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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  January 2019 -  One Week Challenge  /  The Go-To Girl - OWC
Posted by: Don, February 1st, 2019, 10:53pm
The Go-To Girl by David M Troop (DaveTroop) writing as Alvy Singer - Short, RomCom - A lovesick lawyer pursues his sexy secretary with the help of a vivacious vixen. 10 pages - pdf format

Writer interested in feedback on this work

Posted by: irish eyes, February 2nd, 2019, 10:03am; Reply: 1
A cute story which could have done without the few F bombs.
There's probably over a hundred different ways to say 'walk"  Stroll, saunter, march, stride and so on.. mix it up.

So the lawyer is after his secretary with the help of his fantasy girl and it had a few funny moments with a nice twist at the end.

Good job on entering

p.s  I'm sure the grammar Nazi's will be over this one.
Posted by: RolandJ, February 2nd, 2019, 4:43pm; Reply: 2
Interesting.
Posted by: SAC, February 2nd, 2019, 8:39pm; Reply: 3
Writer,

So, I guess Katie and Miquel weren’t real? I’ll just have to guess because I’m not sure and that’s not good. Other thing, Michael had absolutely no redeeming qualities about him at all. I figured he was just pompous with Katie, but he didn’t seem any more humble in front of Katherine either. Hard guy to root for. Sorry, but this didn’t work for me.

Steve
Posted by: Warren, February 2nd, 2019, 11:14pm; Reply: 4
Hi Writer,

I actually didn't mind this. Well written, with some parts that did make me chuckle. I did feel like Miguel was a bit too stereotypical and didn't fit in with the tone of the rest of the story.

I really didn't see the twist coming, so good job with that.

Not bad, not bad at all.

All the best
Posted by: eldave1, February 3rd, 2019, 3:34pm; Reply: 5
The spacing is off (extra blank spaces) in your opening 1/2 page. Don't give us a distraction of of the gate.


Quoted Text
Michael exhales, concentration broken. He turns his head,
Katie is gone. He reaches over to the bedside table, plucks
some tissues from the box.


Had to read this a couple of times to get that it was a dream - clarity could be enhanced.

Not a bad premise at all - actually clever.

The dreams wore a bit - I mean once you do one we kind of get the gist of it.

Over all - pretty nice work
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 3rd, 2019, 4:33pm; Reply: 6
Title page looks horrible!

Hmmm, so this is a dream scene and Michael just beat off?

Page 6 - Katie's there too?

Mini Slugs are the way to go here.

You know...I'm not really sure what to say about this.  I guess it's creative, I think it has cute potential, but I also think the tone is off and it's obviously completely unrealistic.

I definitely thought it was a cute ending with Katie and Miguel leaving together.

It's a solid effort.

***
Posted by: Vincent, February 3rd, 2019, 4:40pm; Reply: 7
Like. This. A. Lot.

The "Miguel" twist (which I didn't see coming) implies that Katherine's been fantasizing about Michael, too (so it makes sense their two fantasy selves would pair off at the end).

Pretty clean in style for the most part (there's a minor goof near the bottom of page 9; it should be "She offers the box TO Miguel").

If you didn't select the "Alvy Singer" pseudonym, I can see why it was chosen -- this has a bit of an (early) Woody Allen feel. All in all, a job well done.
Posted by: Sandra Elstree., February 3rd, 2019, 5:29pm; Reply: 8
After the awful start I had with this OWC, I finally get to read a script that is in the spirit of the OWC and has some humour. Not big ha-ha funny, but some and...

I think with a little work you can do more with the imaginary characters. Show the two real characters both being kinduv crazy. Hey, they'll have a bond.  ;D

One thing I didn't get was the parenthetical: Motions Stroking
I couldn't picture what that was. Please explain.

Nice Effort

Sandra
Posted by: Grandma Bear, February 4th, 2019, 12:40pm; Reply: 9
Page 1.   A little confusing here right off the bat. I didn't get the xylophone thing. Also, I wasn't sure if Katie was doing something to Michael there under the covers or if she was just in bed under the covers and then suddenly she's gone. I'm sure there are ways you can write this in a way that is a bit more clear.

Page 2.   I'm not an office person, so I have no idea how things work, but do "secretaries" still take dictation? I would've thought with computers and Michael being a lawyer, he would've been able to write his own. Not even a nitpick. Just something that struck me as odd.

damn! That is one hot radiator, lol.

Page 3.   Michael suits up, but then he puts on a T-shirt and lounge pants...

Page 4.   So, Katie is not real?

Page 5.   Would be funny if she had a boyfriend that went by Whiskers!

Page 9.   LOL! I love the reveal that Katherine has Miguel!

Finished and I'm pretty sure I know who wrote this one.

Despite some confusion there about Katie until I realized she wasn't a regular person, I thought this was pretty good.

It checked all the boxes for the challenge and I would be lying if I say I wasn't amused. So, great job writer.  8)
Posted by: Gary in Houston, February 4th, 2019, 11:13pm; Reply: 10
Pretty clever premise and had some attempts at humor as well as the other requisites of the challenge so all the boxes are checked here.

I think it was pretty obvious that Katie wasn't real by the end of page 1.  It got a little more confusing when she appeared at Katherine's and then she brought out Miguel, as if Michael could see him.  So that should be cleaned up a little bit.

This is a fairly high-concept piece that actually might do pretty well as a feature, where you could create all sorts of interesting scenarios for Michael and Katherine to get into.

Good writing on display here, so a solid effort in my humble opinion.

Just my two cents,
Gary
Posted by: LC, February 4th, 2019, 11:48pm; Reply: 11
Hmm, not bad.

The plot feels a little familiar. I suppose it's all those movies where angels/ghosts come back to assist.

Katie has a foul mouth on her which I think you/we could do without and Michael needs to be imbued with a bit more character imh. It's a short RC so I'd personally get rid of the hard edges.

I liked when Miguel came on the scene. I didn't see it coming.

Needs just something more...

Really like the title btw.
Posted by: khamanna, February 5th, 2019, 1:08am; Reply: 12
I liked it until she called Miguel. But that turn might be in the spirit of rom coms, I don't know.

I'm against it though. It's kind of impossible for two similar crazies to meet like that. I mean they both could be crazy but not in the same way.

I understand it's a script but seems like you turn it the way you want to, the twist does not feel organic this way and it should.

So, I don't know what to suggest. I'd push myself to come up with a different thing and def get rid of Miguel.

Overal though good job, writer!
Posted by: CameronD, February 6th, 2019, 10:12am; Reply: 13
Xylophone? I dont get it.

Ass on fire is kinda funny.

Interesting idea that Katie is imaginary. Tissues from earlier makes sense now. ;)

And Katherine ends up having her own imaginary friend. What's funny, and I'm sure it's been noted above by others, this is nearly the exact same premise as another script in the OWC called Perfect Pair. Except sock puppets in place of your imaginary friends. Great minds?

This was smarter than Perfect Pair while that one was more absurd. However, while I probably like this one better as it was more clever, it still didn't click with me. Micheal and Katherine have no romance or I felt much flirty chemistry beyond the pants on fire bit. Micheal doesn't want her so much as to just bone her and that lowers the stakes.

Also, except for a few funny lines I don't know if I'd call this a comedy either. The premise is great and how you incorporated Katie into Micheal's love life was clever. But it doesn't resonate with me. Maybe cause Micheal is unlikable. Maybe cause there was a bit much small talk for my taste. 10 pages when this could be 7 or 8 easily I think.

Good effort and with some more drafts this coulda been my fav.

Posted by: Matthew Taylor, February 6th, 2019, 12:27pm; Reply: 14
Hello Writer

I didn't get the xylophone joke - But I am slow.

OK, this is well written - you know what you are doing.

scorched by a radiator? is that possible?


Quoted Text
KATIE
Thanks. You thought of it.


That line made me smile

At first, I thought Katie might have been an ex or something - Now I'm thinking she is just an imaginary girlfriend, but he's made her look like his crush? That's what I'm thinking at this point anyway.

Well done for not showing the scene of him explaining himself to Katherine - deffo an experienced writer.

OK I finished - I didn't actually expect the twist, maybe if I was more switched on I might have.

I liked it, I think you kept to the challenge well. It was creative - i thought the moment the two agreed to go on a date could have been done better.

Well done on your entry

Matt
Posted by: ReneC, February 7th, 2019, 3:52pm; Reply: 15
The logline screams misogyny, and it doesn't disappoint.  ::)

That aside, I like this. A lot. And the ending softens the misogyny. Great writing, great characters, interesting premise. I don't buy the twist, especially given Katherine's normal reaction when she is clearly having the same delusions. If she had been excited instead of seemingly put off, that might have worked better. For the sake of the comedy, though, I guess I can live with it.

Where was the cat? We were in Katherine's apartment, you said she had a cat named Whiskers...

It's more sexual than romantic, but the tone was light and the sex was tame. Well, except for the dirty Sanchez reference.

Nice job, I'm a fan.
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 7th, 2019, 4:36pm; Reply: 16

Quoted from ReneC
Where was the cat? We were in Katherine's apartment, you said she had a cat named Whiskers...

It's more sexual than romantic, but the tone was light and the sex was tame. Well, except for the dirty Sanchez reference.


Yeah, where was old Whiskers?  Good catch, Rene!

For me, Dirty Sanchez references just scream out ROMCOM!!!!  HA!!!

Posted by: Cameron (Guest), February 7th, 2019, 4:43pm; Reply: 17
Hey writer,

So, I once had an imaginary friend, who claimed I was his imaginary friend, but his mate Dave couldn’t work it out...enough about that, let’s review the f**k out of this beast.

I really liked this conceptually. I mean there’s a circularity to it that is really clever and in fact I’d like to see a re-write outside of the romcom challenge as I don’t think the comedy lends itself to it particularly well. This could be a darkish drama, lots of options.

The comedy was actually a bit off putting, and quite vulgar in parts if I’m honest (and I ain’t no shrinking violet), the romance was definitely there. I reckon it’s actually one of the better ones here. Definitely give it a tidy and explore a bit further is my advice.

Well done,

Cam
Posted by: James McClung, February 7th, 2019, 5:44pm; Reply: 18
This was a decent effort. The concept is a little simplistic, but it's effective enough, and the ending was fun/unexpected.

Some minor nitpicks. I do think things resolved themselves a little too easily from time to time. There wasn't much of a chase as far as asking Katherine on a date, and the conflict at the end is swiftly defused. I mean, that's part of the gag, but I would've liked to have seen a little more. I also think Katherine could've been better developed as a character; perhaps you could've played off the character of Katie by showing ways in which Katherine is not at all like her and thus keeping Michael on his toes.

Not much else to say. I expect this was more or less fine. Good job.
Posted by: ghost and_ghostie gal, February 8th, 2019, 3:26am; Reply: 19
Nothing to rip.  Would only be nit-picking.  This was really enjoyable. I liked it, didn't love it,  and I got a sense of your characters throughout, but nothing made me bust a gut.   My one note; I think you missed a golden opportunity with Katie and Katherine to play off one another.   Kudos for finishing...
Posted by: Conz, February 12th, 2019, 8:58am; Reply: 20
Opening scene is confusing, but intriguing.

I get these are fantasy sequences, but can’t help but feel like there are better ways to indicate that in the writing.  Could just be me.

Trying to be a little too cute with the dialogue.  Basically everything fantasy Katie says makes me stop and do a double take for some reason.

Not sure I’m willing to let you make the rule that Michael and Katie can actually interact physically.  It’s your story, but something about that isn’t working.  Maybe there’s a twist coming, I’ll shut up…

Cute idea, flawed execution.  Might not be an idea for 10 pages.  
Posted by: Zack, February 12th, 2019, 7:43pm; Reply: 21
Big fan of this one.

Very easy to read. No typos that I saw, and it kept a quick pace. Impressive writing here.

I also thought it was pretty funny and surprisingly romantic, and maybe even a little sad in parts.

Yeah. This one works for me pretty much all the way around.

Great stuff. Can't wait to see who wrote this one.

Zack
Posted by: Spqr, February 12th, 2019, 8:29pm; Reply: 22
Very funny. I know the page limit didn't allow you to explain, but I'd really like to know why they can't get laid by real people.
Posted by: jayrex, February 15th, 2019, 11:33am; Reply: 23
This for me was a confusing read.  I get the idea of using make believe characters.  And even they hook up in the end.  But the names were similar which added to the confusion.  It just wasn't for me this kind story.  Sorry.
Posted by: AnthonyCawood, February 15th, 2019, 6:50pm; Reply: 24
This one was okay, well written and gentle tone.

Good effort.
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