What is everyone up to?  Getting ready for Turkey Day next week?

Seems so dead...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!   ;D

I hope your turkey's dead when you eat it!!!  :P

Hope you get used to living in Texas.  You should have consulted me on where to move to though.  Born and raised Texan, would have steered (ha, funny) you in a different direction.  Since you have a SS buddy around the corner, then I would say it was meant to be!!  Austin is close enough which has a lot going on in the business, it might work out good for you.  I met a guy who lives near Rober Rodriguez that does voiceover work there. Nice guy.

Jeff (not you) 8)

It is rather quiet, isn't it...

Me? I raked yesterday. Today I talked on Skype to a friend of mine whom I've known since 1070! We talked for 5 hrs! We had a great time!  :)

Quoted from Grandma Bear Me? ... Today I talked on Skype to a friend of mine whom I've known since 1070! We talked for 5 hrs! We had a great time!  :)

Wow, 1070! Jeepers Pia, you look very good for your age.  ;D

Jesus Christ, Pia, how old are you?! Are you like that knight from Last Crusade? Lol.

That said, I'm not doing anything of any particular note. Just writing, like usual. Hopefully everyone on this side of the pond is gearing up for Gluttony Day and for those who aren't, hope all is going well for you. =)

Certainly is quite around here these days. I remember the halcyon days of SS when Burt, Shelton, Phil, Greg, Death Monkey, Pia, Breanne, Wes, Nixon, M Cornetto, George, Balt and Jordan etc were all posting here on a close to daily basis. Personally I think Facebook etc ruined social media. Things were so much better when forums that focused on specific topics and interests dominated the net.

Quoted from Takeshi Certainly is quite around here these days.

Indeed. It is quite.

But hold up, isn't this like people at a party looking at the empty dance floor and saying 'Why doesn't someone dance?'

Personally I'll be in the kitchen. I might slide across the dance floor on my knees. If the right tune comes on. Or I'll just get pissed on the cider.

R

It is pretty quiet, to be honest. While I'd chalk that up to Thanksgiving, I've noticed that the Internet (in general) is largely dead on certain days of the week, particularly Sundays. Beats me why.

I've been a little busy myself. Maybe folks here are writing; maybe they're reading and/or reviewing screenplays; maybe they're engaging in other interests? Who knows?

2 things:

A) I'm working with a Producer on a zombie feature for production in 2015.  
B) I'm plotting out my next slew of features for 2015 (mostly rewrites)

Hence: Absence

I'll be back full-time in 2015.  And with a screenplay credit to my name, WOO!

SS does get a bit DEAD this time of year.  Weird.  Suppose everyone's taking a well deserved break to gather themselves for another year of attempts.

Quoted from Takeshi Certainly is quite around here these days. I remember the halcyon days of SS when Burt, Shelton, Phil, Greg, Death Monkey, Pia, Breanne, Wes, Nixon, M Cornetto, George, Balt and Jordan etc were all posting here on a close to daily basis. Personally I think Facebook etc ruined social media. Things were so much better when forums that focused on specific topics and interests dominated the net.

Based on this post and a couple of others I only just became acquainted with 'Takeshi' the other day and realized he/she was one of the original members of SS back in 2006. But now it seems 'guest user' - membership done and dusted.

I never get why people close their accounts here on SS - just like that. I mean I know it's been a little quiet Takeshi but then to just chuck it in.

Hmm, maybe people like to reappear with new identities?

Why not just leave your account up knowing you could be back later...

It's been quiet since I semi-left !!!

The problem is you guys don't have anyone to argue with now. Hee hee.

Pia wow 1070. That's 944 years old !!! and you don't look a day over 50.

What's your secret ! Must be the fresh air in Florida.

I thought it had been fairly busy lately.

It is true. SS might have grown a lot as a website, but the forum used to be totally different. More like a family and most of us did post a few times every day. There were more discussions, fights, reading, writing games and so on. Why have things changed? I don't know. I guess people just move on?

In a way, you can almost look at it as a positive. If people are taking more time away, it may mean that there's more writing going on or that they're in the beginning stages of "making it". Then again, maybe it is just that people are starting to move on after a while.

Look at the portal. This is the only thread alive today! In the past, there would've been a bunch of posts just chatting about why it might be dead here.  

I sort of feel like someone who's been hired to chaperone at a party, but when I got to there, the party was over.  ;D

Come to think of it, even my FB feed is quiet...

My FB feed is quiet too. But this may be because I'd be fucked before I'd sign up.

What's going on with recent posts? Or is it because I'm clueless? Shurely the former.

R

Quoted from AngryBear I sort of feel like someone who's been hired to chaperone at a party, but when I got to there, the party was over.

;D We should all have a heated discussion so Pia can step in and 'Mod'. I remember the Homosexuality thread and the God thread as being a bit of contentious fun.  Just kidding btw

Quoted from rendevous What's going on with recent posts?

Yeah, what's with only one page loading and no index for the next pages... or is that just me, and you're talking about something else entirely.

Anyway enough chit-chat. I'm off to bed and tomorrow there'll probably be tons of posts or maybe not. In my experience it's quiet always at this time of the year and especially following the OWC, plus a board can only be as active as its contributors. It'll perk up, no doubt. :)

I have noticed lately that many of the uploaded scripts are coming from newbies, as in people we've never met.  I noticed one from Dustin, which I AM going to read over Christmas.

So it is safe to say that people are taking a break.  It's Holiday time after all.  

Hopefully things pick up in 2015, which is gonna be a helluva year.

Quoted from Leegion I have noticed lately that many of the uploaded scripts are coming from newbies, as in people we've never met.  I noticed one from Dustin, which I AM going to read over Christmas. So it is safe to say that people are taking a break.  It's Holiday time after all.   Hopefully things pick up in 2015, which is gonna be a helluva year.

Momma's Boy would be the best one to read. The last one, Swings n Roundabouts, is not really ready yet and I won't be writing any more screenplays until next year as I'm taking some time out to write a children's novel or two. My real passion is writing. I don't really care too much what it is I'm working on. Just so long as I'm working on something. I think you have the same bug.

Quoted from Leegion So it is safe to say that people are taking a break.  It's Holiday time after all.

Could be the generally busy period before the holidays that's taking up everyone's time, rather. Bit early for a holiday time break, I'd say.

Speaking of holidays, I wonder if there will be an influx of Christmas scripts popping up soon. I was thinking of going for a Christmas script for my first feature. I haven't written a single page, in overall, for weeks. Perhaps left it a bit late now. Haven't had a decent idea pop up and I wanted to finish it before Christmas. I'll at least try get a short done.

Anyone else planning on writing something Christmas-themed for the holidays?

Quoted from Dustin I'm taking some time out to write a children's novel or two.

Based on the scripts I've read from you -- sounds up your alley. ;) Here's to versatility, ha. Good luck.

God is a homosexual zombie chaperoning a children's Christmas alley.

Discus amongst yourselves.


And then write a short screenplay.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde In a way, you can almost look at it as a positive. If people are taking more time away, it may mean that there's more writing going on or that they're in the beginning stages of "making it". Then again, maybe it is just that people are starting to move on after a while.

You are correct there... I guess SS is a great place to learn and contribute too, though once a writer has mastered the art, then it's a matter of getting on with it.

Most successful writers, spend more time writing rather than participating in social media and discussions. They have the confidence to move-on and get to work and really websites, even though beneficial to many, do become a huge distraction.

Life is so "freakin busy" its hard to spare the time.

Alex

Quoted from Grandma Bear It is true. SS might have grown a lot as a website, but the forum used to be totally different. More like a family and most of us did post a few times every day. There were more discussions, fights, reading, writing games and so on. Why have things changed? I don't know. I guess people just move on?

I remember stuff like that, there was a thing where you guys all wrote a segment of some mystery who dunnit, and there was Script Club, etc -- Script Club, which I was a big fan of way back when, and I wish we could bring back.  It was so much fun.  I have considered resurrecting the concept but I'm not really sure I'm the right guy to run it... maybe I could research older threads and see how others handled it.  Either way, I would love for Script Club to make a return.

Quoted from DS Anyone else planning on writing something Christmas-themed for the holidays?

I tried, but it involved a guy constantly reaching for his sack. Then, it seemed no matter where I turned, one euphemism after another attacked me until I had to give up. Maybe if I change sack to bag it will help.

Quoted from DS Based on the scripts I've read from you -- sounds up your alley. ;) Here's to versatility, ha. Good luck.

I'm totally surprised. I just couldn't write a screenplay for kids. I have tried and it always goes wrong. Mostly, I get bored. For some reason though, when it comes to novels, it all just goes down very easily. Plus, a middle grade book is only 20-50,000 words. I've just finished the vomit draft and it's come in at 26000. However, due to writing screenplays for the past two years, it is still a very quick read and I have lots of work left to do. I imagine the finished product will be somewhere around 40,000 words. I could write one of those in a month. I have a minimum of 2000 words per day target, but I prefer to do 4000. So a month is quite a long time in that perspective.

It's very liberating to write a novel. I'd recommend it to everybody.

Quoted from dead by dawn I remember stuff like that, there was a thing where you guys all wrote a segment of some mystery who dunnit, and there was Script Club, etc -- Script Club, which I was a big fan of way back when, and I wish we could bring back.  It was so much fun.  I have considered resurrecting the concept but I'm not really sure I'm the right guy to run it... maybe I could research older threads and see how others handled it.  Either way, I would love for Script Club to make a return.

I used to love Script Club too. I ran it a couple of times. Although it isn't very hard, I wasn't particularly good at it. Mainly just keep the discussion going. Bring up topics to discuss. Story, characters, pace, goal, stakes and things like that. You're welcome to start one.  8)

And let's bring back the hairy dick from Lake Simply!   ;D ;D ;D

I often think of certain lines and scenes from that and can't help but laugh out loud.  That was funny and and fun shit for sure.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Momma's Boy would be the best one to read. The last one, Swings n Roundabouts, is not really ready yet and I won't be writing any more screenplays until next year as I'm taking some time out to write a children's novel or two. My real passion is writing. I don't really care too much what it is I'm working on. Just so long as I'm working on something. I think you have the same bug.

Momma's Boy, eh?  I'll give it a look.

Quoted from DS Could be the generally busy period before the holidays that's taking up everyone's time, rather. Bit early for a holiday time break, I'd say. Speaking of holidays, I wonder if there will be an influx of Christmas scripts popping up soon. I was thinking of going for a Christmas script for my first feature. I haven't written a single page, in overall, for weeks. Perhaps left it a bit late now. Haven't had a decent idea pop up and I wanted to finish it before Christmas. I'll at least try get a short done. Anyone else planning on writing something Christmas-themed for the holidays

I was thinking some might be in full body casts after Black Friday, lol.

Busy work for those with nothing to do:

http://www.nytimes.com/most-popular-viewed?period=7

Read the week's most read stories and think of a double-genre short story to write a screenplay about.

Action
Adventure
Comedy
Crime
Faction
Fantasy
Historical
Horror
Mystery
Paranoid
Philosophical
Political
Realistic
Romance
Saga
Satire
Science fiction
Slice of Life
Speculative
Thriller
Urban

1. Documents Released in the Ferguson Case
Documents and evidence presented to the grand jury that was deciding whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.
Political Mystery: Wikileaks posts a huge cache of US government documents that contradict generally accepted early American history.

2. The Thanksgiving Recipes Googled in Every State
Which foods are unusually popular in each state on Thanksgiving.
Urban Romance: A gay couple provides an open invitation to all their neighbors to share in their Thanksgiving day great feast.

3. What Happened in Ferguson?
Here’s what you need to know about the situation in Missouri, including information about how the grand jury made its decision.
Realistic Crime: Civic, clerical, and protestor leaders are interviewed for their knowledge of an "incident" - then reconcile their differences with facts.

4. Amid Conflicting Accounts, Trusting Darren Wilson
In testimony from roughly 60 witnesses, there were varying accounts of the critical final moments, when Michael Brown stopped running, turned and moved back toward Officer Darren Wilson.
Slide of Life Satire: A comedy troupe reenacts witnesses, wannabe witnesses, attention seekers, homeless, and just plain crazy people providing "eye witness accounts" of a tragic incident to a pair of uniformed officers.

5. 2014 Holiday Gift Ideas and Guide — Movies, Music, Books, Clothes & More
The best present ideas, selected by Times experts, to make shopping easy this season.
Comedy Satire: South Korea's Won Popeel of Wonco hosts a five minute infomercialette about the wondermus fantabulous magistical things Wonco makes for this Festivus Season!

6. Thanksgiving Recipes Across the United States
We’ve scoured the nation for recipes that evoke each of the 50 states (and D.C. and Puerto Rico). These are our picks for the feast. Dig in, then tell us yours.
First World Problem Horror: Urban and rural poor families alike share their stories of this past Thanksgiving "feast" and what their Christmas supper is looking to be like.

7. Experts Weigh Officer’s Decisions Leading to Fatal Shooting of Michael Brown
Many experts said that Darren Wilson acted within the bounds of protocol, though some said the quick escalation of the fatal encounter could have been avoided.
SciFi Thriller: Future Law enforcement runs through an encounter's rapid escalation from beginning to end replayed multiple times with key elements moved and changed along each timeline - all resulting in the same outcome.

8. Is Harvard Unfair to Asian-Americans?
In a true meritocracy, whites would be a minority of the student body. That worries some people.
Political SciFi: In a near-future totalitarian state the rejection of a PoliSci graduate's thesis proposal leads her on a quest to examine if government data is indeed correct uncovering a great conspiracy.

9. A Soaring Emblem of New York, and Its Upside-Down Priorities
A critique of the design of 1 World Trade Center, the newly opened skyscraper built at the base of the former twin towers.
Realistic Fantasy: Watch a conversation as architects and engineers discuss the needs of a zoo for mythical beasts brought to realization by genetic engineers.

10. Protests Flare After Ferguson Police Officer Is Not Indicted
Darren Wilson was not charged in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., which set off civil unrest over what protesters called a pattern of police brutality against young black men.
Crime Thriller: Can protesters put aside their differences with the local police as a team of snipers targets anyone and everyone following several nights of fiery riots?

11. The Pain of the Watermelon Joke
The history is more than an ugly stereotype of African-Americans.
Slice of Life Adventure: Genetic origins, economics, social, and religious history of the watermelon is comprehensively reviewed.

12. One Race, Every Medalist Ever
Usain Bolt’s 9.63 set an Olympic record in the 100. So how far ahead of every Olympic medalist is he?
SciFi Action: Bioengineers and robotic engineers compete in an off-world unregulated biped race with the length of leg being the only limit.

13. Darren Wilson, Officer in Ferguson Shooting, Resigns From Police Dept.
The officer said in a letter that he hoped his resignation would “allow the community to heal,” his lawyer said. A grand jury declined on Monday to indict him for killing an unarmed black teenager.
Speculative Political Crime: Covert actions in the best interests of national security lead up to the resignation of a congressman.

14. 100 Notable Books of 2014
The year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review.
Fantasy: What happens when you mash-up a year's top 100 books into a single story?

15. What If We’re Wrong About Depression?
Some researchers say we need new ways of thinking about depression entirely — and that one day, therapy could start with a blood test.
Philosophical Drama: Before committing to action, a couple discusses the competitive merits of intervention versus the rights of creative destiny for their offspring.

16. A Warning on Nutmeg
This holiday season, measure your nutmeg carefully.
Comedy Farce: A fake "scientist" with camera crew and van goes to the homes and workplaces of women named Meg to measure them for a "scientific" study on the correlation between nuttiness and height/weight.

17. Witnesses Told Grand Jury That Michael Brown Charged at Darren Wilson, Prosecutor Says
The most credible eyewitnesses to the shooting said the teenager had charged toward Officer Darren Wilson just before the fatal shots, the St. Louis County prosecutor said.
Realistic Fantasy Action: Designers for a high end video game construct the outcomes of different game weapons used on an advancing character assailant.

18. Being Bad Europeans
Whose irresponsible behavior is at the core of the region’s slow-motion disaster?
Slice of Life Comedy: Varying European stereotypes are performed in different countries to arouse responses from bystanders and pedestrians.

19. Heroin Takes Over a House, and Mom, on New York’s Staten Island
Laurie Sperring’s addiction rapidly turned a modest condominium in a pastoral neighborhood into a locus for Staten Island’s ravenous heroin demand.
Crime drama: An adult child of a heroin distributor experiences a normal day and terrifying night before things go really really wrong.

20. Security in Ferguson Is Tightened After Night of Unrest
Gov. Jay Nixon deployed 2,200 troops to Ferguson, Mo., in an effort to avoid a repetition of Monday night’s violence, and broadly expanded their role in keeping the peace.
Realistic Drama: Armed weekend warriors converse amongst themselves the decaying condition of the hordes of hostile protesters make their unraveling pilgrimage through city streets.


See what you can do with the news!  :)

Quoted from Leegion I was thinking some might be in full body casts after Black Friday, lol.

Sounds probable. Might not be that bad, depending on whether they got that cheap flat screen TV, to sit in front of recuperating, out of the shop.

I remember browsing the old topics and stumbling upon a Script Club thread. It looked really interesting.

Brilliant post, RayW.

Quoted from RayW God is a homosexual zombie chaperoning a children's Christmas alley. Discus amongst yourselves.

Quoted from DS Brilliant post, RayW.

Thank you, DS!

I do try to incite... er... inSPIRE creativity!

Quoted from Grandma Bear I used to love Script Club too. I ran it a couple of times. Although it isn't very hard, I wasn't particularly good at it. Mainly just keep the discussion going. Bring up topics to discuss. Story, characters, pace, goal, stakes and things like that. You're welcome to start one.  8)

Cool.  I'm gonna consider this one... see what I can do.  :)

I'm looking to get back in the swing of things here. I love this site and i miss the good ol'days. Any good short horror scripts you guys recommend?

~Zack~

Having been away from here for almost a year, I think it is much quieter than it used to be, and I've yet to see a 'fight' lol.  There was usually a banter fight going on pretty much every day.  It's probably better that they seem to have fizzled out.  There are still some members here from years back but some come and go.  Still got some great 'online' friends from here though.

I apologise for my absence from the boards and not reading anything n a good ol' while (or writing :( ). College has just been taking up my time.

Over the festive weeks I hope to be more active and read some scripts and hopefully get something written too.

Hope all is well :)