Quoted from LC Reviews like: 'I couldn't get past page one...' are not constructive in any way...

Eh... I have mixed POVs on this.

One the one hand if a writer submitted to this OWC  looking for feedback on how to improve their nascent craftwork then your statement is of course valid. A remark that a fellow forum member rage quit on page X provides no useful information going forward.

Fail, but fail WHY?!  
Dunno. All we know is fail. Equals useless.

However, on the other hand when writers submit to actual open calls for submissions to be produced via DIY or agent and they eventually hear back "No, thank you" or some variation of "Our producers have chosen to go in a different direction" then you're not even going to have the satisfaction of knowing at just what point they put down your submission in the reject pile. Viewed in this light it's good to know about when someone would call BS on your script.

So there is some benefit there.
Those of us who've been at this awhile don't really need detailed format and construct assistance. We can see where our stories are weak when ten reviewers point out the same spots.


I've read only sixteen of these submissions so far.
Read every word provided. Am almost never "confused" by anything.
Unclear writing will be be clear on screen, so rough spots don't matter much.
I will quit if a writer disrespects my time or the craft, however. But so far so good.
Fortunately, all have been close-enough formatted, and the stories have merit.
Most have been fairly decent submissions.

Quoted from mmmarnie About harsh reviews, this is a subject that's been beaten to death. I don't think anyone minds negative but constructive reviews. It's when they're laced with insults that pisses people off. There's no reason for it. And then there are the completely nonconstructive reviews laced with insults to the story and the writer. IMO people giving those should be suspended from reviewing for a while.

I've seen you give reviews like that too. People in glass houses... and all that.

Quoted from RayW Eh... I have mixed POVs on this. One the one hand if a writer submitted to this OWC  looking for feedback on how to improve their nascent craftwork then your statement is of course valid. A remark that a fellow forum member rage quit on page X provides no useful information going forward. ...

Exactly. I am referring here only to peer reviews within this OWC.

You send your scripts out to professionals you have to roll with the punches. And there's not going to be any debate. That's a given.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I've seen you give reviews like that too. People in glass houses... and all that.

Please find one where I don't mention at least WHY I had a hard time reading and PLEASE...find ONE where I insult the writer by making fun of what they wrote. Good luck. I can find at least 10 of those in this OWC alone where you either bail with no explanation and/or insult the writer by making fun of their story. It's completely disrespectful and also discouraging to newer writers.

Whatever. This is like talking to a brick wall. Sorry we got off the subject here. Again.

@Ryan...I wish I wrote "This Tornado". I loved that one!!  

Quoted from mmmarnie I can find at least 10 of those in this OWC alone where you either bail with no explanation and/or insult the writer by making fun of their story.

I'd like to take you up on that challenge. Name eleven where I've done that. I've never bailed without a reason and I usually read far more than one page. I make fun only when there is fun to be made, like flying pills for example or a haunted blazer. That's two where I've had a little fun.

One of them being yours if your reaction is anything to go by. Typical response from you to cry when you get a review you don't like. Most just take it on the chin. You cry for sympathy. As soon as you did that there was a flood of positive reviews in the blazer thread. I'm not saying you told anybody, you didn't have to... they saw you crying, figured it was the blazer thread and went in with a heavily biased opinion, then reviewed accordingly.

You did the same thing with the Memories thread. Boo hoo... waa waa... just suck it up instead of whining about other people's reviews.

I'm sorry I found your story funny. I find a blazer suddenly appearing on a chair extremely funny. I really do. I would have honestly loved it if this was a spoof and the blazer was the thing to fear. Nathan coming into it seemed superfluous at that point. I gave you a great review... but I see you'd prefer bullshit.

I'll quickly name 5 where you rudely poke fun at the story and/or the writing: Nathan Green, PB Kisses, Mr. Nasty, Soul Cleaner,  For Her Lov'd Sake.

And you're right about Memories. I only wanted positive reviews. I wanted people to blow smoke up my ass. I guess that's why it's only gotten 3 pro considers, made Quarters in Scriptapalooza, 2nd round at AFF and won an award in a film festival. -- Again...it's how you deliver your suggestions. If they're laced with insults that's all people hear. Anything constructive you have to say gets buried under all that negativity.  

Okay - going out on a limb here with an OWC guess.  The Price?  Reef.  Just wanna have it on record, in case I'm right.  

Quoted from wonkavite Okay - going out on a limb here with an OWC guess.  The Price?  Reef.  Just wanna have it on record, in case I'm right.

Well there goes one of my guesses. I thought you write "The Price", Janet.  

Quoted from mmmarnie I'll quickly name 5 where you rudely poke fun at the story and/or the writing: Nathan Green, PB Kisses, Mr. Nasty, Soul Cleaner,  For Her Lov'd Sake. And you're right about Memories. I only wanted positive reviews. I wanted people to blow smoke up my ass. I guess that's why it's only gotten 3 pro considers, made Quarters in Scriptapalooza, 2nd round at AFF and won an award in a film festival. -- Again...it's how you deliver your suggestions. If they're laced with insults that's all people hear. Anything constructive you have to say gets buried under all that negativity.

5 is not at least 10. You said that like it would be easy. I poke fun at scripts all the time and yet still give them a consider. I also note that not one of them shows me bailing without a reason.

You only take it as insulting because you cannot handle negative comments on your work without crying for sympathy. You've done it twice now.

I have no idea who these pro's are and considers are worthless... Well done on the quarters, I'm going to enter Scriptapolooza this time around myself, it's a respectable comp. I wouldn't count second round on anything though, hardly all that is it. I'd be a little ashamed to bring up second round, truth be told. An award at some low rate festival is equally unimpressive to me.

Quoted from DustinBowcot 5 is not at least 10. You said that like it would be easy. I poke fun at scripts all the time and yet still give them a consider. I also note that not one of them shows me bailing without a reason.

I'll post more later if you'd like. LOL. I didn't go through every one but odds are, there are at least 5 more in there somewhere.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I wouldn't count second round on anything though, hardly all that is it. I'd be a little ashamed to bring up second round, truth be told.

I'm not at all ashamed at being in the top 15% of almost 7000 entries. And the whole point being, I didn't get there by not listening to people's suggestions.

Quoted from mmmarnie I'm not at all ashamed at being in the top 15% of almost 7000 entries. And the whole point being, I didn't get there by not listening to people's suggestions.

Read by people paid $15 a script. Some might say this stage is a lottery and that the story itself isn't read... if I was only being paid $15 a script for the early rounds I'd discard scripts based on the first page and up to ten. If they make it to ten without any flaws, I'd put them through.

In an ideal world criticism should always be constructive, but we all have to learn to take it.

You have two choices---get upset about it or accept it and weigh up whether there's any value to it, use it as inspiration to make the script even better.

One thing I will say about awards, festivals, competitions. Ultimately a script has to be selected to win the competition. Even then, it doesn't mean it's good enough to be made into a film. How many of the scripts that win even the biggest comps ever get made? Very few...and how many of those that do get made ever see any kind of real exposure?

A handful at best.

Screenwriting is very tough. You've not only got to be a great writer, you've got to be great at picking your subject matter. Use any criticism you receive positively...really push yourself to make your stuff really great.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films In an ideal world criticism should always be constructive, but we all have to learn to take it. You have two choices---get upset about it or accept it and weigh up whether there's any value to it, use it as inspiration to make the script even better. One thing I will say about awards, festivals, competitions. Ultimately a script has to be selected to win the competition. Even then, it doesn't mean it's good enough to be made into a film. How many of the scripts that win even the biggest comps ever get made? Very few...and how many of those that do get made ever see any kind of real exposure? A handful at best. Screenwriting is very tough. You've not only got to be a great writer, you've got to be great at picking your subject matter. Use any criticism you receive positively...really push yourself to make your stuff really great.

This is brought up during every OWC (not only by me) because the rudeness casts a negative vibe on something that should be fun. I should have known better than to say anything. It never changes.

As far as contests go, with a million screenwriters floating around out there and what little we have to grab onto as far as success, I think it's reasonable to be proud of your contest placements.

I don't think my reviews are rude. These are shorts, written in a week. There should be some fun to be had and I'll be the first person to concede when I've written a bad script. I wouldn't cry because somebody found something funny in my story. Indeed, I'm even likely to agree.

My feature reviews during the last 1+6 week are a completely different animal as I appreciate all the hard work that's gone into it.

Marnie, I'm pretty sure I remember reading that horror isn't your genre. That's fine... you have a skill for comedy... so what. You tried and in my opinion, it didn't work. While others would be clearly hiding behind the settee I'd have been sniggering watching your effort. Why does my opinion matter? Just let it wash over you.

Quoted from mmmarnie ...the rudeness casts a negative vibe on something that should be fun.

I mostly agree with that, but at the same time, this "rudeness" (defined loosely here) is just how some people may come off unintentionally on the web.

There is also a small population to whom this "rudeness" (defined loosely here) actually IS kind of fun -- in its way -- to spectators, as well.  Even I am amused on the rare occasion.

Modding these boards is a constant judgment call, and I have always wondered why Movie Poet did not seem to have these problems.

Or did they, and I just missed it?

I am sure the "instant" feedback is part of it, of course, but it seems to be something more than that.

What do you Movie Poet veterans out there have to say on this?  Do we just have a rowdier crowd here?  Why are things so different?

I have always wanted to ask.