Hi,

There will be some changes coming to SimplyScripts in the upcoming days and weeks.  These changes are based on natural realities of the site as well as suggestions from many of you.  

1. SimplyScripts will no longer be syndicating Shooting the Shorts (STS).

Because I have allowed egregious, violent, and misogynistic actions to take place unchecked and can not provide a safe and nurturing environment to writers on the discussion board,  STS has decided to no longer allow syndication of reviews of unproduced scripts on the SimplyScripts.com blog.  I respect the decision and encourage you to go to STS for more information and, of course, to submit your quality short screenplays for review consideration.

2. SimplyScripts will still have script reviews of quality scripts
However those reviews will be at pre-STS levels (not be as frequent). Let me know if you are interested in helping out.

3. Format ratings are going away!
The format 8) , format :) and format :B) are going away as will the  , , .

You may have noticed that recently the quality of the formatting of scripts has improved.  Not perfect, but much better than in the past.  Since the barrier to properly formatting ones script has dropped to essentially free (for a beginner), I have been directing new writers to various free script formatting solutions as well as Anthony's Excellent Article on Screenwriting Software which can be found in his book, How to... Sell your screenplay.

4. There will be a great purge of scripts.^*
Any script on the discussion board with a one or two star rating will be removed.  I will first notify the writers that his/her script will be removed and encourage them to reformat his/her script using Anthony's E. A. on S. S as a guide for the best software solution.

^*Plays will be exempted.

5. "My Script is Awesome, I'm not looking for feedback, I'm only looking to make a million dollars"
The Submit Your Script page will be updated so you can choose whether or not you are looking for feedback on your work.  For the near future, I will probably continue to create a discussion board topic regardless of feedback status. That will help to ensure that any critique of a script isn't falling on deaf ears.

6. pdf only and mandatory disclaimer
I will only accept scripts in pdf format.  I may also require title pages that include the warning, "Copyright (c) 2016 This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author."

These changes will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks.  

- Don

Don, it's your site and even with all the recent things happening, I still think this is one of the best sites around for writers.  Pia and Warren (among others) having recent success getting their work filmed is proof.  I, for one, appreciate the passion some of the regulars bring to the site and review process.  Anyone who's had success in their life have learned that not everyone is going to tell you what you want to hear; and sometimes, that's exactly what you needed to hear.

Good luck with all the changes.  

Quoted Text Because I have allowed egregious, violent, and misogynistic actions to take place unchecked and can not provide a safe and nurturing environment to writers on the discussion board,  STS has decided to no longer allow syndication of reviews of unproduced scripts on the SimplyScripts.com blog.  I respect the decision and encourage you to go to STS for more information and, of course, to submit your quality short screenplays for review consideration.

Huh..? STS is great, I don't follow at all. Can someone explain?

However it all makes sense to me :)

Quoted from AlsoBen Huh..? STS is great, I don't follow at all. Can someone explain? However it all makes sense to me :)

STS is still around and you can continue to read the reviews at: simplyscriptsreviews.wordpress.com you just won't see the reviews on simplyscripts.com.  

- Don

Ah, sorry. It's midnight here.

I think the changes are fine.

I very much like change # 5 as it will let viewers know ahead of time  if the author is looking for interaction.

I am not sure about # 6. If you think this is needed to protect the site from liability - oaky dokay. If you think it is needed to protect the writer - then I would make it optional.

Thank you for your continued efforts on this site. I still think it is the best around.

Quoted from eldave1 I think the changes are fine. I am not sure about # 6. If you think this is needed to protect the site from liability - oaky dokay. If you think it is needed to protect the writer - then I would make it optional.

Dave,

Oddly enough, I've felt that the disclaimer on the submission page, "I understand that protection of my work is solely my responsibility and that I will NOT hold simplyscripts.com responsible if my work is stolen or misused in any way. " was sufficient.

To date, no one has come after me legally for a work getting stolen. Some folks have felt that I haven't done enough to protect their work, hence the request to put the disclaimer on his/her work thinking that perhaps the person who stole it came directly to the script rather than through the site itself and mistakenly believed the work was in the public domain.  

I do recognize that industry standard when shopping a spec script around is that the title page have only the title and author's name and contact information on the bottom right.

There is debate regarding putting copyright and registration information on the bottom left.  Recently, (Last five years or so) I have seen fewer scripts with this on them, but usually by more established writers.  

However, for the purposes of posting online, particularly on SimplyScripts, I would put copyright, wga registration (if any) and the disclaimer on the title page.

If I were handing my script to a director, I wouldn't have that information on there.

In short, I can make it optional to folks who know better.  iow, if you submitted a script without the disclaimer, I wouldn't kick it back to you. If you were new and a good writer, I'd probably strongly encourage you to include the information.

- Don

Quoted from Don In short, I can make it optional to folks who know better.  iow, if you submitted a script without the disclaimer, I wouldn't kick it back to you. If you were new and a good writer, I'd probably strongly encourage you to include the information. - Don

The above sounds perfect to me.

Quoted from Don Because I have allowed egregious, violent, and misogynistic actions to take place unchecked and can not provide a safe and nurturing environment to writers on the discussion board...

Nicely handled.

This is not public, yet.

Revised script submission page:
http://www.simplyscripts.com/submit_your_script_newer.html

Revised script submission faqs:
http://www.simplyscripts.com/submit_your_script_faqs.html

New! Remove Your Script link
http://www.simplyscripts.com/remove_your_script.html

Note: The upload is broken.

SimplyScripts Script Release Form

I understand that SimplyScripts will review my work for appropriateness for hosting or posting on simplyscripts.com.
< br> I understand that my email address will be displayed with my script in the event anyone has comments about the script.

I assume the above in bold isn't supposed to be there? :)

Looks good though.  I like the check box for updating script already on here.

Quoted from Jeremiah Johnson SimplyScripts Script Release Form I understand that SimplyScripts will review my work for appropriateness for hosting or posting on simplyscripts.com. < br> I understand that my email address will be displayed with my script in the event anyone has comments about the script. I assume the above in bold isn't supposed to be there? :) Looks good though.  I like the check box for updating script already on here.

Thanks! I appreciate the review. I missed that. I did put one Easter egg on one of the pages.
- Don

Funny Easter egg.

Looks good so far, Don! Thanks!

I love this  site. I'm addicted, I need a hit everyday.

Everything changes, just have to roll with it:)

Funny!

It s live!

Revised script submission page:
http://www.simplyscripts.com/submit_your_script_new.html

Revised script submission faqs:
http://www.simplyscripts.com/submit_your_script_faqs.html

New! Remove Your Script link
http://www.simplyscripts.com/remove_your_script.html

Input is always welcome.

- Don

This site taught me more about screenwriting than any book or 'webinar'. I love it and appreciate all the effort that goes into making it happen.

I am aware of some of the reasons for these changes (although I didn't see what happened) and understand the need for change. Anything which helps this venture continue onwards and upwards is OK by me,

Look good - nice changes

Quoted from MarkRenshaw This site taught me more about screenwriting than any book or 'webinar'. I love it and appreciate all the effort that goes into making it happen. I am aware of some of the reasons for these changes (although I didn't see what happened) and understand the need for change. Anything which helps this venture continue onwards and upwards is OK by me,

Changes three through six have been long planned.  It was just a coincidence that coincided with change 1.  

- Don

I don't know if this belongs here (probably not) but what about some of the unused forums? For example "Other Unproduced Screenplays (2003)" and the Podcast forums. Nobody posts there anymore, why not delete them?

That would clean this place up a little bit. Just a thought...

Quoted from BenL I don't know if this belongs here (probably not) but what about some of the unused forums? For example "Other Unproduced Screenplays (2003)" and the Podcast forums. Nobody posts there anymore, why not delete them? That would clean this place up a little bit. Just a thought...

Ben,

Thanks for the suggestion.  The "Other Unproduced Screenplays" forum will go away by the end of the year.  I want to make best effort to let those folks who have screenplays there know I will be removing them.  

And, I should remove the podcast threads.  I keep hoping that one day SimplyRadio will start up again.  

- Don

Yeah, leave the podcast one there. You never know.

Love the site. It is where I learned to write and am still learning to write :)

Thank you Don for all the work you do here.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Yeah, leave the podcast one there. You never know.

Rick,

I'm thinking if someone starts up the podcast thing again, I'll create a new board for it. Start fresh.

Ideally, someone could set up a podcast on wordpress and I would syndicate the content.

Don

Don,

Any chance for an optional file-upload area that would host a treatment or beat sheet attached to the script thread? I know those are evil words, but some people may want to d/l and read first (decide whether it's for them or not) before reading an entire script.

Not to mention treatments are a great way to self diagnosis script issues.

Tony

^ I think the optional treatment upload is a great idea, if the hope is to be more producer-friendly.

Quoted from TonyDionisio Don, Any chance for an optional file-upload area that would host a treatment or beat sheet attached to the script thread? I know those are evil words, but some people may want to d/l and read first (decide whether it's for them or not) before reading an entire script. Not to mention treatments are a great way to self diagnosis script issues. Tony

Quoted from Heretic ^ I think the optional treatment upload is a great idea, if the hope is to be more producer-friendly.

Treatment and beat sheet?  or Treatment or beat sheet?

Mulling over an "Advanced Screenplay Submission" form.

Like this> http://www.simplyscripts.com/upload-your-script-delete.html

- Don

I like the idea of optional treatment upload...

Quoted from Don Treatment and beat sheet?  or Treatment or beat sheet? - Don

Both if you happen to have them. Why not?

I like the link.

Sad to see STS go, as it was the only thing I've still been following here for a while. But I guess with people like the person who caused this, it was just a matter of time for bad things to happen.

Thorsten, STS is still going, just not affiliated directly with SS. You can still contact Janet/STS, and Don will have a similar review thing going as well I do believe.

I know, but it's still sad. STS helped me to get my first script optioned and shot and I always thought it was a great thing to have such a helpful resource combined with this great discussion board.

Quoted from Equinox I know, but it's still sad. STS helped me to get my first script optioned and shot and I always thought it was a great thing to have such a helpful resource combined with this great discussion board.

Equinox,

It isn't your fault.  And, more importantly, we both love you very, very much. And that will never, every change.

Don

Quoted from TonyDionisio Both if you happen to have them. Why not? I like the link.

Heretic and TonyDionisio,

I have implemented your suggestion.  I would be grateful if you take it for a whirl.  You can submit real or imaginary.

http://www.simplyscripts.com/submit_your_script_new.html

- Don