an attitude, took a little glimpse, left a review. Not fair to the script, maybe you should pull it.

I see what you're saying.
But there is a "opt out" button to remove assignments.
You can remove one every 24 hours. So, there was no reason he had to review it.
This guy chose to review a script in a genre he dislikes.
And rated my script based upon his personal distaste for the subject matter.

You may be right about not reading it at all.
There's very little in the written review to suggest he read the script.
It's by and large vague criticisms, no character names mentioned, etc.

Who knows? All I do know is I've backed off on my Talentville presence.

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Don't let it get you down. I do not believe in those type of rankings. SS reviews rock. No ranking.

Quoted from stevie Brett, seriously mate, you would be better off entering ZP into meaningful comps, not popularity contests. I recall when people were raving about Circlejerk...sorry, Circalit, but that seemed to die in the arse, didn't it.

Thanks for the well wishes, Gabe!
I've moved on, too busy to let it stop me for long.

Stevie, I hear you about the popularity stuff.
I liked the idea of the free coverage for the monthly top three.
Scriptapalooza runs it, which means I would get into their system as a ranked script.
And they can be a gateway to agencies through their resources.
Provided, you get a high consider or better.

I'm putting Talentville in my rear view mirror for a while.

Regards,
E.D.

Don't give up on it entirely. Hopefully you'll get more reviews that will bring it up. But that's strange how one negative review brought it way down. What type of ranking is that? lol. You are still paying for the services on the website. Use it to your advantage.


Gabe

It has been my experience in life that the world is often filled with bitter and resentful people who don't want to see others succeed. The script world seems to be even more plagued by this, which I have encountered on another forum where there are a lot of frustrated writers. I'm not saying everyone has to love your script, but I am fairly certain that guy really didn't read it, and probably leaves reviews like that for all the scripts he reads, and he just reads the minimum requirement.

I briefly joined a site like that, I forget the name. It was a film artist collaboration type thing. I never submitted a script, because when I started reading reviews, they struck me as snarky little hit and run jobs that people did just to earn points.

I don't think there's a way to set something like that up that will work, unfortunately. It's good that you leave no stone unturned, so you are to be commended for trying it out. But I also don't think you need it. You're in a position now to get reads, meet people who need work done. Just keep writing, and you're on the right path.

One idea that I no longer believe has any merit is the notion that finding success in this field is like winning the lottery. I don't believe that at all. It may feel like that, but it's not.

Let's look at Pia. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, she's had two feature films made. But it was no accident. She's been writing for years; she's had many shorts produced, so has worked with producers and directors, collaborated; she lists her work on a website, I think, or something like that; and she's active here. All of those things worked together to make it more likely someone would eventually see her work, and when they did would think not only is the feature something they wanted, but the writer was someone they could work with.

I think if someone has the talent, writing is in demand. And that demand is actually growing, with the emerging world markets, most of whom have English as a second language. If someone can produce quality work, quality marketable work, it's only a matter of time. And I say this based on reading dozens of interviews with writers who have recently made it. They will usually be the first to tell you, though they may have been writing for years, generally their work was not ready until they actually made it.

Just stay the course, Brett. You're on the right path.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Though I have to admit... There's some good spec features over there that aren't here.

that may be true, however, one thing I have learned lately is that writers and producers/directors do not look at scripts the same way. At least that's what it seems like to me.  What may seem like a great script to us writers, may not look that good in the director's eye. And what may sound good or even great to producer or director may seem like complete cliché garbage to us writers. You just never know.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Zombie Playground was progressing nicely, got up to 7th place. Then someone that hates zombie movies was assigned my script. He chose to rate my script (on a ten scale) as TWO. Almost exclusively because he just doesn't like zombie movies. That one decision, plummeted Zombie Playground from 7th to 90th (out of 190). The script will NEVER RECOVER from that review and be Top Ten ranked. EVER. Ten weeks of goodwill reviews and creating the special banner. ALL GONE. It would take a mountain of stellar reviews to undo that number. No development staffer will give a script a look after that toxic event on the site. All this from a kid that is the "proud owner" of the 185th place script. *sigh* I respect Mr. Cahan's efforts. The site's work in progress, but man, that hurt. So, ZP got hosed and Lie Detector is #1, but no one knows it. E.D.

That's not exactly how it works, Brett. Your script will recover.
It takes a lot more than one tourist to tank a script that has been highly rated on the site. You forget-- as you correctly stated before, the short scripts (and TV dramas/sitcoms, for that matter) all factor in the 193 spots (for scripts of any length that have gotten four or more reviews, increased since your post here)

Yes, that review you gotten was a turd. It would be one thing if he didn't like it, but it's something else when he outright trashed it and says 'well, i don't like zombie films'

But my question to you is this - one bad apple out of the whole basket gets you ready to riot? You wisely weigh it against what is said so far, and deduce that the fella really missed the boat.

I wondered what would have happened if we swapped reviewers. With this guy, I would have been charged with a felony with Rancorium, locked up and the guard swallowed the keys. (alas, I'm usually getting the other side of the coin...not those who hate horror/zombie films...but those that like 'em) but for the most part, even the good reviews have a few oddities. Here's one from my script (Rancorium) from earlier this month:

Quoted Text I think your Act breaks are off balance considering you've written 95 pages. Act 1 seems to end at page 31. That is a little too long in the story to end the Act.

Think about that for minute.
It wasn't a review that tanked the script, the person had many positive things to say. But that line borders on WTF. In other eyes, that quip would be a high compliment. Hey, at least I nailed that ol' Syd Field paradigm!

By the way look in the top ten list for the week, and tell me what you see still hanging in there. Hang in there, Brett, you're not done yet.

Quoted from electric dreamer It's by and large vague criticisms, no character names mentioned

Just be thankful it wasn't Ryan Heppe or his cronies who used to hang around Zoetrope. Trust me, Brett, you got off easy.

Quoted from ajr I'm going to now say publicly what I've tried to get you and others to understand privately - that you should not expose anything you're shopping seriously to that level of scrutiny from someone you don't know. A bit different here because we take care of our own - however if I had a feature with a seven figure budget that I had started to send around to Hollywood? There's no chance that I would give free reads away by posting it here (sorry Don!).

Isn't that what you did with GA?

Brett,

I signed up for T-ville to see what was grinding your gears and the review ticked me off, too.  The review is just a bunch of generic statements about why he doesn't like zombie movies.  The only specific thing he mentions in regards to the script is on page frickin' 1.  That's enough to tick anybody off.  I don't know if this will have any effect, but I rated it poor.  I can't stand that kind of nonsense.  Pretending he read it just to trash it and leave a "full" review is bullshit.  Oh yeah, his bio is also written in the third person.  Go figure.  

We're all going to have critiques. Have to get use to them because they're not leaving any time soon. What's important is getting exposure to find that person who says "Yes, I will make your movie". That's all.

Don't worry Brett. Raise your chin up man.

Gabe

Quoted from Grandma Bear that may be true, however, one thing I have learned lately is that writers and producers/directors do not look at scripts the same way. At least that's what it seems like to me.

Agreed, big time!
Working with feature producers with credits decimated my preconceived notions.
I've been playing catch up with them since we met last fall.
Learning how they view things does reinvigorate me in the end.
But I'm a loon that way!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Don't give up on it entirely. Hopefully you'll get more reviews that will bring it up. But that's strange how one negative review brought it way down. What type of ranking is that? lol. You are still paying for the services on the website. Use it to your advantage. Gabe

Hey Gabe.

Thanks for being a voice of support. You're a good egg!
I hope subsequent reviews are more about constructive criticism than personal taste.

But, in lieu of junk like that, I'll scale back my Talenville presence.
There are better ways to use my spec reading time, like here!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley That's not exactly how it works, Brett. Your script will recover. It takes a lot more than one tourist to tank a script that has been highly rated on the site. Yes, that review you gotten was a turd. It would be one thing if he didn't like it, but it's something else when he outright trashed it and says 'well, i don't like zombie films' But my question to you is this - one bad apple out of the whole basket gets you ready to riot? You wisely weigh it against what is said so far, and deduce that the fella really missed the boat.

Yeah, it was a gut kick from someone who doesn't respect the craft, for sure.
I know the script may work it's way back up eventually *IF* I buy lots of reviews.
No, I'm not rioting, I haven't sent a NastyGram to the Admin or anything.
This all happened while reporting back here about my Talentville experience.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley By the way look in the top ten list for the week, and tell me what you see still hanging in there. Hang in there, Brett, you're not done yet.

The Weekly Top Ten is recalculated every Sunday.
When I placed 7th on the weekly chart, ZP was ranked #22 overall.
This Sunday, ZP will be off that list and likely stay off it.

I don't mind getting dinged based on the quality of my work.
But asshattery like that review tweaking my career prospects boils my clams.

But I will hang in there. And I hope you do the same!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from greg Brett, I signed up for T-ville to see what was grinding your gears and the review ticked me off, too.  The review is just a bunch of generic statements about why he doesn't like zombie movies.  The only specific thing he mentions in regards to the script is on page frickin' 1.  That's enough to tick anybody off.  I don't know if this will have any effect, but I rated it poor.  I can't stand that kind of nonsense.  Pretending he read it just to trash it and leave a "full" review is bullshit.  Oh yeah, his bio is also written in the third person.  Go figure.

Hey Greg,

Thanks for the post. I appreciate you checking it out.
At my angriest, I thought about posting snippets or the entire review here.
Of course, after some libations, I came to my senses about that.

I appreciate you posting your thoughts on the review.
For wholly personal reasons, today is very tough for me.

So, seeing your post helps me remember that most folks aren't like that.
It hurts to wake up first thing and see that review in your mailbox.

I love my ZP kids as much as you care about The Scorsese Club members.
To see them trashed like that, got to me a little.

Thanks for the thoughts! Greatly appreciated.

Regards,
E.D.

P.S. Send me that spec of yours if you're still soliciting opinions.

Sorry to hear that, Brett. I wouldn’t worry, though. As Pia said, people in the industry don’t look at scripts the same way. They’re looking for material they can sell or produce.

No one who matters cares. So keep your chin up.


Breanne

Quoted from Breanne Mattson Sorry to hear that, Brett. I wouldn’t worry, though. As Pia said, people in the industry don’t look at scripts the same way. They’re looking for material they can sell or produce. No one who matters cares. So keep your chin up. Breanne

Hey Breanne,

Thanks for the kind thoughts.
And I totally agree with you. It's not how producers look at scripts.
I know that now more than ever, doing spec drafts for a feature producer.
The way he looks at things, I'd never have guessed it at all!

It was just in the moment, that the review really caught me off guard.
After three months of goodwill there, I was starting to get a little comfy.

Then that prig besmirched my zombie kids unjustly!
It's all good, and at the very least, it all serves as a learning experience for our site.

Hope this round of send outs for you yields some heat!

Regards,
E.D.