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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  January 2014 - One Week Challenge  /  Over Time - OWC
Posted by: Don, January 11th, 2014, 1:54pm
Over Time by 0 - Short, Comedy - When a time machine comes into their lives, two Niner fans embark on a quest to change the result of Super Bowl 47. - pdf, format 8)
Posted by: DustinBowcot (Guest), January 11th, 2014, 3:49pm; Reply: 1
This is written really well until we get to page 6. 6 through 10 are expositional and overly complicated. Way too much dialogue and not enough drama.

Code

INT. SUPERDOME - RESTROOM - NIGHT
Joe and Dwight materialise in a toilet cubicle, just as
someone leaves it. The crowd noise above is a low RUMBLE.

A line of men peer in at the pair.

JOE
Holy fuck. Here we are.

DWIGHT
Yup.

They walk past the waiting queue who eye them with disgust.



LOL. Very well done.

I liked the ending before The Doctor made an appearance. Quite a decent effort this one. Couple of laughs and written well for the most part.
Posted by: Reef Dreamer, January 11th, 2014, 4:19pm; Reply: 2
Over time

Got a few minutes to read. Well done in getting an entry in.

Not sure about the concept - seems quite a personal thing 49ers and Super Bowl etc

Nazgul bitch - not sure what that means
Going to candlestick ??
Not being picky but quite a lot of its instead of it's
To be honest at p 11 this isn't grabbing me
Dwight and joe aren't lighting up this script
Int.shell ? - have I missed something ?
I mean of all the plans to change the outcome this isn't he most intriguing
The twist at the end is helpful

To be honest this didn't do much for me, but I appreciate the aim if changing a game, an outcome, the devoted fan wanted to see things come good.

Cheers
Posted by: CoopBazinga, January 11th, 2014, 8:33pm; Reply: 3
Well, I’m pretty sure most SS veterans will guess the author of this one.

It’s not a bad tale at all, very light-hearted and I do like the simple premise of two guys wanting to go back and change a game of football – wish I had this device to go back and help the Dockers last September. As for Villa – I’d need more than a time machine! ;)

Although a simple premise, their plan did actually become rather confusing as the story moved on and I struggled to grasp what they was doing – something about a shell in the ground, and it must have been a big shell because Dwight was in it like a coffin – when did they take that back?

The ending, although funny, did seem like an afterthought with the Doctor watching on with his popcorn.

I think the problems with this one arise in the second half when the exposition takes over and it becomes a little confusing as to what they’re doing – just needs to be cleaned up for clarity sakes.

But overall, a fun entry – good work.

Congrats on completing the OWC. :)

Steve
Posted by: Ryan1, January 11th, 2014, 10:00pm; Reply: 4
Can't imagine the bogan who wrote this one, lol.  A niners fan living out his sick fantasies through a time travel tale.  Hmm, who could it be?  Great concept to have these two hapless schleps go back in time to fix things for their beloved team.  

Best part for me was the back and forth at the beginning.  In fact the dialogue was so convincing it makes me think the writer was actually caught wanking to a photo album.  Good stuff.  It got confusing for me when they traveled all the way back to the 1600s and then that business about the shell.  

I would liked to have seen the Doctor Who transaction at the beginning of the story.  Then I think his appearance would have had a bigger punch at the ending there.  But otherwise, I thought this was a breezy, easy little script.  Fair dinkum for a week's work.
Posted by: irish eyes, January 11th, 2014, 10:27pm; Reply: 5
Ohhh who wrote this ???? me wonders :D:D:D

You can just substitute the Niners for Villa and have the same story :D

It was an easy read and flowed nicely.

Nice one down under

Mark
Posted by: Last Fountain, January 11th, 2014, 11:45pm; Reply: 6
Goofy characters. Some funny nerdy dialogue. Early moments felt like Kevin Smith. Then I realized this was going to be the ultimate sports fan use of time travel I got really excited. A lot of promise early.

Once they use the interesting device and end up way way back you lost me. I don't have any advice for a better way to directly alter the game. Maybe they could interact with a player or coach. Or take advantage of the coaches being brothers. Maybe affect their upbringing? Another idea would be to get them or key player interested in early video games and distract them just like they are in present day. I think this could mesh with earlier scenes. That said, I thought the idea of battling other time travellers was really cool. Better if they were fans like our boys. Just my 2 cents.

And the doctor. Really. I guess it was bound to happen.
Posted by: Last Fountain, January 11th, 2014, 11:49pm; Reply: 7
Sorry. One more cool idea. The time device is different.it's like video game controllers instead. The dueling travellers battle with the controllers like the super bowl is their video game. You mention rewind. Maybe that's a power up. Hehehe.
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), January 12th, 2014, 2:07pm; Reply: 8
OK, obvious who the maggot is who wrote this one, so...as I go...

Some early references to what I beleive to be Lord of the Rings video games may go over peeps heads.

The banter between these 2 nitwits is funny and comes off as if they actually do know each other and share in such banter on a daily basis.

Page 3 - going on a little too long for my tastes.  "sellling" - "the old triple L".  "to to" - and now "the dreaded double to" - LOL!!!   ;D ;D

Page 4 - "Your mom caught me jerking off." - Hilarious!!!  Very funny!  And this 1 liner expands into a whole page and it is indeed funny.  The family photo album...you're a sick one, mate!   ;D ;D

Paghe 5 - "S. F. International" - you really should always spell this shit out as many will be clueless what you're referring to.

Page 7 - "miscreants" - LOL!!!

Page 8 - although this may be dragging a bit, I do find it funny and entertaining. Not sure what this red shell thing is all about.  Missing "get" in Dwight's line.

Page 10 - funny shit, bro, but too much dialogue and not much else, IMO.  This shell idea is hilarious.

Page 11 - "INT. SHELL" - HA!!  Funny shit!!

Very funny but I don't get the ending at all - The Doctor?  The Tardis?  HUH?

Funny shit, bro.  Congrats on entering and producing an entertaining read.  


Posted by: Forgive, January 12th, 2014, 8:12pm; Reply: 9
Man this was wordy. Dialogue in particular. Strange thing, I didn't think any of it was particularly bad in any way, a lot of it was light and breezy, showed different voice, but just because you're good at something doesn't mean it's the only thing you should show. This might be okay for a feature, but I don't think there's room for it in a short.

Positives of a sort, for me, you know how to write without doubts - there's an easy relaxed style to the way you present everything, and maybe it's late, but I didn't spot any grammar issues either -- but really, don't dwell on your skills if they're not the heart the art.
Posted by: Forgive, January 12th, 2014, 8:16pm; Reply: 10
Bugger. Just read the other feedback. Shoot me now.
Posted by: Pale Yellow, January 12th, 2014, 8:39pm; Reply: 11
:) This was really cute :) and a great time of year to write one like this! I think I know who wrote it maybe!!! I loved it ....until the very end. I did not understand the bit with the doctor's dialogue. Great job though! Enjoyable read!
Posted by: nawazm11, January 13th, 2014, 1:08am; Reply: 12
"Your mom caught me jerking off." ;D

Some slow parts but besides that, this wasn't bad. A few funny bits but nothing big. It works for what it is and that's what matters. I'm not sure if I like the ending because of the technicality of the piece, it just seems out there and takes away from the read rather than add to it.

Not really a football fan either but I still got the gist of everything which is a good sign. Not a lot I didn't like actually. Writer's also obvious. This was enjoyable. Good job.
Posted by: SAC, January 14th, 2014, 12:10am; Reply: 13
Writer,

Oh, this was kinda fun but tedious. Lots of talking, lots of set up that just didnt seem necessary. It really kinda dragged this one down, I think. It just ran in for so long, and sorry to say, just wasnt funny at all. Cute, but not funny. And the time lord guy didn't add anything essential to the story
So why throw him in there at the end?

Sorry, don't mean to be harsh, but this just seemed kinda goofy. I give you marks for originality though.

Congrats on getting this done.

Steve
Posted by: MarkRenshaw, January 14th, 2014, 6:08am; Reply: 14
Dwight and Joe are likable enough and some of their dialogue is funny it just needs work. I used to play lotro so that made me smile. Some of it feels forced and unnatural though, just try saying some of their dialogue out loud and you’ll identify the clumsy bits.

So some guy is selling time devices in a bar? OK that is fine but then for that to work this really has to be a zany comedy like Bill & Ted or Dude, Where’s My Car and it isn’t. Dwight and Joe are a bit funny, dumb in a sweet way but not bonkers enough for the premise to work.

The whole setup around fixing the game is way too precise to be believable. The dialogue tries to convince me this will work but Dwight is just not that clever; the level of calculations and sheer luck involved would take a genius with a super computer to work out. Again, maybe this would work if these guys were Bill & Ted and had the help of some guide from the future.

You clearly know your football, I take it this Superbowl was a particularly painful one for you.

OMG! It’s Doctor Who! HAHAHAHAH! Love it, love the ending.

Well done on entering the OWC, I think you should automatically win this for using Doctor Who.
Posted by: wonkavite (Guest), January 14th, 2014, 8:54am; Reply: 15
Okay - I think one of my main problems with this one was that I'm soooooo not a football fan, that it was impossible to keep my attention on this.

Obviously, this one was written mostly as a goof - and should be taken that way (ie: lighthearted.)  That said, I felt it ran on too long for that - you could've really chopped the descriptions and action down a few pages. Although - admittedly - there is something inherently funny about two guys that put so much thought into using a time machine...just to win a dog goned game?!?

As for the Dr. Who ending.  Eh - didn't work for me.  I see what you were trying to do, but pulling in a completely separate character from another series?  For me, that didn't click.
Posted by: rendevous, January 16th, 2014, 3:18am; Reply: 16
Some funny stuff in here. I got a bit lost with the football stuff and you were losing me until the end.

That did make me laugh. Pretty inventive too. I think you could do without the very last line as the vast majority would already have it.

I could comment on the lack of apostrophes in "thats" and the like but to do so would seem childish and churlish. Well done.
Posted by: SteveUK, January 16th, 2014, 5:40am; Reply: 17
I have a fairly good idea who wrote this one! It was a pretty funny, albeit silly story that made me laugh a few times. I especially like the idea of sports nuts going back in time to change the outcome of their beloved team's defeat.

The biggest issue for me was that it was a really breezy read up until it came to the plan, and then it got bogged down in too much exposition and almost ground to a halt. It seemed like you were really over explaining Dwight's plan in every detail to try and make it more believable when it doesn't really need to be. This is a comedy about time travel - if the reader is willing to suspend their disbelief for the time travel elements they don't need to know about Dwight's research into the rising ground level of the Superdome etc. Simplify the whole thing and just tell us what we need to know - what the plan is.

I thought the battle with the rival time travelling fans at the end was a neat twist, but the whole Doctor Who thing came a little out of nowhere and felt tacked on. Maybe if you set it up earlier in the story it could work - when Dwight is telling Joe about buying the time machine, he could say he bought it from some kooky British-sounding guy, or something to that effect.
Posted by: khamanna, January 16th, 2014, 7:08am; Reply: 18
Funny concept and I'm glad the boys decided to go back in time and alter the game instead of betting on the game and getting rich.
I like stoner comedies and this one is pretty funny at parts.
It gets very talky though in the middle but I'm sure you know.

Congrats for completing the OWC and glad you entered a comedy. These are such a treasure nowadays.
Posted by: DV44, January 16th, 2014, 1:49pm; Reply: 19
Niners, huh? Pretty obvious who wrote this. Joe & Dwight as the protags, maybe their parents were big niner fans too, named them after "the catch?" I wonder, did one of them don the famous cut off denim shorts? lol.

Good stuff all around, nicely written throughout. I feel you could cut back a few pages, eliminating some of the football action, possibly cutting back the opening scene with Joe & Dwight as well. I love football just as much as the next guy but I found the action on the field going on a bit long. Kind of took me out of the story a little because it felt like I was watching the actual football itself and not focusing on Joe & Dwight.

Regardless, you had fun with the story and it shows. Great job!

Congrats completing the OWC.


Posted by: PrussianMosby, January 17th, 2014, 11:42am; Reply: 20
Ok. Maybe an homage of a fan to the game. Or somebody who tries to get over this special game ;-)

Oh,  you've  lost our money for drinks and food!
But here, air tickets and a device for time travelling.  A doctor sold it to me.

That kind of dialogue repeats on and on.

The active character explains the passive where to go and what to do, over and over.

Sure, the doctor is a grinning demon at the end. The evil character is behind everything- is the weakest end in a script. Even in a parody or whatever this should be.

Maybe that weak end was important for the script and well chosen to complete it as, pisser???

I don't know, but shouldn't be a pisser funny?

Traveling into a toilet and the shell, the interference, must have been looked funny. The dialogue with the wanking and all that wasn't...  Not my kind of humor or stuff which would make me laugh...
Posted by: c m hall, January 21st, 2014, 10:30am; Reply: 21
I like the story but other than demonstrating that the characters are devoted to game playing and that there is a time travel device (which we could find out in the taxi) the script could start at page 5.  
The pieces of this plot seem to fit just fine.
I like the mania of joy for the fans, and that it's momentary... so true.  
I hope it's Tom Baker as the doctor.  Definitely a film I would watch.
Posted by: RJ, January 22nd, 2014, 9:23pm; Reply: 22
Mid page 3 on this one I was beginning to skim the dialogue a bit. You started with a fast paced opening then it slowed quite a bit to Joe still sitting at his computer while Dwight explains the deal. Though I do like the idea you're going for here, so on I go...

Page 4 was a bit of light heartened fun - but redundant none the less.

All in all I think this was a good idea, maybe a little bit too much exposition and dialogue heavy at times.

I actually liked the doctor. I thought he gave a nice spin on things and tied it in with the start.

Good job. :)

Renee
Posted by: stevie, January 23rd, 2014, 7:58pm; Reply: 23
Thanks to all who read this!

When I got the idea, I knew my identity would be pretty much known by the subject matter but I didn't care, lol.

Never intended to have the Doctor Who ending originally - I cannot believe how many people didn't 'get' it and even some people didn't know who he was??!! - but some SS dudes were talking about him so I used him at the end instead of a vague guy called the 'Chaos Merchant'.

I was happy with it. It was bloody 19 pages long when I finished. Had to scrimp and edit like hell for 2 damn hours to get to the bare 15! Thought I was gonna have to cut the photo album stuff but luckily it stayed in.

Cheers all.
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