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Might be the right thing to do. But see, "foreign and unfamiliar" turns out to be subjective. See the comments for some. I apologize to the writer of Red on Yellow, but for the sake of this talk I have to bring it to this - just read the comments on it, especially the last ones. The opinions on whether it falls under the criteria are widely dispersed. (and to moderators - feel free to scratch if anything)
Red and Yellow was perfectly okay by me in terms of parameter - the strange land was the Amazon Jungle and the stranger was the bulldozer dude. I know he did not technically enter the jungle - but it was front and center in the story.
Fortunately, although I thought there were a ton some that bordered on DQ and some that were even't close to the parameters - none of them made my list of recommends based on the story/writing anyway - so know angst for me - I'll just rate them all.
It comes down to the moneymen. Even a director's hands can be tied by an executive. If they pull their funding the whole project goes down. The exec doesn't want to lose his money, so he checks over the script, passes it around his friends and business associates, 'guys that have made similar films' they give their 'valuable' opinion, exec gets scared and orders changes. Even with days to go before filming starts.
If it was just down to the artists, we'd have lots more great films today.
I hear what you're saying, George and apparently, you are not alone in not liking the minimum page length requirement.
As stated earlier, this minimum was not meant to have peps pad their 4, 5, or 6 page scripts - it was meant for peeps to come up with a 9-12 page script that has 9 to 12 pages of material.
It's kind like what's happening in the VOD/DTV movie realm - "movies" are being produced with a runtime of 80 minutes or so, including pre and post credits and titles, and even at that pathetic short runtime, they're padded. Bottom line is they shouldn't be made period, because there's not enough material for a movie. As in THE WHOLE FUCKING CONCEPT SUCKS and never should have been made.
I'm sure the OWC will not have a minimum page count and peeps can go back to their 5 page shorts.
The minimum page count is a valid challenge parameter IMO. Basically, it's telling the write have a story that is complex enough that it takes at least 9 pages to tell. That being said, lining up with George's point, it does make for tougher reading.
Overall I thought the requirements were fine - they are suppose to present a challenge. They are not suppose to serve as a tool for someone to squeeze and idea they already have - or even a script for that matter - into the challenge parameters. I thought these were tight, clear and doable.
Red and Yellow was perfectly okay by me in terms of parameter - the strange land was the Amazon Jungle and the stranger was the bulldozer dude. I know he did not technically enter the jungle - but it was front and center in the story.
Same for me - it's one of the obvious ones - a foreigner in a foreign land. But I noticed that not everyone thinks the same (re: the comments there) and that's why I'm saying that we read into the parameters differently.
[quote If it was just down to the artists, we'd have lots more great films today. [/quote]
True that.
I often thought that the reason there are a million wannabe screenwriters, myself included, A lot of films today are total shit from a writing perspective. One of the reasons that there are a million wannabe script writers - it's like, if that's the crap that's being bought - hell, I can write that. What they don't see is how the industry can turn quality scripts into total garbage.
[quote If it was just down to the artists, we'd have lots more great films today.
True that.
I often thought that the reason there are a million wannabe screenwriters, myself included, A lot of films today are total shit from a writing perspective. One of the reasons that there are a million wannabe script writers - it's like, if that's the crap that's being bought - hell, I can write that. What they don't see is how the industry can turn quality scripts into total garbage. [/quote]
A big problem is that all the great films have been made. Same with music
I totally disagree with this. However, I do think that "Hollywood" is not driven by great stories nowadays, but rather giving the audience an experience by dazzling us with the visuals. At least that's how I see it.
Another thing, now this won't go over well with writers, but I do believe that most writers, myself included way back, believe that their scripts are way better than they really are. I remember Robert McKee saying that everyone is looking for a great story. I believe that.
From my own experience, I was so excited to get a few features made. They were all complete crap. I blamed the filmmakers at first, but as time went on, I realized that the problems started with my crappy scripts. Hard truth.
As I said above, this is exactly the problem "these days". Peeps come up with a nice "little" idea and make a short. Then along comes some dumbass with money and wants to make more money, so he turns the short into a feature, markets the nice little idea plot, and pads the thing with horseshit, releases it, makes a killing, and leaves the audience pissing all over themselves.
Perfect Example is 2016's "Lights Out", which somehow received positive word of mouth, somehow grossed $150 Million on a $5 Million budget, but was so obviously nothing more than a short idea.
I just pisses me off when shit like this makes a killing and is so stupid.
Lights out is one of the best horror films I've seen in years. Genuinely creepy.
Sundance has confirmed the average length of the shorts submitted to them is 12 minutes. If it is under 10 minutes it has almost double the chance of being included in the program. Anything that goes over 15 minutes must be especially impressive in order to beat out other films that could play in that time.
I've been submitting my films to festivals for nearly three years now and the above seems to be true for a lot of festivals. In my experience as well, the most likely changes to your script when being produced is the run time reduces because of the production's limited resources. So a 16 page script for example, becomes a 12 minute movie.
It's always best to not hold back and write more as it's easier to trim than it is to fatten up. Fattening up usually involves improvisation and quite often not by the writer, which can be disastrous.
So really, I'm not sure about this 5 page script limit folks are asking for. That might be ideal for students but if you want to get producers who are looking to take films into festivals interested, you need to be ready to give them something a bit meatier, while still keeping the budgets low.
As a side note, I know a couple of directors and some producers who do look at these OWC's and are quite often frustrated by the lack of micro-budget scripts that we write! Food for thought there!
The page-length restrictions on this OWC were, in my opinion, a great real world scenario that helps writers work under very specific instructions. I just wish I'd taken part in this one lol!
-Mark
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, As a side note, I know a couple of directors and some producers who do look at these OWC's and are quite often frustrated by the lack of micro-budget scripts that we write! Food for thought there!
I suppose it's down to who you're writing for. I've just been writing for me, myself and I on these OWC's, a release from the daily grind, not really been that fussed about actually getting something made. It is nice to know they do check in though, and I see a lot of comments about getting things made so I guess folk do go into these with genuine aspirations of production.
I know someone got picked up off the last one, are there any other stories I've missed that were produced? I'd be interested to see their work, and the level aimed at in terms of set pieces and cost requirements.
Also, just spotted it, why's Dream got an "(nr)" after its title now on the main thread? Probably a well established OWC thing but I'm a bit confused by it
Sundance has confirmed the average length of the shorts submitted to them is 12 minutes. If it is under 10 minutes it has almost double the chance of being included in the program. Anything that goes over 15 minutes must be especially impressive in order to beat out other films that could play in that time.
I've been submitting my films to festivals for nearly three years now and the above seems to be true for a lot of festivals. In my experience as well, the most likely changes to your script when being produced is the run time reduces because of the production's limited resources. So a 16 page script for example, becomes a 12 minute movie.
It's always best to not hold back and write more as it's easier to trim than it is to fatten up. Fattening up usually involves improvisation and quite often not by the writer, which can be disastrous.
So really, I'm not sure about this 5 page script limit folks are asking for. That might be ideal for students but if you want to get producers who are looking to take films into festivals interested, you need to be ready to give them something a bit meatier, while still keeping the budgets low.
As a side note, I know a couple of directors and some producers who do look at these OWC's and are quite often frustrated by the lack of micro-budget scripts that we write! Food for thought there!
The page-length restrictions on this OWC were, in my opinion, a great real world scenario that helps writers work under very specific instructions. I just wish I'd taken part in this one lol!
I hear you, but Sundance material is usually not what comes out of OWCs. Sundance shorts are usually well funded and are really really good short films. Mostly what we get here at SS are indie filmmakers and they tend to prefer short films. Like I said earlier, MP ran exclusively 5 page script competitions for eight years, because that is a very sought after short film length. If you like longer, go for it. Personally, I prefer when the OWC is 6-12 pages. 9 as a minimum, is too high, IMO.
Also, anyone can rewrite their scripts into anything they want after the OWC is over. Rarely are the scripts ready after just the first drafts posted here.
Also, just spotted it, why's Dream got an "(nr)" after its title now on the main thread? Probably a well established OWC thing but I'm a bit confused by it
So far, that's the only writer not to have read at least 3 entries.