Quoted from nawazm11 Yep, received it in the newsletter. ...

Well, this is very disappointing.  

Carson's been known to come back to a couple of the nominated scripts further down the line though, especially if more than one has received good feedback, so I'm hoping this is what will occur. Cross your fingers.

Sorry to hear that Shawn! well done for putting it out there.

Best of luck breanne and Janet

I didn't subscribe to that one yet - need to do that.

Left a review yesterday for a couple but I guess I was too late with my vote.

I'm also surprised that not many favorited Arab in America. That would be my second pick - it's very imaginative and funny.

Got the newsletter this morning and I scrolled down to Friday and wasn't too happy either. Really thought Shawn's script was getting some pretty good love. Comments by Scriptshadow 'regulars' and stuff. Damn. But he does often use a second favorite a week later...so not giving up on it yet.

Janet's script is up next week...good luck, J!

That's 5 weeks in a row a simplyscripts person was in the mix.

Genuinely shocked that Shawn got overlooked this week.
I couldn't get past page eight of Gravity Kills.
*IF* GK turns out to be a stinker, don't be surprised if he gives Shawn a try.
It's happened before. And Shawn deserves it. Sorry, pal.
Honestly thought you had more votes than TDJ did.

I looked at this week's AOW and saw that thriller and said to myself...
This is a script BREANNE would write!
Great to see you and Janet keeping the Simply Script streak alive!
Give 'em both barrels, ladies!

Regards,
Brett

Oops, Breanne too! Didn't notice. Good luck Breanne.

I read Carsons review of TDJ - unless the draft submitted has changed dramatically from the time I read it, it was like he was reviewing a completely different script to the one I read . . .

Eoin -

Thanks.  I completely 100% agree with you.  While I know that Scriptshadow can be arbitrary at times, that's *just not* a fair review on the Devil's Jokebook.  And no - the script hadn't changed from what you've read...Phil has the simplyscripts version linked to DropBox, so it updates all the time.  And the tweaks were very nice polishings on the script...but nothing structurally different.  Frustrating.

Oh - and I'm just hearing about Stream.  Hooobbboy, here we go!  

Stream (IMHO), is a solid, pensive hard SF script.  But I doubt it'll appeal to the blockbuster crowd!!!  

Quoted from wonkavite Oh - and I'm just hearing about Stream.  Hooobbboy, here we go!   Stream (IMHO), is a solid, pensive hard SF script.  But I doubt it'll appeal to the blockbuster crowd!!!

What does that even mean "pensive hard SF script"? Clueless over here LOL

Anyway BEST of LUCK to both Janet and Breanne! You girls rock the house!

Thanks everyone for the kind words.  

Pound for pound on the reviews, it did seem I was in the running.

Begs the question how the picking process is actually done...

What I found fascinating was how many people who didn't even know me read / reviewed and gave me great marks.

That leads me to my next question--

Who are you over there? Pen names that is. I'm pretty sure Zadora is Pia...

And I think khamanna is khamanna.  

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Breanne and Janet on the next rounds of entries.  

Best of luck ladies.

Shawn.....><

Quoted from Pale Yellow What does that even mean "pensive hard SF script"? Clueless over here LOL Anyway BEST of LUCK to both Janet and Breanne! You girls rock the house!

Hey Dena,

Thanks!  Which one's Breanne's?  I'll root for it too.  (Along with Stream...)

Hmmm... translation of pensive hard SF script.  Well, classic Science Fiction (short stories, novels, etc) tend to focus on actual science, and a serious look at "what if?"  (For instance, Asimov's I Robot Series, which discussed such things as what would be the rules of robotics, how would they play out, and at what point would a robot deserve rights?)  In addition, classic SF usually uses that to touch on underlying human issues (racism, social issues, death and dying, etc.)

Stream is very strongly in that vein, and *WOULD NOT* appeal to people who like giant rampaging robots, star battles, etc (even though I've written stuff like that before.)  It's a very introspective piece that looks at "what if the soul survives the death of the body" on the hard science side - and addresses themes of ageism, isolation and the grieving process on the human one.  Very people/character oriented.  So I imagine that alot of people might find that too... sedate for them.  Which isn't to denigrate Stream at all; just to say that it's pitched for a very specific audience.  As much a drama as it is SF...  

Shawn really disappointed for you right now. You're gonna hate me for what I'm about to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Because I like you and want you to succeed!

Citizen M is a well respected commentator over on Scriptshadow. His initial comments about WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU  - until he scratched them out that is, were:

"If the standard of the first 25 pages is maintained, it will be a top 25 script for sure."

Coming from him, that's huge! As you're new to Scriptshadow, I don't think you realize just how huge! The guy has an excellent eye for spotting talent! Check out his review of WHERE ANGELS DIE from the 8th June 2013 Amateur Offerings Weekend to see what I mean. His comment: "Probably the best amateur script I've ever read on the site" helped get the script chosen for Amateur Friday.

Needless to say, Carson raved about it. The script got huge traction and landed  the writer a top manager, Brooklyn Weaver from Energy Entertainment no less!

For Citizen M to say WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU "will be a top 25 script for sure" means that the script has something special! So why did he change his mind? Bearing in mind that he did this without reading the rest of the script -

Because unfortunately what you yourself describe as the genre bender aspect of the script kills it imo.

I alluded to this when I gave you notes on the script back in August. I think I said something like: "From the midpoint it's like watching a different movie."

I didn't say it at the time, but it feels like watching Se7en until halfway through, then watching it morph into something like Poltergeist instead. Obviously, I'm exaggerating a little, but you get my point.

One commentator over on Scriptshadow defended the sudden genre shift and mentioned Save The Cat. Trust me, it has nothing to do with Save The Cat. It's all to do with reader/audience expectations - you subvert them at your peril.

As you know, many commentators over on Scriptshadow agreed with the jarring nature of the genre shift and WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU lost quite a few votes as a result.

It's your script and it's entirely up to you how you proceed with it. However, If you can kill your darlings and lose the entire supernatural aspect or at the very least, set it up much earlier in the story, then greatness could be just around the corner!

Sorry if all this sounds harsh - Just trying to be really honest with you.

Take care

Rolo

That's not harsh brother...It's honest.

I wanted to test the waters with a completely new type of script and it burned me.

That's okay though because what I've taken from this experience has been solid gold.

My writing has been strengthened, I'm really finding my voice and I know now that I can get a reader truly hooked on what I have to say.

That last one is like a drug. Having someone tell you regardless of the mess, the enjoyment was there.

Both of the story changes you mentioned are very good options and I will be doing a rewrite and bringing this to a one genre story.

Which way I'm going to take it; I'm not sure yet...

I have to admit though; I'm working on another story right now that is a Comedy / Thriller if you can believe that.

I love writing Thrillers now and Comedy is my Comfort zone, so why not, eh?

There's just something about bending those fucking genres that I love.  

Thanks again for the thoughtful and insightful words my friend.

Anyone can tell you want you want to hear. It's a person that cares that tells you what you need to hear.  

Take care

Shawn.....><