Not trying to name names but *cough*Alien5Writer*cough* is a very good reason to support brutal honesty.

Quoted from Gaara Not trying to name names but *cough*Alien5Writer*cough* is a very good reason to support brutal honesty.

Not really.  You could tell him whatever you like, brutal or soft, and it's not going to change anything.

Unless you're Sly or Lindsay Lohan.

Well apparently Lindsay Lohan likes his script so much that she joined this very site to tell him so.  

Yeah right  

For some reason I am sensing an imminent ban..or at least a stern telling off  

The sad thing is, "Lindsay Lohan" obviously is not the writer, but rather somebody just looking to be annoying.

Merry Christmas

Don could easily check the I.P address of the person who signed up as "Lindsay Lohan" and see if it matches Alien5writer. Then ban him. Or just ban both of them.

Quoted Text Not really.  You could tell him whatever you like, brutal or soft, and it's not going to change anything.

If he's too much of an ass to except constructive critisim, whats the point of him being on the site?

Here's the situation:

Other Person

First off, don't give the reader you're "directors" shot of the scene. Example, CU-HAND.

Scene:
ROBERT:
You can hardly hold a gun, let alone fire one. I know you didn't do it. Adam doesn't have the balls (beat) But Crowe does.

Ok, I'm already bored at this point and don't want to read any further. Sorry this just seems to be going in a predictable direction. And I just don't want to read anymore.

Me

Firstly, http://www.internetcampus.com/dram_flm.htm - Your comment about me being a director intstead of a screenwriter is incorrect. Click the link and read.

Secondly, have the common sense to not write a comment. If you didn't read the script, don't make a comment about it. I have no problem with a negative opinion but if you failed to read the entire script, you haven't earned the right to say something about it. I assume you're new to this so, in the future, read the script first. Thanks.

Should the reader have the right to an opinion if he didn't even read past the second page? I don't think so. Does the reader have the right to discuss what he or she feels about the scirpt? Yes. But the person above made an assumption about the screenplay going into a perdictable direction and not to sound like a third grade teacher, but don't judge book by it's cover. Regardless whether or not the script actually heads in the direction that they predicted, he or she did not make the effort to find out and therefore, should simply move on. Let's say the script DID move in the predictable direction, the person still has no right to say so if they didn't actually read it. Had they done so, it'd be a different situation.

It's exactly like walking out of a movie. It starts off bad but it could always pick up at the end. The person who walked out wouldn't be aware if it improved unless he or she actually stayed to find out. No one is going to listen to you (rightfully so) if you only watched the first five minutes and then walked out. I don't think the person should make an opinion about it unless they ACTUALLY read the screenplay. Period.

Quoted from DirectorG13 I don't think the person should make an opinion about it unless they ACTUALLY read the screenplay. Period.

I meant for you to read through the thread.  There are a number of different opinions there you should consider before declaring "period", as you have done.

He told you that he lost interest.  He told you why, and he told you exactly where.

He is letting you know that you lost him right away.

It is not happy, puppy-dog feedback, but it is feedback.  Not everybody ends their review with "Great job!!" or "Good show!!"

Read the thread.

Quoted from DirectorG13 If you didn't read the script, don't make a comment about it. I have no problem with a negative opinion but if you failed to read the entire script, you haven't earned the right to say something about it. I assume you're new to this so, in the future, read the script first. Thanks.

Then let me ask you a question, would you rather have the reviewer read a portion of your script, put it down and never tell you why he didn't finish it?

What good does that do you? How does your script evolve from that? This guy told you why he didn't finish it and which scene that was the last drop. Go with that. You can either agree with it or not - and lets face it, it is only one mans opinion, but take from it what you can.

Quoted from DirectorG13 Firstly, http://www.internetcampus.com/dram_flm.htm - Your comment about me being a director intstead of a screenwriter is incorrect. Click the link and read.

It's obvious to me that he was refering to the technical terms you're using in your script such as CU, CUT TO:, DISSOLVE TO: etc. They belong in shooting scripts not spec scripts, and if you're not planning on directing this then you should lose them.

Rob

I'm all for brutal honesty.

Tell me something is awful, and I will change it.  It's helps if the review is specific, but even pointing out an element, will have me check it out.  Someone mentioned all my characters sound a like, so I'm checking into it.  I never defined differences in speech, so I'm working on that piece.

And we are not all going to agree about what is acceptable in a screenplay.  I put character thoughts in my action sequences.  A lot of folks disagree with my approach.  But I can point out several screenplays that do this, so I will acknowledge the reviewer for pointing it out to me.  They took the time out to read it, so I should at least acknowledge what they have to say.

Someone mentioned that folks shouldn't review a screenplay unless they have read the whole thing.  I strongly disagree.  I have walked out mid-way through both movies and plays.  If I am not enjoying myself, why continue the suffering?  But I will say where you lost me.

Eventually, no matter how much feedback you receive, if you don't change anything, and if you don't ever query agents for interest, then you're just wasting peoples time.  Of course, we cannot query agents right now, so we can only prepare query letters for when the strike ends.  And we can write a whole bunch of stuff.

tweak

I'm for both honestly.  I am very honest and I always say what is bad and what is good when I review screenplays here.  But I never just straight up say, "Hey a**hole, your script blows."  I mean I'm brutally honest, but at the same time, I implement not being really offensive in doing so.  Like saying a line is too cheesy, or a character is straight up boring or anything like that.

Because ultimately you're not helping anyone out if you are always trying to sugar coat critique.  And I also feel that critique should always be taken to heart, unless you have a valid reason to overlook specific changes suggested.  I'm a strong guy, I can take critique.  I can have a screenplay completely crapped down on, but I'm glad people take the time to give me feedback because I can always work on it more and more until people like it.  Honesty is what makes us work harder.  If people say this part sucks BIG TIME, you work extra hard to show them you can do better.

But if you're someone who won't listen to change, then you're wasting yours and everyone elses time.  Because their opinions are what should matter the most, why?  Simple, amateurs write for themselves, but professionals write for everyone else.  Their feedback is the gold that will make a screenplay better.  Soft touch just doesn't work ultimately.  You should be as brutally honest as you can be, but I just like to be brutally honest without being rude or offensive.

I posted a draft of my script "The Blank Wall" here.

Most of the commentary I got back was useful, but one person gave it a bit extra by being snarky.

Now, I shouldn't let one person ruin the party, but I've seen this all too often on the Internet.

Perhaps this apporach is more available to people because on the Internet, you don't have to give a damn about the person on the other side of the screen.

Whatever the reason, I don't like it and I have a right to say I don't like it. If there's gonna be that "art school" reasoning that tough love gets you places, that's not gonna happen with me.

It's cute on House, but that's not reality.

Check out the review by Alan of my short Savage Frontier.
http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1151936716/s-45/

I'm not that sensitive, so to me it's actually funny. When I went to rewrite it though, I did try to make the script less "cold" and I did appreciate him reading it even though he hated it.

Quoted from matthewmilam I posted a draft of my script "The Blank Wall" here. Most of the commentary I got back was useful, but one person gave it a bit extra by being snarky. Now, I shouldn't let one person ruin the party, but I've seen this all too often on the Internet. Perhaps this apporach is more available to people because on the Internet, you don't have to give a damn about the person on the other side of the screen. Whatever the reason, I don't like it and I have a right to say I don't like it. If there's gonna be that "art school" reasoning that tough love gets you places, that's not gonna happen with me. It's cute on House, but that's not reality.

I'd say that people should butt out of threads if they haven't read the script. Script threads are for comments on the scripts and not the writer.

If people have a problem with the writer, use your pm or report the thread. It doesn't solve anything by posting and it actually causes more trouble than it's worth.

Quoted Text Check out the review by Alan of my short Savage Frontier. http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1151936716/s-45/ I'm not that sensitive, so to me it's actually funny. When I went to rewrite it though, I did try to make the script less "cold" and I did appreciate him reading it even though he hated it.

The Alan in question will review based on his mood. If he is happy and wants something you will get a good review and if he is mad at you and doesn't want anything he will give a bad review.

This is the same guy who thinks Don banned him because of jealousy but before being banned loved Don so come to your own conclusions on that.

Just my opinion though.

Quoted from Old Time Wesley The Alan in question will review based on his mood. If he is happy and wants something you will get a good review and if he is mad at you and doesn't want anything he will give a bad review.

Alan is also the POS who wrote the following nuggets to after after I told him that Banana Chan wasn't that good:

Quoted Text You see no story?  Are you blind?!  The cat can freakin' talk!  She loves a guy named James, while this guy named Ryone looms in her past!  A kid called her "grannie!"

and

Quoted Text The first twenty episodes of Banana Chan tell the most epic tragedy about unrequited love which anyone has ever written in the history of literature.  You sir are an idiot.

And this was actually after a 'soft touch' review.


Phil

if you think my script is sh!t - then tell me its sh!t...

but you better back up that criticism and tell me WHY ... and HOW i can improve it... or i'll just flat out ignore you