That feels like a legitimate question right now: How serious are you about getting into the film industry?

Are you here to learn about film screenwriting - to improve, and expand your writing? Are you here to pass some time, and learn a little? Do you see SS as a time killer? Do you truly believe you can get working in the industry? I am here to learn, and would love to build substantial contacts to get working - sure, it's going to be very hard, - but what's the point otherwise.

There are so many more pertinent Qs, but the core is: Has SS lost its abilities to teach /bring the best writing out of people?

Reading through a lot of the threads and the ability - or not - to take others' views has left me a little jaded of late. We have debates about how worthwhile shorts or features are, and it seems a lot of the point has been missed: we're here to learn and share, no? Everybody has something to bring to the table, I think.

It just feels like a lot of the learning is being sidetracked by 'other stuff', and it feels a great shame, 'cos surely the reason this community exists is down to a desire to get working in the industry?

On the other hand, the OWC is a great opportunity to get this show back on the road.

Curious what others think.

Andrew

Very serious.

Mind you I used to want to be an astronaut.

There there was that rock star thing.

Oh dear, I see a pattern emerging.

The tools are here to learn if you want to find them, Andrew.

However, I don't think the boards are a single-faceted community with one goal in mind.  You shouldn't expect everyone to be heading in the same direction you are, though you are likely to find a number of people that are.

I'm curious as to exactly what you think this "other stuff sidetracking people" is?  Perhaps you don't understand its purpose.

There's no doubt that the tools are there, Michael, it's more a question of whether they are being used. There have been a number of calls/suggestions for a more focused forum, and I am of the opinion it would be beneficial.

Secondly, there is no suggestion from me that we should be united in a single goal. My own goals do not need to be closely aligned to others, and this thread isn't an attempt to suggest my own are better in any way.

Quoted from mcornetto Perhaps you don't understand its purpose.

That's just unnecessarily patronising. However, that's fine 'cos I do not wish to get into a debate, but merely discuss what's on my mind in a civil manner. Btw, just to avoid confusion - I am not suggesting you are any different.

In terms of the "sidetracking", a lot of energy seems to be expended on issues that do not progress writing abilities - do you not agree? Maybe that's good for camaraderie, etc. I'm not making statements, but posing questions.

Now, I am not trying to govern, or to patronise others' motives for being here; but to gain an insight into why people are here - simple as that.

Andrew

I'm a bit confused by this as well, Andrew.  What exactly is your point here?

I am defintely here to learn, as well as to help.  I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned since I first found this site.  It's literally shocking, looking back.  I can point out a number of people who have helped me immensely and 1 is Michael Cornetto, for sure.

I feel this site is literally a Godsend, and I can't thank Don or the "Core Members" enough.

Please explain what you're talking about here.

I know what you are talking about, Andrew.  I am getting a little pissed off, too, about a few specific items.  But they eventually go away and people move on to something else -- sometimes productive, sometimes no -- but it is all part of the ebb and flow of the boards.

It happens on any forum, particularly one that is growing.

As you correctly noted, there are any number of reasons that people find themselves here, and they are not all congruent.

Part of this recent silliness I attribute to Don's huge, recent download of backed up scripts.  After so much time without much fresh material, people are geared to comment on darn near anything, and that is what they are doing.

It will pass.  There have been periods of upheaval in the past that would really make your head spin, had you been around.

And as far as the boards go, no matter what is going on, even if it is frustrating, it is seldom dull.

I'm just as serious about making it into the "BIZ" as I am about winning powerball... I just spend more on winning powerball than I do with writing.

Jokes aside... To me, I write great stories that I would go see and hope you'd go see. If they sell or make it big or someone wants to turn my ideas into moving pictures, by all means I welcome it with open arms.  

I just don't go to bed at night tap dancing or entertaining the thought or notion of me selling a script for a million or two. I know how good my content is... Does everyone else? I dunno... Maybe they should start to read my work and realize how good it really is.  < end the shameless plug.  And I am shameless.

Quoted from Dreamscale I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned since I first found this site.

I could say the same. And thanks to everyone here (especially Don - and God knows I'm not a brown nose) I improved my style after sevreal years. I think Bert could be here to testify. Thanks to SS, I'm beginning to put one foot into film industry, and woah, I love it!

Michel

I'm very, very, very serious. I'm still working on the feature I'm gonna use for my first film. But, I'm not waiting for some f***ing studio to except my work. As soon as I get out of my acting and editing courses, me, my bro and my friends are taking the fifty grand my  uncle left me to go film the thing. I'm taking it into my own hands. Hopefully it's a makes it big.

But then again, I still have some stuff to learn before I write a great story. That's one of the reasons I'm hear.

Quoted from mcornetto I'm curious as to exactly what you think this "other stuff sidetracking people" is?  Perhaps you don't understand its purpose.

If you think Andrew's taking a swipe at the Collaborative Exercises, Michael, then I'm going to stick my neck out and state that I don't think he is...

I value this site and its members very highly - it's thanks to you people that I actually attempted to start writing in a form I never had before, the 'screenplay', and now it's something I'm seriously looking at pursuing as a career (which I think should answer your 'how serious' question). But I too have felt things have been slightly different over the last month or so. Can't put my finger on why...there are also some newer members who I think have stirred things up slightly; when the author of 'The Vampire Revolution', diasaa (I think), stated that this forum had a reputation for being full of assholes, that stunned me a little.

But then again, I haven't been a member a year yet, so maybe these things are just cylical. I'm not going anywhere - this site, as I've said, is a central part of something of growing importance in my life - but I agree that the OWC may be a chance to...refocus, if you like. Then again, my frustration may be down to the fact that I haven't completed any original scripts for months now! I am truly in a writing rut...

While it would be awesome to "make it" into the "industry", I don't really hold out hope for that.  But that doesn't mean I don't try my hardest when it comes to my writing.  When it comes down to it, I don't care if my stuff gets made by someone fresh out of film school or a studio: I just want people to see it and hopefully enjoy it.

Aside from that, I come to SS not only to exchange script reviews (which is almost always rewarding), but I don't mind holding discussions with my fellow writers either.  It's actually really great to feel like part of a community, and sometimes you achieve that feeling by talking about things other than screenwriting.  I know it sounds cheesy, but there are people I feel like I really know here.  Not that I could tell you about their personal backgrounds, per se, but I know how they'll usually act/what they'll say, like I would any other acquaintance I'm familiar with.

So while we might get "off track" at one point or another, I don't really mind.  Because at the end of the day, this site really is about the writing, and I'm confident it will stay that way.

I'm pretty damn serious about breaking into the industry and I know a lot of other people here are too. In regards to people getting sidetracked, all I have to say is this is a message board. People aren't going to be focused on writing all the time. All that matters is how serious you are. You don't have to be sidetracked if you don't want to and in any case, there are always people here willing to help out other writers with their work. This site is absolutely golden in that regard. I think a good chunk of what I've learned about screenwriting, I've learned here. The same goes for me now having one foot in the industry door. No worries about what everyone else is doing. This site can always be a benefit so long as you allow it to be.

First off, Andrew, thanks for starting this thread.

I don't think that a person should think Simplyscripts or anyone/anyplace in particular holds the golden ticket to success.

We've been around this block of "Why do you write?" before.

My own personal opinion is that everyone writes for a variety of reasons. Same as any kind of art I think. Indeed, some people are deadly serious. So serious it hurts. Many of us probably have the perfectionist thing going on and that might be part of it.

Myself, I'm very serious about writing, but I also believe that the journey is, as they say, more important than the destination.

I often think: What good would it be for me to just be in the la-la land of solid screenwriting without the hard and long work that goes into it? This is the time to care about. Not some dreamy future. It might happen; it might not. The point is the work. Just the work and the attitude. That goes for everything; not just screenwriting.

IMHO, I think Simplyscripts is an excellent force that keeps us connected and provides us with tremendous opportunities. Just look at some of the talent around this place. Who wouldn't want to be around a group like this?!

Even if I struggle to raise the bar of my own writing and come up short, at least I'm around some real winners with a positive desire to give it all they got. There's an energy here that I feel and you can't put a price on something like that and yet-- it's free!!!

Just work. Don't worry about it is my advice. Just work everyday.

Sandra

Quoted from JonnyBoy If you think Andrew's taking a swipe at the Collaborative Exercises, Michael, then I'm going to stick my neck out and state that I don't think he is...

Definitely not attacking those exercises. While I do not participate myself, it would be foolish to not see the positive nature of them. They clearly are the type of thing that is great to see on the site. In short: I'm behind that type of activity 100%.

Oh, and this site has been responsible for 95% of what I - think(!) - know about screenwriting, and if I do get to work in the industry, then I'll be plugging this great website day in, day out.

Andrew

Quoted from rendevous Very serious. Mind you I used to want to be an astronaut. There there was that rock star thing. Oh dear, I see a pattern emerging.

You are making me laugh!!! Thanks!  

Sandra