This is a 1+6 week challenge.  Week one - first 10 pages. Week 7 - final script

This is a two stage exercise.  Submit the first 5 - 10 pages of your script by Friday, July 4th at 11:59 pm e.d.t.


The final script is due Friday, August 15th at 11:59 pm e.d.t.

You must write a script (properly formatted) between 90 to 120 pages or less (courier 12 point font).

This month's theme and genre:

Genre:  Thriller
Theme:  Male lead about 50 years old. Race against the clock.


The Gist: This is a theme that I've seen across several production company 'looking for scripts' requests.  Assume a male actor in his 50's, in good physical shape, is looking for a mid to high budget "Race-Against-The-Clock Thriller"

The scripts must be received by Friday, August 15th at 11:59 pm e.d.t..  Please put "(c) Copyright 2014" on your script.

Submit your scripts to http://www.simplyscripts.com/owc

Bear in mind, this is just an exercise, this isn't a contest.  At the end, each participant will be asked to vote his/her choice of a script.  The intent is that the writer will come away from this challenge with a marketable script.

++++

Updated:  As noted by Pia, this isn't suppose to be anonymous (however, if you wish to remain anonymous, you may). Also, if you don't get the first ten in by the deadline, that doesn't mean you can't participate.

Maybe I should be the model for the lead?  50's in phenominal shape?  

Or Stevie, but that would be 50's Aussie in skinnyass shape.

Good luck everyone, this kid is out.  But, of course I will read as many as I cna and give uplifting feedback!   > > >

This should be fun.  I have just the thing in mind...

Hot sought after type script! Write a good one and who knows what might happen. I've had two of these 7WC scripts produced, so I'm definitely a fan. IMHO, more chance to get one of these produced than a short OWC. Besides, if you're serious about writing, features is where it's at anyway.

Best of all....you won't waste your time reading a feature length intended pisser!!!!!  

I don't know about this. But for some reason, I thought of Taken.

Yay from me!! Hi five to those who are in)

So it pretty much has to be a 50 year old man has to accomplish whatever by whatever time or it's his ass?  No other limitations, just that?

Quoted from CalebHart I've got mine done already. Title: Pissed Off. Logline: A man with a chronic urinary tract infection races against time to relieve him self before he drowns from the inside out in his own urine. It's not a pisser.  Really.   Well...okay...it is. Back to the drawing board.

lmao

Ideas that initially crossed my mind when reading this challenge:

A man races against time to find his kidnapped granddaughter held hostage by her insane father who was committed for killing his wife.

A retired CIA Agent finds himself embroiled in a turf war between two gangs, one of which kidnaps his family...

Mostly "KIDNAPPING" style stories crossed my mind when I started brainstorming 2 minutes after reading the initial post.  Ideas like Taken, for example.

Then I thought outside the box and landed on something else not riddled with cliche plot points and storylines...

This is so out of my element that I feel I have to give this a shot. I don't think I've written a lead character that wasn't a teenager, still struggling with the fact that I'm no longer one.

I find writing in a genre outside of your norm can get really interesting, it's easier to avoid tropes and create something fairly original. However, after reading the theme I can't stop thinking about 3 Days to Kill, which I saw recently and left a bad taste in my mouth (but I kind of was into it? Confused? Me too).

LOL - Kev, I thought 3 Days to Kill was surprisingly good.  The action scenes felt realistic and didn't have Hollywood music playing over it.  

Best Kevin Costner film since 3000 Miles to Graceland.

I thought 3 Days to Kill and 3000 Miles to Graceland were both bad movies

I don't plan on joining this OWC but... I hope you guys don't write kidnapping and Taken like scripts. They're so cliche and over done. I hope most of you go for something more creative.

I plan on watching the movie Calvary soon. From what I read of the synopsis that seems a bit like a race against the clock type movie with a 50-60 year old main character. But it's not an action movie.

The logline from the trailer I saw would read:

Father James is a good man intent on making the world a better place. During confession a parishioner threatens that he will kill him the next Sunday. As the week progresses the forces of darkness begin to close in around him.

Something like that would be more interesting IMO.

Quoted from Demento I hope you guys don't write kidnapping and Taken like scripts. They're so cliche and over done. I hope most of you go for something more creative.

That they are... but adding another spice to that cliche curry always sweetens the meal.  

Not one for me, but a good challenge for those who take part.

Some good opportunities to add tension. The creativity will be in choosing something that almost doesn't appear to be a clock.

All the best.

I'm going away for two weeks at the end of July, so this will be more like a 1+4 week challenge for me... but fuck it, I'm in!

Quoted from Demento I hope you guys don't write kidnapping and Taken like scripts. They're so cliche and over done. I hope most of you go for something more creative.

That may be true, but I still hear people looking for those types of scripts. And as far as the male lead age 50 goes, all you have to do is think about all those actors that used to be somebody who is now looking for something to revive their career. Sort of like Liam Neeson with Taken.  

I'm getting used to a new job and have very little time atm, which is why I've not been around much, but good luck to everyone who enters and I'll try to read some of them at least.

"I don't know who you are, I don't know what you want, but if you don't leave a message after the tone...I will find you and I will kill you" - Liam Nesson' s Answer Machine.

I'm out of this one... I don't have the time to commit to something like this at the moment. Plus, there's nothing in this subject matter that really excites me.

There's a lot about this subject matter that can excite you, Dustin.  

It's all about the game.  Race against the clock thriller with a 50+ lead = think outside the box yet remain inside said box.

I think a lot of folks may go for the "kidnapping" thing, some may stick to that formula through their script, but some might make it more thrilling by adding several elements to the script that make it MORE than what it first appears to be.

There's really no limits to what you can do with this challenge.  The only limitation is the character's age, but that's not really a limitation.

Quoted from Leegion There's a lot about this subject matter that can excite you, Dustin.

It's that James Herbert thing again, mate. Standard fare.

Quoted from DustinBowcot It's that James Herbert thing again, mate. Standard fare.

Some may agree with that, I see the challenge as an opportunity to tell something unique whilst keeping it relatively known.  As I said, most would think "Taken".

But then I realized that the challenge didn't explicitly state that the main character HAD to be the Protagonist.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I'm out of this one... I don't have the time to commit to something like this at the moment. Plus, there's nothing in this subject matter that really excites me.

You make the subject matter exciting, that's what a good story-teller does.

Quoted from Demento ... I hope you guys don't write kidnapping and Taken like scripts. They're so cliche and over done. I hope most of you go for something more creative.

No - Taken wasn't a cliche - it was the copies of Taken that became the cliches.

For me the standard to meet (or beat) isn't Taken, it's 24. I thought Taken was alright, but by the time it came out I'd already been weaned on several seasons of 24 and nothing in Taken stood out as particularly fresh.

24's been getting a little long in the tooth these days, but I'd put those early seasons up next to any feature film thriller hollywood cares to churn out.

As far as the challenge, I've got an idea forming and should be able to get the five to ten. After that I can tell my plot would get complicated and I'll be spending a lot of time preplanning. But after spending so long on the feature I'm finishing now, I've been wanting to challenge myself to write quicker, so this seems like good timing.

Quoted from Forgive No - Taken wasn't a cliche - it was the copies of Taken that became the cliches.

I have to ask, what's original about Taken?

Don't get me wrong, I like Taken. It's an okay movie for what it is. A fast moving movie that keeps going forward and doesn't let up. It was entertaining. It was reminiscent of "Nick of Time" with Johnny Depp to me, which was similar to "Cellular" that came after. The running clock, person in peril movies were done before. The structure of something constantly going on and moving from one action scene to the other is more or less the norm now in action movies these past 10 years. "Live Free or Die Hard" to me is similar to Taken in structure. You even have the kidnapped daughter part.

To me Taken gets a bit lost in the sea of action movies Luc Besson chucks out every year: "Colombiana, Kiss of the Dragon, The Transporter movies, From Paris with Love, 3 Days to Kill, Wasabi, Lockout, Danny the Dog and so on". Even his new movie "Lucy" appears similar. All of the movies he writes follow a very similar structure. Taken sticks out from the pack because of the pace it sets. But I don't see how it is original in any way.

After Taken and the success it had in its US theatrical run despite being out DVD at the time, these kinds of "beat the clock" movies have become even more frequent. "The Call", "Stolen", "Getaway" and so on. Most of them haven't done really well at the Box Office.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these kinds of movies. I understand why there is a demand for them. The general public does seem to find them entertaining. They set up the tension element well in place at the start and you can build on it as the clock runs down.

All I'm saying is that I would like to see people try to figure out a more original path to the parameters set by this OWC rather then going down a road that has been walked many times before.

Sorry for ranting on a bit. Good luck to the writers, I hope you guys write some great stuff.

Quoted from Demento I like Taken. It's an okay movie for what it is. A fast moving movie that keeps going forward and doesn't let up.

This is exactly why two of my 7WC scripts were made into films. They were fast moving. Filmmakers out there who have distributors to "please" know that even one page/minute of dull film will make some people flip to another channel.

Originality? Great if you can come up with something we haven't seen before, but at the same time, there's nothing wrong writing something that may not be totally unique, but still zips along and entertains. Those films get made too.

Also, don't forget that the 1+6WC is not like the OWC. We're not trying to write something that no one knows who wrote it. The 1+6WC is about being able to write a feature! It's okay to ask here what your fellow SS members think of your idea so far and help you when you get stuck. I repeat, the main goal is to write a feature! That is a lot bigger challenge than writing a short for shits and giggles. So, if you need help or a push, feel free to ask for help.  

PS. By shits and giggles, I mean no one is going to write a feature length pisser.  

Quoted from Angry Bear I mean no one is going to write a feature length pisser.

Oh I don't know. Have you seen Adam Sandler's works of late?

R

Quoted from Forgive You make the subject matter exciting, that's what a good story-teller does.

I said it doesn't excite me. I can write one that would be very exciting for other people to watch... but I wouldn't be interested in doing that at this time. I realise things need to be simplified for you, but this is starting to get a little much.

So, how many of you are giving this a go? If you are, how is it going?  

I'm in and things are kind of going. I'm at page 15, but need to really edit it down, so after that's all said and done, I probably won't even have 10 pages written so far. Still, I'm going to try for the end on this. =)

Good for you Sean. You never know who'll be watching this thread.  

If it's anything like my first two 7WC entries, they'll be wholly disappointed when the two months ends and I have no finished script. That said, I did finish Christmas Story for the third one, so maybe I'm over the hump. Who knows? You going to throw one out there, too, Pia? You know you have to... =)

I planned to enter -- and am still hoping to. However, I've been preparing all week for an interview for a funded PhD program. That being said, the interview has finished, I have an idea and I still have two days before the deadline!

So I should be able to crank something out before then

Quoted from Toby_E I have an idea and I still have two days before the deadline! So I should be able to crank something out before then

Let me make this clear, this isn't a contest. If you don't have 5-10 pages by Friday, it doesn't mean you can't continue on. The goal here is to write a feature. If you write the whole darn thing in the last week, that's fine. And, unlike the OWC, you're free to discuss your script and ask for help here if you get stuck. I noticed Don wrote that the scripts should be submitted anonymously. I'm not sure why. I'll have to ask him. Again, these 7WC are different that way compared to the OWC. At least it has always been so in the past.

Sean, I wasn't going to participate since I'm too busy with other life stuff right now, but if the turnout is low, I might just pull some all nighters near the end. I'm weird like that.  

I seriously just don't have time. Or I would. It's not like it's a difficult one, and I actually already have something that I could rewrite to fit. It's a thriller I never listed here that I just never got around to doing a second draft on. If I do get some time, I'll throw down a quick rewrite and enter it.

Quoted from Grandma Bear So, how many of you are giving this a go? If you are, how is it going?

30 pages and it's going pretty damn good.  Already sent in the first 10 pages, which are probably the most intense 10 pages I've written.

It's a violent, thought-provoking tale of revenge.  

I'd say more, but it does say we're not allowed to state what we've written.  Or am I reading it wrong again? lol.

I hate u leegion. Lol.

I have the idea. But it's writing it that's going to suck. I apologize in advance for those who are going to read it.

Gabe

I notice that it says mid to high budget, but I don't know what that means exactly.

Well, the good news is I've gotten most of my story beats in order, even a few character arcs thought through. I know where I'm starting, I know where I'm going and I can see a lot of the scenery along the way. The bad news?

I've written jack down yet. Time to focus on that first ten I suppose.

Hey, good going you guys! Glad to see you're along for the ride. These feature challenges are tough, but IMHO they are very satisfying when you have at least a first draft when it's over. Then you can start on the rewrites with all the comments you will receive!  

As far as the budget thing goes, I have no clue. I was asked earlier this year to write a sci-fi that takes place at least 50% of the time on a spaceship. Normally, I would think BIG budget for something like that, but it turns out they had access to a spaceship set for free and wanted to use it. You just never know. My suggestion would be to not go for BIG budget, but not to worry too much. If the story and characters are strong enough, the script can always be modified to fit the budget.  

On page 9...

Looking forward to seeing all the kidnapping scripts.  

Shawn.....><

Yeah, well, prepare to be disappointed. I'm bringing back an old idea of mine from another 7WC (the amnesia 7WC, if anyone remembers) and it has nothing to do with a kidnapping. =)

Man - I alsmot forgot about this one with MP news and all... But I have my idea outlined and everything, so I'm going to write one. Not sure about submitting hte first ten on time but I'll try my best. The idea came from MP logline challenge. Then I wrote pieces of the script and then threw it away. But the outline stayed. And I'm going to write it.

Quoted from Ledbetter On page 9... Looking forward to seeing all the kidnapping scripts.   Shawn.....><

I have no idea what you're talking about.  Who would write a kidnapping story?

Quoted from Grandma Bear So, how many of you are giving this a go? If you are, how is it going?

I'm going to give this a go. Been flat out this week and was thinking I wasn't going to get anything in until my other half pointed out 5-10 pages which is surely doable...

Quoted from khamanna Not sure about submitting hte first ten on time but I'll try my best... '

NB: Khamanna - the five page minimum. We're all so used to OWC's being ten pages and I'm assuming that what might first go up could well change and evolve a lot over the 7 weeks, right?

Quoted from Grandma Bear I noticed Don wrote that the scripts should be submitted anonymously. I'm not sure why. like that.

I really like the idea of anonymity for the first lot. It means we can get feedback for our first 5-10 without prejudice, so I think that would be good if it stayed.

Quoted from Grandma Bear So, how many of you are giving this a go? If you are, how is it going?

I'll drop the A nomb of the first ten pages shortly.
And then trash it and rewrite the whole darned thing...

Darren,

Are more than ten pages permitted for the initial posting?

Quoted from Gum Darren, Are more than ten pages permitted for the initial posting?

I'm not the one who started the challenge this time around, but the way I understand it, only 5-10 oages are needed. But if you have 11, nobody's screaming in agony (yet)

Also, remember this first week is all a WIP.

Darren,

Ah yes... sorry about that. My apologies to Don as well, I guess it helps to remember what thread I'm actually in before I start posting.

That being said, I had a glance at the previous 7WC, and noticed the naming convention for the scripts are;

'Script Title - 1+6 WC'   is this the proper naming convention to be used when uploading the features for this challenge?

Thanks in advance...

I'm in.

Quoted from Heretic I'm in.

Snow Sharks 2:  The Return of Chief Brody

Now I have 45 pages... I'm taking a break for 3 weeks, lol.  Good thing this is a 7WC.  Gives me enough time to recharge.

Vacation here I come!

Heh all.

I just thought I'd chime in too. I noticed the challenge on Canada Day but I think I came up with an idea that'll work. And no kidnapping. Hehehe.

This is the first feature challenge for me, so I'm pretty excited. The few OWCs I've already participated in were really helpful. I enjoyed the reviewing process as well. I really look forward to what everyone does under feature length parameters.

I finished the first 10 pages earlier today. So add another to that participating list.

Good luck everyone. This should be a lot of fun.

Update:  As noted by Pia, this isn't suppose to be anonymous (however, if you wish to remain anonymous, you may).

I think it would be good if the first part of this OWC was anonymous. After that those who were guilty of writing what when could be revealed.

Reading without prejudice does have its advantages, in my humble.

R

Aw shocks.  I submitted mine as a pseudonym, lol.  Oh well, it's done now.

-Lee

I'm not too bothered but I agree with Ren that receiving feedback which is not prejudiced is a good thing at least for the first 5-10. Works best I think too if all players are in agreement i.e., everyone's anon. Anyway, I'll go with the general consensus.

I will submit anonymously in solidarity with Lee! I think doing the first ten anonymously is a cool idea.

I'm in.

Was something that I blasted out in twenty minute whilst I lay in the bath, but that doesn't mean it's not brilliant.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I'm in. Was something that I blasted out in twenty minute whilst I lay in the bath, but that doesn't mean it's not brilliant.

Yeah... funny you should mention that, because my ankle's been playing up something terrible.

I agree with anonymous too. For non bias opinions and just to get some opinions.  I find the OWC to be the only way to get feedback on my writing here....

by the by, anyone down for a script and review exchange for other projects?

Quoted from Last Fountain I agree with anonymous too. For non bias opinions and just to get some opinions.  I find the OWC to be the only way to get feedback on my writing here.... by the by, anyone down for a script and review exchange for other projects?

I have a 29 page short in need of a read - happy to share. If ok, PM me.

Cheers

Bill

I'll send mine in tomorrow maybe. Or the day after tomorrow. Need to work on it some more. Sorry for the delay, hope it's not a problem.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer I have a 29 page short in need of a read - happy to share. If ok, PM me. Cheers Bill

Hey, Bill, send it to me as well. I don't have anything for exchange, but that's okay. The email is khamannaathotmail.

About three and a half hours to go, am I right?

Waiting...looking forward to these...

Sorry not to be participating but life got in the way.

Bring it on, peeps!!

I think there's only 2 more hours left if we're going by EDT. But I think submitting an hour or two late isn't going to kill anybody.

I'm bailing out. Trying to rush something usually never turns out well. Granted I'm a shitty writer, but I still got standards lol.

I'll probably submit this afterwards. i'm going back to work on something else.

Gabe

I'm still going to make the first step. Just doing some revising so it's not complete and utter balls when I hand it in. =)

I wrote mine in a frenzy. Not good stuff. Still I'm happy to have this challenge because it will force me to finish a feature or two in 7 weeks! Thanks to Don and Pia.

Quoted from Pale Yellow it will force me to finish a feature or two in 7 weeks!

Sometimes, I really hate you people. And, by "hate you", I mean "love you", but really hate your ability to burn through script pages.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Sometimes, I really hate you people. And, by "hate you", I mean "love you", but really hate your ability to burn through script pages.

It's a rare gift, lol... actually, it's more of a curse when your mind can never turn off.

Quoted from Leegion It's a rare gift, lol... actually, it's more of a curse when your mind can never turn off.

I beg to differ. It's a curse when your mind never shuts off, but you still have a hard time writing ANYTHING! With that in mind, I just submitted my 10 (11 and a half, actually. I didn't want to cut it off in the middle of a scene), but won't be able to review any until Tuesday. Still, when Tuesday comes, I hope to review them all. =)

I'll do my best to read and comment on your 10 - or + pages. Looking forward to see what you all came up with.  

I will be reading all the first tens...not sure I can get through all the completed features. We will see. When we will know how many people are 'in' on this challenge??

Don't know Dena. Haven't added them up. For a while there I thought no one would partake so I started to tinker out of panic/duty, but now it looks like maybe quite a few will give it a shot.

I'm trying to complete a feature right now so I stayed away from this distraction. But I'll do my best to review them all!!

I will make best effort to begin posting Saturday evening.  I lose points for timing.

Don

I just submitted my first ten or so pages. It's just gone 5am here so I think I made it in time for the deadline (is EDT New York time? if so I did).

I've never finished a feature before, so I'm hoping with the challenge aspect it might get me to finally step up and get that monkey off my back.

Plus, from what I can tell there will be plenty of encouragement or help offered if there comes a time when I may need a nudge in the right direction. And of course, if I can help anyone along the way, feel free to ask.

Good luck to all involved, and whilst I know it's all about finishing a feature and the 'taking part', I can't help but dream of one day getting my hands on a SimplyScripts mug.

Churs.

Arty.

My 5-10 is in. Would've like to get more down (I hand wrote the last two scenes at work), but it'll do for now. Hopefully life stays more or less out of the way. I've got enough of my idea nailed down to know I'd want to finish it with or without the challenge.

Good luck to all!  

I'm in... anonymously.

Looking forward to reading what others have put up. Thanks Don.

Quoted from ArtyDoubleYou I've never finished a feature before, so I'm hoping with the challenge aspect it might get me to finally step up and get that monkey off my back.

Awesome Arty! In six weeks then…you'll have your first!

Mine is in. Anonymously although I don't know - I might out myself later. Let me think it over.

Good luck to all who entered.  I'm on vacation for the next 6 weeks, desperately need a break, so I'm looking forward to reading what writers have come up with.

A six week vacation Legion?? Da-amn lucky you are if you get six weeks!

Yep, 6 weeks "vacation" (I used the quotations because I'm sitting on my backside for that time).  And I changed my username! (woo?) Fits, I think...

I wonder how many submitted to the challenge.  I count, through what people have said, at least 6 thus far, maybe more.  Looking forward to reading nonetheless.

You know what, Lee?

I don't think I would have entered if it wasn't for you. I don't know you at all, but watching you blast out those scripts really inspired me.

I want to get to the point I can do my ten pages a day. Got so many ideas I think I could turn into great films....

Quality is very hard when you push ten a day...I know it first hand...

I can imagine.

Definitely need to improve my output though. About ten pages a YEAR is where I'm at, at the moment.

I find 10 pages a day to be a standard. It's twenty I find suffers on quality.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films You know what, Lee? I don't think I would have entered if it wasn't for you. I don't know you at all, but watching you blast out those scripts really inspired me. I want to get to the point I can do my ten pages a day. Got so many ideas I think I could turn into great films....

Thanks for the earnest words, Scar.  I appreciate the sentiment.

Always push yourself to achieve.  But be cautious not to burn yourself out like I have.  I'm done for a while, until those creative juices start flowing again.

Sorry for the redundancy. I missed the 10 pages deadline should I just go ahead and submit the full script before August 15th?

Quoted from realxwriter Sorry for the redundancy. I missed the 10 pages deadline should I just go ahead and submit the full script before August 15th?

Well, I would if I were you. This challenge continues till we write the entire script  7 weeks in total. There are, I gather, more relaxed rules with this than with the one week challenges.

Check with Pia - Moderator - otherwise known as 'Angry Bear' - you'll find a post of hers  on the top of page 6 of this same thread so you can PM her to make sure or contact Bert or Don (also Mod) - site admin. Look forward to reading yours if it goes through.  

The goal of this challenge compared to the OWC is to write a feature length script in 7 weeks. If you missed the 10 pages after one week part, like I did, it's still okay to submit the whole feature by August 15th.  It should however fit the parameters of the challenge.

This challenge has also always in the past been meant to help each other write a feature. Asking for help if you get stuck later on with your story is totally fine.  

Awesomesauce! I'm in. Thanks Angry Bear. Thanks LC, looking forward to reading yours too.

So, how's everyone doing now that you've all had some feedback? Hopefully the feedback you received was helpful and you're all continuing on. I'm on page 21 which is behind 4 pages of where I wanted to be today. I'm not worried though. Still plenty of time.

Anyone out there needs help or anything. A kick in the butt or some pep talk? Let us know. Plenty of people willing to help here.