I am a current student USC and I would like to tell aspiring writers/directors/editors etc, do not listen to people on this site. Yes some of them may give you advice but after seeing some of the advice given and other things, I had no choice but to sign up and encourage people not to follow some of these people on here.

From what I can tell, some of these people do not have agents, which you need, and should only get one from the WGA list.

They also give you wrong information, and say it's 'constructive criticism'. I don't think you should take criticism from people who were on this board since 2004 and did not make it. They also tell you your scripts are so bad, yet I read some of theirs, and I have one word for it, 'horrific.'

And lastly, for aspiring screenwriters, you don't need to go to film school, you can teach yourself, move to this area, get contacts, it's easy once you try. Be persistent, not everyone started out at the top.

Did they teach you to type in all upper case at film school?  Go the fuck away.


Phil (really bad mood today)

lol no my friend, I typed like that because I wanted to. You could curse and say what you want, once i got my point across, I am not going to get in petty arguments with anybody.

Hah -- I would delete this -- but then ol' gbrate might think I have some kind of ulterior motive for suppressing his message.

Quite the quandary.

And what exactly are your qualifications, gbrate, that make you so eminently knowledgeable?

Who are you, and what did Balt do to you?

Did they teach you to use run-on sentences and poor punctuation?

There are many produced writers on this site who were produced because filmmakers found their scripts here.  Why should anyone believe A CURRENT STUDENT USC who pop in here and denounces the site?

Now, go the fuck away.


Phil

So gbrate has already taken his toys and gone home -- account deactivated.

My guess is that he was a OWC parasite that got his script slammed haha.

Anyways, kind of a dick -- but now he is gone.

Gbrate, we hardly knew ye.

I will delete this later today -- but will let it linger for a bit as a curiosity.

Nothing like a nice visit from a troll to brighten your day.

Keep his e-mail address. You might be able to match it up on a OWC script cover page.


Phil

Gbrate

I find your VIEWS informative, witty, bold and interesting and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. Where can I sign up for daily rants, diatribes and other worthy point of views/humble opinions?

Your biggest fan.

Col.

Less than twenty minutes from first post to account deactivation...a new record?

Quoted from bert Nothing like a nice visit from a troll to brighten your day.

You may have all already seen this, but I think this video may be appropriate:

Quoted from gbrate FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE AGENTS

Some?

I do have an agent. Rob is my agent. Rob can make calls and bang his secretary at the same time. I'm blessed.

I'm curious as to how he could tell that. Based on his comments, I would also agree that his script got slammed and he was grumpy about it. I would also guess he hasn't read very many of the scripts around here since there are a lot of very good ones that just haven't been noticed. Some don't have agents, not because they can't, but because the agents won't pay attention.

Personally, I think gbrates got an interesting point.  Seems strange that out of all the screenwriters on this site, not one has hit the big time as far as I can tell.

It kind of amazes me, as there are some excellent scripts on this site.   After all these years somebody should've made it by now.

I plan to be the first.  Look out Hollywood, here I come.

I've said before why I haven't gotten anywhere. I've written query after query, and just get no response. This means that my query showed what I have isn't right for that company, isn't right for the current market, wasn't written in a way that's marketable, isn't marketable at all, or didn't strike that producer's fancy. I've never had a producer ask me for a script, so I couldn't evaluate the quality of my actual writing from their perspective.

Once I have money to burn, I should hit some contests.

Quoted from George Willson I've said before why I haven't gotten anywhere. I've written query after query, and just get no response. This means that my query showed what I have isn't right for that company, isn't right for the current market, wasn't written in a way that's marketable, isn't marketable at all, or didn't strike that producer's fancy. I've never had a producer ask me for a script, so I couldn't evaluate the quality of my actual writing from their perspective. Once I have money to burn, I should hit some contests.

I really liked your silent short film...can't remember what it was...but in the end the guy vanishes on the beach.  Profound, powerful.  

Quoted from screenrider I really liked your silent short film...can't remember what it was...but in the end the guy vanishes on the beach.  Profound, powerful.

Not sure that was mine. I can't remember writing one like that, though I've forgotten stranger things...

That's weird.  I could've sworn it was yours.  I looked over your IMDB, can't find it.
Where's all your short films?

I've only made the two films listed on imdb.

Although it's true -- as far as I know -- that no-one from Simply has had major success in the mainstream, I am fairly certain that in my time I've seen a number of people have features optioned and even made.  A lot of the time these people quietly slip away rather than making big announcements.

As to why no-one has made it "big" -- been to the theatre lately?  Hollywood studios are not currently interested in good filmmaking, only in re-employing people (and ideas) that they have good, long-standing relationships with.

That said, if there are scripts on this site that deserve to be major Hollywood productions, I've yet to come across them.  Produced, certainly.  Wide opening?  I don't think so.  Hopefully in my renewed reading efforts I will be proven wrong!

Cool story, bro.

I agree Heretic.

I also think the OP is correct about moving to LA and networking...said it myself before. It's the Nexus of filmmaking, so it makes sense that it would be considerably easier to "make it" there as a screenwriter than from the outside in. That's not the route I want to follow just now, but it's clearly the most "obvious" route.

Some wise words from Yoda:

"Try, there is no try! Try and you will always fail. Either do, or do not do".

Success is a conscious decision.

Quoted from Heretic If there are scripts on this site that deserve to be major Hollywood productions, I've yet to come across them.  Produced, certainly.  Wide opening?  I don't think so.  Hopefully in my renewed reading efforts I will be proven wrong!

This one's a diamond in the rough.  Very well written, IMO.  It'd make for a fun film.
  
http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-action/m-1218476099/s-new/

This thread makes me laugh.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I agree Heretic. I also think the OP is correct about moving to LA and networking...said it myself before. It's the Nexus of filmmaking, so it makes sense that it would be considerably easier to "make it" there as a screenwriter than from the outside in. That's not the route I want to follow just now, but it's clearly the most "obvious" route.

What about New York?  Or Bollywood? Or any other major city in the world?

It wouldn't be easier getting ahead in Hollywood because everyone is heads out there to make it big.  Every chucklehead with a script or a camera is out there.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Some wise words from Yoda: "Try, there is no try! Try and you will always fail. Either do, or do not do".

Yoda can suck it.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe What about New York?  Or Bollywood? Or any other major city in the world? It wouldn't be easier getting ahead in Hollywood because everyone is heads out there to make it big.  Every chucklehead with a script or a camera is out there. Yoda can suck it. Phil

New York is a good shout definitely. You've got no excuse really.

The thing about LA is that you walk in a bar and someone who can make you overnight is sat there. Just sat there. It's unlike anywhere else.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films The thing about LA is that you walk in a bar and someone who can make you overnight is sat there. Just sat there. It's unlike anywhere else.

Sits there. Just sits there.  

Oh boy, I've got this strange feeling I know who this gbrate may be.  I had a run-in with a guy yesterday and he was really pissed off about a review I gave his script, which was downright horrendous!

Quoted from Heretic That said, if there are scripts on this site that deserve to be major Hollywood productions, I've yet to come across them.   Produced, certainly.  Wide opening?  I don't think so.  Now this is a topic to either fish or cut bait.   Hopefully in my renewed reading efforts I will be proven wrong!  No doubt about that.

Ghostwriter

Quoted from Dreamscale Oh boy, I've got this strange feeling I know who this gbrate may be.  I had a run-in with a guy yesterday and he was really pissed off about a review I gave his script, which was downright horrendous!

Which one was it?


Phil

Gbrate,

I can honestly tell you that you will get what you put into it. Here, school, anywhere you go on the planet.

Slamming people here because you took offense, or God only knows the reason, is not smart.

I've written some pieces of crap on this site, but I've learned a helluva lot by doing so. I use my  own methods and I also incorporate other people's methods and enjoy learning here. I learn from the old timers, I learn from the young people and that to me is priceless.

Ah well, you'll learn. We all do.

Sandra

Quoted from gbrate And lastly, for aspiring screenwriters, you don't need to go to film school, you can teach yourself, move to this area, get contacts, it's easy once you try.

Really? That's all I needs ta do? Move to L.A. and get contacts? What if I don't wear glasses?

If it's so easy, then damn! I'm gonna take the next Greyhound out of Dodge! Tinseltown is sure to be waiting for me with open arms! I hardly wait to waltz into the big lobby at William & Morris to let them know they can represent me! How cool is that? Very!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4iTyHItFwg

LOL! Wow, this place has trolls?!

That was like being all:

"HEY YEW GUYZ LISTEN U DONT KNOW SH*T CAUSE IM OBVIOUSLY BETTER THAN YEW LOLOLOLOL INTERWEBS SRS BISNESS!"


Listen. I demand more from this guy.

----

I mean, we all start with a beginning. We start off with no experience what-so-ever, and coming on here improves that. In fact, it just doesn't improve yourself but it also gives you an idea of what it, screenwriting, is actually like.

Most of us members here at Simply either does this as a hobby or they actually WANT to be come a screenwriter - either way, it's about Professionals helping the beginners. It's about those who have an idea and dont know how to word it or put it in a screenplay, and others chipping in and helping (major infulence here is OWC).

End of the day, we try. And isn't trying better than nothing?

-Scription!

Most good movies, not all mind you, seem to be written and directed by one person. The others are adapted from novelists. Which makes a screenplay writer a construction worker, basically the initial director. Which some do well. Very rarely does a good film fall outside this formula IMO.

After watching "End of the Tour". by Rick and Pia, I've got to admit, lest I'm ready to pick up the camera myself, maybe even move to L.A., It doesn't seem to promising as a screenwriter anymore.

I know there's other sites like this out there, but I'd love to know how many of their members made it big.

I like to write, read in this format. Think we're all fooling ourselves a bit unless we're completely dedicated to making film. I'm just too fucking lazy.

Hey James,

Why did watching EOTT discourage you? That's not good.

There are more opportunities than ever before in history to get your stories on screen. You can reach an audience of millions from where you're sat now...you don't even need to leave the house.

Making it "big", I presume means making it in Hollywood. It's a finite group of people and films, difficult to break in just in terms of sheer percentages alone. If that's absolutely what you want, it makes sense to move out there, network like hell, constantly work on your scripts, constantly pitch until you get your foot in the door.

But you don't to be Spielberg to make a film and make a success of yourself in relative terms.

Have you seen this film?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876294/

Probably not. I've mentioned it on here before though. Two Brits made it, cost £20,000...not a lot of money. It's grossed over 1 million. They self-distributed it at first and it got popluar enough that Dimension bought it and gave it a wider release.

It's crap. Terrible. The acting is appalling, it's badly shot. The make up is pretty good. It's just 28 days later but shot as a documentary.

With a bit of graft though they found a sizeable audience.

The opportunities are there now to be made.

There's lots of ways to define successful and I'm sure it means different things to all of us who responded to this thread. There's money "he made a million selling his screenplay".  There's critical acclaim "His screenplay won the XXX award.".  There's quantity "He written 200 episodes of various television shows".   And everyone of the people who have gotten there have gotten there different ways.

Anyone who thinks there's one way, a right way, is naive.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films The opportunities are there now to be made.

In my world, "opportunities" mean the negative forces that create havoc in your life and "force" you to grow as a person. That's why they call them "forces".

Could that be the reason why "opposition" and "opportunities" are similar?  

It's a love/hate relationship that keeps us working. That's why we're all here in this great big stew. Cooking away.

Sandra

Ah, "making it".  We seem to revisit this conversation quite often.

Just do what makes you happy.  And if that doesn't pay the bills, find a job that lets you do what makes you happy on the side.  

Rick's right though.  There are opportunities a'plenty.  Especially today.  My friend made a zombie movie for $5,000 that managed to secure nationwide distribution in Blockbusters, Netflix, Redbox, etc.  There's so many platforms to get your work out there, and there's a lot of hungry filmmakers looking for good, low budget scripts.

Matt, give your buddy a plug here so we can check out the flick.  What's the movie's title?

Quoted from Dreamscale Matt, give your buddy a plug here so we can check out the flick.  What's the movie's title?

http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Apocalypse-FREE-comic-Special/dp/B002SLD27C

Apparently he's starting pre-production on the sequel this summer.

I think the best part about this thread is that some whiner started it and we've already forgotten what he's said.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Why did watching EOTT discourage you? That's not good.

Definitely did not discourage. Rather inspired. If I'm serious, I need to find people like me around here. Serious about making film. Instead, I just feel like that common douche bag who sits in a coffee shop with his laptop all day, telling everyone he's writing the best screenplay ever. We all know those douche bags...

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films There are more opportunities than ever before in history to get your stories on screen. You can reach an audience of millions from where you're sat now...you don't even need to leave the house.

What's with you and the past tense of sit... sat?

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Making it "big", I presume means making it in Hollywood.

I'll admit, bit of a sucker for entourage and the lives they lead. Of course they're not screen writers, But to immortalize my name on a great piece of work? Would be my life's goal.

Never saw that film you posted. Have to check it out now. Always appreciate your advice Rick. Think you're a great director. If I ever come up with a bunch of dough I'd be happy to pay you proper to direct one of mine. Til then, keep working. And good luck. I'll be watching.

Quoted from jwent6688 What's with you and the past tense of sit... sat?

That is just correct British grammar.

Quoted from Heretic Although it's true -- as far as I know -- that no-one from Simply has had major success in the mainstream, I am fairly certain that in my time I've seen a number of people have features optioned and even made.  A lot of the time these people quietly slip away rather than making big announcements. As to why no-one has made it "big" -- been to the theatre lately?  Hollywood studios are not currently interested in good filmmaking, only in re-employing people (and ideas) that they have good, long-standing relationships with. That said, if there are scripts on this site that deserve to be major Hollywood productions, I've yet to come across them.  Produced, certainly.  Wide opening?  I don't think so.  Hopefully in my renewed reading efforts I will be proven wrong!

Didn't AmericanPsycho leave the boards because he'd had some kind of mainstream success or was at least in an immediate position to do so? I remember him writing some kind of farewell thread on the subject.

is he the guy who sold the Green Lantern script?

Or is that another one?