Quoted from Dreamscale Rick, that's funny...too long, much to long, and very much too long...I'm seriously laughing out loud and can't stop.  Very humorous!

It's from Alexander Mccendrick's book:

"On Filmmaking".


The best book on writing/directing there is in my opinion.

Quoted from Dreamscale Phil, I suggest that you do give an actual page count, or at least a parameter that does not allow 1, 2, 3, and 4 page scripts.  It's been a problem in the past, why not nip it in the bud now? Just a suggestion...

I agree with Jeff, not to mention I wouldn't want to read five of his one page jokes in an OWC. No offense...

I thought the OWC was an excercize to put us under the gun as if we were commissioned writers. If a production company wants a 30 minute sitcom, you need to crank out 20-22 pages of script. (I think that's accurate, but not sure)

If they want a feature 90-120 pages...

I always looked at this as a director/producer coming to one of us and saying I need to make a 10-15 minute film about this... Blah, blah, blah.

Got nothing against one-pagers. But time limits are realistic in the biz if you're asked to write someone elses ideas...

All the shorts we write now are up to us as far as length 1 page, 17 pages... But, to me, this is a short we're asked to write.

I think the page limitations are a good added challenge.

Totally agree, James and you backed up your argument very well...much better than I had.

I think it is exactly that.

However a director/producer is as likely to ask for a super short as he is for a ten minute film.

I'm all for making it as close to the real thing as possible, if that's the point, though.

I'm actually wondering if we couldn't actively look at festivals/competitons...and  aiming them towards that.

EG if one time we did a OWC for 90 sec. films aimed at this competition:

http://www.depict.org/competition/

The site would then have a whole ream of scripts ready made for potential filmmakers looking to enter that comp...

Couple of messages on filmmaking sites and there could be a nice little production opening for a whole load of simply writers.

That's just an idea...I'm not trying to "butt" in on the OWC or whatever, and maybe it's best left the way it is...but I think there's more than a kernel of an idea there.

You make a fair point for the super shorts. I'll have to give you that. I'll have to write a couple for myself off this one... My big issue is that while I can see them working ok in competitions, shorts don't tend to be marketable...or are they? If I have an awesome short, what do I do with it?

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films EG if one time we did a OWC for 90 sec. films aimed at this competition:

I'd be all for that. A different type of challenge with a budget in mind. I'm no where near the point of making film though, as I'm sure alot of us are...

Damn, if we only knew an accomplished director to take the helm on that one. Ahem..

Quoted from George Willson You make a fair point for the super shorts. I'll have to give you that. I'll have to write a couple for myself off this one... My big issue is that while I can see them working ok in competitions, shorts don't tend to be marketable...or are they? If I have an awesome short, what do I do with it?

They are good for websites like Youtube or Atom Films...sites where they start to give you advertising revenue after a certain number of views. There are others as well.

On Youtube I believe it's about 40,000 views...that's an educated guess based on the fact a friend of mine was offered partnership once his upload had reached that level (he couldn't take it up because it was a clip from a BBC show).

1,000,000 views on Atom Films will net you around $30,000, I believe. They have to grant you a "Pro Licence" first. Not sure how that works. Mine and Pia's short "Unprotected Sex" was on there and I got contacted by the acquisitions team, then never heard anything again...so I'm not sure how you get it...probably just a matter of numbers though.

A friend of mine recently made this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFjWR7X5dU

It exploded overnight and has ended up on TV, in national press..so there is the point that they can become viral and not only make money in themselves...but also act as advertising for your other stuff or your website where you sell stuff...or just yourself.

Frankly...a 60 sec. skit could be a damn site more valuable than a well-produced 20 minute short..which no-one will watch outside of festivals.

Now, obviously there are limits to all this...I believe there are only two people who make an actual living off Youtube (Michael Buckley is one)...but it's becoming more possible and it surely is going to become more and more so in the future.

This is the case for Super Shorts by the way...I'm thinking of little skits more than anything. If you mean longer, mroe serious shorts, that's a bit of a different issue...but I'm happy to let you know what I know...for whatever that's worth.

I'm entertaining the idea of a page limit.  It may be ten pages maximum. It may be between six and eight pages.

Since you asked, Mike.  The theme is romance.  The genre is buying a pony.

I usually come up with the genre and theme at the last minute.  Giving you a hint any earlier takes away from the pressure of a time constraint.


Phil

Buying pony that you are romantically involved with...sounds like horror, actually...as long as the pony is then sacrificed in a bloody ritual involving lots of gratuitous sex and nudity.

Phil, I thought we were going 15 pages?  How'd we get down to 10 pages max, now?  Between 6 and 8 pages?  Huh?

What's going on here?  I'm really confused...

Quoted from dogglebe I usually come up with the genre and theme at the last minute.  Giving you a hint any earlier takes away from the pressure of a time constraint. Phil

What about just giving us the genre early?   C'mon, Phil, throw us a bone.

Quoted from jwent6688 I'd be all for that. A different type of challenge with a budget in mind. I'm no where near the point of making film though, as I'm sure alot of us are... Damn, if we only knew an accomplished director to take the helm on that one. Ahem..

Wasn't thinking that we make them ourselves. I was thinking we write them then go onto filmmaking websites (dvxuser.com, for instance) and mention the competition (EG Depict) and the fact that there are a whole heap of ready made scripts on simply scripts for people who would like to enter the competition.

Bascially creates a little market for everybodies scripts and creates potential avenues for production for everybody.


As for the second point...I have "intentions" for something in the near future...but I'm keeping it under my hat until Michael has taken the glory with his Dark series.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Wasn't thinking that we make them ourselves. I was thinking we write them then go onto filmmaking websites (dvxuser.com, for instance) and mention the competition (EG Depict) and the fact that there are a whole heap of ready made scripts on simply scripts for people who would like to enter the competition.

That's a great idea to drum up interest in this site IMO. Wonder if Don's listening??? Of course he is, he's God...

Here comes Screen to nail me for my blasphemy... Wait for it...

"dvxusers" use a LOT of scripts from MoviePoet. Those scripts are 5 pages max.

Quoted from Grandma Bear "dvxusers" use a LOT of scripts from MoviePoet. Those scripts are 5 pages max.

There are lots of reasons why filmmakers like really short films...some are mentioned above.

Another is the logistics of festivals. The main criticism festivals have is that they are expensive to enter (the entry fees are high, you have to send your video by courirer, posters etc) and very few of the people that enter get their films shown. Thousands of people have to waste hundreds of pounds for nothing.

Some festivals wold rather therefore put three 5 minute films in, than one 15 minute film...and obviously the longer the film, the more shorter films you can fit in.

So if you make a long film...say 30 mins...your film is going to have to be really good, because it needs to be better than six 5 minute ones put together.

From a film-making standpoint, it's better to write short short scripts than long short scripts.  It's much easier and cheaper if you are an amateur or a student to make a five minute film than it is to make a twenty minute one.  And if you've done the film-making thing for a while you're more likely to film your own scripts.   Plus in the coming age of the webisode, the market will be for shorter scripts.  I've already seen paid calls for one page scripts from a couple of different sponsors.  So, it's good to be ready.  

And Rick you don't need to wait - give these guys a real assignment.  It would be good if we could do that every OWC.