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I wonder what will happen on these boards if he chooses one of the more obscure or lambasted entries or better yet not chose any at all? lol But its his call right, hes the one thats making the film.
You indirectly raise another issue, Hugh. Some of these scripts would be extremely difficult to shoot. There was a water sprite that emulated the dance of a handicapped guy, a creature/person that climbed a wall like a spider, and plenty of others. Could be the greatest story ever told, but they have to be able to film it.
Hugh & Leitskev, that's why I broke my "preferred list" down to production elements vs. story elements.
The challenge was for a low budget Celtic horror short. Not a fantastical horror short. Not a cool-as-h3ll horror short. Not a Celtic mythical horror short.
Gotta keep production in mind. What can be done with locations, number of actors, props, costumes, practical effects, Adobe After Effects, some green screen effects, camera work requirements and editing concerns.
The COOLEST, BAD @SS!! story may not be the most practical one for anyone's production.
Good points all around. I'm make no pretense other than being an amature at this. But I think the jist is to have a balance between a "good" story and good visuals and if it be produced within a certain production limit.
Of course, Phil is correct, and our opinions have little relevance. But fun to discuss, and I think helps the writers a lot, some of us anyway.
If I get to a point of choosing a list, I actually will probably not take into account expense since it's way out of my field of knowledge. If someone submitted a great script that can't be filmed, I'll be happy to include it, appreciate it for what it is.
I am curious to what some of the lines are between horror, fantastical horror, mythical horror. I've already thought a lot about what constitutes "horror". Clearly there is a very wide difference in what people consider horror.
Consider some of the different possibilities. For example there is edge of your seat fear, high tension horror. And then there is spooky, creepy horror. They are very different, though a movie could include both. But they are both horror, I think. There is psycho horror, supernatural horror, and horror that has strong elements of sci fi, like Alien. I think the genre has plenty of room.
By some definitions of horror I've seen here, maybe the most common, the Sixth Sense would not be considered horror, but drama. To me it has the necessary elements: supernatural occurrences, spookiness, suspense.
I am interested in hearing anyone's thoughts on that.
Well the contest rules gave a wide birth for interpretation as to what "kind" of horror could be used. I went with Dark Fantasy as while I do enjoy a good ol slasher flick, I like aspects of creepy fantasy stuff a lot.
Sixth Sense is Horror for sure IMO, it just seems that many viewers think of horror as slasher type stuff? Dunno.
I think this is the first time that we've used the general genre of horror in a OWC. In the past, we've restricted it to gothic horror or adolescent horror, etc..
BTW, don't expect horror as the genre for the October OWC.
I agree Hugh. People think that without sliced flesh and gallons of blood, it ain't horror. To me, that kind of horror is the laziest work, and probably part of the reason I watch way more ESPN than movies.
I'm ok with blood and guts if they are part of a story, and not just used because there is no story, as is often the case. I'm also ok with it if it's meant to be funny, and is in fact humorous.
Slasher movies have appeal to Hollywood for a lot of reasons. Cheap script, cheap actors, sometimes even cheap special effects. But most of all, they simply work. People go to them, and they don't cost much to make.
But a thought on that: if you write a simple slasher script, why would it ever get discovered? The director can more or less write one himself, or give instructions to a writer already connected to the industry.
I have a friend who writes for the Comedy Channel. Last year he made a million for the year for the first time. It's because little projects just come his way now that he knows people, has been working out there for 10 years.
I think for a spec script it better be something original, with a real story, to have any chance of standing out. Yes, just my opinion.
Leitskev exactly, and thats the problem (game), how to put something original out that will get noticed. All I know is I need a lot of pratice lol. But I want to get the basics in first and study the guys getting produced. They obviously are doing something right. And if you look at the films being made now, something original would be quite different IMO.
BUT, it's even stranger to me to think that you (or anyone else) would take the time to read a script and then not comment...at least just to say, "Hey, I read your script, congrats on completing an OWC...not much else to add." I just don't get this philosophy or lazyass attitude.
Actually, I've got to chime in on this part of the conversation (out of no-where, I know.) Personally, I've read about 38 of the scripts. I've probably reviewed about 30 of them. There are one or two that I just didn't want to review - if only because I found nothing positive to say about them. Hey, that's just me, but I'm not comfortable completely slamming a script...even if it deserves it. (I leave that to Phil.) ))
And I *hate* when people add the line "congratulations on completing the OWC." That's akin to patting the writer on the head and handing them a fully patronizing cookie....
Actually, I've got to chime in on this part of the conversation (out of no-where, I know.) Personally, I've read about 38 of the scripts. I've probably reviewed about 30 of them. There are one or two that I just didn't want to review - if only because I found nothing positive to say about them. Hey, that's just me, but I'm not comfortable completely slamming a script...even if it deserves it. (I leave that to Phil.) ))
And I *hate* when people add the line "congratulations on completing the OWC." That's akin to patting the writer on the head and handing them a fully patronizing cookie....
Me, I rather say nothing...in a few cases.
I think you could acknowledge that you read it by asking questions about a script without even saying if you liked it or not.
Actually, I've got to chime in on this part of the conversation (out of no-where, I know.) Personally, I've read about 38 of the scripts. I've probably reviewed about 30 of them. There are one or two that I just didn't want to review - if only because I found nothing positive to say about them. Hey, that's just me, but I'm not comfortable completely slamming a script...even if it deserves it. (I leave that to Phil.) ))
And I *hate* when people add the line "congratulations on completing the OWC." That's akin to patting the writer on the head and handing them a fully patronizing cookie....
Me, I rather say nothing...in a few cases.
Well, there are two ways to look at congratulations. Although I don't always say it, I really do feel that participants deserve to be congratulated. They've accomplished a lot by participating in the challenge and they need to know that. They are flexing their muscles, strengthening their abilities by the actions they perform.
Also, to paint an example:
People falsely have this idea that they need to be superstars to sing a song. When I was on the cruise ship, doing the Mediterranean thing, I heard a lot of the workers singing. From the kitchen workers, to the room attendants... and it lifted my spirits.
When a person recognizes an attempt to do something-- anything, by anyone... man, woman or child... I think it's a positive thing to acknowledge it. It's a positive thing to question it. But to say nothing at all, well, maybe if we can't think of anything at all to say, then we need to ask ourselves why.
This hearkens back to what Jeff has said and I do believe that some of what he's said is perfectly legitimate in that we should bring something to the table as far as comments go. At least we should try.
There was one script that I needed to look at again the next day and I felt that I had learned something by doing that kind of scrutiny. In that respect, it's the author that's doing me, the reader the favor; not the other way around.
...when people add the line "congratulations on completing the OWC"...That's akin to...handing them a fully patronizing cookie....
Yep.
Quoted Text
I rather say nothing...in a few cases.
That's a personal opinion, but for what it's worth, I have also done this a few times.
I give a lot of thought to feedback -- it takes time -- and there are sometimes scripts that reflect so poorly on the author that they seem undeserving of that time.
All in all, attempting to direct others how to act on these boards is energy largely wasted.
Well, there are two ways to look at congratulations. Although I don't always say it, I really do feel that participants deserve to be congratulated. They've accomplished a lot by participating in the challenge and they need to know that. They are flexing their muscles, strengthening their abilities by the actions they perform.
Also, to paint an example:
People falsely have this idea that they need to be superstars to sing a song. When I was on the cruise ship, doing the Mediterranean thing, I heard a lot of the workers singing. From the kitchen workers, to the room attendants... and it lifted my spirits.
When a person recognizes an attempt to do something-- anything, by anyone... man, woman or child... I think it's a positive thing to acknowledge it. It's a positive thing to question it. But to say nothing at all, well, maybe if we can't think of anything at all to say, then we need to ask ourselves why.
This hearkens back to what Jeff has said and I do believe that some of what he's said is perfectly legitimate in that we should bring something to the table as far as comments go. At least we should try.
There was one script that I needed to look at again the next day and I felt that I had learned something by doing that kind of scrutiny. In that respect, it's the author that's doing me, the reader the favor; not the other way around.
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