I haven't read all of the reviews of the review quote, but I'll give you my immediate impression after reading it.

I felt that it was negative and in poor judgment.

I don't think it's a matter of just these boards either.  It's how we conduct ourselves in real life.  I believe we can say what we mean without resorting to inflaming kinds of remarks.

When the reviewer spoke, "What kind of sh** is that?"  They spoke a question that wasn't meant to be a question.  It was rather a phrase equal to, "That is a bunch of garbage." And although that might not sound as bad language wise, it has the same real negative slant.

In my opinion, reviewers should use phrases like, "That didn't work for me."  It's honest and says what needs to be said.  If the reviewer really didn't like something and they say that they feel it's really bad.  That too is honest.

It's the tone.  The tone comes through even in print obviously and interrogative sentences that don't demand an answer can sometimes be considered negative.  Like: "What are you wearing "that" for?"  "Why on earth did you buy that style?"

So then, it's just a matter of the board's policy.  Unfortunately, not just on internet boards, but in life as a whole, people seem to have lost such things as telephone manners, general politeness and tact.

Where's the line?  Well, it's a good question and I know it's probably going to be different depending upon people's backgrounds.  If someone grew up with their father or mother saying, "What kind of sh** is that?"  Then I can certainly understand that it might not sound very "wrong" to that individual.  They may have developed a sort of immunity to it.

Well, one thing I'm sure is that honesty need not be brutal.

Sandra

Quoted from Takeshi I get a bit jacked off when I review someone's script and they don't even bother to acknowledge my review. This is understandable when it's a script that's been submitted by some stranger who, for whatever reason, has decided not to revisit the site. But when it's people who are here on a regular basis, I find it pretty rude that they can't acknowledge that you've taken time out of your day to read their script and post a review.

I've seen this several times and have fallen victim to it as well.  I know I've actually done this unintentionally once or twice in the past which I did apologize for, but I know there are folks who seemingly "pick and choose" who they want to respond to.  

But hey, it's their image problem.

I was reading some of the notes Ridely Scott gave back to the writers of Gladiator back when the earlier drafts were being made. He would cover pages saying "F*cking STUPID!" ha ha ha. So I guess having someone be brutally honest gets us ready for pro writing. =D

-Landon

Quoted from Shelton Not sure how many people have heard this one before, but there are readers (professional ones, if you're looking to work in the industry) that will stop reading immediately if the script opens with a person getting out of bed and hitting their alarm clock.  No shit.  It's literally been done so often that it will make someone stop reading after the first paragraph.

I just wanted to add that I just did a critique for a short story and what happens  a lot in manuscripts is the ever present "rolling of eyes."

It's ok.  It happens.  But the opening of a story needs to captivate and tired readers who do it for a living are less willing to move forward with a positive attitude when they're immediately struck by "rolling eyes" and furrowed brows during the first or second sentence.

The reader, in this case myself is apt to go: "Agh!"  And begin explaining the downfalls of rolling eyes as being suicidal words (6 and 7) of the opening...  An editor is apt to go: Slush!

They probably won't be so gracious to even read as far as six pages.

When I work on doing critiques, I like to spend some time, but there are times when I've read things that I absolutely couldn't read.  Sometimes the work is so packed full of Webster's finest, it's sickening, or the writer is in the stage of being "clever."

The best I can do with some works are selectively pick out the real "dragging" elements and then move on to work with someone else.  

I've seen people do enormous line by line edits and it just gets ridiculous.  The poor struggling author can't cope with it all in a lot of cases.  They just don't know yet.

Anyways Mike, it's an important thing for us to keep in mind, that it doesn't take much to get industry people frustrated.  They are bombarded daily with... Oh, I just don't even want to imagine what all they're bombarded with.

So, if someone wants to drive someone crazy.  Then maybe start of with this:

INT BEDROOM

Alarm clock rings.  Dick rolls over and slams his hand on the alarm.  The alarm clock falls.

Dick

"Shoot."

Jane

"What's the matter baby?"

Dick

"I set the alarm by accident.  I don't have to work today."

Jane rolls her eyes, turns, and pulls the covers over her head.

Dick's brow narrows.

Dick

Wait a minute, I DO have to work today.

Jane tosses the covers off her head.

Jane

Maybe you DO need a day off.

Dick clumsily fights with the sheets.

Dick

I was working on block one... that was Tuesdays, then the boss switched that block to Friday and I traded days with Fred and Fred had the night shift on Thursday, but that shift was canceled when the line broke down...

Oh God no!  Jane's eyes are rolling again.  And Dick's, well they're kind of crossed.

But that's ok, because now WE HAVE a LOVE SCENE.

Softly, she touched him while a brutal honesty came between them and swept them into the slush.

Oooh, that's goo...d slush.

Moral of the story: If eyes are rolling and alarm clocks are going off, remember that slush is... ah... slushy.

P.S.

Dick didn't have to work that day.  

Sandra

Be honest. Be concise. Be pacific.

I'd let the review stand. Look a person has the right to judge by morals. It happens. It means that him and like-minded people wont enjoy your script.

His review was short but stated why he didn't like it. And no amount of good writng would change his mind.  It's a short review by a person who had no patience for the story.

It doesn't add anything, but it does give an idea that his script may be objectionable.

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. I just wanted to add that I just did a critique for a short story and what happens  a lot in manuscripts is the ever present "rolling of eyes." It's ok.  It happens.  But the opening of a story needs to captivate and tired readers who do it for a living are less willing to move forward with a positive attitude when they're immediately struck by "rolling eyes" and furrowed brows during the first or second sentence. The reader, in this case myself is apt to go: "Agh!"  And begin explaining the downfalls of rolling eyes as being suicidal words (6 and 7) of the opening...  An editor is apt to go: Slush! They probably won't be so gracious to even read as far as six pages. When I work on doing critiques, I like to spend some time, but there are times when I've read things that I absolutely couldn't read.  Sometimes the work is so packed full of Webster's finest, it's sickening, or the writer is in the stage of being "clever." The best I can do with some works are selectively pick out the real "dragging" elements and then move on to work with someone else.   I've seen people do enormous line by line edits and it just gets ridiculous.  The poor struggling author can't cope with it all in a lot of cases.  They just don't know yet. Anyways Mike, it's an important thing for us to keep in mind, that it doesn't take much to get industry people frustrated.  They are bombarded daily with... Oh, I just don't even want to imagine what all they're bombarded with. So, if someone wants to drive someone crazy.  Then maybe start of with this: INT BEDROOM Alarm clock rings.  Dick rolls over and slams his hand on the alarm.  The alarm clock falls. Dick "Shoot." Jane "What's the matter baby?" Dick "I set the alarm by accident.  I don't have to work today." Jane rolls her eyes, turns, and pulls the covers over her head. Dick's brow narrows. Dick Wait a minute, I DO have to work today. Jane tosses the covers off her head. Jane Maybe you DO need a day off. Dick clumsily fights with the sheets. Dick I was working on block one... that was Tuesdays, then the boss switched that block to Friday and I traded days with Fred and Fred had the night shift on Thursday, but that shift was canceled when the line broke down... Oh God no!  Jane's eyes are rolling again.  And Dick's, well they're kind of crossed. But that's ok, because now WE HAVE a LOVE SCENE. Softly, she touched him while a brutal honesty came between them and swept them into the slush. Oooh, that's goo...d slush. Moral of the story: If eyes are rolling and alarm clocks are going off, remember that slush is... ah... slushy. P.S. Dick didn't have to work that day.   Sandra

This is news to me.

I knew about the alarm clock thing, but I had no idea rolling of the eyes or furrowing of the brows were faux pas? They're not that prevalent in the scripts I've read here, so I guess that's why.

But really if the rolling eyes are aptly placed, what's wrong with it? I understand it's been used a million times but so has a smile and hopefully readers don't throw a script out every time a character smiles?

Quoted from Chris_MacGuffin Be honest. Be concise. Be pacific.

Be honest?  Be Concise?

I'll be honest and concise!  It's specific! Not pacific!!  I have an ocean to ridicule you.  You'll sea!  I water keep ridiculing you, but I'm out of puns.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Be honest?  Be Concise? I'll be honest and concise!  It's specific! Not pacific!!  I have an ocean to ridicule you.  You'll sea!  I water keep ridiculing you, but I'm out of puns. Phil

Are you saying your well has run dry?

I guess I should wave good-bye to my well....


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Be honest?  Be Concise? I'll be honest and concise!  It's specific! Not pacific!!  I have an ocean to ridicule you.  You'll sea!  I water keep ridiculing you, but I'm out of puns. Phil

Actually 'Pacific' also means "peaceful or helping to cause peace". Derrived from pacificst.

In the context it would make sense.

Quoted from Death Monkey This is news to me. I knew about the alarm clock thing, but I had no idea rolling of the eyes or furrowing of the brows were faux pas? They're not that prevalent in the scripts I've read here, so I guess that's why. But really if the rolling eyes are aptly placed, what's wrong with it? I understand it's been used a million times but so has a smile and hopefully readers don't throw a script out every time a character smiles?

Heavens no.  I'm speaking about placement.  When alarm clocks were brought up, this was referenced as at the beginning of scripts because of the enormity of scripts surfacing with the same beginnings.

Logic tells you nothing is wrong with the alarm clocks, but due to its becoming a cliche in movies, writers need it to be wary of it and settle down on that idea until it cools.

"The rolling eyes" I speak of happens a lot in novels and short stories and certainly nothing is wrong with using them when necessary, but at the beginning, when you're trying to capture an editor's attention, it's best to try and be as far away from banal as can be.

**Again, there are no rules with "some" things.  Be careful thinking that everything is a hard and fast a rule.  Just things to be aware of that could potentially harm your chances.

Sandra

Quoted from bert Exhibit A, an old SS favorite: http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-horror/m-1091483938/ I challenge you to find something positive to say about this script.  It's very existence is an aberration of the worst sort, and it deserves every horrid review that it gets. After glancing at this script, do you still contend that the author should not be told he has written an abomination -- in firm and unmistakable language?

Well, I took "part" of the challenge.  Just opening the document and scrolling tells the story of this script.  Of course, you can't bother to read it.  Yes.  It's bad.

I wonder though if this wasn't written by a child.  Or, the person writing it hadn't read much and is simply in the deepest of darkness.

My first reaction to this was to giggle and I wondered if someone had put this up as a prank.  It's very possible that it was someone's bright idea of a joke.

What review would I do on this?  Honestly, I would say that they really need to begin studying and join a critique group near home; that they are likely to be laughed at if they post this kind of quality work in the future.

Need I say what happens to the eyes if one attempts to read this kind of thing?

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. Need I say what happens to the eyes if one attempts to read this kind of thing? Sandra

I did and now i feel I am in desperate need of an eye replacement.

if the soft touch approach results in stuff like this I am all the more for Brutal Honesty (or just getting brutal on the writer for inflicting it upon us)

You can't fault brutal honesty if a piece is so bad you need to smack someone in the face to get their attention.  After all, you are on your time when you read someone's work.  While I'm of the opinion that no one sets out to write garbage, but I have seen some things in this forum that made me do a double take and think of a certain song from "Evil Dead: The Musical" (anyone who's seen can probably guess, and those who haven't, the initials are wtfwt).

I don;t know if anyone has taken a screenwriting class, I'm sure many have, but most teachers usually want a positive and then a constructive criticism.  For instance, "I liked the way Sheila is her own woman and we are shown how she reacts to others.  However, I think you rely on her kicking people in the groin too often."  Unfortunately, the adage of "if you can't say something nice, don't say it all" won't help some of the people who need it.  Like me.

Phil, you caught me there. Haha I kind of sunk on that one. I mean I stand by what I said but I guess I didn't sea that spelling error...