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This was a hard one and a topic that engendered quite the lively discussion.
There are eleven scripts posted. I have not read any of them, yet. All the writers are active members of the discussion board. Some writers are at the round Earth's imagined corners, so it may be a week before he/she can weigh in.
Huge thanks to Mr. Blonde for coming up with this challenge. And, thanks to ScriptWax for sponsoring the challenge by audio performing the "Writers Choice" script once it is selected.
The scripts of the Brave New World Two Week Challenge:
Create a realistic world where a certain major world event never happened. At the same time, the altered event is not your story, your story simply takes place in the altered world.
Signal Fire by Neil Percival Young - Short, Adventure - How will anyone find their way in a brave new world? 13 pages - pdf, format
A New Plan For Fat Man by Ny Name Here - Short, Drama - Leaders of the United States Armed Forces debate whether they should declare war with Germany or stay home and savor their victory in the Pacific. 11 pages - pdf, format
Fire and Water by Deep Throat - Short, Crime, Thriller, Drama, Political, Historical Fiction - Ben Bradlee's decision to ignore the Watergate break-in comes back to haunt him four years later as Woodward & Bernstein try to prevent the Presidency of E. Howard Hunt. 15 pages - pdf, format
Sapere Aude by Kant - Short, Adventure, War, Religion - The leader of a boys' club for troubled teens finds himself in a war with the most powerful, corrupt, cruel entity in the world, the unchecked Catholic Church. 12 pages - pdf, format
Miss Yemmie by Hollis Brown - Short, Drama - The Soviet Union's plan to restart its failed Sputnik Program prompts the United States to build a new space center at the remote home of an aging prostitute. 11 pages - pdf, format
Not Even God Himself by Buckwheat - Short, Sci Fi, Drama - When a travel agency undertakes the most ambitious voyage into space in the history of mankind, the men responsible are faced with the consequences of endangering a hundred thousand lives. 13 pages - pdf, format
Operation Downfall by Night Train - Short, Action - The atomic bombings against Japan never happened. The invasion of Japan did. 15 pages - pdf, format
The Broken Kingdom by Some Guy - Short, Fantasy, Historical - Set in an alternate timeline in which Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators blew up parliament and overthrew the monarchy. On the 513th anniversary of this historical event, a French-American businessman, on his first visit to Great Britain, finds himself on the run and embroiled with terrorists after he inadvertently commits an act of heresy. 14 pages - pdf, format
The 13th Generation by E Pluribus Unum - Short, Comedy, Satire - Texting obsessions takes over a company's communication as a car designer gets a promotion. 15 pages - pdf, format
Full Circle by Don't Need No Stinkin' Logline - Short, Drama - {no logline} 11 pages - pdf, format
Olympic by The Sullivan Brothers - Short, War - Two US marines and two young schoolgirls must find a way to survive the American invasion of Japan. 14 pages - pdf, format
Wow, only 11 scripts! I see that I'm in the majority instead of the minority. Had an idea but didn't have time to finish. Will probably see it through and post it at a later date so thanks Sean for the challenge. Looking forward to reading all the entries. And congrats to all who entered, this was a very daunting task.
I'm tied up this weekend but I'll get around to reviewing these during the week. Looking forward to it and as there's only 11 I can take my time with them.
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I have something half written, but I ran out of time. I needed too much time to research and world build. Two weeks for me, with my day gig and other stuff, is like 12 hours of free time. I think the time limit was constrictive on this one. But definitely one of the better constructed challenges I've seen.
I think this is the least amount of entries I've seen for any challenge. Did most people not enter because of the requirements?
Does that beg the question of whether the requirements should be "easier" for lack of a better word, for the OWC to be more inclusive?
Just playing devil's advocate.
The record is five entries for the "Gay Star Trek" Themed challenge. I think the theme had something to do with the lack of entries.
One of the reasons for the few number of entries is that advertising for the challenge was limited in time - a few days, and scope - only within the discussion board. I like to keep the challenges limited to discussion board members (October OWC not withstanding) because it increases participation.
As for making the requirements 'easier', I'm all for variation in the themes - some easy, some hard. I'm also all for trying something new and I don't care if it flops. This is the place to experiment. The only 'failed' owc would be one one which there are no entries.
The record is five entries for the "Gay Star Trek" Themed challenge. I think the theme had something to do with the lack of entries.
- Don
I need to read these scripts, cause Star Trek isn't camp enough as it is.
Totally agree that mixing it up is a good thing. Was just interested in people's thoughts cause I know there were a few people like myself that got something together but it wasn't quite right.
I need to read these scripts, cause Star Trek isn't camp enough as it is.
Totally agree that mixing it up is a good thing. Was just interested in people's thoughts cause I know there were a few people like myself that got something together but it wasn't quite right.
I think Sean and I (well, at least me) would be interested in reading yours that you don't feel is 'quite right'. I have a higher tolerance for "close enough" when it comes to the challenge.
I thought the theme was good, and in regards to it being a challenge, I kinda thought that was the point!
Apologies to Blondie for not entering, I've just shipped off back down under and am without a computer to type away on. Shall review as per usual and look forward to reading. Well in those who entered
I just want to start with a big thank you for everyone who participated, didn't participate or considered participating. What would SimplyScripts' OWCs be without all of you to share it with? =)
Does that beg the question of whether the requirements should be "easier" for lack of a better word, for the OWC to be more inclusive?
In some ways, yes. In others, no. Me, personally, when I come up with an OWC theme, I try and come up with things that allow for originality and variation. I hate the idea of people thinking that they're forced into such a tight restriction that they're worried they might write a script similar to 10 other people. At the same time, Rick made a good point in the lead-up to the contest when he said a lot of the recent OWCs (I'm paraphrasing) are more about wacky ideas instead of character and he listed most of mine. He's right. I suck with creating characters and, as a result, character-based ideas. That's why we like to encourage other people to set up OWCs, to get some unique voices out there to challenge everyone else. Keep it fun and fresh and interesting.
I think the time limit was constrictive on this one. But definitely one of the better constructed challenges I've seen.
It's true that I had originally considered a 3WC for this one instead of 2 weeks, but I had a feeling that people would be getting antsy with that long of a timeline, so I knocked it back and took a chance.
I think Sean and I (well, at least me) would be interested in reading yours that you don't feel is 'quite right'. I have a higher tolerance for "close enough" when it comes to the challenge.
Absolutely. I also don't really like the idea of DQ'ing people's scripts, anyway. I like to leave it up to the reviewers to make that call because everyone out there is an individual and has their own line on how far you can push the rules before it becomes unacceptable. At the same time, I do like for all comments to be constructive, but I don't think a script where someone at least attempted to fit it within the parameters should automatically be disqualified.
Quoted from Cameron
Apologies to Blondie for not entering, I've just shipped off back down under and am without a computer to type away on.
No need to apologize. It's a challenge, it's there for fun and for everyone to enjoy. It's not this obligation that, if you don't take part in it, you're hurting my feelings. Although, you are hurting my feelings by not participating... I'm kidding.
In all seriousness, though, don't sweat it if you miss out on this one. There are always going to be more OWCs. If not run by others, than by me. I've got six pages of OWC ideas saved up, just for the hell of it, so if you miss one, jump in the next. =)
I think Sean and I (well, at least me) would be interested in reading yours that you don't feel is 'quite right'. I have a higher tolerance for "close enough" when it comes to the challenge.
- Don
I'll be submitting it after the OWC in the exact format it is in now, so I'd be interested to know if people think it would have met the challenge.
I 100% agree and think that this is a great concept for a challenge, and yes it is challenging. My point was more that it was so challenging that it knocked a lot of other entries out of the equation.
I will read them all to see what people came up with.