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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  The 2019 Writers' Tournament  /  Writers' Tournament Round FIVE (5) Scripts
Posted by: Don, July 2nd, 2019, 8:38pm
Off Grid by A Prime Customer - When it's either Prime or premium for basic services. - Short, Sci Fi

Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind by Richard Doofus - When their construction truck breaks down, two workers pass the time by playing with their tools. - Short, Sci Fi

The Bridge by Wells Farrago - Be careful what you wish for. - Short, Sci Fi

Unforeseen Changes by Loyal Subject - Humphries has served His Majesty faithfully for years. There is no risk too great to fulfill his duty. - Short, Sci Fi

The Cold Invasion by A Fellow Human - After aliens wipe out all electronics, one woman braves wildlife, freezing cold, and the invaders to survive alone. - Short, Sci fi

Duel in the Desert by Hermann Buhl - Never invade a planet whose inhabitants are crazier than you. - Short, Sci Fi

Husks by Anonymous 70 - There is something very wrong with Earl. Something... Strange. - Short, Sci Fi, Horror

A New Present by Somebody I Used To Know - After a horrific accident, a father's undying love drives him to achieve the impossible. - Short, Sci Fi, Drama

A Message of Hope by I Wish I Was Asleep - An orphaned alien on Earth has given up all hope of finding home, but his homemade friend has not. - Short, Sci Fi

To the Poor by Carson Sawmill - In order to meet a logging tycoon for business relations, a rich couple follows a futuristic motorway that leads them deep into the wild. - Short, Sci Fi, Satire

Loophole by Anonymoust 75 - Two old men have a very bad plan. But, it just might work. - Short, Sci Fi

SimplyScript Fest by Dr. Draper - Don hosts a SimplyScripts film festival to showcase the overall winning script.  That has been filmed for us all to view. - Short, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Action
Posted by: Zack, July 2nd, 2019, 8:46pm; Reply: 1
11! I called it! In your faces! :P
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 2nd, 2019, 8:47pm; Reply: 2
As  always, Don is the man!

11 entries this round -- a good finish!
Posted by: Warren, July 2nd, 2019, 8:54pm; Reply: 3
11 isn’t bad at all, it’s been a tough challenge.

Thanks Don, thanks Sean.
Posted by: LC, July 2nd, 2019, 9:00pm; Reply: 4
There's one entry with an incomplete logline which I've notified Don about, so the writer need not panic.
...

Funny, I thought the entry count would be higher. Some of you have obviously been analytical with your guesses.
Posted by: FrankM, July 2nd, 2019, 9:28pm; Reply: 5

Quoted from LC
There's one entry with an incomplete logline which I've notified Don about, so the writer need not panic.


Don’t see one that’s incomplete, so Don must have already fixed it. Because he’s awesome... or an army of clones, which would also be awesome.
Posted by: Grandma Bear, July 2nd, 2019, 9:34pm; Reply: 6
I can probably read a couple tonight before bed. Hit me up if you want a read.  :)
Posted by: LC, July 2nd, 2019, 9:38pm; Reply: 7

Quoted from FrankM
Don’t see one that’s incomplete, so Don must have already fixed it. Because he’s awesome... or an army of clones, which would also be awesome.

Yep, fixed already!  Awesome all round.  :D

Posted by: ReneC, July 2nd, 2019, 10:28pm; Reply: 8
All right, let's do this one last time.
Posted by: FrankM, July 2nd, 2019, 10:34pm; Reply: 9

Quoted from Warren
11 isn’t bad at all, it’s been a tough challenge.

Thanks Don, thanks Sean.


Sounds like we got a football team going here. Someone here can play goalkeeper, right?

Dibs on left fullback.
Posted by: ReneC, July 2nd, 2019, 10:36pm; Reply: 10

Quoted from FrankM


Sounds like we got a football team going here. Someone here can play goalkeeper, right?

Dibs on left fullback.


I'll be keeper!
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 2nd, 2019, 10:36pm; Reply: 11

Quoted from FrankM


Sounds like we got a football team going here. Someone here can play goalkeeper, right?

Dibs on left fullback.


I'm a full on striker.  Some people might even call me... Ted?

Boy it's been a long day.  I'll show myself out.
Posted by: Matthew Taylor, July 3rd, 2019, 4:53am; Reply: 12
11 entries - Not bad at all after 5 weeks - also means I have a good chance at top 10 which was my goal when it all started lol

P.s I'll play right wing
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 3rd, 2019, 9:56am; Reply: 13
And we’re up to 12 scripts!  I was right!  Suck it Zack!!!
Posted by: Matthew Taylor, July 3rd, 2019, 9:58am; Reply: 14

Quoted from Gary in Houston
And we’re up to 12 scripts!  I was right!  Suck it Zack!!!


lol!!! just spat out my tea
Posted by: Don, July 3rd, 2019, 9:58am; Reply: 15
12. One script got caught in the works.  I've freed it and it is posted. Apologies.

Don
Posted by: PrussianMosby, July 3rd, 2019, 10:38am; Reply: 16

Quoted from Don
12. One script got caught in the works.  I've freed it and it is posted. Apologies.

Don


Ahh, it's legit.

Don, I just saw this one only has a Y/N possibility for criteria on the scoresheet. Not sure if that matters, just saying...
Posted by: Zack, July 3rd, 2019, 11:12am; Reply: 17
Not making excuses, but for whatever reason my writing software spazed out and saved multiple different versions of the PDF of my script. The draft I submitted is not the one I meant to. :( Will take my lumps and resubmit once the tournament is over.
Posted by: khamanna, July 3rd, 2019, 1:29pm; Reply: 18
I bow to the writers who lived up to the very end.

I feel like I have to read the last round. Since it's the 4th of July festivities I think I'll get to them this Friday or Sat.
Posted by: DustinBowcot (Guest), July 3rd, 2019, 2:07pm; Reply: 19
What does the 4th of July mean?
Posted by: JEStaats, July 3rd, 2019, 2:14pm; Reply: 20
It's generally between the 3rd and 5th.
Posted by: Don, July 3rd, 2019, 2:17pm; Reply: 21

Quoted from PrussianMosby


Ahh, it's legit.

Don, I just saw this one only has a Y/N possibility for criteria on the scoresheet. Not sure if that matters, just saying...


Thanks for the catch, I’ll fix it.

Don
Posted by: Matthew Taylor, July 3rd, 2019, 2:19pm; Reply: 22

Quoted from DustinBowcot
What does the 4th of July mean?


It means we don't rule their lands anymore
Posted by: DustinBowcot (Guest), July 3rd, 2019, 2:34pm; Reply: 23
Yeah, I'm just kidding. We don't celebrate that here - for obvious reasons.
Posted by: Warren, July 3rd, 2019, 6:38pm; Reply: 24
Back for another day of reviews. I see there has been a new entry, intriguing :)  I think I know where I'll be starting.
Posted by: Warren, July 4th, 2019, 8:57pm; Reply: 25
Does anyone know when the whole tournament ends?

Has Sean or Don said when the round 4 standings will go up?

There are so many threads now, it's hard to stay on top of it all.
Posted by: FrankM, July 4th, 2019, 9:00pm; Reply: 26

Quoted from Warren
Does anyone know when the whole tournament ends?

Has Sean or Don said when the round 4 standings will go up?

There are so many threads now, it's hard to stay on top of it all.


There's no countdown, but I'm guessing on Monday Eastern US time. I think that's sometime Thursday for you guys in Australia :)
Posted by: Warren, July 4th, 2019, 9:04pm; Reply: 27

Quoted from FrankM


I think that's sometime Thursday for you guys in Australia :)


Seems legit.
Posted by: LC, July 4th, 2019, 9:10pm; Reply: 28

Quoted from FrankM
...I'm guessing on Monday Eastern US time. I think that's sometime Thursday for you guys in Australia :)

;D Well, we are from the future.

Posted by: FrankM, July 4th, 2019, 9:11pm; Reply: 29

Quoted from Warren


Seems legit.


Late 2014 into 2015 I was working on a project with someone in Australia and I texted just after midnight her time... "Are there hoverboards and flying cars? We were promised hoverboards and flying cars in 2015!"
Posted by: eldave1, July 5th, 2019, 11:48am; Reply: 30
An interesting batch of scripts so far - good job to all. Five rounds, tough parameters and you're churning out some solid stuff. Hats off to all.
Posted by: JEStaats, July 5th, 2019, 2:00pm; Reply: 31
Woohoo! Done. A lot of talent on this site. Think about how many shorts were written in the last five weeks and how few duds there were. For this tourney to be 'all in fun' and just for bragging rights, everyone brought there A-game.

Nice work, everyone. Proud to be associated with this group. Even when I'm cussing someone out for a scathing review, it's usually warranted.
Posted by: AnthonyCawood, July 5th, 2019, 4:03pm; Reply: 32
Is it just me, probably is, but I'm gonna miss not trying to find a covincing narrative to fit Sean's brutal criteria, keep it under 5 pages... oh and write it in 72 hours.

It's been a fun!
Posted by: Matthew Taylor, July 6th, 2019, 4:27am; Reply: 33
Finally finished all of my tournament reads! Bravo to all

*Mic drop*

*Exits stage left*
Posted by: JEStaats, July 6th, 2019, 12:44pm; Reply: 34
Has anyone received their scorecard yet?
Posted by: eldave1, July 6th, 2019, 12:52pm; Reply: 35
Despite a house full of visiting relatives - managed to get through them all - way to grind it out mates. Huge kudos to all of you making it until the end.
Posted by: FrankM, July 6th, 2019, 1:28pm; Reply: 36

Quoted from JEStaats
Has anyone received their scorecard yet?


You should have received a PM from Don with a heads-up that the Round 5 scripts are up... that has the link to the scorecard.

Just for a change of pace, I remembered to put in my email address the first time this week.
Posted by: FrankM, July 6th, 2019, 2:48pm; Reply: 37
So, for “Round 6” we’ll have criteria based on what everyone’s been mentioning...

Genre: drama
Location: online forum
Object: shoehorn
Posted by: JEStaats, July 6th, 2019, 3:49pm; Reply: 38

Quoted from FrankM


You should have received a PM from Don with a heads-up that the Round 5 scripts are up... that has the link to the scorecard.

Just for a change of pace, I remembered to put in my email address the first time this week.


That's what I thought but I never got one this round. I'll message him. Thanks!
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 8:30pm; Reply: 39
Am I right in thinking that voting closes in approx. 4.5 hours?
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 8:36pm; Reply: 40
In the meantime, some guesses:

Off Grid - Matthew/Anthony
Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind - Frank
The Bridge - Gary
Unforeseen Changes - Anthony/Matthew
The Cold Invasion - Rene
Husks - Zack
A Message of Hope - Alex
To the Poor - Hank

What have you got for the final round Matthew?
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 8th, 2019, 8:56pm; Reply: 41

Quoted from Warren
In the meantime, some guesses:

Off Grid - Matthew/Anthony
Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind - Frank
The Bridge - Gary
Unforeseen Changes - Anthony/Matthew
The Cold Invasion - Rene
Husks - Zack
A Message of Hope - Alex
To the Poor - Hank

What have you got for the final round Matthew?


Interesting. So no choice for Paul?  Hmmm.

And there were 4 you didn't choose, so one of those is yours, by default (unless you're doing a fake out).
Posted by: LC, July 8th, 2019, 8:58pm; Reply: 42
Warren, you think Hank's back in?
I see no reviews...

I'm with you re  The Cold Invasion. I'd be mighty surprised if that's not Rene's.

Looking forward to an OWC now.  ;)
Posted by: LC, July 8th, 2019, 9:00pm; Reply: 43
No confirming or denying, folks.
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:03pm; Reply: 44

Quoted from Gary in Houston


Interesting. So no choice for Paul?  Hmmm.

And there were 4 you didn't choose, so one of those is yours, by default (unless you're doing a fake out).




I have been known to do a fake out, I've done it in this very tourney :P

It’s all a bit of fun.

No guess for Paul this round, I really struggled to see his writing in any of the scripts. I know it will be one of the better ones, but there is usually a trait of his I can spot, this time it wasn’t clear to me. It could very well be one of the better scripts I’ve already guessed, I just think it’s more than likely not, who knows  :)

To be clear, I don’t know any for sure!!


Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:05pm; Reply: 45

Quoted from LC
Warren, you think Hank's back in?
I see no reviews...

I'm with you re  The Cold Invasion. I'd be mighty surprised if that's not Rene's.

Looking forward to an OWC now.  ;)


Hanks been in a few rounds with little to no reviews so I wouldn’t be surprised, it could just as easily be Alex's script... maybe.

An OWC, that's a joke right?

Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:08pm; Reply: 46

Quoted from LC
No confirming or denying, folks.



All very much speculation on my end.

Looking at all the previous rounds, this should all end really soon, I think.
Posted by: LC, July 8th, 2019, 9:14pm; Reply: 47
Speculation is allowed. :)

P.S. And no, I wasn't joking about an OWC. I have no idea, and it may be put forward, but there is currently a place-holder for July.

Ooh, it's since changed. Perhaps writer-fatigue has been noted.
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 8th, 2019, 9:24pm; Reply: 48
Rene -- Cold Invasion.
Javier -- Duel in the Desert
Warren -- A New Present
Paul -- Loophole, maybe??
John -- The Bridge
Anthony -- Unforeseen Changes
Matthew -- Off Grid

Total guesses on all those.
Posted by: FrankM, July 8th, 2019, 9:27pm; Reply: 49

Quoted from LC
Speculation is allowed. :)

P.S. And no, I wasn't joking about an OWC. I have no idea, and it may be put forward, but there is currently a place-holder for July.

Ooh, it's since changed. Perhaps writer-fatigue has been noted.


It’s still labeled as a placeholder for July, just the board name got changed to “Just Ignore This”

To be clear, I have no insider knowledge about this. Just sure that I’m not running an OWC in July.
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:28pm; Reply: 50

Quoted from LC


P.S. And no, I wasn't joking about an OWC. I have no idea, and it may be put forward, but there is currently a place-holder for July.

Ooh, it's since changed. Perhaps writer-fatigue has been noted.


I mean if there was one I'd definitely play, it was one of my goals this year to do all the OWCs, but damn haha. Even a small break would be nice, or it would just feel like round 6 :)

Posted by: FrankM, July 8th, 2019, 9:30pm; Reply: 51

Quoted from Warren


I mean if there was one I'd definitely play, it was one of my goals this year to do all the OWCs, but damn haha. Even a small break would be nice, or it would just feel like round 6 :)



Drama. Online forum. Shoe-horn.

;)
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:33pm; Reply: 52

Quoted from Gary in Houston
Rene -- Cold Invasion.
Javier -- Duel in the Desert
Warren -- A New Present
Paul -- Loophole, maybe??
John -- The Bridge
Anthony -- Unforeseen Changes
Matthew -- Off Grid

Total guesses on all those.


Interesting, the Anthony/Matthew one seems good to me, just unsure of who owns what. John for The Bridge is also one I'd entertain.

I think Rene has made a bit of a name for himself this tourney as an excellent world builder, but time will tell. I’d like to see what he could do with a feature.
Posted by: Warren, July 8th, 2019, 9:34pm; Reply: 53

Quoted from FrankM


Drama. Online forum. Shoe-horn.

;)


There surely has to be a shoe-horn in a challenge one day!
Posted by: FrankM, July 8th, 2019, 10:38pm; Reply: 54
Sorry all, I'm off to bed. Please let me know which one I wrote, okay?
Posted by: eldave1, July 8th, 2019, 10:54pm; Reply: 55

Quoted from LC
Warren, you think Hank's back in?
I see no reviews...

I'm with you re  The Cold Invasion. I'd be mighty surprised if that's not Rene's.

Looking forward to an OWC now.  ;)


I don't think I've seen a Hank review since round 1
Posted by: ReneC, July 8th, 2019, 11:55pm; Reply: 56

Quoted from Warren


I think Rene has made a bit of a name for himself this tourney as an excellent world builder, but time will tell. I’d like to see what he could do with a feature.


Be careful what you wish for.   ;)

I've written a few features. Only one is really world-building. My TV pilot is much more so.

I have some truly epic world-building for a few features I'm still developing.

But most of my world-building comes out in Dungeons & Dragons.   ;D
Posted by: Warren, July 9th, 2019, 12:14am; Reply: 57

Quoted from ReneC



I've written a few features. Only one is really world-building. My TV pilot is much more so.

I have some truly epic world-building for a few features I'm still developing.



Will they eventually make their way to SS?
Posted by: Warren, July 9th, 2019, 12:14am; Reply: 58
So are we done? All over red rover?
Posted by: ReneC, July 9th, 2019, 12:19am; Reply: 59

Quoted from Warren


Will they eventually make their way to SS?


Possibly. When I have time to rewrite them. They're all first draft, except the TV pilot. Well, one is finished but that's the one that I sold, so it won't be posted.
Posted by: Matthew Taylor, July 9th, 2019, 4:36am; Reply: 60

Quoted from Warren
In the meantime, some guesses:

Off Grid - Matthew/Anthony
Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind - Frank
The Bridge - Gary
Unforeseen Changes - Anthony/Matthew
The Cold Invasion - Rene
Husks - Zack
A Message of Hope - Alex
To the Poor - Hank

What have you got for the final round Matthew?


Hank's not in round 5 - guarantee you that

A New Present - Warren
Husks - Zack
The Cold Invasion - Rene
Duel In the Desert - Paul
Unforeseen Changes - Frank
Simplyscript Fest - Jayrex
The Bridge - Anthony

Surely Warren must be banned from entering the next OWC.... gotta give the rest of us a chance   :)
Posted by: FrankM, July 9th, 2019, 8:50am; Reply: 61

Quoted from Matthew Taylor
Surely Warren must be banned from entering the next OWC.... gotta give the rest of us a chance   :)


“Aaaaaand now, the award for Best Short Script Not Written by Warren iiiiiiiis:”
Posted by: khamanna, July 9th, 2019, 10:24am; Reply: 62
Oh wow, but Hank was in the first 3. Someone said he/she saw his reviews in the first round, but I haven't. I may sound unethical or something but it's such poor form on his part. I don't know how he does that.
Posted by: eldave1, July 9th, 2019, 11:56am; Reply: 63

Quoted from khamanna
Oh wow, but Hank was in the first 3. Someone said he/she saw his reviews in the first round, but I haven't. I may sound unethical or something but it's such poor form on his part. I don't know how he does that.


Agree
Posted by: jayrex, July 9th, 2019, 12:42pm; Reply: 64
I've been quite slow for the last round.  I'm back from a three day stag party and I'm bruised all over.
Posted by: ReneC, July 9th, 2019, 1:12pm; Reply: 65

Quoted from jayrex
I've been quite slow for the last round.  I'm back from a three day stag party and I'm bruised all over.


Sounds like you were doing it right...  ;)
Posted by: Gary in Houston, July 9th, 2019, 2:52pm; Reply: 66
While we’re waiting for results, if you want to go check out my short film that was recently made out of one of my OWC scripts  (“Skip”), Don posted a link to it, along with the password, in the OWC threads.

I like how it turned out - was filmed at an actual nursing home with pretty much an entirely minority cast. Again, it just goes to show that there are people out there looking at these Challenge scripts with an eye on finding something to film.

Thanks as always to Don for posting it and for providing this site as a way to expose our work!

Gary
Posted by: Warren, July 9th, 2019, 6:47pm; Reply: 67
Is the WT over? Votes cast and just waiting for results?
Posted by: Warren, July 9th, 2019, 6:49pm; Reply: 68

Quoted from FrankM


“Aaaaaand now, the award for Best Short Script Not Written by Warren iiiiiiiis:”


This cracked me up :)

But I don’t think this is over just yet, I think the top spot is very much up for grabs.
Posted by: ReneC, July 9th, 2019, 10:37pm; Reply: 69

Quoted from Warren
Is the WT over? Votes cast and just waiting for results?


I think we killed Sean.  :'(
Posted by: Warren, July 9th, 2019, 10:52pm; Reply: 70

Quoted from ReneC


I think we killed Sean.  :'(


I was thinking the same thing :) He's been a stranger for a while now.

Posted by: JEStaats, July 9th, 2019, 11:01pm; Reply: 71

Quoted from ReneC


I think we killed Sean.  :'(


That's a good title. I need to write that down.
Posted by: ReneC, July 10th, 2019, 3:03am; Reply: 72

Quoted from JEStaats


That's a good title. I need to write that down.


It has to include the emoji.
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