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Scar - it's quality of dialogue that's been scored, could technically get a 5 with just one killer word.
I get the theory, I'm just struggling to reconcile it with reality.
A script can be brilliant with either no dialogue, or almost completely dialogue. And everything in between.
So a script with zero dialogue is a 5 basically by default because there's no way of determining otherwise. And a script with a lot of brilliantly constructed dialogue is a 5.
What if the silent script doesn't quite work, do we take points just off the story, or dialogue as well? How do you determine if the problem was a weakness in structure and visuals(story) or in the absence of dialogue explaining things?
What about a very good script that requires minimal dialogue, but that minimal dialogue is fairly poor? Is that a 1? Should they just have cut the few lines to get the default 5 if there's no dialogue at all?
I'm overthinking things, I'm just finding it all a bit hard to score tbh.
So a script with zero dialogue is a 5 basically by default because there's no way of determining otherwise. And a script with a lot of brilliantly constructed dialogue is a 5.
This is my method (or would be, if I were taking part). A script with no dialogue doesn't get a 5 by default. It gets a 5 if the dialogue weren't necessary. If you add more, just to add it, it'll feel superfluous and that'll probably lower your score in other people's eyes.
So there's a leaderboard, just not one we can see, correct? Or will we see one before the tournament ends?
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
I see your point on the extreme of there being no dialogue. How do you score that? As Mr Blonde said, if the story works fine without dialogue then that should be a 5. If there are parts you feel are weak and let down by there being no dialogue then take points off. It's really up the individual reviewer how they score that.
Can a comedy story work in 5 pages? Of course it can. It doesn't need to be dialogue or character heavy, it simply needs to work well. That's the hard part. You're overthinking this.
I have to hand it to all of you. It's very, very easy me sitting here writing this down. I don't have to do it. It's a nice exercise... but I prefer to be paid for that kind of stress.
So there's a leaderboard, just not one we can see, correct? Or will we see one before the tournament ends?
I'll post up the leaderboard after voting for round 1 ends. It will be visible for everyone, but the scores themselves won't be posted until it's over.
I finished, too. I don't guarantee that you'll understand the story though. But if you do it's beautiful. One of the better writers would make you but I wrote it the way God put it on my heart. He puts I write, there's nothing more to it! I wish these two days went by faster as I'm curious for the reactions.
Hey, for one of those we need to agree and name one of the characters Sean! I would have done it for this one but can't do it alone.
I have a barebones idea now. No opportunity to write though. Hopefully I can start it later today and see how it fleshes out. This one is tough for sure.
Hey, for one of those we need to agree and name one of the characters Sean! I would have done it for this one but can't do it alone.
You inspired me. That would have been cute. Maybe each writer would be assigned a SS Peep as a main character.
TO DREAMSCALE WITH LOVE
FADE IN:
INT. MUNICIPAL WATER SEWER - NIGHT
Darker than an OWC challenge set in a cave.
DREAMSCALE (45?), beer belly, the epitome of gender-neutral, paces along the concrete walkway alongside the river of piss and shit.
ELDAVE (63), the last drops of testosterone left his body a decade ago, lumbers behind him. You can just tell he's a know it all type with skin that is nearly opaque. He's essentially unfilmable.
Dreamscale stops, bends over - retrieves a bound, sewage-stained, script from the concrete walkway. He takes a sniff - then opens the script.
DREAMSCALE Shit!
ELDAVE What'd you expect? We're in a sewer.
DREAMSCALE Not the smell. The writing. (holds up script) First page. Two orphans!
ELDAVE1 And...?
Dreamscale stops - thumps Dave on the chest.
DREAMSCALE Two lines per page. That means two-hundred lines per script. That means it's one-hundred and twenty pages long when it could have easily been one hundred and ten. (thumps his chest) You get me, bro?
Dave just stands there - blinks his eyes. Crickets.
Dreamscale resumes his walk as he reads the script.
Eldave follows behind.
DREAMSCALE Jesus Christ! Plus two wrylies on page three. (points at water) It belongs in the sewer.
Eldave stays in place as Dreamscale marches on. The script he tossed slowly floats back towards Eldave.
Through the murky water we see the blurry title: "CASA BLANCA."
DREAMSCALE (O.S) (calling back) Probably filled with a bunch of We sees and camera directions too.
A whistle SQUEALS in the distance.
A manhole cover is removed, illuminating the sewer. Dreamscale points to the opening.
DREAMSCALE (45?), beer belly, the epitome of gender-neutral, paces along the concrete walkway alongside the river of piss and shit.
ELDAVE (63), the last drops of testosterone left his body a decade ago, lumbers behind him. You can tell he'd rather be anywhere else in the world.
Dreamscale stops, bends over - retrieves a bound, sewage-stained, script from the concrete walkway. He takes a sniff - then opens the script.
DREAMSCALE Shit!
ELDAVE What'd you expect? We're in a sewer.
DREAMSCALE Not the smell. The writing. (holds up script) First page. Two orphans!
ELDAVE1 And...?
Dreamscale stops - thumps Dave on the chest.
DREAMSCALE Two lines per page. That means two-hundred lines per script. That means it's one-hundred and twenty pages long when it could have easily been one hundred and ten. (thumps his chest) You get me, bro?
Dave just stands there - blinks his eyes. Crickets.
Dreamscale resumes his walk as he reads the script.
Eldave follows behind.
DREAMSCALE Jesus Christ! Plus two wrylies on page three. (points at water) It belongs in the sewer.
Eldave stays in place as Dreamscale marches on. The script he tossed slowly floats back towards Eldave.
Through the murky water we see the blurry title: "CASA BLANCA."
DREAMSCALE (O.S) (calling back) Probably filled with a bunch of We sees and camera directions too.
A whistle SQUEALS in the distance.
A manhole cover is removed, illuminating the sewer. Dreamscale points to the opening.
DREAMSCALE I'm out!
Very funny, Dave. Although easier than these guys have it as the character development is already done. Still though, this a nice little freestyle.
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