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Thanks Anthony, you have probably gathered that I am confident in the story I am writing, I think it is amazing and others who have read it have been totally blown away by it. I have a sick mind and it roams !!!
I went to sleep last night thinking about this thread and because I am 12 hours or so ahead of most of you, I woke up this morning to find you have all been busy while I slept. Thanks for all your comment, you guys are tops !!!!!
Thanks for all the posts, wont name you all individually as these responses are way too long already.
Together with all the realistic comments, positive comments and negativity, I really feel like you guys have been there before. Kicked in the guts a few times, then gotten back up again, though some may never recover and I feel for those who are disheartened at the difficulty faced in this industry. I am the type of person who sets a goal and pushes, pushes and pushes to reach that goal, I really focus on what I want to achieve and go at it like a bull in a china shop, (A sensitive bull that is).
I really feel that 90% of any good screenplay is having a brilliant story, and even if there are a few slight errors, a great story will sell itself. I have read many amazing screenplays on SS and found some of the writers have amazing writing skills and the screenplay are an honor to read, THOUGH, many times it the stories that are a let down. I feel that a gifted screenwriter is a person who has amazing ideas and can create the film in their head before putting it to paper, the writing talent comes along later.
All you regular guys are great and one thing I have noticed on SS and have decided to change my ways, is that a person puts his heart and soul into writing a screenplay and the only people who comment are those who try to show that they have great knowledge at finding these peoples mistakes, that is great though I feel for the writers and have decided that I will tell them what they need to work on, though also give them encouragement. These guys enjoy writing and need to be praised. Seriously, the formatting may be crap, the screenplay may be overly discriptive or too wordy, The storyline may be incomplete or lacking though what ever happened to giving a bit of praise. I will from now on, always tell them what they need to work on, as well as praising them for making an effort and getting off their arse's to write a story and tell them if i really did enjoy any part of it. I am fedup with the comment of posters saying I dont have much to add here, or it just didn't do it for me, why not say I read your story and it is a blast, once you fix it up it will be great !! etc etc.
I am not saying for any of you to lie, just say what you liked about it and less of the negativity. Encourage up and coming writers .
I don't want too teach you guys, how to suck eggs, though we where all in there position at one time or another (I still may be), so think how they must feel when they get ripped to shreds. Be nice and maybe you will encourage someone to move forward and make a career of screenwriting, instead of quiting because they where told their first screenplay sucked.
Don't take any of this the wrong way, I love you guys and think we could all do so much better.
You've got some real passion for screenwriting and it appears to be taking over your life - sure the family are pleased!
Good on you for working hard and getting some shorts under your belt. I know this feature is important to you, I remember you telling me about it a long time ago when we first spoke and you had high hopes for it then.
I hope you and your SS co-writer (that's a mystery in it self, who is it?) all the luck with it but remember not to get to down if it doesn't go as planned. Getting shorts produced is one thing - a feature is a different kettle of fish and the chances of selling one, especially your first is slim to none.
But I do admire your enthusiasm and aspiration for this feature and look forward to taking a peek if you intend to post it on SS? The way you're talking, I doubt it? If you ever do need a read - you know where I am.
Screenwriting is just a hobby for me. I don't get nearly enough time with work and family to be fully invested in it. Maybe one day when I'm able to come up with an excellent concept which is marketable and excites people, I'll throw some weight behind it. For now, I'll just keep learning and developing my story-telling skills... I have a long way to go.
Screenwriting and filmmaking is my thing. It's what gets me up in the morning. It's what gets me to bed at night. It's what drives me to check my email every day. It's what drives me to come to websites like SS to meet some awesome people with the exact same ambitions. That's what screenwriting is to me.
You've got some real passion for screenwriting and it appears to be taking over your life - sure the family are pleased!
Thanks Steve, you guessed it !!! They're supportive of what I do though, when it effects what they want to do, then it becomes an issue. It one day may be the reason for me to justify my existance, something to be remembered for. Hoping.
I hope you and your SS co-writer (that's a mystery in it self, who is it?) all the luck with it but remember not to get to down if it doesn't go as planned. Getting shorts produced is one thing - a feature is a different kettle of fish and the chances of selling one, especially your first is slim to none.
The co-writer is an amazing person (Note I used the word "Person" not gender specific) and will go places due to his/her dedication to the art. He/she has inputed some great ideas and we are progressing things.
But I do admire your enthusiasm and aspiration for this feature and look forward to taking a peek if you intend to post it on SS? The way you're talking, I doubt it? If you ever do need a read - you know where I am.
Love to though not sure if it will make it to SS, though would be keen for some selected SS members to have a read at that time. I also have a talented and produced screenwriter in Perth who has been helping me with advice and she will probably give critical feedback later in the process.
Screenwriting is just a hobby for me. I don't get nearly enough time with work and family to be fully invested in it. Maybe one day when I'm able to come up with an excellent concept which is marketable and excites people, I'll throw some weight behind it. For now, I'll just keep learning and developing my story-telling skills... I have a long way to go.
Funny you mention this, I have a few treatments that I have written that are really incredible and all totally different genres. I am also excited to get these underway once the current feature draft is completed. If I could only quit work and do it without financial pressure. Hoping.
I agree and disagree with this. What we as writers think is an amazing story, may not be as amazing to filmmakers and vice versa. I have three features produced just this year. I don't consider any of them to be brilliant. However, the people producing them like them. All your script has to do is spark the imagination of the people that are looking for a film to produce...You'll soon find out that what you as a writer think isn't really that important in their eyes.
Thanks Pia,
Have to say, I always look at a screenplay from a film makers perspective. I worked in the cinema industry on a part time basis from around the age of 17 for around 15 years. I saw many great films and more importantly many crap ones as well, I know what works in a film and what doesn't, my scenes are always set up based on the audience being constantly sucked into the screen.
Never a dull moment and like a good piss, it has to flow well. Hee Hee, had to say that, Sorry.
All you regular guys are great and one thing I have noticed on SS and have decided to change my ways, is that a person puts his heart and soul into writing a screenplay and the only people who comment are those who try to show that they have great knowledge at finding these peoples mistakes, that is great though I feel for the writers and have decided that I will tell them what they need to work on, though also give them encouragement. These guys enjoy writing and need to be praised. Seriously, the formatting may be crap, the screenplay may be overly discriptive or too wordy, The storyline may be incomplete or lacking though what ever happened to giving a bit of praise. I will from now on, always tell them what they need to work on, as well as praising them for making an effort and getting off their arse's to write a story and tell them if i really did enjoy any part of it. I am fedup with the comment of posters saying I dont have much to add here, or it just didn't do it for me, why not say I read your story and it is a blast, once you fix it up it will be great !! etc etc.
I am not saying for any of you to lie, just say what you liked about it and less of the negativity. Encourage up and coming writers .
I don't want too teach you guys, how to suck eggs, though we where all in there position at one time or another (I still may be), so think how they must feel when they get ripped to shreds. Be nice and maybe you will encourage someone to move forward and make a career of screenwriting, instead of quiting because they where told their first screenplay sucked.
Don't take any of this the wrong way, I love you guys and think we could all do so much better.
Gone a bit off topic here sorry.
Alex
This is a different topic and I'm pretty sure it's been discussed many times before.
All reviewers are different and offer many types of feedback. Some will concentrate on grammar and punctuation, while some on structure, others on the technical aspects. That's actually a good thing IMO as it gives you so many opinions on different aspects of your script.
I agree with you about encouraging people but if a "supposed" great story is getting dragged down by bad formatting, overwriting, poor grammar etc and makes it a difficult read, I'm not going to continue and will offer my thoughts on what wasn't working for me. Sorry but that's just my way of thinking - others will differ like yourself.
All reviewers are different and offer many types of feedback. Some will concentrate on grammar and punctuation, while some on structure, others on the technical aspects. That's actually a good thing IMO as it gives you so many opinions on different aspects of your script.
I agree with you about encouraging people but if a "supposed" great story is getting dragged down by bad formatting, overwriting, poor grammar etc and makes it a difficult read, I'm not going to continue and will offer my thoughts on what wasn't working for me. Sorry but that's just my way of thinking - others will differ like yourself.
Thanks Steve,
I agree, some are hard to read, though the writer did take the initiative to write it even though they may know very little about screenwriting. They should be encouraged more. Even when a screenplay may be a great read, very few people post and mention that simply because they can't find many faults.
I find that if a screenplay is a hard read I will read the first page, give them comments and advise to use this as a rule throught the screenplay, thereafter letting them also know what I did like about it just to put some positive reinforcement in. If a writer gets a 20 page summary of everything they did wrong, they may decide they suck at it and then quit.
Sorry though that is my opinion and I feel this way more people would be encourage to stick with SS and keep at it.
Even when a screenplay may be a great read, very few people post and mention that simply because they can't find many faults.
Not true, mate. Normally it's because the author isn't a contributing member or nobody recognises them. There is nothing worse then spending time leaving feedback for someone, whether it be many faults or just plain encouragement if that comment is falling on deaf ears. Wouldn't you agree?