Welcome to the January 2014 One Week Challenge:

For the next 10 days, you will suffer from a condition commonly referred to as the "Cassandra Complex". You will be unable to convince anyone of a future you know is coming and likely be thought of as a bit crazy due to your insistence on being a time traveler.

T-minus 240 hours until your OWC script is due.

Topic: Time Travel
Genre: Open

You have ten days to write a screenplay between 10 and 15 pages. The screenplay must be properly formatted and in PDF format. The scripts are due on Friday, January 10th at 11:59PM EST and must be submitted to: SimplyScripts.com/owc.

There will be a Writer's Choice wherein the participants (and only the participants) will be asked to select the three scripts he or she likes the best.

Timeline:

December 31st at 11:59PM EST - Theme and Genre announced.

January 10th at 11:59PM EST - Scripts are due.

January 24th at 5:00PM EST - Names and writer's choice revealed.

Da Rules:

Your protagonist must travel to some point in the past using some form of time travel device (the method is up to you. It could be a time machine, wormhole, electromagnetic explosion a la Lost, etc). So long as they travel into the past.

You do not have to show them in the present before they time travel. You can start with them already in the past if you like, however...

We must see the results of their exploits and its effect on the present (from their point of view. In other words, if they traveled from 1977, back to 1954, we would need to see how the changes they made--or didn't make--affected life in 1977): positive, negative or neutral.

Your character can travel from any point in history, even if it's from a point in our current future, to fix an event that hasn't happened yet. For example, they can travel from 2014 to 1968 to stop Martin Luther King Jr. from being shot, 2008 to 2000 to stop that bully from picking on you in high school or you can even travel from 2491 to 2240 to stop World War XVII.

You can alter history in any way you see fit, so long as, at some point after your character "succeeds" or "fails" in their mission, we see the effect they had on their present.

Jargon:

10 - 15 pages.

Properly formatted & saved as a PDF file.

This isn't a contest. There are no prizes.

Free to submit.

One entry per person.

No pissers, please.

You can revise your script as many times as you wish up until 11:59PM EST on January 10th.

Participants are strongly encouraged to read and comment/review on the scripts submitted.

Do not put your real name on your script. However, please use your real name when submitting your script. (After the challenge closes you can either have your script removed or resubmit with your script with your name on it.

Please put © on the bottom left corner of your title page.

Best of luck and I hope you guys have a lot of fun with this contest.

Aren't we in standard time right now?  Or is that considered time travel too?

Fixed. Thanks, Nomad. All I know is I hate Daylight Savings Time. It needs to go away. Lol. =)

Can we go back in time and pick another topic?  

I'm kidding.

Actually I'm not.

Okay I am.

Maybe.

I dunno.

      

10-15 pages is a lot.

Quoted from NickSedario Can we go back in time and pick another topic?   I'm kidding. Actually I'm not. Okay I am. Maybe. I dunno.        10-15 pages is a lot.

No. Good. Too bad. Oh, well. Make up your mind. Lost your chance. Respectively. =)

Maybe so, but setting up time travel takes a bit of extra time. Plus, you have an extra three days. You can do it. =)

Dammit. I was really hoping I'd hate the theme cus I don't need the distraction.

this sounds fun.  see what I can come up with.

Time travel is great when it's done well - a great idea that should produce some interesting results. And, a very generous page count.

Delicious irony here - am still working on a 'saving Marilyn from being murdered' time travel feature, lol.

Love the open genre. A comedy could beckon. It is a sorta challenge to make the story fit in the 10 to 15.

I like it Blondie!


Couple of quick questions: rating? Budget?

Thanks lol

I tried to write a time travel short story around twenty years ago and failed miserably. I will give this one a go though... just need to recover first. Been a long night.

Time travel, interesting. Never tried one of those before.

As usual I will be trying to keep a budget in mind to give it an outside chance of production, but first I need an idea.

Would it be acceptable just to see, or make contact with the past, rather than physically appear? May not be the intention, but may open some simple opportunities.

Cheers

Great Challenge... this one is ringing out "pisser" just kidding Sean

Mark

Quoted from mmmarnie Dammit. I was really hoping I'd hate the theme cus I don't need the distraction.

Sorry to disappoint you, Marnie. Lol. =)

Quoted from LC Time travel is great when it's done well - a great idea that should produce some interesting results. And, a very generous page count.

I figured since you're likely to be working in at least two different timelines, you might need the extra pages.

Quoted from stevie Couple of quick questions: rating? Budget?

Open, Stevie. No rating requirements, no budget requirements. The only requirements have to do with the story itself.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer As usual I will be trying to keep a budget in mind to give it an outside chance of production, but first I need an idea. Would it be acceptable just to see, or make contact with the past, rather than physically appear? May not be the intention, but may open some simple opportunities.

If that's the way you write, Bill, feel free. But, you're not required to stick to a certain budget. However, they have to actually travel to the past. They don't need to make it back to the present, but we have to see the effect what they did had on the present.

Quoted from irish eyes Great Challenge... this one is ringing out "pisser" just kidding Sean

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, Mark. Nobody's going to kill you if you (except me. Lol) or anybody else writes a pisser. =)

Sean,

This is a well executed OWC.  This is the first time that I haven't had to do anything.

Don

Sounds good.

First, I need to travel back to last night and figure out where these 6 hot babes came from and where the fuck my girlfriend is!!!  

Good work, Sean!!

@Sean

Any chance you can give us a break on the 10 page minimum?  Most OWC's have been a six page minimum.

Much more doable, IMO.  

That's my only gripe.

Oh, man, I'm in the process of finishing a very heavy time travel script at the moment so striking another time travel idea might be a little hard.

Although I'm still interested. Will see how it goes.

While I like most time-travel like films especially with a premise like this  (The Terminator and 12 Monkeys come quickly to mind) and paradox stories/movies can mess with your brain a bit, I'm not quite sure I'm into this. I wouldn't know where to start, where to finish. I'm skeptical...

Quoted from Dreamscale First, I need to travel back to last night and figure out where these 6 hot babes came from

SIX OF THEM?

Damn...much better...it was all a dream.  My girl is here and we just had an awesome quiche (that I made!) and we're drinking champagne.  The 6 hotties disappeared and things are back to normal, although I may be just a tad hung over.

Time travel is always tough , but it's a great challenge that I'll tackly early next week.

Hope everyone is safe and in a happy place on this very special day.

Quoted from Dreamscale Time travel is always tough , but it's a great challenge that I'll tackly early next week. Hope everyone is safe and in a happy place on this very special day.

I'm 2 pages into mine and it's riddled with voice overs.  Not a good way to start.

      Silverback (V.O.)
I'm unsure if I'll continue it.

Quoted from NickSedario @Sean Any chance you can give us a break on the 10 page minimum?  Most OWC's have been a six page minimum. Much more doable, IMO.   That's my only gripe.

I'm not incredibly strict when it comes to the page count. I took two things into consideration when I upped it to 10-15. The first is that you have three extra days. The second is that this is likely to require a slightly more complex story than OWCs typically tend to have. If you think you can write a solid time travel script in six pages, by all means. If you think you can do it in a single page, I stand behind you. But, my guess is that most people will need at least those 10 pages to craft a well-told story, so that's why I set the minimum in place. Personally, I don't ever think a person should be DQ'd for being under the page limit and you won't be in this OWC.

^Good news^

Quoted from irish eyes Great Challenge... this one is ringing out "pisser" just kidding Sean Mark

Comedy is allowed, bro! It only becomes a pisstake if it parodies the whole requirements using SS dudes. Plenty of scope for humour in this. My entire story came to me last night out of nowhere and it will fit perfectly. Happy about that as I don't have to worry about cramming at the last minute, lol.

And I just woke up to see Villa had finally won a game!

Quoted from stevie Comedy is allowed, bro! It only becomes a pisstake if it parodies the whole requirements using SS dudes.

The 'word' is, as above, guys.  

Quoted from stevie My entire story came to me last night ...

... What, it came to you in a dream? Smart arse.  
Happy New Year, mate.

On another note.

Sean, these stories don't have to involve big scale events, do they?

Quoted from LC On another note. Sean, these stories don't have to involve big scale events, do they?

No, of course not. I made a note in the rules that it could be the main character traveling back to stop a bully from picking on them in high school. Literally, you can have them traveling back to do anything.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde No, of course not. I made a note in the rules that it could be the main character traveling back to stop a bully from picking on them in high school. Literally, you can have them traveling back to do anything.

Indeed you did. Must read more closely. Cool.

Main character traveling back to stop a bully, huh?

((Sigh))

Back to the old drawing board.

Quoted from LC The 'word' is, as above, guys.   ... What, it came to you in a dream? Smart arse.   Happy New Year, mate. On another note. Sean, these stories don't have to involve big scale events, do they?

I wasn't asleep Lib, just quietly brainstorming, when the whole thing formed. Beginning, middle, end. The title and everything. Only thing is that most people will sorta work out it's mine because of the subject matter lol. But that's too bad  

Happy New Year to u too, digger!


A big scale event?  That's when Jeff weighs himself

This is a good one, Sean. I'm trying to think of something.

If I enter, I've decied I'll write with one of these as my 'writing soundtrack':



or



or maybe a mix of the two... that would be pretty frenetic.

Sean,

So, are we writing something here that involves the Cassandra Complex, or can it be a straight up time travel story without that?

Quoted from SAC Sean, So, are we writing something here that involves the Cassandra Complex, or can it be a straight up time travel story without that?

That was just a faux-clever title to avoid calling it the 1.5WC. Truthfully, just stick with the rules I laid out and the rest is up to you. =)

Quoted from Mr. Blonde That was just a faux-clever title to avoid calling it the 1.5WC. Truthfully, just stick with the rules I laid out and the rest is up to you. =)

Wonder how many people will now incorporate the Cassandra element... it's fertile ground: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra_Complex

Or, now how about this, we have "The Silverback Complex."

That's the one where you go back to the year 1937, write a one pager (about gorillas, no less) on an old Smith-Corona typewriter. Then, after that, you have a sudden realization that it really doesn't matter what year you're in because nobody knew what the hell it was about in the first place.

Quoted from SAC Or, now how about this, we have "The Silverback Complex." That's the one where you go back to the year 1937, write a one pager (about gorillas, no less) on an old Smith-Corona typewriter. Then, after that, you have a sudden realization that it really doesn't matter what year you're in because nobody knew what the hell it was about in the first place.

Ha.  

I deleted my pitch for The Clark Complex because it was so good I'm gonna write it myself and turn it into a feature.

Of course I'll change names to protect the innocent.

I'm in Sean, this is a fun challenge.

One question:  is it necessary to include the time travel method (show it, describe it),
or can it just be a given?  One minute the protagonist is one time frame and then...

CUT TO:

...another time frame.  

The method could be part of the mystery of the story.

Lemme know...

I don't think it is wise to go into too much detail on how it is actually done. That was exactly what stopped me finishing my time travel story 20 years ago. Travelling to the past is illogical. Cause and effect... you cannot break that rule.

It's still fucking with me now. If it was the future I could work with that, by travelling close to light speed. They do believe that if you travelled faster than light then travelling backwards may be theoretically possible. However we still run into the cause and effect rule.

Anyway, I'm still thinking about it but I'm not sure I will be able to think of anything worthwhile. Still got a few days to think, I suppose.

Quoted from big lew I'm in Sean, this is a fun challenge.

heeheeheehee

I agree it's a great challenge, well described and the requirements are very clear - which is important.

This is what I'm thinking of:

With the help of a wacky scientist, a young teen travels back to 1955 in a Delorean turned time-machine. Once there, he meets his parents, still teenagers, but his presence throws things out-of-whack and he must ensure they fall in love and get married or else he'll never come to exist.

Maybe the Delorean can be a Volkswagon Beetle? what do you ya think peeps?
I was also thinking about using a "Flux Capacitor" as the core component to make time travel possible

It's just an idea at the moment

Mark

Daggit, great idea for an OWC, Sean!  Unfortunately:

1) I'm in the middle of a rewrite that I really, really wanna get done.
2) No idea's coming to me, at least so far.

Bleh.  Looking forward to the scripts, though!

Quoted from irish eyes This is what I'm thinking of: With the help of a wacky scientist, a young teen travels back to 1955 in a Delorean turned time-machine. Once there, he meets his parents, still teenagers, but his presence throws things out-of-whack and he must ensure they fall in love and get married or else he'll never come to exist. Maybe the Delorean can be a Volkswagon Beetle? what do you ya think peeps? I was also thinking about using a "Flux Capacitor" as the core component to make time travel possible It's just an idea at the moment Mark

Actually, I *did* have one idea: an avid movie-goer is disheartened, because no SF films have measured up to his standards since the 80s.  He goes back in time to stop his younger self from seeing Back to the Future, to save himself future comparative heartbreak... While there, his interaction with two budding teen writers inadvertently inspires Looper and Twelve Monkeys...  

Quoted from Janet Actually, I *did* have one idea: an avid movie-goer is disheartened, because no SF films have measured up to his standards since the 80s.  He goes back in time to stop his younger self from seeing Back to the Future, to save himself future comparative heartbreak... While there, his interaction with two budding teen writers inadvertently inspires Looper and Twelve Monkeys...

"Back to the Future"  That's a great name... think i'll use that one

Mark  

Quoted from Mr. Blonde must be submitted to: SimplyScripts.com/owc.

Is there a link?

Last time I checked the above does not work.

Quoted from big lew One question: is it necessary to include the time travel method (show it, describe it), or can it just be a given?  One minute the protagonist is one time frame and then... CUT TO: ...another time frame.   The method could be part of the mystery of the story. Lemme know...

I'd say that situationally-speaking, it should be (at the bare minimum) hinted at how they traveled back in time. If there's no description, it almost feels like cheating by the writer. However, that's for the reader to decide. As long as a person travels to a point in the past and we see the results and how they affect the present, you don't have to show how they did it.

Quoted from NickSedario Is there a link? Last time I checked the above does not work.

It probably isn't. I took Don's instructions on the last OWC and Mad Libbed them into fitting the rules on that one, so that link may be old. Hopefully Don will update us with a new one, but if he doesn't, just enter the script in the way you normally would, but in the Comments section, indicate that it is part of the January 2014 OWC, so he will know.

OK, Sean, thanks for get-back and clarification.  I think I have a way to finesse the time travel system.

Good luck everybody.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde It probably isn't. I took Don's instructions on the last OWC and Mad Libbed them into fitting the rules on that one, so that link may be old. Hopefully Don will update us with a new one, but if he doesn't, just enter the script in the way you normally would, but in the Comments section, indicate that it is part of the January 2014 OWC, so he will know.

I hate to be a nag but it says "Script submissions are closed until January 6th, 2014"

I didn't know that, but it's probably for the best. It guarantees that if you finish early, you can have a couple days to look over it and make sure it's something you're proud to put your name on. =)

Quoted from NickSedario Is there a link? Last time I checked the above does not work.

Stand by.  The link will work shortly.

Please submit to

http://www.simplyscripts.com/owc

Don

Quoted from Don Please submit to http://www.simplyscripts.com/owc Don

Thanks!

Never considered a time travel script before.  So far I've had a few ideas, including some I like, but the challenge it seems to me is to make this not sound like something already filmed. There have been so  many time travel films.

Also most of my ideas have been more feature orientated.

Thankfully the extra few days are appreciated.

I haven't been around much. Just got a job writing for my city newspaper. I will try and write something for this though, hopefully not as horrible as my last submission.

Finished yesterday in one sitting (Dustin, you'd be so proud of me). Going to leave it for a day or two before I read it again and realise just how bad it is. Then I'll re-write, make it worse, post, and watch the sh$tty comment flood in. And I haven't even bothered to make it unconfusing. If anyone understands it on the first read I'll give them a blow j special blessing. ahh.

Quoted from Forgive Finished yesterday in one sitting (Dustin, you'd be so proud of me). Going to leave it for a day or two before I read it again and realise just how bad it is. Then I'll re-write, make it worse, post, and watch the sh$tty comment flood in. And I haven't even bothered to make it unconfusing. If anyone understands it on the first read I'll give them a blow j special blessing. ahh.

Well done. I actually did the same thing. Took me a few hours to get one done. I've almost finished the vomit draft on another feature too, just writing the very end sequence. The short was handy actually, as I sometimes like to take a break from writing one thing to write another.

I've got another feature in mind too, so I better get to work.

Wibbly Wobbly timey wimey! A perfect opportunity for a Doctor Who fan fic script or Back to the Future crossover with Bill and Ted. Just joking, looking forward to reading these - good luck everybody!

EDIT - I've come up with an idea, just can I get it written up in time? See what I did there? Oh well I'll get my coat.

I toyed, briefly, with the idea of writing a Dr Who fan script for this little competition. I didn't feel that it would go down well. I'm not a fan. For me it's more about nostalgia. I still watch every episode with my kids, but what I find myself doing is checking out the quality of the writing. I suppose the days of just sitting and watching are over.

Well, we are at the halfway point. How is everyone doing thus far? I'm sure we have a couple procrastinators in our midst... Just remember, five and a half days to go. =)

I've been busy partying my balls off lately and haven't even thought about this yet...but I will.

Hopefully, I can start brainstorming tomorrow,a s today is football, sofa, and lots of food!!!

Took me a couple days to even come up with an image, let alone a story. It's occurred to me that these open challenges are waaay harder than the ones with very specific guidelines. When you can do anything, what do you do? That sort of thing.

Came up with the basic plot two days ago. Spent the following days working out the kinks. I've written a time travel feature before so coming up with the "rules" wasn't too difficult but I did have to make some tweaks to fit the new story.

Aiming to start writing this afternoon/tonight. I think I might actually be able to finish in one sitting like some of the other peeps. Will spend as much time as I can rewriting and probably submit the final draft dead on schedule.

I finished mine yesterday in one sitting as well.

The wide open quality is great, but I may have broken the hinges off that. I might do another tonight. I'm worried mine might not fit all the parameters.

It was hard to pick one idea to develop.  Tons of options with the time travel premise. And I've always wanted to write something in that area of science fiction.

Good luck all. I bet our heads willlall be spinning trying to understand all these shorts. I can't wait to have my mind blown.

I have a first draft - not even sure i understand it! needs substantial work

Not wishing to break tradition i have gone down the same route as my other recent OWC's. It will be obvious which is mine, unless i have a second idea before then.

can you enter twice?  (as if i'm going to have time)

So I wrote an entry.  And I think it's bad.  Don't know if it's even good.

Serious revision must be done before I submit it, be first, I need food and need to also locate will-power.

I would but it is actually a concept of one my screenplays. No worries though, it is really nothing more than a conspiracy theory in future tense if anyone really thought about it. My layering is driving me nuts and much more difficult though. Hope all do well with it. I decided to do a dumb challenge myself though. That is writing the lyric to evoke emotion and rhythm. Low and behold somehow it is helping my thread better. Peace out, all you dream weavers. Although I don't know if this quote is original it may inspire. "When I am done weaving I better dang well have my audience believing"

Thanks Cordially,
Mitchell N Haleyou

Quoted from Reef Dreamer can you enter twice?  (as if i'm going to have time)

The rules clearly state that you can only enter once, but as you note, this is time dependent, so I suggest that if your script allows it, then you travel back in time, and enter a script before the one that you entered first which means you haven't actually entered one, and then enter the second one, which is in fact the first one, and then... ugh, sorry I've confused myself -- end your script now, before I finish and then. Go back to the first or second script. and. oh.

Well isn't that just normal screenwriting language. Don't forget to tear it apart put it back together just so you can tear it apart. Then when it is finally weaved don't forget that one thread you forgot so you can just tear it apart and weave again. LOL! Finally an understanding by someone, Thanks SiColl007
Peace out all,
Mitchell N Haleyou
(Inhale, Captivate and Rain Down On You With Entertainment)

Have hand written about 4 pages. So far it's all comic dialogue between the two heroes!

Lucky we got 15 pages this time., lol. No bother though - the story and ending all mapped out. Can edit it once I copy to computer for final submission.

I came up with the outline of the story Saturday, started it Sunday. Flew through the first 4 pages then spent hours on one line!

When I started I wondered if I could get to 10 pages, now wondering if I can do the story justice in 15 pages - Ahh the pain and pleasure of writing.

Work is interfering now, real life sucks tbh.

Not looking good over here.  Still haven't even begun to start thinking about this.

ARGH!!!

Read my feature instead, Jeff -- maybe you'll get motivated to write a badass script like I did!  

Just spell-checked (in American just to keep you all happy). Re-read it and to my surprise I thought it was a work of genius. But then I always do until I get the feedback. Anyone up for a hefty dose of Horsesh$t?

Quoted from Forgive Anyone up for a hefty dose of Horsesh$t?

Send it on. Am not able to take part so you get feedback from someone completely neutral.  

Quoted from Forgive Just spell-checked (in American just to keep you all happy). Re-read it and to my surprise I thought it was a work of genius. But then I always do until I get the feedback.

I think I've said these exact words before.

Quoted from Guest Read my feature instead, Jeff -- maybe you'll get motivated to write a badass script like I did!

Slabby...you fucker...

Read it tonight or I keeeel you

I took one night away from watching Breaking bad and wrote a short in 5 hours and it's not a pisser
I think

mark

Had just a little bit of free time today and finished a script. Not sure if I like it enough to enter it though but we'll see.

Good luck everyone!

mine is turning into a monumental cluster f**k

my wife had no idea what it was about - not a good sign. not sure i do either.

i suppose i'll enter, got to take part. But it won't be pretty, unless i can rescue it, and thats unlikely.

hey ho

Quoted from Reef Dreamer mine is turning into a monumental cluster f**k ... i suppose i'll enter, got to take part. But it won't be pretty, unless i can rescue it, and thats unlikely.

Well, you got until Friday, so no pressure there  

Just to repeat, I've finished mine. Anyone else feeling kinda smug?

Quoted from Simon Just to repeat, I've finished mine. Anyone else feeling kinda smug?

High five buddy... after having zero intentions of entering this one due to working on a feature,
I knocked one out in one sitting(I'm talking about a script peeps) you dirty minded b......

Mark

Go man! You truly ARE a scriptwriter!  

Struggling to get time to get this finished - ARRRGGHHH DEADLINES!

Still nothing over here.  haven't even had a chance to really think about a plot.

May have to be a big old pisser!!!  

Quoted from Dreamscale May have to be a big old pisser!!!

Jeff,

I don't know if you want to feel my wrath... =)

Wasn't planning on entering this, then had an idea I thought was great. So I decided to do some more in-depth reading on time traveling, which has complicated my idea beyond belief.

And whilst I am nearing a solution for my current problems, I still have a lot more to work out before I start writing.

Fingers crossed I can get it finished in time, otherwise expect an overly complicated time-traveling short to be posted in the shorts section soon

Quoted from Toby_E Wasn't planning on entering this, then had an idea I thought was great. So I decided to do some more in-depth reading on time traveling, which has complicated my idea beyond belief. And whilst I am nearing a solution for my current problems, I still have a lot more to work out before I start writing. Fingers crossed I can get it finished in time, otherwise expect an overly complicated time-traveling short to be posted in the shorts section soon

yup, thats sounds familiar. Overly complicated seems a theme with time travel. yet, i'm sure a crisp, simple, meaningful short could be nailed without it - just not mine.

I will enter with little expectation, then reduce it

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Jeff, I don't know if you want to feel my wrath... =)

that has pisser written all over it.....sorry

Quoted from Reef Dreamer yup, thats sounds familiar. Overly complicated seems a theme with time travel. yet, i'm sure a crisp, simple, meaningful short could be nailed without it - just not mine. I will enter with little expectation, then reduce it

Ha, yeah, I really wish that I didn't try to research time traveling before I started writing this. The idea started off simple enough, but has morphed into something likely to have even Shane Carruth scratching his head.

I'm hoping that I will be able to iron out the concept in the day tomorrow, then knock out a first draft in the evening, and spend Friday rewriting it.

That's the dream, anyway

Seeing as I have travelled back and forth in time several times (just today round noon, as a matter of fact), my entry has been going swimmingly.

Quoted from SAC Seeing as I have travelled back and forth in time several times (just today round noon, as a matter of fact), my entry has been going swimmingly.

Who wins?

Why, the good guys, of course.  Unless it's horror. Then the bad guys can win a few, and have fun doing it.