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Genre: Drama, Adventure, historical/period, suspense and horror or any combination thereof.
As alluded to in the previous thread, this OWC xhallenge was inspired by a fan's callout for low budget and brave filmmakers to crank out a series of Jaws fan-films by October 2015 as according to the possible future timeline seen in "Back To The Future II" (boy that almanac sure came in handy!) when 'Jaws 19' would be released. Some have decided to attempt this. But hypethically, what if others decided to try it? They might need some shark themed scripts, tight?
Simply Scripts might be a good place to start. However...that's all these scripts will be. Shark-themed. They could be true story/inspirational like Soul Surfer. although they don't have to be. They could be fictionalized accounts of fishermen getting something other than a catch of lobster. Might even be a Pirate story. It may or may not be self-contained. Pirhana vs. Shark and both chew people. Whatever. It's Jaws in name only.
Restrictions: Four characters maximum, either gender. This does not necessarily include a dead character previously killed by the shark offscreen (example: in 'Jaws' the body of Ben Gardner).
You can have any other fish or marine life that lives in the water. (Octopus, Killer Whale, Crabs etc) However, there must be only one living shark. It could be any type of shark but it must be a rogue. You don't have to show the shark if you don't want to.
No more than two boats and/or rafts. You can sink the boat and/or raft but not by explosion and/or fire.
Absolutely no direct references to any character from the book/ film Jaws or any of the sequels. A namedrop 'shout out ' of Amity is fine but isn't required. This is so it isn't "fan fiction" If a filmmaker wants to turn it into a fan film. That's one thing. They may not want to. This also gives you some obvious freedoms as well.
Historical/Period - you can set it in any time in the past, but not the stone age.
Horror - eco/ creature horror only. No zombies, werewolves, vampires, ghosts etc.
No p*ss takes in the pool.
You have seven days to write a screenplay between 8 and 12 pages. You may rewrite those pages and resumbit before deadline if you so choose.
The screenplay must be properly formatted and in PDF format. The scripts are due on Friday, April 4th at 11:59PM EST and must be submitted to SimplyScripts.com/OWC or at the top of the OWC category page.
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.
VOTING for the favorites will take place on April 12-13 Names will be revealed on April 15th, 2014 along with results.
Participants are strongly encouraged to read and comment/review on the scripts submitted. Anyone can participate. There can be up to two entries per person. Collabs are fine.
Please put � on the bottom left corner of your title page.
Thanks for the wait. Now let's get Kraken.
This is not a contest, just a challenge. There will be no life preservers as door prizes.
Done. But the link given to submit leads to Feb's OWC?
Don't worry 'bout the submit link right now. Don will set up that link page soon. I'm still tweaking a few things as well, but what you see above is the gist of it.
Two questions. We're only supposed to name it "Jaws"? Correct?
And are you sticking to your guns on the page minimum. Like the last OWC, Mr. Blonde let us do less than 10 pages. I, for one, liked that option. (come to think of it I didn't enter the last OWC, but still...)
Two questions. We're only supposed to name it "Jaws"? Correct?
And are you sticking to your guns on the page minimum. Like the last OWC, Mr. Blonde let us do less than 10 pages. I, for one, liked that option. (come to think of it I didn't enter the last OWC, but still...)
Thanks
The title of the script can be anything you want. "Jaws" does not have to be part of the title. It can be, but isn't required. You can call it Jaws Of Death or Jaws Of Blood if you like. Or Little Miss Sally's Last Surf . Under Pressure. Anything you like.
As for letting you do less than 10 pages, it is a challenge to do 10 to 12 pages. But if your story requires only 9, so be it. But 10 is the goal.
Ok, I'll bite (HA!! I slay myself). Why do we need to put � on the bottom left hand corner of the title page?
Some of my scripts:
Bounty (TV Pilot) -- Top 1% of discoverable screenplays on Coverfly I'll Be Seeing You (short) - OWC winner The Gambler (short) - OWC winner Skip (short) - filmed Country Road 12 (short) - filmed The Family Man (short) - filmed The Journeyers (feature) - optioned
Not for me this one... not sure how I could ever make a low budget shark short. I no longer write without an eye to getting something made. But I'll have a little think about it. Mt initial reaction though is not to touch this one.
Another thing is I didn't really care much for Jaws. Indeed, I've never actually liked any wild creature attack film, aside from wolves. I like wolves. Apes are good too. Planet of the Apes is one of the greatest concepts ever. maybe it's just water creatures that don't float my boat... upon saying that I hated Arachnophobia, didn't like Piranha... I just find them boring, it doesn't matter how much fake blood they throw around and scream.
I dunno.. my mind is already turning over possibilities and a cool title just popped into my head... I also like to challenge myself, and for me this would be a challenge. To be honest, this will be for any writer. To redo something that's been done to death and make it original, and keeping it contained to a short is not going to be easy. I think I've just sold myself on it.
Can a character in the script be a relative from a character in Jaws? Say, for instance, my protag is Chief Brody's nephew, only I don't mention him by name, but I present him in such a way the audience will have no doubt that he is related to Brody. Is something like that okay?
Whoa. Any historical period - except prehistoric. No contemporary settings? So, how recent in history can this historical period setting be?
Hannah Montana historical period or Kurt Cobain historical period?
I keft it open in this regard Ray. If someone wanted to feed Hannah Montana to the fish that's....rather mean. Contemporary settings are fine. That would include ":any" period except prehistoric. (No "Meg" type scripts) Hopefully some will be clever and set it in the 70s and 80s....but I'm leaving it open for interpetation.
Is this serious? A shark attack short? We're going to have 30-40 10 page scripts all abouut a shark attacking peeps?
As opposed to any other OWC, Jeff? Rgat's one of the reasons I left it open as far as setting. As to what kind of filmmaker would shoot a movie using riubber ducks and such - that's thier business. Not mine. They could animate it with Poser. They could shoot live action and hardly show the shark.
Cool. I don't think it'd be much of a stretch to cast and costume Molly Miley being fed to a twerk shark.
That established and moving on, I hope people are keeping the rogue shark aspect clear in concept and development. For the last Oct OWC we had a whole lotta pages one thru nine of drama-drama-drama-drama-drama before SUPERNATURAL EVENT on the final page that was supposed to qualify the story as a horror. Likewise, I hope we see/read some real rogue shark stories a not a bunch of "generic sharks bite and terrorize people" stories.
Really, Nick? What's a Meg? A Meg is a Megladon, the greatest predator in history - 60+ feet of death in the form of 6 inch teeth like sushi knives.
Meg was a great read when it came out so many years back. Kind of feel bad for Steve Alten, as so many times it's been optioned and sold, but till no movie - only the rip off shark attack flicks that robbed him blind.
I actually talked with him years ago about it and he was very bitter. Still rumored to be coming out, but I wonder if will do anything, as it's no longer a fresh idea.
1) don't worry about shorter scripts - if this what works for someone, then better to be in than not
2) as this is trying to be low cost why don't we allow...no shark - it can be about a shark etc but not actually seen. A film can be sexual and erotic but have no sex.
This would allow lower budget variations. The costs of real shark footage or trying to be fake, as well as out on boats, could be very high.
3) I also think this should allow comedy - at the moment it seem excluded
The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards. Third - Honolulu Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
That's funny. And even funnier will be the doomed char - name of Jeff oddly - in my script who will be reamed by the baddies before being fed to the shark.
There is plenty of scope here for some cool scripts, especially choosing an older era to set it in.
Both west and east coast of the US are traditional shark attack zones. So 19th century miners, outlaws, soldiers, etc are all good fodder to use, lol.
Oz has some of the most sharks in the world, especially a place called Streaky Bay in South Australia. East coast of OZ has a lot too.
South Africa, particularly around Durban is notorious for great white attacks.
Taking any of these settings and moving the time back presents loads of ideas.
Sorta funny this challenge as Jaws is my fave movie of all time as I mentioned earlier. I saw it at the cinema aged 14 and have been a shark fanatic/expert ever since.
Have read the Meg books, Jeff and they are awesome. They need to be filmed properly if they ever do them
Done and ready to submit. I will say this. If anybody knows anything about surfing there is an actual break out in Hawaii called Jaws. Some of the biggest waves in the world break over there. Dangerous and unpredictable the spot was named after the movie. Fitting place for a quasi sequel no?
Done and ready to submit. I will say this. If anybody knows anything about surfing there is an actual break out in Hawaii called Jaws. Some of the biggest waves in the world break over there. Dangerous and unpredictable the spot was named after the movie. Fitting place for a quasi sequel no?
Really? A 1 day script? That's all you need? Hope you've read it over at least 5 or so times. No reason to rush this, Cam. Take your time, bro...
I'm on the 3rd draft of my western and thats where my focus is now. I just wanted to see what I could do with this and luckily I had plenty of time yesterday to crank it out. I think its decent, but I'll have to wait for my turn against the firing squad to see. Looking forward to everybody's submissions though.
Uh oh. I think your script is little Alex Kintner and Jeff is the Great White who's going to tear it to shreds. Cue the music.
Now, that's funny! What up, Ryan? Hope all is well. You jumping into this frey?
I'm going with a 12 page montage of Shark Night's best scenes - uh...OK...I guess I won't get 12 minutes, but...uh...argh...
I think a pisser is the only way to go here. Or maybe just super over the top pisser writing with a rock solid drama/thriller/horror/love movie/romance/shark attack/Rogue Shark theme. Not sure yet.
If an idea pops in my head I might throw something into the mix. I was thinking about having this Aussie whacko named Stevie terrorized by a nurse shark at an aquarium.
If an idea pops in my head I might throw something into the mix. I was thinking about having this Aussie whacko named Stevie terrorized by a nurse shark at an aquarium.
That sounds cool! I have an idea too. It involves a guy named Ryan who moves from L.A to Arizona to live with a crusty old sheep herder named Jeff. When the sheep are eaten by a giant shark stuck in the watering trough, the two men turn to each other for love.
DJ, is there any chance of maybe adding comedy as a genre for this?
You will still have your perps writing straight horror/shark attack ones but if we had that option to do a great comedy... And I mean no pisstakes as you stated, just straight comedy.
There is a difference.
Jaws 3 was originally written as a spoof but the script was so unfunny they made a proper one albeit a anversge one. I've never seen it in the true 3d but the huge shark look pretty cool in some shots.
Anyway just thought I'd ask. There could be some really funny scripts using this theme.
My new idea involves an old Aussie goat named Stevie, swimming in skin tight 30 year old denim shorts, acting like a teen girl, going off about the new Miley Cirus rant and then a big, old Great White Shark, born in 1936, weighing in at 4,104 pounds jumps on his old ass and eats his right nut and then dies from some wierd disease and then the Great White Shark carcass becomes animated and acts like some kind of trained little irritating dog and carries Stevie and what's left of his denim shorts to shore and throws him into his wife's loving arms and then dies a 2nd time in a stream of blood geyers and fake looking stuff as if it was in the Belly of the Beast, followed by a horrible looking Steven Seagal bloated, watery, fish eaten head popping out of the Belly of the Beast.
If anyone wants to colab on this, please let me know through my lawyer, as it's obvious this idea is gold.
Jeff, I like your idea so much of the shark dying then becoming reanimated that I think I'll write an eco-story about shark zombies, not just regular zombies.
Now, I just gotta figure a way to work in the Nazi shark zombie angle, and FTW figure out how to equip the Nazi shark zombies with lazers.
It all sounds very promising so far. I was going to read Samuel Beckett's lost short story but I think I'll make that old tosh wait until these get posted.
1) don't worry about shorter scripts - if this what works for someone, then better to be in than not
2) as this is trying to be low cost why don't we allow...no shark - it can be about a shark etc but not actually seen. A film can be sexual and erotic but have no sex.
This would allow lower budget variations. The costs of real shark footage or trying to be fake, as well as out on boats, could be very high.
3) I also think this should allow comedy - at the moment it seem excluded
Thoughts?
I'm not worried about shorter scripts. Some of the shorter ones might even show Jeff mercy. He's uisually out in three pages anyway I wouls still like to see a goal of at least ten, but like I said earlier, if a scribe gets in only nine, so be it. But since you are not the only one to ask, I will lower a required page count to eight to twelve. That's it for the blue light specials.
I never said you had to show the shark. One could treat it as if...you know...the shark isn't working and we get only gli,pses or yellow barrells. Or The Reef where not much of the sharks were seen but they were out there somewhere.
Sticking to my guns on the genre of coimedy. It's fine if a character has a funny line or does something to break tension even for a moment. It just shouldn't be the genre is all.
Done and ready to submit. I will say this. If anybody knows anything about surfing there is an actual break out in Hawaii called Jaws. Some of the biggest waves in the world break over there. Dangerous and unpredictable the spot was named after the movie. Fitting place for a quasi sequel no?
It's not even been 24hrs...and less than one when i revised the page count... Tell ya what Cam. Reread what you have, make sure everything's good as you can get it. Unless you are just pullin' our anchors.
Thieves stuck in a narrow loch? Their stolen produce enters the water creating a super Shark? How to get off the boat onto shore without being bitten by this crazy shark-thing would fit the challenge?
This may be the wrong attitude to have, and no disrespect to meant towards Darren or anybody else but ultimately I'm gonna write whatever the heck I wanna write and if it goes through then great. If not, then I'll just submit it after the challenge.
Viola. Everybody's happy as a pig in slop.
Edit: I should also point out I'm having fun with this particular theme. Good job, DJS.
It's not even been 24hrs...and less than one when i revised the page count...
Great point.... my vomit draft hit dead on 12 pages. I was expecting it to go quicker than that before I started, but was grateful I managed to keep it on target in the end.
We cannot tame those sharks for serious acting, not? Bad thing in case of budget. Damn sharks.
For bringing up new stuff, with no budget, the only way I see is - the shark killer. The shark killer's costume is a plush shark head. His weapon is a hatchet looking like a fin.
Is he rogue? Yes. Can he swim? Probably.
Maybe I turn this reaper loose...
Seriously-
I'm interested who wins most stories- sharks or people? I bet on draw!
Yo. It's about where the hope sits in the end. But, hope for both side; sharks and people; or no hope for both sides, that's possible, of course. I guess that's a draw in my statistic.
If the shark was replaced with a zombie or vampire would that help?
Not really.
I'm pretty cool with what I have I suppose. I just read it through and I think I've pulled it off. I had one negative review from my gf and it kinda put me off the story. 'It's like one of those cheap, B-rated movies.' she said.
Yes I'm writing with a budget in mind... but there isn't any need to go around calling things cheap. I'm over it now, and have belief in my story again. What does she know?
... I had one negative review from my gf and it kinda put me off the story. 'It's like one of those cheap, B-rated movies.' she said. ... What does she know?
Yeah, what does she know?
This made me laugh. And, you never know... RayW has a point too, B-grade often appeals widely to a certain demographic. The again, maybe you're just fishing... and dare I say dangling the bait.
Is this supposed to be a zero budget Grade Z script or does anything go in terms of budget?
For some reason, I got the sense that peeps were going write pure shite and then hope someone would film it in the ir backyard pool - I'm hoping that's not the case, right?
I've reread the challenge and don't see anything there that eludes to a zero budget.
Is this supposed to be a zero budget Grade Z script or does anything go in terms of budget?
I've reread the challenge and don't see anything there that eludes to a zero budget.
As in "It's gonna be mighty hard to make a rogue shark short on a low budget"?
Yeah. It's gonna be real hard to make a low/no budget anything in the water, whether the shark is seen or not.
And for horror films a major (and repeated) audience and critic alike grievance is having your kills off screen. Major no-no. Horror fans, by and large, wanna see the gore on screen. Good-to-know FYI: If you don't like blood and gore then you're a drama fan, not a horror fan. And there's almost no market for drama films.
As alluded to in the previous thread, this OWC xhallenge was inspired by a fan's callout for low budget and brave filmmakers to crank out a series of Jaws fan-films by October 2015 as according to the possible future timeline seen in "Back To The Future II" (boy that almanac sure came in handy!) when 'Jaws 19' would be released.
Yeah. This isn't gonna be easy.
Would like to know what some of you guys think "low budget" means for a ten minute short? Anyone wanna toss out some numbers of about how much it should cost to make a ten minute "rogue shark attack" short film?
Direct and indirect costs (paid actors & crew, props, and equipment overhead), I'll hazard an easy $1k - 10k, most likely around $3k.
DIY friends paddling about on an inflatable 100yds out in the surf screaming and thrashing about while a crew member squeezes a big bag of fake blood in the water nearby just ain't gonna look good no way no how.
Yeah, I may be missing something, as I'm still clueless as to the Jaws 19 thing or whatever the original Tumblr posts were all about, but writing a short about any certain animal attack is...hmmm...what's the right choice of words? It's not that it's difficult, as it's actually very simple, but it's no different than having a challenge about a ferret attack, a bear attack, a King Crab attack - it's going to be x amount of scripts all about exactly the same thing.
But, the real issue comes into play with the low budget crap. It's not a low budget concept (well, it's not really much of a concept at all), but God knows we've all seen countless low budget attempts at shark attack flicks, some done rather well, I might add, but the low budget in those flicks is nowhere near what a low budget short would be.
I guess I just don't understand the concept or reason for this. Are peeps really hoping that some idiot will shoot your script here on a zero budget or with a rubber shark?
You can call it Jaws Of Death or Jaws Of Blood if you like. Or Little Miss Sally's Last Surf . Under Pressure. Anything you like.
I'm using Little Miss Sally's Last Surf if that's kool with DJ.
Pia, I just read the 'Them That's Dead' + 'Making Of' threads (about to watch it) and was wondering if you had some insights and/or sugestions for writers about considerations (like maybe not have the setting be at night)?
Can be shot in any medium sized bath tub. Must be able to acquire or make 1 Barbe-Like doll, named Sally. 1 plastic or paper mache shark. 1 ounce of ketchup or hot sauce. Ability to fill bath tub with water.
12 minutes of sheer terror as Sally swims, then sheds her suit and dives down deep. The fake shark soon smells her musky scent and comes Up From The Depths to attack like only a plastic Rogue shark can. What follows is a life and death dtruggle, as Sally averts the cunning shark's every advance. The last 8 1/2 minutes are rivteting, as the non existent teeth miss Sallt's subtle skin by mere inches. But in teh end, this is a cautionary tale of hooror and terror, and Sally succumbs to the great beast's advances and dies an awful, painful, excruiating death at the maw of the all mighty fish.
Serious question for DJS - can we use a different fish that may be available, like in a friend's aquarium or pond, and pretend it's a shark?
If we can use hot sauce as blood, I'm sure we can use different creaturs to play other, more feared, bigger, scarier creatures.
I got no problem with hot sauce. We, however, are the scribes. Not the props department. Your next question is why I highlighted the text.
In the guide, I said that folks can use any kind of shark they want. And they can use any other fish.creature that lives in water. I say "shark attack" but it need not be a person. . And aquariums are fine.
Yes you didn't misread that. You can hit me up on a technicality. And it's fair game. Just feed the shark some squid and...
Yeah, it is April 1st but I kid you not...
Any kind of shark
So...if you so chose... well okay...excuse the f bombs...
Yes, catsharks. A Catshark is still a shark. And Catsharks can be kept in aquariums. Not as exciting as a Mako or Hammerhead, that's true. But it is a shark. So..in theory...
INT. LIVINGROOM - DAY
CONNIE LINGUS, 20, a human vacuum, gazes up at
DIXIE NORMUS, 30, Satan's tranny, who holds
fistfulls of Connie's luxurious hair.
CONNIE
Again?
DIXIE
Again.
Dixie winces.
DIXIE
Teeth!
Connie keeps working the carpet.
Dixie moans then winces again, throws Connie to
the floor, grabs the Shark Steam Mop and brandishes
it over Connie's cowering head.
DIXIE
B!tch! If I've told
you once... !
A vicious downward strike smashes into Connie's
defensive forearms.
CONNIE
No!
DIXIE
I've told you... !
Strikes with each sylable. Connie wimpers.
CONNIE
No! Please-- !
DIXIE
a thousand goddam times!
The mop beats through Connie's broken, bloody arms and chews
into her skull.
DIXIE
NO TEETH IN THE CARPET!
Connie's blood sprays all over the hardwood floors.
Low budget shark stuff is what the Syfy channel cranks out all the time - you're not going to beat Sharknado or the many varients on that theme they've produced over the last few years.
I would hope peeps would come out with something a bit more original than a cheesy shark attack that's been done to death (pun intended) and not worry about things like budget or betting on someone producing the script.
I do now finally have an idea but it looks like Thursday night is the only free time I have to write it, so if I can churn it out I'll enter but that's me already coming up with an excuse if it's shit lol.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
I guess, everybody's sure about we "probably" can't write this one budget-friendly, whatever this exactly means.
From what I guess and I haven't got a clue of those costs exactly; I want to improve my knowledge concerning this in the future: There won't be even an "amateur company" which gives you sparsely pieces of CGI below 5k. The other way, actually engineering some effects, that sounds even more expensive.
That means most scripts will start at minimum 10k, more realistic 15-20k if the script shows "sharks or other rogue fish".
I think the interesting Point in OWC is that it can simulate work as required. To write "only" for fun, a utopian script, that is elsewhere for me; and there I want to choose my subject on my own.
So, this time the work for me is to make something from these undeniable 15k. For hope? No, training. For searching one story which is not crap. For learning how to write that story. Feature- feature is another pair of shoes. There are no borders.
Those trainings can help to bring some intensity in a script from different sides. Maybe there will be the point, even in a feature play, when the producer says: Hm, I like this free climbing sequence, but you will write that different, my friend. Then we better would have learned some techniques for making this wish possible.
It's best not to think about the costs too much... shorts have to be made for next-to-nothing, so long as your script approaches that you should be OK. 10K is just not realistic for most short film makers, especially when it doesn't take money to win acclaim. Takes money in a feature because they are profit-based... shorts generally are not. Shorts are made to showcase talent to the people upstairs that have all the dosh to make real films.
Writing a 10K short will be a waste of time... but fun perhaps to write... in terms of getting made, no chance. An inventive writer can write around any obstacle, especially money.
Writing a 10K short will be a waste of time... but fun perhaps to write... in terms of getting made, no chance. An inventive writer can write around any obstacle, especially money.
How about a $1 Million short? Those are the ones I like to write.
Actually, a lot of shorts that have serious producers/directors behind them plan on spending a lot. If the goals are to take the film to Sundance or hoping for an Oscar, $50K - Sky's the limit is not unheard of. Plenty of short films playing in those arenas have budgets of $500K or more. I believe the short documentary Oscar winner this year had a budget of $750K. Here at SS though, $0 - $15K seems to be the norm.
Actually, a lot of shorts that have serious producers/directors behind them plan on spending a lot. If the goals are to take the film to Sundance or hoping for an Oscar, $50K - Sky's the limit is not unheard of. Plenty of short films playing in those arenas have budgets of $500K or more. I believe the short documentary Oscar winner this year had a budget of $750K. Here at SS though, $0 - $15K seems to be the norm.
Well I suppose all films have budgets once we figure in time and equipment. Even the short we are making we're calling 'no budget' will cost around 5k... but that is all put in by us. The big cameras, for a half decent one can cost over 2K per day to rent. Times that by three and the cash soon starts to build.... lighting, sound, make-up, costumes, stunts, special effects locations, auditions, rehearsals... food, coffee.
However... although I can see how one must speculate to accumulate, and that a 50K short is possible *technically* for free... I fail to see how investors would be enticed into putting money into a short when there can be no return.
I'd like to see a 500K short. I've seen plenty of great 100K and less features... can you link me to one? Google isn't being kind to me.
The shorts I wear are valued at about a million. The chicks love them
Stevie, you old goat!
The shorts may indeed be worth a shitload as they're as old as the sky and few denim shorts from the 80's have survived all those years.
The problem is that what's inside those shorts is probably only valued at around 3 or 4 bucks and if you think about it, it makes perfect sense - the reason why shorts wear out is because of what's contained within - in your case, it's like the shorts are just on a hanger, cuz there ain't nothing inside to wear them out.
I have an idea I'm really excited about, but I just don't think I'll be able to get it done in four days. I think I'll read the entries regardless of whether or not I submit it in time. Good luck everyone!
I guess, everybody's sure about we "probably" can't write this one budget-friendly, whatever this exactly means.
From what I guess and I haven't got a clue of those costs exactly; I want to improve my knowledge concerning this in the future: There won't be even an "amateur company" which gives you sparsely pieces of CGI below 5k. The other way, actually engineering some effects, that sounds even more expensive.
Hey Alexander,
Dude, you don't know how right you are. Even low budget CGI can easily push your cost out of reach nowadays. To give you a brief example; Swordfish (2001) used a small production company in my neck of the woods for some CGI. They were kind of the 'new kids on the block' in FX back in the late 90s. Here's a cut and paste from IMDB;
"The opening scene of Swordfish is the most complicated visual effect in Warner Brothers history. It was shot using Matrix-like effects (The Matrix (1999)) by Frantic Films of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The effect has so many composites in it that the producers and director of the film could not determine what was real and what was created by computer."
This is just a tidbit re: the CGI costs. I heard through the grapevine up here, that this scene alone put them (Warner Bros) out somewhere near 5 Million! Any truth to that? I'm not sure, but here's the final effect in case someone (which I doubt) hasn't seen it;
I'd like to see a 500K short. I've seen plenty of great 100K and less features... can you link me to one? Google isn't being kind to me.
I haven't had the time to do some research, but I remember way back when I was watching a lot of short films. A lot of them playing at the bigger festivals like Sundance and Cannes and the like had really HUGE budgets. A lot of them were made by either really rich people or by people in other countries where the state supports filmmaking and thus fund them. Lots of countries are like that. In Sweden for example most films are funded by The Swedish Film Institute.
I haven't had the time to do some research, but I remember way back when I was watching a lot of short films. A lot of them playing at the bigger festivals like Sundance and Cannes and the like had really HUGE budgets. A lot of them were made by either really rich people or by people in other countries where the state supports filmmaking and thus fund them. Lots of countries are like that. In Sweden for example most films are funded by The Swedish Film Institute.
Yeah, there's funding here too for up to 50 grand for shorts, although nobody ever gets the top end. 50K here is like 75K in the US due to conversion from £ to $. We're going for funding on our second short as it's going to be all action. We have some of the stunt equipment already, like harnesses... but we could do with lots more stuff, like fake glass and of course always better cameras. I can see some rich idiot dropping 500K on a short, I suppose. That would be a nice 20K for the writer too - if we figure 4% of the budget as the option fee.
However, for most purposes, writing to 'zero budget' is the best way for us to go when starting out, as they stand the most chance of being made. Even when writing features, if we stick to very low budget it will stand more chance being picked up by an indie producer.
I did some research. Found a german tv-masterpiece which got a phenomenal 2.3 on imdb. Ralf Moeller (Gladiator) got the lead role. It even got US (DVD) distribution title "Shark Attack in the Mediterranean"; But I think the german title "Shark alarm on Mallorca " is even more weird.
I like Swordfish and watch it once in a while. Curious, that I didn't keep that scene in mind. I guess Travolta's performance is the remarkable point.
My favorite CGI performance is still Jurassic Park. ...couldn't believe how much fame Life of pi owned for their CGI. That wasn't a tiger for me. And that was the reason I didn't go to cinema. The majority seemed to see that different.
So, what I saw now from the trailer on youtube: Sharknado, Sharktopus, Ghostsharks etc. just trash genre
Is there even something serious going on: I remember "Deep Blue Sea" was with sharks. It wasn't good.
Is there even something serious going on: I remember "Deep Blue Sea" was with sharks. It wasn't good.
I actually loved Deep Blue Sea But in recent years there was Shark Night (intentionally dumb), Bait 3-D (alright but bad CG/3D) and most notablt, The Reef.. While not sharks, the two killwr croc flivks Black Water and Rouge were of decent quality
I've followed this thread and read most of the posts, but not all of them.
A lot of shark movies have been referenced but has no one mentioned Syfy's Sharknado?
I'm in the Midwest and it's coming up on twister season here. My only shot at seeing a shark up close these days is either in a Bass Pro Shops aquarium or if it's picked up out of a tank and carried across land in a tornado.
What's scarier than an F-5 tornado? An F-5 carrying a handful of nasty-hungry great white sharks snapping their jaws as the roof of your house is peeled away.
If it hasn't been brought up, then I'm here to post some Sharknado love!
Now that that's out of the way...the intelligent discussions can continue.
The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards. Third - Honolulu Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards. Third - Honolulu Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
OK, peeps. mine is done. Just going to check it over 11 or 14 more times and then it will be submitted.
I stayed within the guidelines and it can actually be shot pretty cheap with little to no FX. 4 characters or less and 1 rogue shark. And, yes, there will be blood.
I stayed within the guidelines and it can actually be shot pretty cheap with little to no FX. 4 characters or less and 1 rogue shark. And, yes, there will be blood.
OK, peeps. mine is done. Just going to check it over 11 or 14 more times and then it will be submitted.
I stayed within the guidelines and it can actually be shot pretty cheap with little to no FX. 4 characters or less and 1 rogue shark. And, yes, there will be blood.
BWOOOHAHA!!!!
Awesome! Congrats!
I'm four pages into mine. I'm hoping to finish in time. I'm thinking no more than eight pages, but we'll see.
The research and history I've uncovered about sharks has definitely been worth the challenge.
I entered yesterday, in truth it's been ready by day 2... well, maybe not ready, ready. I wanted to experiment with an alternate ending but I've just been too busy with other stuff to concentrate on it.
I wrote mine last night, took about 4 hours. I will read it over and tidy it up a bit later after work before submitting but this is probably going to be my roughest script ever (putting the excuses in already) yet a good learning process I'm sure. I'm about to learn why you never ever submit your first draft lol.
Looking forward to reading all your sharkanage soon!
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
Yeah, I don't know why but I also had a bedevilled time with my title, as well. My stories are mostly ridiculous but my titles are too often wry = not dramatic and catchy. Maybe I have issues with overselling. Dunno. Whatevs.
Had a bit of a false start after realizing my initial idea was almost exactly the same as the climax of Steve Alten’s MEG. I’m actually happier with my second idea, but it’s definitely a little… odd. It’ll be interesting to see what people make of it.
Good luck all!
Here's some last minute inspiration for those in need:
Submitted also. Everything gets posted Sat I assume?
Depends on the number of submissions. Normally they are spread out over two days. On a side note...completely off topic...I don't mind one Noah ad...but when four Noah ads play automatically at the same time...?
It's too late to reconsider, but just for that, I hope that SS peep who wanted a Noah's Ark take actually does it and has dear Noah throw a unicorn overboard to feed the sharks.
Quoted Text
But there were no unicorns on the ark!
Exactly!
And yes, in case anyone wondered...well, okay you probably didn';t, but I'm putting the final touches on my own entry.
I hope that SS peep who wanted a Noah's Ark take actually does it and has dear Noah throw a unicorn overboard to feed the sharks.
I wanna know how the two-toed sloths from the Brazillian rainforest trekked across the Mexican desert, up the western seaboard of N.America, across the Berring sea + Mongolia desert + N. India + Assortedstan + Mesopotamia to Noah's ark? With enough food along the way. Sloth manna from heaven along the way?
It's too late to reconsider, but just for that, I hope that SS peep who wanted a Noah's Ark take actually does it and has dear Noah throw a unicorn overboard to feed the sharks.
... and if they wanted to push the Sci-fi envelope, just remember, a digital archive of DNA sequensing for every creature on the planet is far easier to collect and transport than flesh and bone... maybe.
I'm in the same boat as Dena, pun intended. I haven't had any time to write, which is frustrating since I came up with the story on the first day for a change.
I'll be sure to read and review, looking forward to lots of blood, teeth, and wet t-shirts.
The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards. Third - Honolulu Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
Just submitted mine! To save on cost I have 4 actors but one plays the shark. Now he doesn't speak a lick of English and has a thick accent but hey, how hard is it to yell dun dun, dun dun, dun, dun.
With hours to spare this time... The hardest part was deciding what to call it. When I started, I callked it Dominance. When the script was done (for now) it became something else and needed a new title.
Good luck to all and I can't wait to see what goes down this weekend. Looking forward to reading stuff.
Just submitted mine, have a huge headache from trying to do a quick edit in the final moments of the night UK time but it's in now; may the sea gods have mercy on it's soul.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
As always, I will read...or attempt to read ever single entry. I will giuve my feedback straight up, and if it pisses peeps off, my apologies up front.
Bring it on, and thanks to DJS for heading up this OWC.
Oh, man, three hours to finish and I only just started. Hoping I can get this one done, definitely something really new and original, probably one of my most ambitious ideas to date. Shame if I couldn't get this one in, time to start writing!
As always, I will read...or attempt to read ever single entry. I will giuve my feedback straight up, and if it pisses peeps off, my apologies up front.
Bring it on, and thanks to DJS for heading up this OWC.
I'm gonna tell many of you it's nowhere near cost effective to make your story - unless it's animated. And that's not even counting the 10% of submissions that have such FUBAR formatting I won't waste time reading half of the first page. Sweet Jesus on a biscuit. If you don't care then neither will I. Deal. Sold.
I'm gonna tell many of you it's nowhere near cost effective to make your story - unless it's animated. And that's not even counting the 10% of submissions that have such FUBAR formatting I won't waste time reading half of the first page. Sweet Jesus on a biscuit. If you don't care then neither will I. Deal. Sold.
HaHa...I was just telling my Lochie, that mine needs toi be animated!!
Ray...you and me dog...one of thes edays...we will ROCK!!!!
Submitted - and yes, it is a vomit draft, done in one sitting - only made it in the nick of time , therefore I expect it to suck (as usual) and to get thrashed for it. Sorry peeps, but the only way I seem to be able to knock something else out is in a challenge & always last minute - so thrash away, but maybe, just maybe, but probably not, you might just like it.
but the only way I seem to be able to knock something else out is in a challenge & always last minute
So surely if you think of a good idea for a script and pretended there was a challenge in a week or two and kept pretending until you wrote your script you'd get loads done.
I often pretend I'm quite amusing, and not at all a smartarse. It's worked up until now.
Submitted, but technically not done. I am not at all happy with the end of my script, mostly because I skimped out on writing the ending I really wanted because of the time restraint. But I think what I have overall is pretty good (considering the challenge at hand) and worth sharing. Despite the shortcomings, I'm proud of myself.
What's the over/under that someone who submitted a script will actually read another script?
You'll get a few who didn't even submit a script reading and commenting on all the scripts.
Some others will read but only comment on scripts they had something to say about.
Then there's the others. And they are often many. They submit a script and comment on a few. Or not at all. Or they don't read any others. There's a technical name for them. I think it's barstards. Or it may be feckers. I always get those two confused.
I'm confused here. I thought it said eastern standard time. Or I thought it was going to by the simply scripts website clock. Either way I was before the deadline. And "submit a script" said it was already closed. Then said. " Try the OWC" I clicked that link and it brought me to this forum again.
This is the link I'm pretty sure. Just finished, need to read through it as many times as I can before I submit it. There's still around 45 mins left. Should be fine.
HaHa...I was just telling my Lochie, that mine needs toi be animated!!
Tell you guys what - I wrote mine so that I could animate it like I've done with several other li'l projects. This animation would be a pretty big time-sucker for me, but it's just for my own amusement.
I'm gonna look over all these submissions with the same Foray Films faux producer's eye that I'm notorious for.
I'm gonna rank 'em in some as-yet generated valuation matrix, and will blind approach the writers of the top of my matrix heap for similar treatment of their submissions. The animations are sorta like an animatic. Very primitive, but I'm always improving the quality controls and expanding techniques. This'll be my first mix of animation with motion video.
And I'll make Ren's just for the halibut! (Unless he honestly demands that I not publicly release it after I've already made it! Lol!)
.Then there's the others. And they are often many. They submit a script and comment on a few. Or not at all. Or they don't read any others. There's a technical name for them. I think it's barstards. Or it may be feckers. I always get those two confused.
In mixed company they're called syphylitic mother fecking bastards. When the brandy bottle gets light they're called much worse.
I'm confused here. I thought it said eastern standard time. Or I thought it was going to by the simply scripts website clock. Either way I was before the deadline. And "submit a script" said it was already closed. Then said. " Try the OWC" I clicked that link and it brought me to this forum again.
You gotta' be shittin me.
I think once I was allowed a hail mary pass back in October. It may not have been my best and I was rewriting it but I lost interest in it for the time being. But in any case, if you got something and get it in within an hour or so after deadline, you should be alright. Will will SP be alright?'Nother story...
Anyway, I'd like to thank all in advance for giving this a go. Super Troopers all of you.
So surely if you think of a good idea for a script and pretended there was a challenge in a week or two and kept pretending until you wrote your script you'd get loads done.
I often pretend I'm quite amusing, and not at all a smartarse. It's worked up until now.
R
Lol - nope, it's a mental thing, I'd cheat on myself - someone else has to challenge me or it won't get done.
Lol - nope, it's a mental thing, I'd cheat on myself - someone else has to challenge me or it won't get done.
You'd cheat on yourself? Oh dear. You have to practice. I often pretend that I can actually afford to have another night out and there will still be bread in the cupboard at the end of the week. Obviously the illusion shatters when I actually look in the cupboard. Practice!
Otherwise I'd stay in with my bread. Which would be no fun for either of us.
You'd cheat on yourself? Oh dear. You have to practice. I often pretend that I can actually afford to have another night out and there will still be bread in the cupboard at the end of the week. Obviously the illusion shatters when I actually look in the cupboard. Practice!
Otherwise I'd stay in with my bread. Which would be no fun for either of us.
R
Now you just need to practice what's considered a "piece" and a "slice".
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April '14 OWC is..."Jaws 19"...?
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No, Stevie.
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