I think that's a good idea, too.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Do you think I should make my selection whilst it's still anonymous...thus preventing any arguments about favouritism?

It's your time and nickel, er... shilling.
Select what you want to watch your audience go "Ooo-ah! AGHH!!" then titter and giggle over at the horror film fest.

Pretty sure "reading favorite" and "friend favorite" will have little bearing on "production favorite".

Let us argue.
Welcome to the biz.  

Well, in that case...let the countdown commence.

This decision is very difficult, all of the scripts have something to offer. Ultimately I'm going to have to whittle it down using reasoning that is subjective and it may well even be spurious to a degree...that's just the name of the game...so no complaining!

I ruled out an official second round so that everyone got a fair chance. That being the case, I will select a script to film based on the way they stand at the moment.

However, I am generally interested in the topics these scripts are based on and am very interested in seeing the scripts develop in an unofficial second round. It may well be that long term, more than one of these stories can be produced.

The challenge opened with 40 entries.

5 of these have been pulled and so are out:

Crimson Swirl
Fear Liath
Business before Pleasure
Water's Edge
The Gwragedd Annen.

So we have 35 standing....

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Crimson Swirl Fear Liath Business before Pleasure Water's Edge The Gwragedd Annen.

Being lazy this morning, I first jumped to the middle of your post, and I thought that you were selecting from amongst these five!

I thought you had lost your mind haha.

As for an anonymous selection, bear in mind that you are going to need an author you can work with -- some of these scripts belong to people who are not even around, and who knows how responsive they will be?

Just saying there may be at least a little value in familiarity, and you may want to check with Don about the author before you "announce" a final decision.

Rick - I agree with the others - probably best to at least narrow down the candidates while it's still anonymous.  First of all, makes for better theater and drama .  

That aside, it probably also makes it a *little* easier to choose strictly on merit, vs. the personalities of the writers behind the script (even if any existing bias is on a sub-conscious level.)

FWIW: I'm already raring to go with the second draft of mine.  Thanks to various reviews and commentary....  (And I'm sure that a lot of the other writers have done rewrites, too.)

Quoted from bert Just saying there may be at least a little value in familiarity, and you may want to check with Don about the author before you "announce" a final decision.

You're not getting picked, Bert. Of course I don't know which one is yours, but that comment made me say that.

Oh thank God mine wasnt in there! At least until the next batch ;}

...though Bert does have a point, there.  Still sticking with my original assessment, though....

Maybe, he'll just pick a few and work with the writers to develop their stories. Like a battle royal. Or maybe they could wrestle.

But Bert is right, there is a little club here and Bert would like that recognizes.

Quoted from keaton01 You're not getting picked, Bert. Of course I don't know which one is yours, but that comment made me say that.

I don't think he is looking at mine, anyway.  If you read his comments on these, you can tell which way the wind blows.

I just kind of tossed that out there for Rick to think about, because every time we have a challenge this large, there are 3~4 scripts from people who nobody has ever heard of and who have not even commented on any scripts.

(I would like to acknowledge that for an MP'er, you have acquitted yourself pretty well, Keaton.)

Anyways, if Rick is on the fence about two scripts, he might give the nod to someone he recognizes as opposed to a total stranger.

Well even if not picked I'm still going to do a rewrite on mine. Just want to make it as good as possible. Then move on to my next one. This has indeed been a lot of fun and a great learning experience for sure. :]

I'm not an MP'er. I just happen to submit scripts there. Probably more of a Zoetrope person. I've developed my style before I could be influenced to pick MP or SS bad habits. Unfortunately only one of my submitted scripts shows this style. The other hints at it.  

I would say it's easier to spot someone with SS bad habits, than a person with MP bad habits though.  'The End' really?

Again...I'm sure you appreciate how difficult it is to make a selection. I can tell a lot of work and research has gone into these stories and I repeat how impressed I've been with the standard of story-telling.

The order that they go in are not necessarily a reflection of their quality...I merely have to make a decision.

The authors of the next scripts to face the drop should not be disheartened in any way. The OWC is a challenge above all else, not a competition and everyone has succeeded who entered. I genuinely mean that.

All of the below have the potential to be developed and disappointment now should not stop you developing the stories to realise that potential.

The next batch to go then (I hate doing this!):


Can't Scare Me.

Devil's Erudition.

Die Screaming.

Frame of the Open Door.

Reliquary.

She.

Spike and Hike.

The Maidens.

The Pond.

Wild Ginger's Wine.

25 left....
  

Will you make yourself available through PMs for some non-abusive "sensible" Q&A?

"Your premise has potential. Can you cut this, pare that, augment this and add some more the other?  Yes?!  Great. Can you do that by... next Monday or so? Great.  Read you then."

Something along those lines?

Or just... free for all. Give us enough rope and... ACKK! "Dude, I like those tennis shoes".

Quoted from RayW Will you make yourself available through PMs for some non-abusive "sensible" Q&A? "Your premise has potential. Can you cut this, pare that, augment this and add some more the other?  Yes?!  Great. Can you do that by... next Monday or so? Great.  Read you then." Something along those lines? Or just... free for all. Give us enough rope and... ACKK! "Dude, I like those tennis shoes".

Better to just do it in the thread I think, then other people can chime in and offer an opinion. But yes, I'll be around for advice/soundboarding or whatever you want to call it....and if you're more comfortable asking something specific through PM...gopherit, as you like to say.