Hi.  This is Don.  I'm the Webmaster of SimplyScripts.com and the administrator of this discussion forum.  I admire all of you who contribute to this site.  I admire you for your bravery.  I admire you for being able to stand up and say, this is who I am, this is where I am from and this is how old I am. 

I just finished read a chapter from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" to my sons.  My boys are eight and three.  The chapter I read ended with this:

The Lion thought it might be as well to frighten the Wizard, so he gave a large, loud roar, which was so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner. As it fell with a crash they looked that way, and the next moment all of them were filled with wonder. For they saw, standing in just the spot the screen had hidden, a little old man, with a bald head and a wrinkled face, who seemed to be as much surprised as they were. The Tin Woodman, raising his axe, rushed toward the little man and cried out, "Who are you?"

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in a trembling voice. "But don't strike me--please don't--and I'll do anything you want me to."

So, after reading that I thought it was time for Toto to kick over the screen...  I hope you aren't too disappointed.

I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in a trembling voice. "But don't strike me--please don't.   My name is Don Boose and I'm an unpublished screenwriter. And, quite frankly, I don't know how my dorky little website got so out of control.  I didn't set out to create a screenwriting website.  I just like reading.  I like reading scripts.  Like plays, novels and short stories, a screenplay is a fantastic form of literature.  A good screenplay grabs you by the ears and pulls you into a story and doesn't let you go until you get to "The End" and you look up and think, "wow.".

Seriously though, I don't see myself as "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".  I'm neither little, bald nor wrinkled, yet.  However, I am sure that a lot of you have a vision in your mind of who I am and what I am like.  I hope that by revealing to you all who am I and what I am like, I don't disappoint you.

SimplyScripts.com started out six years ago as a personal bookmark of neat scripts on the 'net.  It grew.  Later I got requests from people who wanted their scripts posted on the net for others to read.  I posted a few, though only those I thought were good. 

Then I got a request from a young boy to post his script.  The format was wrong, the stories were silly and he kept pestering me to post them.  I did.  He wrote more stories.  I posted those, too.  He wrote me a letter telling me that seeing his stories on the web inspired him to write more.  And, the feedback he got inspired him to write better.  He wrote better.  He spell checked them before he sent them to me.  I was relieved. 

It was then I decided that no matter what I thought of the story. No matter how badly written or badly formatted the story was, everyone would get a chance on SimplyScripts.com.  

So, that is why all the stories get an equal footing on the site, much to the consternation of some who ask me to separate out the wheat from the chaff.  When it comes to an idea, what is wheat and what is chaff, is hard to tell.  A great idea can come in bizarre forms.  A stupid idea can be served up beautifully.  (This doesn't mean that I don't appreciate a great idea served up in 'generally accepted screenplay format'). 

The site is meant to give everyone a chance.  The unproduced section of this site gives everyone a chance to work through the bad spelling or strange formatting to focus on the story that they want to tell.  When I got an email from someone asking me to take down their script, I was elated.  Someone saw it and wanted to produce it.  Six months later it happened again.  Now it happens every month or so.  None of the scripts 'discovered' on the site, to my knowledge have been "six figure block busters", but that isn't the point.  If you are here with "how much can I make" on your mind.  You are in the wrong place.  If you are here with, "I have this crazy idea," Then, no matter who you are, you are in the right place.  At one point, someone wrote a story from their heart and laid it out for others to read, warts and all.  And someone read it.  And it became a movie.

More Later,

Oh.  I was born on Labor Day in 1965.

Don

Quoted from Don, posted November 8th, 2003, 12:55am at here Hi.  This is Don.  I'm the Webmaster of SimplyScripts.com and the administrator of this discussion forum.  I admire all of you who contribute to this site.  I admire you for your bravery.  I admire you for being able to stand up and say, this is who I am, this is where I am from and this is how old I am.  I just finished read a chapter from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" to my sons.  My boys are eight and three.  The chapter I read ended with this: The Lion thought it might be as well to frighten the Wizard, so he gave a large, loud roar, which was so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner. As it fell with a crash they looked that way, and the next moment all of them were filled with wonder. For they saw, standing in just the spot the screen had hidden, a little old man, with a bald head and a wrinkled face, who seemed to be as much surprised as they were. The Tin Woodman, raising his axe, rushed toward the little man and cried out, "Who are you?" "I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in a trembling voice. "But don't strike me--please don't--and I'll do anything you want me to." So, after reading that I thought it was time for Toto to kick over the screen...  I hope you aren't too disappointed. I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in a trembling voice. "But don't strike me--please don't.   My name is Don Boose and I'm an unpublished screenwriter. And, quite frankly, I don't know how my dorky little website got so out of control.  I didn't set out to create a screenwriting website.  I just like reading.  I like reading scripts.  Like plays, novels and short stories, a screenplay is a fantastic form of literature.  A good screenplay grabs you by the ears and pulls you into a story and doesn't let you go until you get to "The End" and you look up and think, "wow.". Seriously though, I don't see myself as "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".  I'm neither little, bald nor wrinkled, yet.  However, I am sure that a lot of you have a vision in your mind of who I am and what I am like.  I hope that by revealing to you all who am I and what I am like, I don't disappoint you. SimplyScripts.com started out six years ago as a personal bookmark of neat scripts on the 'net.  It grew.  Later I got requests from people who wanted their scripts posted on the net for others to read.  I posted a few, though only those I thought were good.  Then I got a request from a young boy to post his script.  The format was wrong, the stories were silly and he kept pestering me to post them.  I did.  He wrote more stories.  I posted those, too.  He wrote me a letter telling me that seeing his stories on the web inspired him to write more.  And, the feedback he got inspired him to write better.  He wrote better.  He spell checked them before he sent them to me.  I was relieved.  It was then I decided that no matter what I thought of the story. No matter how badly written or badly formatted the story was, everyone would get a chance on SimplyScripts.com.  So, that is why all the stories get an equal footing on the site, much to the consternation of some who ask me to separate out the wheat from the chaff.  When it comes to an idea, what is wheat and what is chaff, is hard to tell.  A great idea can come in bizarre forms.  A stupid idea can be served up beautifully.  (This doesn't mean that I don't appreciate a great idea served up in 'generally accepted screenplay format').  The site is meant to give everyone a chance.  The unproduced section of this site gives everyone a chance to work through the bad spelling or strange formatting to focus on the story that they want to tell.  When I got an email from someone asking me to take down their script, I was elated.  Someone saw it and wanted to produce it.  Six months later it happened again.  Now it happens every month or so.  None of the scripts 'discovered' on the site, to my knowledge have been "six figure block busters", but that isn't the point.  If you are here with "how much can I make" on your mind.  You are in the wrong place.  If you are here with, "I have this crazy idea," Then, no matter who you are, you are in the right place.  At one point, someone wrote a story from their heart and laid it out for others to read, warts and all.  And someone read it.  And it became a movie. More Later, Oh.  I was born on Labor Day in 1965. Don

Don,

This is one of the most beautiful analogies I have ever read. Of course hailing from the Land of Oz myself -- I love it when people reference it.

Your "dorky" site is a wonderful tool to bring writers together to learn and to share.
I am amazed at the number of younger writers this site has garnered interest with and am happy they have a place to hang and get help learning the craft of writing.

I have a number of writer websites that I participate at and let me tell you that simplyscripts is fast becoming my favorite home away from home. Not only do you offer a place for eager first time writers to post what they feel is the next big break out film but also a place for us more seasoned writers to help steer them towards a better end product through helpful critisim and gentle suggestions on how they can better their final script.

This site is like finding an old trunk in your grandmothers attic, stuffed full of trinkets and treasures -- and a few old antiques such as my self.  and my thanks go out to you for taking the time from your own busy life that it takes to keep a site as large as this one up and running.

Toto, we may not be in Kansas anymore, but have no doubt -- you ARE the Oz of simplyscripts.

Leta

[THE CONTENT OF THIS ENTRY WAS DELETED BY ITS AUTHOR ON DECEMBER 20TH, 2004.]

When first I read "Don" at the bottom of an e-mail from you, I pictured a mafioso-esque figure, a mob-boss, someone with a calculating trigger-finger on their dirty hands.  Though you are "The Godfather" of the site, you're more of a family man than a destroyer of lives -- in fact, I doubt you'd ever destroy a life on purpose.  Though I know where I'm going with this analogy, I will stop it right here before it reaches its destination at I don't know where, even though I said I did...heh.  Don Boose, huh?  Family man, huh?  That's far different from what I pictured in my head -- at one point I thought you were an asian immigrant.  At one point, I thought you were a fifteen year old with a passion for reading scripts...umm...and you might have been.  Anyway, are any of your scripts on the site?  I want to read stuff by Don Boose.

Alan:

I knew when I posted my bio (well, actually just the beginning of the bio) that I would disappoint a lot of people.  I must say that most folks, based on the quality of update on the site, thought I was 12 or so...  As for the Asian immigrant thing, my wife is Chinese, we speak Chinese at home and celebrate both Eastern and Western holidays (actually, yesterday was October 15th on the luner calendar and marks the beginning of Winter). 

As for my writings on the site, I purposely have kept it a secret.  If I had my name on the script, I am afraid that it would get undue and unwarranted attention at the expense of the other scripts on the site. 

Don

Don, congrats on a great site. This is probably the Godfather of all script sights. But please tell us the name of at least one of your scripts. Is Welcome to Prosperity one? 

Until the posting from Don i never really gave too much thought about who'd set all this up but now i just have to say one thing - cheers Don for setting up this site and letting it run the way it does - since i stumbled across this discussion board i feel like i've learned so much

Basically at the risk of sounding sickofantic i send out an honest thank you and then i'll leave it at that.

Thank you

i was like "where the heck did my thread go!?!"

apparently it got too big for its britches

Don, you are awesome, awesome, awesome, man!!!!  I've been coming to your site for about as long as I can remember and I was thrilled and jumped on this discussion board as soon as it opened.  (I think there were only five people when I joined?)  Drew (Script-O-Rama) died, so I began looking for new places to find scripts to read.  I am so thrilled you host this site because from the several emails we've exchanged now and again I can tell you are thoughtful and kind, and precise. 

That is so cool.  May this site always exist in some form or another because you have led me to some very very wonderful people who know who they are (and one I absolutely adore with all my heart;  he knows who he is) and I can't thank you enough for that.

Um, since everyone is sharing birthdays, hit up my Amazon wishlist Feb 5, because that's when I was born.  hint, hint, folks.   just kidding, I don't have one, but if anyone's interested, I'll certainly set one up! 

Also, since I've been away from this thread awhile:  what's up with all the guys from Nottingham? 

And Leta, I was really moved by your bio.  You have certainly been through a great deal of obstacles in your life and it shows that you are a more beautiful woman for the better.  I love strong women in general.  I am so inspired by them.  I'm also jealous you won Kessler's contest, lol.  But having seen just a sampling of your writing, I can tell you have a great deal of talent.  Congrats.

Ross, yeah, I know where Redlands is.  That is fire country alright, but so beautiful at the same time.  If there weren't that threat for me, I would easily move to Lake Arrowhead.  Hope all is well with you and your neighbors.

Hello Don
It had been a pleasure to read your bio. Please accept my thanks and warm wishes to you.  I always find myself logging to this site again and again. This site had been a real inspiration for writings.
Cheers

Don...Bravo.

I consider you a friend (as I do many of the other contributers on the site) and I'm glad we can all get to know each other on some level other than our work.

It makes me regret that I write screenplays so slowly compaired to my other written works.

And I too want to read your work!  Run it up the flagpole, bud...and I'm certain many of us will salute it.  Your bio leads me to believe you're an excellent writer and I'm curious to see what else goes on in your head...

Not to mention I personally want to thank you for your diligence and for giving us all the opportunity to write and post on this brilliantly maintained and generous forum.

Bravo once again.

Scott Kessler

Anyone else a musician?  I've been playing drums since 1989, I twang on a guitar (very, very little) and I sing for an old-school influenced punk band.

Anyone else?

tried to learn how to play guitar but i was offically rubbish - i'm just very very very untalented at music basically

so in answer to your question FSKessler - no i ain't no musician but i do have a cool looking black electric guitar

I have a rock guitar and 2 acoustics, but I ain't no marvel.

I bought my youngest daughter a real pretty blue guitar for her 18th birthday tomorrow. She can play it and I will sing, that is if she doesn't do anything stupid like run off with that creppy boy she's been seeing.
I'll know soon, she's considered an adult now. 
Cindy