You must write a script (properly formatted) between 6 to  12 pages (no more, no less) in courier 12 point font.

This month's theme and genre:

Genre:  Action (low budget)
Theme:  Oh, it's on!  It's on like Donkey Kong

Your low budget (no cgi, no trained animals) action script must takes it inspiration from the phrase, "It's on like Donkey Kong". You do not need to use the phrase in your script.  You don't even have to mention the word "Donkey Kong".  While you can have comic elements, this isn't a comedy and definitely not camp.

The scripts must be received by Friday, June 3 at 11:59 pm e.d.t..  Please do not put your real name on your script, however, please use your real name and real e-mail address on the submission form below.  (After the exercise closes you can either have your script removed or resubmit the script with your name on it).  Please put "(c) Copyright 2011" on your script.

This is completely Free to enter.

This is a challenge, this is not a contest.  There are no prizes.  There will be no official judging for the best script.  All submitted scripts will be posted anonymously for a few weeks before the writers are revealed.

Scripts to be submitted here

I only just noticed this now!!!!

No one else noticed it either...

Unfortunately I probably won't take part. I'm going to read ED's new script so he can be ready for the pitch.

It's weird Don. This thread Has been up for 2 days your time, and no one noticed it? I just happened to see up the top under the but for script of the month!

Anyhow it's a pretty open theme which makes it sort of tougher.

And to tell you the truth, I'd never heard the phrase before...

Quoted from Grandma Bear No one else noticed it either... Unfortunately I probably won't take part. I'm going to read ED's new script so he can be ready for the pitch.

For the record, the thread was written two days ago.  I only moved it to the thread an hour ago for folks to see.

Sorry to hear that you won't participate, but understandable in light the of the recent events.  

Quoted from stevie It's weird Don. This thread Has been up for 2 days your time, and no one noticed it? I just happened to see up the top under the but for script of the month!

As mentioned above, I can write threads and hide them.  I do this because it takes a few days to set up everything like the submission page (that was up last week, but no one could find it).

The suddeness of the announcement was Phil's idea.  The theme and genre are entirely my own.  

Quoted from stevie Anyhow it's a pretty open theme which makes it sort of tougher.

Lots of leeway here.  

Quoted from stevie And to tell you the truth, I'd never heard the phrase before...

Google (or Bing) is your friend, here.

Don

I can't partake since you asked us to help Brett out first And I said I would...

Dang, that's a head scratcher.  It's on like Donkey Kong, huh?  It's so open, it's almost impossible to tell if a script fits the theme or not.  And we don't even have to drop the line in the script anywhere.  Really, it's a completely open action theme.  

Low budget action, eh.

Hmm...

Guess I won't be crashing too many cars then.

And I'm guessing the no CGI part includes the much available and relatively dirt cheap Adobe After Effects + Photoshop combo?

Gareth Edwards seemed to get a fair bit of value out of these modern film making necessities.

sounds easy enough... low budget short action script. i'll just probably drop the one liner in there or something and give myself complete creative freedom with the genre.

Not sure how many will get the idea I've got, but this should be pretty fun.  I'll read all entries if I enter.  

I really like the genre and theme actually, should produce some good scripts.

I'll do my best to enter and will read my fair share either way. I'm off work from Tuesday for the rest of the week so I have no excuse for not entering.

WOW!!!  Sweet!!  As open ended as possible.

Thanks, Don...I think we all need something like this.  Should be fun.

Let's get it on...like...well...you know...

I've got an awesome idea already: Some zombie-mummies track down an escaped convict/ex-tomb robber, and take him to their tomb, where they then torture him with their ancient torture devices...um, does that count as a "low budget action film?"

uhhhh...sure...

Have googled some stuff but have had no inspiration which is very unusual for me. I think the sheer openness of it has stifled me! May have to skip this one

C'mon, Stevie!  What could be more inspirational?!  :D

lol! cheers Heretic!

I dunno, I'm not getting any antenna tingles with this one.  I mean, you could have ANY type of action sequence going, and it won't mean anything.

Without whinging - ;D - I sorta think the phrase should have to be used; or else what will it have to do with the challenge, if you don't even have to mention it?

please note Don, i'm not having a go at the theme and i understand I don't have to enter.
But i can see there'll be 30 or 40 scripts with car chases, etc and they'll be jus that...

I have no clue what's going on, which is probably par for me.

In this case, I had no idea the OWC was on except for a few gestures from Michael in a different thread.

Nothing was announced formally. Whah? Maybe that's the was it was meant.

Anyways, I don't know anything about donkey kong or action films. I guess I could shove my head into some action films-- but then too, I just as well might shove my head in the toilet-- or up the Devil's ass. Been there, done that. Maybe I'll just read.

Sandra

I'm in. I just don't know what to call it yet. The title The Super Rainbow Pony Princess and the Invasion of the Grumpy Rainbow Teddies was already taken.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley I'm in. I just don't know what to call it yet. The title The Super Rainbow Pony Princess and the Invasion of the Grumpy Rainbow Teddies was already taken.

FML. i may just have to skip this one now.

Stevie, you old Aussie goat...just because the genre is action doesn't mean there has to be car chases. Car chases are not low budget, either...unless you're on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere.

I'll be in for sure.  No clue what my script will be about, but I'll be in.

Mine will be about a pair of overly competitive assisted living facility residents racing their electric scooters to the corner pharmacy and back.

Mayhem ensues when Oscar and Walter get more than they bargain for after Ethel puts up for auction her dead husband's pill bottle of Viagra sending the boys racing for the last shrink wrapped Depends package within half a battery charge radius before she douses their passions and her pants.

"Oh, it's on!  It's on like Donkey Kong"


It's gold, I tell ya.

Oh, bugger...!  

Just found out about this.  I'm upstate right now for a memorial weekend/49th anniversary party, and won't be getting home until Monday night.  Doubt I'm going to get have the time necessary to have the ideas percolate.  Darn it...!!

I'm having a hard time with this one.  But something just popped into my head.

A creative writer travels upstate for a holiday weekend when she discovers information about a writing challenge with a time limit.  Angry she didn't find out sooner, (maybe she missed the PM from her boss), she sits down with a full head of steam and tackles the challenge head-on, repeating to herself over and over "Oh, it's on!  It's on, Don!  It's on like Donkey Kong!"

However, because this is loosely based on a true story, do I need to contact the person quickly to secure the rights for her story?

Oh, I think the person in question would be more than happy to give over the rights on that one.  Could be interesting...  :)

Woohoo!  I'm on it!

The only thing I'm worried about though is the lack of action in the piece.  What do you think the odds are you can get into a boatchase at the anniversary party?

Keep it low-budget though.  Try and make it a rowboatchase.

Quoted from Dreamscale Stevie, you old Aussie goat...just because the genre is action doesn't mean there has to be car chases. Car chases are not low budget, either...unless you're on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere.

i've seen it done- there was a very impressive low budget short webseries about eight years ago called Lady X, directed by T.C. Lin. You can still see the series on Triggerstreet. There was a car chase in there- *not in the middle of nowhere* (or dressed up to make it look like it wasn't) .

Also, it depends on the car chase. What if you're smashing up junk cars with nobody in them? What if not one car gets smacked up?

I agree, Darren.  I didn't mean to imply that a low budget production can't have a car chase.

I'm just saying if someone truly is looking at a low budget project, they probably want to stay away from car chases...you need to worry about other people and drivers (or close down roads), you need to worry about the cars involved as well, and you most likely need professional stunt drivers.  All that stuff costs money, as opposed to having 2 A-Holes sitting in an abandoned warehouse, shooting fake guns at each other, while a bunch of other nimrods, dressed like giant rats, crawl around on the floor.

And let's be clear, I am not a low budget guy, when it comes to writing scripts, unless, of course, we're talking about No Meat.

Quoted from dreamscale I am not a low budget guy, when it comes to writing scripts, unless, of course, we're talking about No Meat.

I don't even think 'No Meat' can be considered low budget right now with the price of eggplant.  Especially a big eggplant at that.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Mark, you're killing me, man...killing me today.  I can't stop laughing...

How's everyone doing?  I've got several ideas but I'm not sure which direction to go  :-/

I've got a few ideas brewing, but far from sure where to go.

It will most likely come down to Friday for me...

I think I might stay outta this one.  Just can't get a handle on that theme.

Sadly, I just can't find the focus to pound out an OWC, this of all weeks.
My brain is full with coverage, rewrites, printing nightmares and car rentals.
Sorry, guys, my brain is too entrenched in PitchFest.

E.D.

That is definitely bad news that 2 of our best are saying they're out.

Let's just all hope that VA will enter, otherwise, it could be a depressing OWC.

Won't be entering either. I actually told myself I'd enter if the genre was action. I was at a musical festival all weekend and in a coma for most of yesterday. Having just recuperated, I don't have the energy nor the time to write a worthwhile script. I honestly didn't anticipate the OWC would come so soon after Phil dipped, otherwise I'd definitely be down.

Whatever. I haven't participated in a while already. Maybe the next one.

Excuses, Excuses....

Well I have to say that I dont have a clear handle on this one either.

But I will try to enter something. Keep in mind I have NOTHING in mind yet, so this will be rushed at best and may not be so "good" (Not that it would good if I had lots of time either lol) :]

Nothing to do with the game at all.  It's a stupid, old, cliche saying, meaning basically, you fucked with me, you Asshole, now I'm going to fuck you right back...bring it, bitch!

So, basically, it's wide open, as long as you have some kind of confrontation going on.

At least that's my take on it.

^^ Totally.

One can always count on Jeff to give the auto-censor a run for its money!

Seeing as how my last entry was the horror OWC, I'll give this one a shot.

People need to turn off heir auto censor, otherwise, you probably won't have a clue what I'm saying most of the time.   ;D ;D  Sorry about that.

Well, here we are, 1 day away from the deadline.  Not alot of chatter, as Pia mentioned yesterday.

I still have no clue where I'm going with this.  I guess today/tonight wold be a good time to get down to business, huh?

Do we have any completed scripts, already?

Good luck to all.

I got mine done and will submit later, though I have my doubts that people will "get it."  

Mine's submitted!

Nice job, guys!

I tried and failed.

Had 4 pages that were pretty good, but got bored of it when it went all action...quite hard to write action I think..it just seems totally pointless. Either someone is running, fighting or whatever.

In real life I think I'd just stick:

"They Fight for 2 minutes 32 seconds." and work out what happens with a choreographer and what have you.

Rick, hopefully you're kidding, right?  Please tell me you're kidding!

That is the laziest, weakest, lamest writing possible.  It doesn't read too well, either.

An action genre script does not have to be all action.  C'mon now...

I'm serious.

It's not advice I'd follow as a pure writer, but I couldn't be bothered writing it down as a filmmaker. I'd just have a brief scene outline and then work out the specifics of it on a storyboard or in pre-production...might just make it up on the day with a multi-cam shoot.

Seriously, Jeff.
That's how most fighting action scenes go.

Unless there's cars crashing, helicopters racing over speedboats and explosives involved most inexpensive "body action" fight sequences are just some vague, general suggestions of what's going to happen that are mostly ad libbed on the scene between the actors and the stunt coordinator.

Scripting a low budget action scene is... kinduva weird triplet.

Doable, but weird, IMHO.

OK guys, listen...I definitely understand that most fight scenes come down to a choreographer/stunt man/whatever you want to call them working with the actors and director, and putting together the details in pre-production.

Begin rant...

But, let me say 2 things on the subject...

First of all, we're not talking about pre-production here.  We're talking about a spec script that's meant to interest talent through the written words on the page. No one's saying that a fight scene will play out onscreen exactly as it does on paper, but anything is better than something so weak as, "they fight furiously for 2 minutes before The Hulk finally kills the Jersey Devil."

Secondly, just look at all the absolutely pathetic fight scenes we're subjected to in low budget films.  IMO, it's because no one even cared to try and make the fight come off believably.  If the writer had just attempted to staged the fight in his head, and write it down so it made sense, you'd have to think that between the director, the writer, the DP, and the actors, an engaging and realistic fight could have been staged.  Many, many times, that's not the case, and it's a big issue IMO.

To take this 1 step further, what you're saying is basically what alot of piss poor writers say about poor dialogue - "Don't worry about the dialogue, it will be fixed up between the actors on set." - Yeah, right, sure it will.

Or, let's take it 2 steps further.  Same deal as a lazyass writer who thinks that plot points that make zero sense will be fixed in pre-production. "Don't worry about the details, they'll all be ironed out." - Yeah, ahuh, sure they will."

It's way beyond me how lazy people can be and how little they care about details, planning things out in their head, so they work and make sense.  As far as I'm concerned, it's most likely the biggest problem in film.

Don't be lazy.  Plan out, map out all the details so they make sense. Don't worry hat things will be changed in a filmed version.  there's nothing wrong with that. Hopefully, they'll be changed for the better, and if thought already went into these details, they'll only be better when it comes time to actually turning the w script into a film.

End rant...

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I tried and failed. Had 4 pages that were pretty good, but got bored of it when it went all action...quite hard to write action I think..it just seems totally pointless. Either someone is running, fighting or whatever. In real life I think I'd just stick: "They Fight for 2 minutes 32 seconds." and work out what happens with a choreographer and what have you.

It's not hard to write action. We do it all the time, just label it under different genres.
But it does get hokey to write a blow by blow fistfight. It is wise to keep it short and sweet. But the challenge was "it's on like donkey kong" so there has to be a buildup to that action sequence.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley It's not hard to write action. We do it all the time, just label it under different genres. But it does get hokey to write a blow by blow fistfight. It is wise to keep it short and sweet. But the challenge was "it's on like donkey kong" so there has to be a buildup to that action sequence.

Maybe I'm way off here, but the DK quote to me, represents rivals.
It's more about establishing the rivalry build up leading to a conflict of sorts.
If PitchFest wasn't this week, that's the angle I would've taken.

It could be rival paper route boys on BMX bikes.
That's cost effective, cheap obstacle course like faire, etc.
That's what I woulda wrote if the OWC was next week.

Two cents inserted.

E.D.

I know where you're coming from Jeff.

Funnily enough, for me, this goes back to theme...the thing you don't really think exists.

Without a powerful theme that brings two opposing forces into conflict...there's no story in an action film and it's just arbitary action..fighting, swordsplay, guns, car chases...it's irrelevant really. The better it's done the better the film is, I suppose, but it's inherently meaningless.

I've got a very intersting concept in my script, but I've not got a strong enough theme, so in the end it's basically a group of guys after another guy, and a large number of the group of guys are going to get killed. I can't be bothered writing it tbh.

Been an educational attempt trying it though...think you need a strong theme, some kind of ticking clock, outside relevance to the action (something that would affect the audience, especially at the climax) and some kind of strong emotion...either hatred for the bad guy, preferably with desire for one party to survive or some kind of noble sacrifice..just something that raises it up a bit.

I haven't time to fix my script, and I can't be bothered writing action for action's sake.

Quoted from Dreamscale If the writer had just attempted to staged the fight in his head, and write it down so it made sense, you'd have to think that between the director, the writer, the DP, and the actors, an engaging and realistic fight could have been staged.  Many, many times, that's not the case, and it's a big issue IMO.

Sometimes what I like to is watch YouTube and/or instruction videos on some self-defense and/or martial arts moves a few times. Then I describe them as best I can without repeating the same words. I also break it up a little, intercut some other action if I can.

I even (off-script) draw a basic map of a location.
this way i know where characters and/or some objects are.

And I know where you're coming from, Rick...   ;D ;D ;D

Just to be clear, it's not that I think "theme" in scripts/movies does not exist.  That's not it at all.

I feel that theme is something that is inherent in story. I think it's something that people like to analyze, rad into, and "tell" those not as intelligent, what themes are prevalent and why they're important.

And, most of all, I do not feel theme is nearly as important as execution or pure enjoyment value, when it comes to film.

When a movie works for me, and when I enjoy spending 2 hours watching a movie, the last thing I'm concerned with is "what was the theme there?".  In fact, it doesn't even come into play in the slightest way.

That's good, Darren.  I do the same, but usually in my head, but as long as you do it some way, you're a number of steps ahead of the pack.

Quoted from Dreamscale And I know where you're coming from, Rick...   ;D ;D ;D Just to be clear, it's not that I think "theme" in scripts/movies does not exist.  That's not it at all. I feel that theme is something that is inherent in story. I think it's something that people like to analyze, rad into, and "tell" those not as intelligent, what themes are prevalent and why they're important. And, most of all, I do not feel theme is nearly as important as execution or pure enjoyment value, when it comes to film. When a movie works for me, and when I enjoy spending 2 hours watching a movie, the last thing I'm concerned with is "what was the theme there?".  In fact, it doesn't even come into play in the slightest way.

But there you go, you see. I can just write "They fight for 2 minutes 13 secs. The bad guy almost wins, but in the end the good guy beats him in an heroic fashion" (which covers 99% of fights in films).

Then film it well.

There have been very, very few decent action films in the last two decades. The Bourne films are probably the last ones. The problem is they're all execution and no story/theme. Bourne has been about the best...a man with no memory trying to put the pieces together while being hunted down by a secret, and immoral military organisation..along the way he discovers what it means to be a man. There's strong themes under the action, so it works.

Transformers 2 on the other hand was just an hour of Robot attacks, gets destroyed. Robot attack, gets destroyed. Robot attacks, gets destroyed. That battle in the desert was incredibly boring...but it was well made you'd have to say tens of millions of pounds worth of effects.


But anyway, look forwards to what people have come up with.

Mine took a slightly different route than typical action. Hopefully that doesn't get frowned upon.

Mine is a comedy drama stage play.  I hope everyone's alright with that.

I haven't really had the time to think about it yet. Plus, I'm still in that writing rut and can't seem to get out of it. First time that has ever happened to me.  :-/

You can do it, Pia.  I know you can!!!

As long as someone throws a punch, kick or slap. ;)

Excuses, excuses...

I've been trying to come up with something too, but it's especially tough because unlike other owcs, the theme of this one doesn't really steer you in any particular direction.  Just not sure how to integrate the donkey kong thing.

Quoted from Ryan1 Just not sure how to integrate the donkey kong thing.

I think the Donkey Kong thing only means full on action. Doesn't have to do anything with the game...or a donkey...or Kong.  :)

Exactly.  No Donkey Kong involved.  It's basically someone saying they're gonna fuck you up based on something you did.

Like, if VA came out and told Bert he's a fucking wussy, Bert may come back by saying, "Oh it's on now VA...it's on like Donkey Kong!"

And then they fight, throw slaps, punches, and kicks, and you've got your OWC script.

Sorry if this is somewhat off-topic, but I've been wondering...and *have* to know.  

Jeff, is that *really* your real hair?  Seriously?  :)

That aside, I think any competition situation would count for this OWC's criteria.  No violence inherently required - just a serious grudge match, in some form.

I wish it was my real hair!!!!   ;D ;D ;D

No, it's a big old furry hat.  Maybe I should clip it and glue the fibers onto my head, though...

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Without a powerful theme that brings two opposing forces into conflict...there's no story in an action film and it's just arbitary action..fighting, swordsplay, guns, car chases...it's irrelevant really. The better it's done the better the film is, I suppose, but it's inherently meaningless.

It's interesting.  I've been thinking about this section from Paul Schrader's essay "Notes on Film Noir" a lot lately:

Quoted from Paul Schrader The fundamental reason for film noir’s neglect, however, is the fact that it depends more on choreography than sociology, and American critics have always been slow on the uptake when it comes to visual style. Like its protagonists, film noir is more interested in style than theme; whereas American critics have been traditionally more interested in theme than style. American film critics have always been sociologists first and scientists second: film is important as it relates to large masses, and if a film goes awry it is often because the theme has been somehow “violated” by the style. Film noir operates on opposite principles: the theme is hidden in the style, and bogus themes are often haunted (“middle class values are best”) which contradict the style. Although, I believe, style determines the theme in every film, it was easier for sociological critics to discuss the themes of the western and gangster film apart from stylistic analysis than it was to do for film noir.

I actually think that one could potentially make this argument for action filmmaking as well.  Not that it would cover all or even most action films.  But I think we do have to make room in our consideration of film artistry for more types of sensationalism than character-driven drama and for more types of thematic development than plot-driven arcs.  Are John Woo's balletic gunfights really categorically inferior to, say, Mike Nichol's wonderful, protracted arguments?  Even, if I may be so bold, to Fellini's infectious circus sequences?  The true action filmmaker creates beauty in action as surely as the true romance filmmaker creates beauty in romance.

...maybe.  My deliberations on this point are not yet complete.

My point is, I guess, that "meaning" is a difficult thing to define.  If a film gets my adrenaline going, doesn't it have meaning?

Most noir films (as much as it's possible to define it...no-one has managed it up till now) tend to deal with very strong themes...usually dark themes about jealousy, alienation, violence in a world that is seen as completely corrupt.

In fact, reading Schrader's notes:

http://i.mtime.com/Noir/blog/1433838/

Seemingly, he's not saying that noir is about style over theme as such, he's just commenting that US critics have missed the themes because of the films style...when a film has an accepted style..like a western, they concentrate on just the story/themes...with noir the style is so overpowering that they tend to miss the underlying quality of the stories.

I think this is the crux of the matter:

"Although, I believe, style determines the theme in every film, it was easier for sociological critics to discuss the themes of the western and gangster film apart from stylistic analysis than it was to do for film noir. "

It's more of a criticism of the critics reception to the films than it is a discussion of the lack of theme in them.

I don't agree with him that style creates theme, it's more the other way...or possibly not related at all. You could discuss the same theme in a completely different style.

I also don't really understand what he's saying about noir presenting artisitc solutions to sociological problems...sounds like gobbledegook to me and I don't see any evidence of that in the genre at all to be honest.

I take your point about the different types of film, although John Woo tends to deal with themes of loyalty in a violent, chaotic world..there's depth beneath the action...action needs people to care about the characters to make it effective, like any other story.

For me, unless there is a strong purpose to the story, no amount of action can stop me from being bored. This happened in Inception, in Transformers 2 and in many other recent action films...if I don't care about what the characters are trying to accomplish, no amount of technical wizardy can compensate.

But yes...I think a gun battle scene can be as "artisitc" as a deep conversation scene (maybe more so cinematically speaking) and action films can be as good as anything else if done right.

Obviously this started by me saying that I'd not got my script right, so it was a waste of time and not worth writing. Any quality it would have in its present form would be purely executional...how well I filmed and edited it....so I could no longer be bothered physically writing it!

^^  Agree with everything you say, really.

I've always had a soft spot for action films which predisposes me to seek out worth in them, individually and as a genre.  I do think there is generally less attention paid to theme in them by the filmmakers.  I just think that to disregard action films, or more specifically action scenes, as a way of getting at theme is silly...even if they're "nothing but" action.  Not suggesting, though, that that's what you were doing.

And yeah, understand what you mean about not bothering to finish the script, too.  If I ever start writing a big sequence and realize that there's no real reason for it to be happening, I generally scrap what I've written and start again.  Unfortunately the same can not to be said for Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio.  Did you SEE Pirates 4?  What a coupla assholes!  ...that may not be related to my original point.

I'm done...yes, you heard that correctly, I am not waiting until the final night to throw something together.  Instead, I threw it together yesterday.

There are so many deep rooted themes taking place in this short, it's amazing.  I went for 1 main theme per page, and a total of 3 sub themes overall.

I attempted this with ZERO dialogue and only 1 Antag and 3 Protags.  The Antag is a dog and the 3 Protags are a blade of grass, a leaf, and an old piece of drift wood.

I hope you guys enjoy it.  I haven't been this excited about a script since No Meat.

How's everyone else doing?  Is Bert in?  VA, where you at?

Im done!

Wrote it yesterday and submitted yesterday.

Warts and all to say the least. And I went into it with no clear idea were it was going to go either. I Had a few thin ideas floating around and the last one that popped in my head I went with.

But with my crazy work schedule I had no choice. No real chance to give hard thought on this one. Hope people can enjoy it! :]

Good job, Hugh.  At least we'll have a few entries.

Now...if we can only get Pia and VA to participate...

Thanks Dreamscale.

My advice to PIA and VA is just wing it. At least its SOMETHING.

And who knows, you roll the dice and it may turn out to be decent.

And even if its not at least you put in the effort. That in itself is cool IMO.

I'm running out of time. I haven't even had any ideas pop into my head. Any suggestions?  ;D

Yes, how about a story about a dog, a blade of grass, and an old piece of drift wood?

Old hat Jeff. In fact I think I read something like that already today.

OK, how about a tale involving an old wood nymph, wearing a grass skirt, with a face like a dog?

You can always try and use the random logline generator, Pia.  

http://www.lifeformz.com/cgi-bin/idea/idea.fcgi

I'm tryng to come up with something decent myself.

I'll be sitting this one out, on holidays in Florida.

Damn, looking like a weak turnout, unless everyone is lying about not entering.

Where is VAProductions????

Defo not lying - not this time anyway! :) Currently drinking $6 pitcher at Millers Ale House on the 192. Going to Cocoa beach tomorrow  to fish for some Tarpon.

I liked Brett's idea about rival kids with paper routes.  I think that one's free!

Maybe a story about two losers who are at an arcade playing video games who get harassed by a cop and decide to try to kill him then and there.

Maybe an ex-Army drifter refuses to back down after a gang kicks over his motorcycle at a gang bar and goes after their leader despite his obvious disadvantage.  

I might not have submitted something.

I may have submitted nothing.

About 3 hours to go, peeps, how we all doing????

Hi.

Can anyone join?

OWC that is

Yep, the more, the merrier!  Welcome aboard, Nester!

Thanks Dreamscale.  Glad to be here.

You've got 2 1/2 hours to write a 6-12 page script that adheres to this very loose challenge.

Go for it...you can do it.  It's a fun site with lots of great peeps here.  Enjoy!!!

Can someone take these pitchers away from me . . . Lol Good luck to everyone entering I will read all enteries upon my return

Keep drinking, Eoin!  Nothing wrong with that...doesn't make you a bad person at all, in my book.

Just submitted.  That was a doozy hahaha.

Excellent, Greg!  At least we have a handful of scripts.

By the way this thread is going, I doubt we'll see our usual level, but I guess you never know.  Hopefully, at least 20...

At the very least it won't be as small as the OWC where we did the Star Trek episode.  Wasn't that like four entries?

I'm looking forward to a smaller batch. More fun to comment not feeling you have to breeze through 40 of them and also to guess who wrote what.  :)

When are they due?

Now.

Wow I actually got it done, just got an idea a couple hours ago, I hope it doesn't seem to quickly put together, oh well, at least I tried.

...they are due in 1.5 hours!!!..........  ;D

Type really fast!!

Quoted from The boy who could fly Wow I actually got it done, just got an idea a couple hours ago, I hope it doesn't seem to quickly put together, oh well, at least I tried.

Cool.  Looking forward to reading it.  Welcome back.

Not now, Cornie...1 and a half hours...geez, dude, be real for a fucking change...

A film is never really any good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.
- Orson Welles

There we go..uh..sure...yeah.  Thank you, God!

I liked it Dreamscale. It was sweet.

20 or so entries would be great.  Reading 40 scripts (especially action where there's likely to be more description) is tough.  Regardless, I plan to read them all.  

Me too.  I'll rad them all, or at least attempt to...if they're horrible, I'll stop and give feedback, and maybe I'll get banned again...we'll see.

Are we all in?  Nester..you get yours done?

I hope peeps got thiers in. It seems kind of nuts, don't it- about "I want a One Week Challenge! When's the next OWC!?"

And then after all that...

Maybe the phrase shoulkd have been   "If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I stuck with the pits?"

Not sure why everyone seemed so uninterested.

I'm in, Greg's in...are you in, DJS?


Who else?

I'm around.

Did you enter a script in this OWC, I'm asking...

5 scripts are already posted.

Unreal, Don..THANKS!

Super fast...you da man...

Didn't get one in this time, but I'll read and review of course.

I submitted this time around.

I wanted to but never had the time to write it. I got to page 4 last night with only minutes until the deadline... :(

I will finish and post it at sometime.

Wow, what a dead OWC...very sad.

Looks like I'm not going to be making any new buddies with my OWC feedback (so far, at least), but at least I'm reading and commenting on every one of them.

Are we going to find out how many submissions there were, at least?  That would be cool.

C'mon, peeps, get to reading and commenting on these!!!!!

Quoted from Dreamscale Wow, what a dead OWC...very sad.

I agree, lamest OWC I've seen since I've been here so far. But, Jeff, you wanted an open topic... you've got it. It doesn't work for these IMO. I used to blame Phil for bad ideas, but his were challenging if you decided to partake. This felt like "write a script" which we're all probably doing anyways.

If this pisses you off, Jeff, because I singled you out, please remember that I'm a machinist and not a welder. We hate welders with ferocity.... They're little pussies who have to wear heavy coats even when its warm outside.

James

No, James, that doesn't piss me off at all.

Maybe you and others were confused by my statements about a theme and genre being too constricting.  I have absolutely no problem with past challenges, except when we were told exactly where it had to take place, how many characters (exactly) were to be in it, with 1 in a wheelchair, even, and then further restrictions of no animals or creatures, even though the topic was horror.

There's a big difference between being completely open ended and completely restrictive.

Did you enter a script, James?

Quoted from Dreamscale Did you enter a script, James?

Nope. So I guess I should just stay quiet? Shut my mouth? I like the OWC. I usually participate. This one just didn't appeal to me.

James

No, that's cool.  I understand.  You can still read and provide feedback, you know?  Not alot of peeps taking place in it, or even reading...maybe I should keep my mouth shut...

I did not participate, but I will try to read them all. I feel I owe the OWC. I learned a lot in Feb, my first, so I would like to repay at least by reading and commenting.

It would help a little to know how many there are, so I can pace myself accordingly.

Good luck to all those who entered!

Quoted from Dreamscale Not alot of peeps taking place in it, or even reading...maybe I should keep my mouth shut...

I have been too busy to participate much lately, and did not enter this time.

What makes this one different, Jeff, is the fact that it was "sprung" on the boards, without any buildup.

That might have sounded good on paper, but maybe did not work out so well in practice.

Don likes to experiment with these, but that particular "angle" probably won't be repeated.  Live and learn.

Quoted from bert I have been too busy to participate much lately, and did not enter this time. What makes this one different, Jeff, is the fact that it was "sprung" on the boards, without any buildup. That might have sounded good on paper, but maybe did not work out so well in practice. Don likes to experiment with these, but that particular "angle" probably won't be repeated.  Live and learn.

I think this was part of the issue, but also not a lot of people like writing action, IMO.  Also, the theme was so vague it made it hard to conjure up a story.  The last two owcs had specific requirements in place that every story had to have.  That actually helps to stimulate the imagination as it sets you off in a specific direction.  This owc was so open I think people weren't sure where to start..

So how many scripts are we actually looking at? At last count, I saw only 4 or 5...  Eep.

Will read and comment on them all the second I get the chance -- promise!

I think there are five so far entered.

The fact that the challenge was hidden for two day shortened it to a 5 day challenge. I had to finish a script for MP that was due on the 31st and then I had promised to read ED's Zombie Playground right away before his pitch. Add to that just normal day to day stuff and I didn't have time to even ask my brain to try to think something up.

For the record though, the challenge itself had nothing to do with me not entering.

I will try to read some of them tomorrow as I have nothing big planned for the day.

Carlos has been busy writing, hasn't he?