Quoted from jwent6688 A quick suggestion, maybe Gerald steals the spiderman doll. hides it in his backpack, then all of these things come to life until he puts it back.

That's a really good idea.

Bert,

On a seperate subject;  I just jumped on rc1107 about his outdated-looking font and figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone.   (I didn't really jump on him)  But...

Have you ever considered getting better screenwriting software?   Or am I the only one who's bugged by the appearance of this type of font?  Please keep in mind I've got nothing but good intentions by asking.   We're in a business where appearance is everything.    I'm just curious if this has ever crossed your mind.   http://celtx.com/

Quoted from Jwent ...maybe Gerald steals the spiderman doll. hides it in his backpack, then all of these things come to life until he puts it back.

That is pretty good.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer ...Gerald throws the doll out the window as they leave the lot…a cart collector listening to his iPod runs over the doll with his cart train.

But so is that.


So, I have kind of come to a certain realization about rewrites over the past few years.

Sometimes a reader will offer up something that hits me right between the eyes and you need to change things up right then -- but most often you say, "that is a very interesting way to go", and store that idea for later.

I say that because it seems every time you get approached about a script, the director or whoever is going to want something a little different anyways, and you are going to be doing rewrites anyways.

Threads like these are such a valuable storehouse of ideas.  I really do appreciate you guys tossing your ideas into the ring like that -- and really hope I get the opportunity to steal them and give you no credit someday  
  

Quoted from Screenrider Have you ever considered getting better screenwriting software?

I know where you are coming from, but no, I have never had any complaints.

I just use plain old Word, as I like having total control over my formatting whims, and it has yet to be a problem.   I might change up to something else one of these days, but learning a new system from scratch holds little appeal right now.

Quoted from Wonka Bert -  I couldn't stop him.  He saw the post, and ran to his computer...!

No problem.  I would have been foolish to expect no retaliation -- but more than anything, I am struggling to figure out what in the world that clip has to do with Kermit...?  (And yes, vexing me in this way was quite likely by design...)

Thanks again, guys (except Phil).  

Hey Bert.  What's been up?

Don't ask me why, (I can't for the life of me figure it out because I know you write horrors), but for some reason I went into reading this thinking it was only a straight up comedy.  I didn't see the genre was horror and, from the title and the picture of the pointed eyebrow smiley face, (creepy as it was), I thought it was funny and the story was just going to be making fun of Wal-Mart.

So I was pleasantly caught by surprise when this took a turn for the dark.

Reading through some of the previous posts, I have to echo others' positive comments concerning the story, in that it was effective and creepy and I got a great feeling towards the setting thanks to your delicious descriptions.  (I know I've used that term more than once in responding to reading your stories).  Others call it overwriting and I'm not going to argue about that because I understand what they're saying, (as an overwriter myself), but I call it 'marking your work'.  Your personality definately shines through in your words and to me, that adds character to the body of work in general, and a sense of familiarity.

But, instead of echoing other people's words when there's been a lot of responses to a story, I always try to bring something new to the table.

What I don't think hasn't been mentioned a lot about your work is your titles.  Not just this one, exactly, but all your titles in general.  I don't think they get enough credit.  Yeah, 'The Farm' might be a pretty standard title, but all your other titles I've read have all jumped out at me and were unique and fit the story well, and, when I first joined SS, were the reason I read them in the first place.  'Think of Me and I'll Be There' was an excellent choice, 'Someplace Nice and Dark' another.  (I thought I read 'Salvage' but I don't see any posts from me on the thread, I might have to take a look at that later.)

Titles have always been important to me as they're pretty much the main draw to which movie I'll go see over another.  Even buying books, sure, if I like the author I'll be inclined, but if the title jumps out at me, I'll grab it even if I'm not interested in the storyline to give it a chance.  So, just wanted to say, I like your titles!

The ending of 'All-Mart' I didn't have a problem with, but seeing some other suggestions of how to end it, (especially Andy Petrou's), there's some pretty clever advice that people are giving you that you could go with the story and it might make it pop just a little bit more.  I think personally if you ever decide to go back to this and give it a shot, you have some interesting choices to make, and I think there'll be still a lot of interest in this story if you do decide to bring it back.  (Doesn't seem SpiderMan'll ever get old.)  On that note, I don't think dealing with people's mental problems will ever get old, either.  It's still very mysterious and I think there's a lot of undiscovered territory in people's makeup.

- Mark

Hey, Mark.  Thanks for the look and thoughts.

Quoted from Mark Don't ask me why, but for some reason I went into reading this thinking it was only a straight up comedy.

That is kind of funny, and yeah, I very seldom go there.  But sometimes it is a good thing not to get what you expect.

Quoted from Mark Others call it overwriting, but I call it "marking your work"

The most common word for it is "voice", Mark, and you have it, too.  I continue to work on mine, and there are a few around here who have it in spades -- along with a few others who apparently see no value in it at all.  Their loss.

Quoted from Mark What I don't think hasn't been mentioned a lot about your work is your titles, I don't think they get enough credit...'Someplace Nice and Dark'....

Thanks, but honestly, my kid Ross is the one who came up with SN&D.  I actually optioned that one once for 25 bucks and slipped the kid 5 bucks for the title and he dug that.  (No, it was never filmed) (The original title was, "I have a little shadow...")

Quoted from Mark The ending of 'All-Mart' I didn't have a problem with, but seeing some other suggestions of how to end it, (especially Andy Petrou's), there's some pretty clever advice that people are giving you.

Yeah, man there must be 100 options, which is kind of paralyzing in its own way, you know?  And yes, I am pretty fond of what Andy gave me.

I figure should anyone ever look to film it and want a different ending I will just give him the list and tell them to pick something.

And funny you should mention titles -- as I was actually planning to read your newest that probably has the worst title I have ever seen haha.  So thanks for the read and I will see over on that thread before too long.

Waking up an old thread, as not so long ago this script caught the fancy of a brilliant young woman out of the UK.

She tells me they are currently in post.  I am sharing a few stills, as (from what I've seen) I love what she is doing with this story.  There are always changes, of course, but these images appear quite true to the script.

Bert,

Congrats. I know you stated that they were in post, but any time table as to when we'll get to see the finished product?

Ghost

Stills look good!

How awesome!!! I remember that script, quite clearly!  

Congrats, dude! Remember this one, for sure.

Good luck with the film. Probably a long time to go yet before we get to see it.

Congrats Bert. Looks really good!

I remember this script! This is awesome news, Bert. Congrats. Great stills. Look forward to seeing the film some day.

Congrats. I remember this from a while back. Anytime frame on when this might get finished?

Always great to have something filmed - all the best

Hope you like it.

Bert, that's awesome... Congrats!!  ))  Loving those stills...!