SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is March 29th, 2024, 8:12am
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)
One Week Challenge - Who Wrote What and Writers' Choice.


Scripts studios are posting for award consideration

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...    Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...  ›  Hello. Moderators: Administrator
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 2 Guests

 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print
  Author    Hello.  (currently 1655 views)
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 7:55pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
I'm new here. Just signed up today. Been a reader for a few months now. Been a writer since '03. Been a good writer since... not yet.

I have a problem. Perfectionism. I can't finish a script. I've tried and the closest I've come is 41 pages.

My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.

I'd say that I'm pretty good at polish work and individual scenes. My friends say I'm good with tone, but they are my friends, so...

I have 117 projects on the back burner. My current three projects are 2 TV pilots and a zombie movie.

Beyond that, I don't know what else this is to say except hi.

Hi. =)


Logged
Private Message
dresseme
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 8:45pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Welcome!


Quoted from Mr. Blonde

My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.


68 times?  Is that a full re-write or just changing a few scenes here and there?


Quoted from Mr. Blonde
I'd say that I'm pretty good at polish work and individual scenes. My friends say I'm good with tone, but they are my friends, so...


You've come to the right place.  People give good and honest feedback here.  They'll tell you if you're good with tone or not.


Quoted from Mr. Blonde
I have 117 projects on the back burner.


Holy cow!  Do you just keep a massive list somewhere?


Logged
e-mail Reply: 1 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 8:56pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Nope. Full re-write. I always restart right at the beginning. Every time, the beginning is different.

Yeah, I was hoping that, but I'm kind of worried about posting stuff here.

Yeah. My flash drive.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 2 - 26
Sandra Elstree.
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 8:59pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?

Location
Bowden, Alberta
Posts
3664
Posts Per Day
0.60

Mr. Blonde,

Congratulations on your work! Perfectionism - I know, it can be a gigantic thorn in the side. We all do it. Well, most of us here can certainly sympathize.

My advice here is this:

Try not to do what I call "fine edits" on what will ultimately be torn down.

You know? You build this gorgeous scene, but the scene sucks within the context of the greater story and you've spent days editing it. Nothing wrong with working something over - that's the name of the game, but always ask yourself: What am I working over? Why? Why now? Why this now?

It's often the case too, that you get well meaning individuals that come back with a critique (myself included) with loads os unimportant notes regarding typos etc... It often doesn't matter in the early stages of a wip.

Again: Welcome to the boards! Including your perfectionism!  

Sandra



A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 3 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 9:08pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Thank you, that is very nice.

That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.

But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.

Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my brother's story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.



Revision History (1 edits)
Mr. Blonde  -  July 2nd, 2009, 3:19pm
Logged
Private Message Reply: 4 - 26
Sandra Elstree.
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 9:29pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?

Location
Bowden, Alberta
Posts
3664
Posts Per Day
0.60

Quoted from Mr. Blonde
Thank you, that is very nice.

That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.

But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.

Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.


I REALLY .... REALLY-REALLY-REALLY HEAR YOU!

That's why we can really appreciate the writers that churn it out day-after-day. And make a living at it. And people call them hacks. I'd LOVE to be called that. It would be the most endearing word in the world. I'd let my husband use it during sex even.   Hackysack.

Sandra




A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 5 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 9:33pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Hacks are usually the most dependable, too.

Typically, they're movies are entertaining crap, but not often bad.

David Koepp is one of the best examples of that.

Money is money, even if you get called a "hack" for it.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 6 - 26
alffy
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 10:47am Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Location
The bleak North East, England
Posts
2187
Posts Per Day
0.34
Sweet Jesus, 68 rewrites!!  If you aren't happy with a script after that many rewrites I think I'd move on lol.

Anywho welcome to the boards mate and I know where you're coming from about not finishing anything, I've got quite a few scripts that I've started with excitment but then drfited away from after a few scenes.  I always say I'll go back and someday I probably will.


Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.

You can find my scripts here
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 7 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:20am Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Yeah. I'm pissed at myself about all the re-writes, so if you do ever get back to it, don't re-write it 68 times! =)

P,S. I actually started on it last night. A whole 6 pages.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 8 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:34am Report to Moderator
Guest User



Welcome, mate. I only joined a few days ago myself and I'm really enjoying it on the boards.

If you prefer writing scenes than entire scripts, I think your safest bet is to join a writing staff rather than work on your own. There are tons of sites that do that. Have you heard of Monster Zero Productions?
Logged
e-mail Reply: 9 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:40am Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
No, I haven't but this is where my second problem comes into play. Lol.

To put it nicely, I don't work well with others.

Even for fun, I had to have a friend of mine come up with an idea so we could write because if it were my idea, I wouldn't be capable of sharing it. =(

I'm trying though.

My brother is writing Green Berets and I'll just polish it, all the way through. It should work. =)


Logged
Private Message Reply: 10 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:44am Report to Moderator
Guest User



Well, in a weird way you're not really working with others on these sites.

You choose (or get given) a storyline to write, you write it and then email it to the creator of the show, and another writer picks up from where you left off.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 11 - 26
stebrown
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:50am Report to Moderator
Been Around



Location
Newcastle, England
Posts
881
Posts Per Day
0.15
Welcome to the site mate.

I start a lot of projects and then leave them aftyer a few scenes or when I'm at work I'll write half a treatment for what I think is the next great film only to open up my laptop at home to realise that I have no idea what to write.

Recently, I'm having a bit of a loss of confidence. I think it's down to not writing much for the last couple of months. Everything I read back that I've done sounds dreadful in my head. Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.


Logged
Site Private Message Reply: 12 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 11:57am Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Good advice, guys. I really appreciate it.

And, thank you for welcoming me here.

It's good to know that I'm not the only one in here who's having a ginormous clusterfuck of a writing session today. =)


Logged
Private Message Reply: 13 - 26
dresseme
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 12:10pm Report to Moderator
Guest User




Quoted from stebrown
Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.


Agreed.  You'll either have one of two reactions:

You'll read something so amazing that it'll inspire you to be just as great.

or

You'll read something so awful (most likely produced) that'll leave you thinking you can do so much better.

It'll most likely be the latter, because believe me, there's a lot of crap floating around out there that's, for one reason or another, been purchased.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 14 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 12:25pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
I'm looking at you, Taxi... =)

That fucking movie is what's been driving me lately to finish something.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 15 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 12:29pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



I'm more inspired by great films to write something. Hot Fuzz made me want to write an awesome, high-octane action comedy.

Run Fatboy Run made me want to write a romantic comedy, but I did one draft and realized I'm not romantic in any way, shape or form.

Basically, what I do is see a film or TV show and say "I could do that" then I try and do my own version and pretend it's my own idea.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 16 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 12:32pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Everytime I try and create something of my own, it goes to shit.

So, for the most part, I re-make a story my brother did. Usually not as good.

Or, I pick a Twilight Zone episode to write about. They're always good for something quick.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 17 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 12:38pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Yeah, Twilight Zone's perfect, cuz you can literally write about anything. And I mean, fucking anything. Just have scene one as:

Rod Stirling: A monkey, a granny, a cup-a-soup and a kit kat. Could it happen? No, but it in in The Twilight Zone... follow this story.."
Logged
e-mail Reply: 18 - 26
Sandra Elstree.
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:03pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?

Location
Bowden, Alberta
Posts
3664
Posts Per Day
0.60

Quoted from playa
Yeah, Twilight Zone's perfect, cuz you can literally write about anything. And I mean, fucking anything. Just have scene one as:

Rod Stirling: A monkey, a granny, a cup-a-soup and a kit kat. Could it happen? No, but it in in The Twilight Zone... follow this story.."


A monkey, a granny, a cup-a-soup and a kit-kat. Now I'm inspired!!!  

Sandra




A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 19 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:08pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



If you're thinking about turning that into a script, it doesn't work. I thought it'd make a decent rom-com.

I was wrong.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 20 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:59pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Anyway, this ain't about my scripts. This is about "Mr. Blonde"'s.

Got anything ready to submit? Cuz I'm pretty sure a script is good enough after 67 rewrites.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 21 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:12pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
Well, that brings us back to where we started.

Never finished one. I have a shitload of scenes. But, I was reading on the "Submit Work" thing that it only accepts full scripts, so I'm waiting for confirmation.

If it accepts scenes, I'll put some out to read.

P.S. 68, technically, as I started it again last night. =)


Logged
Private Message Reply: 22 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:18pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Man, you are a fucking CLINICAL perfectionist!

I'm pretty sure that only full, beginning-to-end scripts are accepted here. But this is the best site I've found for newcomers to post scripts. Other sites (like Monster Zero, who I mentioned before) make you pitch the idea, with a full list of characters, and the storylines plotted for 6 episodes of the first season. Then, if they like the idea, they comission you to write a pilot, and if that goes well, they ask for one season. And if a season is comissioned on that site, they usually ask for 22 episodes!!

As you're new at this, I think this site is the best place for you. But, when you've built up quite a body of work, check out what other sites have to offer.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 23 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:32pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
That's no trouble. I know how the entire series goes (for Crash) because it's only a one season thing.

22 would be a challenge. I've set it up for 16.

Eventually I'll get around to it, but I have to get to the writing. Lol.

P.S. I wonder. Could I just post a scene in this post? I have the format and stuff already set up anyway.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 24 - 26
playa
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:51pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Yeah, this post should be fine.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 25 - 26
Mr. Blonde
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:57pm Report to Moderator
Administrator


What good are choices if they're all bad?

Location
Nowhere special.
Posts
3064
Posts Per Day
0.57
In that case, I'll do a test run with one of my beginnings that I'm not as attached to. This is the beginning to Echo-7 (So far. I haven't finished this scene. Sorry).

EDIT: It doesn't keep the exact format but it came out looking better than I thought it would.

FADE IN:
INT. SECURITY CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
A cold, gray security room, filled floor to ceiling with TV monitors.
TWO UNIFORMED MEN are sitting at the monitors.
One of the men, MICHAEL GIGUERE, late 30s, dirty blonde hair and well-built, is looking at the monitors all at once, or doing his best.
The other, JASON HOUSTON, 20s, dark hair, muscle-bound, is leaning back in his chair with his feet on the table reading.
Jason looks over at Michael frantically watching all the monitors.
JASON
They don’t pay you extra for trying harder, you know.
MICHAEL
Yeah? Well, they don’t pay you to sit on your ass and read but you are.
Jason laughs.
JASON
Touche.
Jason puts his feet down and stands up. He stretches his arms and looks back at Michael.
JASON (CONT'D)
You want something?
Michael lightly nods his head.
MICHAEL
No, I can’t. I’ll get some later.
JASON
Come on, man, you’re no fun anymore.
Michael looks over.
MICHAEL
I just got married. I’m trying to settle down and keep my job.
JASON
She must really have that ankle chain on you tight, boy.
Michael clenches his fist tightly.
MICHAEL
All right.
(Beat)
Get me a red.
Jason smiles and walks over to a wall-sized STAINLESS STEEL REFRIGERATOR.
He pulls out two plastic pouches containing a red liquid.
Jason tosses one over to Michael. He catches it in one hand. On the side Michael caught it on, it reads “MUSCLE RELAXANT”.
Michael stands up and connects it to a metal hook hanging from the wall. He plunges an IV into it and sticks the other end of the IV into his right arm.
JASON
Doesn’t that feel better?
MICHAEL
Not yet.
Michael looks over and smiles and his eyes already look drowsy. He slowly keeps moving his head back and forth.
Jason looks up at the monitors and sees a person walking in one of them.
JASON
Hey.
Michael looks back over at him with a goofy smile on his face.
MICHAEL
Hmm?
JASON
Take the IV out.
MICHAEL
Why, man?
Jason walks over quickly and yanks the IV out of his arm.
He runs back across the room and grabs a little white tube from the wall. On the tube is the word “SOBRIETY”.
Jason tosses it over to Michael. It lands on the table in front of him.
Michael shakes his head really fast.
MICHAEL (CONT'D)
What the hell is going on?
JASON
Take it. You took some of the red.
MICHAEL
Shit.
Michael grabs the tube and puts it up to his nose and sniffs it.
He tosses the tube back onto the table.
MICHAEL (CONT'D)
All right. What’s wrong?
JASON
Check border marker 188.
Michael stands up and looks at one of the screens towards the top of the person walking around.
MICHAEL
All this for some straggler out after curfew?
(Beat)
Big deal.
JASON
Michael, it’s not human.
Jason points to a spot on the ground.
JASON (CONT'D)
Give me a 3-D composite right here.
Michael types on the computer then turns in his chair to look where Jason was pointing.
The person walking appears in the room with them, walking in place.
They both move close and inspect the image.
Jason kneels down and looks at the person’s hand.
JASON (CONT'D)
He has six fingers.
MICHAEL
It could be polydactyl.
JASON
I don’t know, man. It looks like it’s supposed to be there.
Michael stands up and looks at the person’s face. Michael backs away quickly and covers his mouth.
JASON (CONT'D)
What’s wrong?
Michael takes his hand away.
MICHAEL
Call Riegert, now.
JASON
Why?
MICHAEL
Tell him we have a Code Echo-7.
JASON
I thought the Echo code only went to 6.
Michael looks over and makes eye contact. He looks away again.
Jason walks over and looks at the person’s face.
The person’s face has two sets of eyes. One under the other.
MICHAEL
Get on the God damn phone right now and tell him!
Jason runs over to the far wall and types “10118” onto a keypad on the wall.
On the wall, a TV-like hologram begins to assemble itself.
JASON
Come on. Hurry up.
INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT
A man, JOSEPH RIEGERT, 40s, black hair, a bit overweight is asleep in his bed.
He hears a faint beeping sound keep going off.
Joseph rolls over and presses a button on top of his alarm clock. The beeping continues.
Joseph opens one eye and keeps pressing the button on his alarm clock, forcefully.
JOSEPH
What?
He opens both eyes and sits up in bed, yawning.
Joseph stands up and walks over to the wall and presses his hand against it. A laser within the wall scans his hand up and down.
He pulls his hand away and the TV-like hologram assembles itself quickly.
Joseph watches Jason as he’s panicking on the screen.
JOSEPH (CONT'D)
What is it that could be so important that you drag my ass out of bed at--
Joseph looks up at the ceiling above his bed. A red-numbered hologram reads “3:19AM”.
JOSEPH (CONT'D)
--3:30 in the morning?
JASON
I’m sorry for disturbing you, sir but we have a Code Echo-7 at border marker 188.
Joseph turns away from the screen.
JASON (CONT'D)
Awaiting orders, sir.
Joseph turns around and rubs his forehead.
JASON (CONT'D)
Initiate a lockdown on sectors 23, 24 and 25. Apprehend and escort the Echo-7 to my home and keep this quiet. We don’t need a full-scale panic on our hands. Not now!


Logged
Private Message Reply: 26 - 26
 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006