Quoted from Grandma Bear ???????????????????

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I looked for this in the FAQ and couldn't find it and I don't want to start a whole new thread over one trivial question so I thought I'd just tack it on here if you all don't mind. I tried to upload an avatar to my profile and I just get one of those little icons with the three-color palate on a square. Is there a particular format(s) the photo file needs to be in for it to take? Maybe .jpg or something? Mine is in bmp. If it's not that, then I'm doing something else wrong... Thanks!

bmp might possibly work depending on the browser but to be same use jpg or gif.

Quoted from Shey LeRosen Okay, I looked for this in the FAQ and couldn't find it and I don't want to start a whole new thread over one trivial question so I thought I'd just tack it on here if you all don't mind. I tried to upload an avatar to my profile and I just get one of those little icons with the three-color palate on a square. Is there a particular format(s) the photo file needs to be in for it to take? Maybe .jpg or something? Mine is in bmp. If it's not that, then I'm doing something else wrong... Thanks!

Shey, I don't know if this will help or not, but back awhile ago, I was having the same problem, but it had something to do with Mozilla firefox when my husband did some maintenance on my computer.

At the time, it worked in I.E. Anyways, all I had to do was shut the computer off and back on and presto, the glitch was fixed. Actually, it was more like: Presto! The glitch was fixed!  

Anyways, regarding the start of this thread back in time-- A long long time ago....

Resurrect, resurrect, I say!   ... It's definitely correct, that we should be very gentle with someone on here when they first get here.

Life is hell enough sometimes without being hard on someone who is just starting out.  

Sandra

Constructive criticism is fine with me.  If someone thinks my script is bad because they think I'm a bad person and personally attack me, that's their problem.  I probably wouldn't be too happy about being personally attacked (who would?) but telling me my script sucked and given relevant reasons why is fine.

My beef comes when some says "You're script sucked" and when I ask why, they respond by saying "Well, uh, I don't know... it just did" or "Because I didn't like it"  

That's personal taste and it's fine to say that personal taste is why you didn't like it, but don't use it as the reason my script or someone else's sucked.  

If others say it sucked too, then they might be on to something, but reasons need to be given like:

"You're script sucked because: you had 3000 typos or misspellings, the dialogue felt like it didn't work, the pacing didn't seem to correlate with the tone, etc."

I don't recall anyone (on this board) giving me useless advice or suggestions. Nor telling me I sucked as a person, because my script was sucky.  Nor have I been personally attacked.  



I agree that if a writer can't take criticism they probably shouldn't post it or send it to anyone they feel would knock their work read it.  I trust this site and the members to provide honest feed back.  I hated sending stuff to my parents b/c it took me a good five years for them to get past the "It was great" line and  tell me what the honestly thought of my script.  Now I know when I get "It was good - means "meh, it sucked"  

I have yet to be ripped by producers so that will probably be fun... okay maybe not, lol. Though I actually look forward to that experience (yeah, I'm weird that way I guess).  Kind of like I actually enjoy the audition process (8 execs in suits and sunglasses that look like they are secret service staring at you as you stand there smiling waiting for the CD to call, point at you or look up from the table - all signs for you to begin)

Hi guys and gals, Ok, I joined this site only yesterday, I have really enjoyed reading the screenplays and scripts and the comments too, I understand that ripping someone's work to shreds can't be very nice, however, it is for the constructive criticism that I have joined this site.
Although I am not a kid, (I wish), I am looking forward to uploading my first screenplay to the site, and even more, I am looking forward to having you guys read and comment on it. As this will be not only my first screenplay on here, but also my first screenplay ever.
I am currently off work through ill health and as I have a great interest in film and everything that goes on behind the camera I thought I would try my hand at turning a short story, (written by my wife), into a screenplay. I will be uploading it in a few days so keep a look out.
I look forward to your help.
Mike

The problem with message boards is you have no idea who you are addressing. Almost certainly we will not know their age, experience, ability to take criticism or their true intentions of submitting a script to be reviewed.

If they are young and new to writing it is unlikely that their work will be engaging, correctly structured, perfectly formatted or offered in a reasonable presentation.

Young writers probably because of their inexperience in life will take critique badly and personally. However life is hard, entering a professional field in anything is difficult and if a writer wants to progress they have to learn to roll with the punches.

Or as had been said before, “If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen”.

Ron Aberdeen
http://www.ronaberdeen.com

I will say this, I was run off this site for a while. I didn't get hard criticism, but it was the first time I actually heard that my work wasn't "good enough" or "decent". Of course my friends and fam supported me, but they knew me. I finally brought my work to others here, and didn't get that vibe I was looking for.

Long story short, some people, like me at the time, struggle with criticism. I kept writing, and kept working on my skills, and even now, when I look back at some of my older work, even I think "What the hell was I thinking". After years showcasing my work, I've gotten one made into a film (a really really low budget film, lol), had a scene in one of my series made into a short, and am in the process of selling another feature.

What I'm trying to say, for the people who feel the way I used to feel, everyone is just here to help. I took it the wrong way, but as I kept writing, and getting my work into the right hands of certain people, I took criticism along the way. Some of it helped, some of it didn't, but you just have to keep writing. Believe in yourself, and you'll be fine..... IMO anyway.

New to the board and writing, I will concur, I just got some really good criticism. At first when I read it, I was like...I need to throw my writing right into the trash. But then I thought.....found this site, wrote my first owc in literally two hours in Panera Bread, didn't edit or even reread it, entered it into this OWC thing, and umm got a lil bit ripped to shreds. BUT then I thought to myself after reading some of the very intelligent remarks, this is GOOD not bad. I mean I love movies and I've always loved to write creatively. So, I'm not giving up yet. And want to say THANKS to those who do critique our work in here. It's really the only way to learn and now I think I will read some professional scripts and work on my skills.

Welcome to the boards Pale Yellow. As a writer, the most valuable lesson you can learn is sepearting yourself from your work, one you seem to have taken on board. Most people take the criticism 'personally'. Criticism is only ever personal, if the writer is directly addressed, rather than the script and that shows poor skills by the reviewer. Like you said, if you can learn something from the feedback provided then it's never really negative.

Quoted from Pale Yellow Found this site, wrote my first owc in literally two hours in Panera Bread,

Can't think of a more cliche place to write a script. Maybe a coffee house? It is cool you're receptive to criticism. It's not cool that you only have one post and you entered the OWC. So instead of giving other writers feedback, you just blah,blah, here?

This board is great for learning to write in this fashion, but you have to give back a little. Otherwise, people will not read your stuff.

James

Hello Pale

Taking the hard stuff on the chin can be difficult. This is only my second OWC and already i fell i have been through a long process. In the last one I took a good beating, which was particularly hard as I really liked my script. Shame about the others!

One month later things have improved. why? Because I listened, didn't give up and kept going, so your attitude is right.

The SS site is great for this but, whilst everyone is different, for me it still needs effort to make that improvement, so keep going.

All the best.

Pale Yellow, this site is about shared reads. It's a lot of work reading other's material. It's a sacrifice. If I had to read scripts all day, I would prefer reading pro material. But I'm reading amateur because I too am an amateur, and it's all about sharing feedback.

If you are not posting because you think you are unqualified, that is the wrong approach. You like movies, so you are qualified. Now start reading and reviewing please.

Pale Yellow, I just read your review of an OWC script. Ok, you've started, good. But from that remark I can't tell if you even really read the script.

You won't be able to do this with every script, but to help a writer you need to tell him what worked and what did not work for you with his story. Don't be afraid to be negative, either, as long as it's honest and specific. For example, don't say 'your writing stinks'. Say what you don't like about the writing, or the story, or whatever, so he can improve.

Hmmm since about 9am I have been reading and leaving feedback on the OWC scripts. I'm so open to learning. I don't mind being beaten up a lil if it will teach me....we learn from our mistakes. Next time, I'll take it a lil more seriously and actually think about what I'm pounding out and b4 submitting it ...I WILL reread it Live and Learn...this place has some killer talent. I think I'm addicted.