So, it's finally Round 5. It's only been five weeks? How is that even possible? Sometimes, you need to experience a complete breakdown in order to move on with life, I guess. Anyway...

Genre: Sci-Fi.

Location: Broken Down Car.

Object: Handsaw.

Good luck.

+++ Submit to SimplyScripts.com/OWC +++

This should be interesting.

Brutal. Not a car again :(

Oh boy...

Should be interesting.

Okay, despite my initial moaning and dismay( 10 minutes ago :) )I already have a full formed idea that I'm quite happy with. No writing for me today, but I'll play around with it in my head and put a first draft down tomorrow some time.

I had to get this idea down on paper, and I have to say, I'm really looking forward to writing this script.

Sean you really do inspire creativity with these ridiculous sets of criteria.

Quoted from Warren Sean you really do inspire creativity with these ridiculous sets of criteria.

That's what you guys pay me for.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde That's what you guys pay me for.

I think you need a raise.

The Warren grows stronger.

The Warren is strong. The Warren is wise.

A handsaw is the most un-sci-fi thing...what the serious fuck.

This is going to be a gong show.

Glad I'm out of this one!

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Glad I'm out of this one!

I can't wait to see what Sober Rene dreams up for this one!  ;D

Quoted from ReneC I can't wait to see what Sober Rene dreams up for this one!  ;D

There's a sober Rene?

Quoted from DustinBowcot There's a sober Rene?

I'd like to think so, but it's becoming more and more mythical. Practically an urban legend now.

Quoted from ReneC I'd like to think so, but it's becoming more and more mythical. Practically an urban legend now.

Haha... nice one.

Finished. Saved my worst for last but I’m not changing a word.

Quoted from ReneC The Warren is strong. The Warren is wise.

Wise may be taking it a step too far :p

Libby, you going to be playing in the final round?

If a good idea strikes... Hmm, not sure
...
Car. Sean, can we extend this to vehicle of some sort?

Quoted from ReneC A handsaw is the most un-sci-fi thing...what the serious fuck. This is going to be a gong show.

I mean, duct tape I could understand in a sci-fi story... it can fix just about anything. But if you thought the hand sanitizer felt shoe-horned into stories, just watch out for this next batch.

I had a great idea this morning, then I re-read the criteria and it evaporated ;-(

Back to the drawing board.

Think I'm gonna bow out for the final round. Nothing is coming to me for the parameters and I don't want to put out another crap show like my round 4 script. I'll still try to read as much as I can. Thanks for doing this, Sean and Don. It's been fun. Good luck, everyone.

Quoted from Zack Think I'm gonna bow out for the final round. Nothing is coming to me for the parameters and I don't want to put out another crap show like my round 4 script. I'll still try to read as much as I can. Thanks for doing this, Sean and Don. It's been fun. Good luck, everyone.

Come on Zack, you can see this thing through! I know which round 4 entry is yours and considering you said it was 1 hours work, it's far from a crap show. The premise is fine, if you had more time to fine tune it would be the kind of story I would really enjoy.

Quoted from LC Sean, can we extend this to vehicle of some sort?

Not entirely. Road vehicle, four wheels. Beyond that, you're at the reviewers' mercy.

I have a great idea. Round 5 is mine  ;)

Hacksaw ...

Would using Jack Reynolds as your protag count?

Good luck to all

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Not entirely. Road vehicle, four wheels. Beyond that, you're at the reviewers' mercy.

Some cars have three wheels.  :P

Sober Rene's got this.  ;D

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Come on Zack, you can see this thing through! I know which round 4 entry is yours and considering you said it was 1 hours work, it's far from a crap show. The premise is fine, if you had more time to fine tune it would be the kind of story I would really enjoy.

Thanks for the encouragement, Dude. If an idea hits me, I'll run with it. The broken down vehicle is no issue, but I have no idea how to incorporate a hacksaw with out it feeling shoe-horned in. There are only some many uses for a hacksaw, and when you factor in the sci-fi genre, this round is particularly brutal. As of right now, I'm totally stumped. :(

Quoted from Zack Thanks for the encouragement, Dude. If an idea hits me, I'll run with it. The broken down vehicle is no issue, but I have no idea how to incorporate a hacksaw with out it feeling shoe-horned in. There are only some many uses for a hacksaw, and when you factor in the sci-fi genre, this round is particularly brutal. As of right now, I'm totally stumped. :(

If it helps, the criteria is “handsaw” which could be a hacksaw, coping saw, keyhole saw, etc.

If the story is set on Tralfamadore, you might be able to sneak by someone saying “my hand saw that.” ;)

Quoted from FrankM If it helps, the criteria is “handsaw” which could be a hacksaw, coping saw, keyhole saw, etc.

Thanks, Frank. I'm pretty sure nobody realised that.

Quoted from FrankM If it helps, the criteria is “handsaw” which could be a hacksaw, coping saw, keyhole saw, etc. If the story is set on Tralfamadore, you might be able to sneak by someone saying “my hand saw that.” ;)

Holy shit. I feel dumb. Completely misread that. Should be much easier now that I'm not handicapping myself. Lol

Thanks, Frank.

Couple of questions...

How much of the script needs to take place inside of the broken down vehicle?

And what constitutes as a handsaw? Can it be a small chainsaw? An electric saw? A dismounted floor saw?

Quoted from Zack Couple of questions... How much of the script needs to take place inside of the broken down vehicle? And what constitutes as a handsaw? Can it be a small chainsaw? An electric saw? A dismounted floor saw?

Any type of saw you can use with one hand.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Any type of saw you can use with one hand.

That's what I was thinking. Just wanted to make sure. Lol.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Any type of saw you can use with one hand.

Ash Williams?

Quoted from FrankM Ash Williams?

Was literally just thinking that. Lol

Quoted from FrankM Ash Williams?

It still kinda takes two hands to use it... even if one of them is missing.

Alright. I've got that spark back. Matt, I blame you for this. ;D

Quoted from Zack Alright. I've got that spark back. Matt, I blame you for this. ;D

;D I look forward to reading what you come up with

FADE IN:
A space ship hovers over a car broken down on the side of the road.  On the side of the car it reads "DAVID COPPERFRAUD, MAGICIAN."

COPPERFRAUD, 103 and incredibly handsome for his age, notices the space ship.  WE SEE him thinking.  Maybe he's thinking.  He could have gas for all we know.  But in quick order he pulls out a handsaw from under his majestic cape and starts sawing his car in half.

5 WEEKS LATER --

The space ship long gone, Copperfraud finally finishes sawing the car in half.  His assistant, FLOOZIE, 18, built like a stripper, sticks her head out on one end of the car, and her legs out the other end.  Copperfraud takes a bow to a non-existent audience.

Despondent that the ship has disappeared, Copperfraud saws his own head off.  

Just as his head hits the ground, the space ship reappears.  A door opens and a grotesque alien, ZORK, with 385 1/2 tentacles, 3 heads and one eyeball, appears in the opening.  Zork sees Copperfraud's head rolling on the ground.

                                              ZORK
                  Sixyslkwexnnklajsldfuiuoialsdkjalsdfuaosdufois
                  lkajsldkjfjj008909808023842093838309ljkjwe0...
                 osoiu32930lnesdj!!!!!

Zork farts and returns to the ship. It immediately disappears.  Floozie lights a Lucky Strike cigarette.  The cigarette with a smooth taste.  The flame from the cig lights Zork's gaseous fart, starting a chain reaction that blows up the entire planet.  Ha ha!

                                                                                                       FADE OUT, BITCH

Quoted from Gary in Houston                                                                                                        FADE OUT, BITCH

I haven't stopped laughing.

I like that you added mystery to your story, Gary.

I can't stop wondering... what happened to that 386th tentacle?

Quoted from PKCardinal I like that you added mystery to your story, Gary. I can't stop wondering... what happened to that 386th tentacle?

It becomes the object in week six of the Challenge:

Place:  Strip Club Men's Bathroom

Object: missing half of Zork's tentacle

Genre: John Hughes 80's teen comedy

I would definitely read a short titled: The 386th Tentacle.

Things get pretty crazy around here in the fifth week.  ;D

I'm done. And I freakin' love it.  ;)

I'm going away for the next two days, back Monday evening. I'm going to have to submit it tonight just in case, but I hope to have time to polish it a bit and resubmit.

Bloody hell, got half way through my script and realised it wasn't going to come together the way I planned :/

Now I have a day to think of, write, and submit something else. Felt pretty good the other day, now I'm back to square one.

Quoted from ReneC I'm done. And I freakin' love it.  ;)

The wink both confuses and scares me.

Quoted from ReneC Things get pretty crazy around here in the fifth week.  ;D

This is so true.  I've just submitted.

I'm still drawing a blank...

Me too, sadly.

Quoted from ReneC I'm done. And I freakin' love it.  ;)

GULP.

I have an idea. What I may not have is time.

Not sure if I'll be able to recover after my 4th round effort, but I'll be damned if I'm not giving this my best shot. Good luck, everyone. ;D

Typical. Finally got a semi-idea, but don't know if I'll have time.  :-/

Quoted from LC Typical. Finally got a semi-idea, but don't know if I'll have time.  :-/

I'll be writing tonight as well.

Well, good luck, Warren . I think you'll be fine. :) I hate when I have an idea stuck in my head and it's making no room for a new one. Finally I released it so a new one could creep in.

Quoted from LC Well, good luck, Warren . I think you'll be fine. :) I hate when I have an idea stuck in my head and it's making no room for a new one. Finally I released it so a new one could creep in.

Fine is probably the best I can hope for in round 5, but thanks.

Done! Submitted! That's my campaign over. Can just relax and hopefully read some good sci-fi. That was an epic adventure.

Thanks Sean and Don for running this. Much fun was had.

Dammit, saw a few typos, edited and submitted again. Not looking at it now until it goes up. I'm really done now.

Well, now I am panicking lol - I want to get an entry in as I don't like not finishing what I started, I want to see it through.

But, it's amazing how, in your head, an idea can be great, but turns to absolute bullshit as soon as it is written down lol

looks like it's going to be another late night, wine fueled entry

Finally! just written FADE OUT on round 5... holy crap was this tournament a bigger challenge than I had ever expected.

This last entry was the most rushed, the most drink fueled, the most uninspired piece of word vomit I have ever produced... but I did it, and I am strangely proud that I have managed to complete the entire challenge.

Well done to everyone who has entered, entirely or partially, this challenge. I have learned a lot from you guys, it has (mostly) been super fun, and I wish you all the best of luck with your new scripts - it will make me immensely happy if I see atleast one of these produced.

Forgive me if you don't see me around here much after this... I'll be sleeping  ;)

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Finally! just written FADE OUT on round 5... holy crap was this tournament a bigger challenge than I had ever expected. This last entry was the most rushed, the most drink fueled, the most uninspired piece of word vomit I have ever produced... but I did it, and I am strangely proud that I have managed to complete the entire challenge. Well done to everyone who has entered, entirely or partially, this challenge. I have learned a lot from you guys, it has (mostly) been super fun, and I wish you all the best of luck with your new scripts - it will make me immensely happy if I see atleast one of these produced. Forgive me if you don't see me around here much after this... I'll be sleeping  ;)

Congratulations on finishing, Mathew. It's a marathon for sure. You did a great job, got a couple of excellent scripts out of the deal and earned some bragging rights along the way.

Can't wait to see what you came up with this round.

For the record, I'm editing my entry as we speak.

It's either a load of garbage, or pretty good. I seriously can't tell which. I can only guarantee it is nothing in between.

Quoted from PKCardinal For the record, I'm editing my entry as we speak. It's either a load of garbage, or pretty good. I seriously can't tell which. I can only guarantee it is nothing in between.

I'll go with anything between pretty good and amazing for yours.

1.15 am UK and i've just submitted... phew!

Have lost all sense of perspective on wether my last script is rubbish or merely average ;-)

Have enjoyed the challenge though, the 72 hour window has been brutal but I'm happy I stayed the course.

Well done to all!

Well...it's been five weeks of mediocrity for this cowboy. Riding that flatline between seven and thirteen. I just submitted another meh short for your dissection. Serenity now.

It's amazing how a good story can be just obliterated by the focus of just a line or two of dialog.

Damn it.

Quoted from JEStaats It's amazing how a good story can be just obliterated

This sums up how I felt after your The Belly of the Beast review :P

Funny, Warren.  ;D Don't we all love the candour and anonymity of these challenges.
...
I'm not going to make the deadline. Yes, I know, you're all with baited breath at that announcement... After ditching my second idea last night for a third brainstorm this morning there's not enough time to finish. I might finish it later without being hamstrung by the handsaw.

Gonna be mighty curious how you all weaved that in.
Carry on.
Sadly,  out here.

Managed to get something in under the wire. Let's see how everyone rips this one apart.

Quoted from LC Funny, Warren.  ;D Don't we all love the candour and anonymity of these challenges. ...

Thankfully we don’t need to impress everybody, just the vast majority :) That review was crushing though haha. Thanks for the sleepless night John :P

Quoted from LC I'm not going to make the deadline. Yes, I know, you're all with baited breath at that announcement... After ditching my second idea last night for a third brainstorm this morning there's not enough time to finish. I might finish it later without being hamstrung by the handsaw. Gonna be mighty curious how you all weaved that in. Carry on. Sadly,  out here.

Sorry to hear it, I reckon we'll drop to about 10 entries this round, just a feeling.

Quoted from LC I might finish it later without being hamstrung by the handsaw. Gonna be mighty curious how you all weaved that in.

I went with a broken down car made entirely out of handsaws.


Oops. I’ve said too much.

Quoted from Warren This sums up how I felt after your The Belly of the Beast review :P

OMG, I'm laughing so hard at the both of us on this one. I went back and read my review...sorry, mate. I think that's one of the harshest I've ever written! Maybe I was riding that rum-runner highball, who knows. But seriously, I would expect more from you!

Quoted from PKCardinal I went with a broken down car made entirely out of handsaws. Oops. I’ve said too much.

Oh shit, is it too late to resubmit???

Quoted from JEStaats OMG, I'm laughing so hard at the both of us on this one. I went back and read my review...sorry, mate. I think that's one of the harshest I've ever written! Maybe I was riding that rum-runner highball, who knows. But seriously, I would expect more from you!

All good, I give frank/honest reviews so I have to be able to take them. I did have a moment of questioning whether writing was really for me after that review though :)

Quoted from JEStaats I would expect more from you!

Thankfully my round 4 script seems to have met your standards :)

Um John, Warren placed third that round with Belly Of The Beast, so I think he's since recovered from your scathing (I just read it) review.

Good work keeping him grounded though. ;D

That narrows it down dramatically since so few did. Mine met with a familiar scalpel.

Quoted from LC Um John, Warren placed third that round with Belly Of The Beast, so I think he's since recovered from your scathing (I just read it) review. Good work keeping him grounded though. ;D

I know. Funny, but I'm still a wee bit baffled.

Quoted from LC Um John, Warren placed third that round with Belly Of The Beast, so I think he's since recovered from your scathing (I just read it) review.

Only just barely :P

I just got home from my Canada Day weekend away, and it's past the deadline. I'm SO glad I pushed to submit something before I left. Even with no chance to revisit it, I had more time to write that than any of the previous rounds, so I'm good with that.

Now I have to wait until tomorrow for the bashing to begin.  ::)

It's been a brutal 5 weeks. So much reading. So many ideas. It's a whirlwind. I'm looking forward to a little down time after this round ends.

Congrats to everyone who participated. It's been fun being in the trenches with you all.

Quoted from ReneC It's been a brutal 5 weeks. So much reading. So many ideas. It's a whirlwind. I'm looking forward to a little down time after this round ends. Congrats to everyone who participated. It's been fun being in the trenches with you all.

Agreed, so much fun but I can't wait to get back to writing some comics!

All so caught up in the tournament...

Head on down to Frank's Birthday thread and wish him a belated (now, was yesterday) cheers.  :)

I forgot to mention, I did read all the scripts this round but haven't had time to leave reviews for around five or six of them. Sorry if yours is one, if you want me to write the review just message me after the reveal and I'll be happy to.

I wonder how many entries this time round?

Quoted from jayrex I wonder how many entries this time round?

I'm betting 10.

Quoted from ReneC I'm betting 10.

It’s so quiet here, I’m thinking 5.

I'm in the same boat as Rene. I've read a lot more than I've been able to actually review. Will try to get a couple more review up for the round 4 scripts. If you want my opinion on your script, just hit me up after the reveal. :)

Quoted from jayrex It’s so quiet here, I’m thinking 5.

We're chomping at the bit to see the final round of scripts, but we're being good little patient SSers so the amazing and fantastic Don doesn't feel pressured.

Quoted from ReneC We're chomping at the bit to see the final round of scripts, but we're being good little patient SSers so the amazing and fantastic Don doesn't feel pressured.

I have no idea how Don and Sean have been able to keep this thing going so strong. Some sort of sorcery is at play. :D

The last OWC I hosted nearly killed me. Lol :P

Round 1 -- 20 participants
Round 2 -- 21
Round 3 -- 18
Round 4 -- 15
Round 5 -- ??

We're losing 3 a round for the last three rounds so I'll say we'll be at 12.

Though I had time to think about my story, I literally had three hours to type it up.

Do plan to fix up all five entries incorporating the feedback I received.

I guessed 10 on the other thread, I'm sticking with that.

Quoted from Gary in Houston Round 1 -- 20 participants Round 2 -- 21 Round 3 -- 18 Round 4 -- 15 Round 5 -- ?? We're losing 3 a round for the last three rounds so I'll say we'll be at 12.

Linear extrapolation of chaotic processes for the win :)

Quoted from FrankM Though I had time to think about my story, I literally had three hours to type it up. Do plan to fix up all five entries incorporating the feedback I received.

I'm trying as hard as I can to forget my round 4 abomination. It haunts me. :( The others, I actually plan to go back to. :)

Quoted from FrankM Linear extrapolation of chaotic processes for the win :)

Say what?  ;D

Quoted from FrankM Linear extrapolation of chaotic processes for the win :)

I'll counter your "linear extrapolation of chaotic processes" card with my:

"Post hoc ergo propter hoc" card.

It rained last week at my house and 5 participants dropped out.

It rained again this week, therefore 5 more will drop out. Warren is correct. It'll be 10.

I'll say 11. :D

I'm excited to see the last set of scripts... it's genuinely been a challenge but I've enjoyed it ;-)

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I'm excited to see the last set of scripts... it's genuinely been a challenge but I've enjoyed it ;-)

I really want to see who wrote what for round 4. Some really solid scripts considering the criteria, and I have no idea who they belong to.

Quoted from Warren I really want to see who wrote what for round 4. Some really solid scripts considering the criteria, and I have no idea who they belong to.

I'm guessing you've been 'redeemed' this last round?  ;)

There's no "redeeming" Warren.  He may have to go find "sanctuary" with Paul.  

That's all I got. And I stole one of them from the previous post.

Quoted from JEStaats I'm guessing you've been 'redeemed' this last round?  ;)

Quoted from Gary in Houston There's no "redeeming" Warren.  He may have to go find "sanctuary" with Paul.   That's all I got. And I stole one of them from the previous post.

;D Very good, all round, but I have no idea what you’re talking about  :P