Screenwriting : Ah well by Geoff Hall

Does anyone else have a problem with posting on the site, when you are busy editing your thoughts and all of a sudden you get those dotted underlines and a highlight through a sentence or paragraph? What’s the remedy, please?

I don't think it's a failure, Geoff Hall. I think your concept is just so unique and experimental it didn't catch on at the Palm Springs WIFT & Stage 32 Short Script Competition. And like the email says, "There is no such thing as "failure," only feedback." I read your script and if I remember correctly, it wouldn't cost much to film yourself, so that's an option.

"you get those dotted underlines and a highlight through a sentence or paragraph." I've had that happen. It's an easy fix. Type your comment in Microsoft Word and paste it as "Paste as plain text."

Maurice Vaughan I’m broke. I can’t make films anymore!

Well, it is a failure, no one can convince me otherwise. Like I said, it’s a competition with winners and loser and I’m a loser. Yes, it’s experimental, but hell there should be room for that kinda thing, otherwise we just create the same ol’ same ol’.

True.I do tend to write this kind of stuff and like pushing the envelope, but I have to believe, really I do have to believe, that somewhere there is someone who gets it. Sorry. I’m just feeling incredibly jaundiced today. My family has made so many sacrifices for me and I just want to show them something in return. Emotional appeal over with. FADE TO BLACK, or FADE TO BLACK DOG DAY.

Thanks for the pasting tip, I’ll try it out next time it happens.

There should be a forum or contests for more experimental films.

You're welcome, Geoff Hall. Have you thought about using free stock footage to make your film? You could find an actress on here to do the voiceover.

Michael David Oh my, Michael. Now why do I love that idea so much!

Now, hands up, I must admit that I’m not really a competition man. I write to get things made, not to win prizes, but I was just tempted to enter this one, mostly because its roots are in the Stage32 November Write Club. I just felt a surge of enthusiasm for it, that now seems rather misplaced! Here’s to being on the crest of a slump!

Maurice Vaughan stock footage wouldn’t cut it for me, Maurice. It would lack the tone that I want for the story, as well as the control. It would feel like I was trying to put together a Rolls Royce from parts left over from a Skoda, or what’s the American equivalent? A Plymouth?

Have you tried to get a grant, Geoff Hall?

Maurice Vaughan from whom?

Maurice Vaughan PS, the whole British grants and film finance is a joke at the moment.

I'm not sure who gives grants, Geoff Hall. "PS, the whole British grants and film finance is a joke at the moment." I wonder if anyone offers international grants. You could ask in the Financing/Crowdfunding Lounge.

Maurice Vaughan plus, the main character is a first nation poet, so British grants probably wouldn’t cut it.

Maurice Vaughan thanks Maurice. I will check it out.

You're welcome, Geoff Hall. Hope you find out some information and get a grant! :D

You , nor your script is a failure.

Dan Guardino I agree Dan, and that’s why I won’t be entering any more competitions. I write to get things produced, it’s just I’m good at writing and crap at finding a producer!

John C. Bounds Hi Chris, and thanks. I think in terms of this competition, it has failed to capture anyone’s imagination. It has failed to raise my profile, it has failed to advance my career in anyway.

However, it’s a bloody good script and story. I’ve even been shown routes for its distribution in art galleries as an installation video, but those things don’t butter no parsnips, as we say in Blighty, for a competition that is, if you get my drift?

Geoff Hall I do wonder if someone has ever written dialogue with "Butter my parsnips." Maybe in one of the 'Carry On' films? I'm curious about the installation video comment. Have you taken that option up? Granted it won't be the entirety of the film, which you clearly feel very strongly about (quite right too, if we don't believe in our scripts then no one will), but in an abstract way it could double up as a proof of concept?

I stopped doing contest because there are just too many competing for only one winner. The entrance fees have gotten so high and just think paying $65 for every competition out there... every year. I was like nope, it's a money-maker, plain and simple.

I have no respect for most contests when you hear people say they are reading for contests to learn screenwriting.

Therefore they are less experienced than most of the people entering.

This sounds arrogant or horrible. But I don’t pay to be judged by people with less experience or people that want my work to fit some template.

The narcissistic preening by some in this thread shows many are either off their meds or need a serious psychological intervention. Geoff...losing a contest does not make you a loser but your reaction to it is a major tell.

Michael Elliott, perhaps you can provide some examples of the "narcissistic preening" you see in this thread. For the most part I see others giving their opinion about why they either distrust or don't use screenplay competitions, or offering advice and encouragement to Geoff.

Over here, look at me, over confident talented narcissist over here…. pick me pick me.

@Michael Elliot say what? And what do you think my reaction to it is?

So listen guys and gals, I thank you all for your encouragement on this post, save for he who shall not be named! haha!

We should be able to share our good news and bad in this community. And that’s what I’ve done here. Does it define me as a writer? No? Is it disappointing? Yes. What will I be doing the day after after this news hits the fan? WRITING!

I may be an introvert, but nowadays I refuse to hide in my shell…

Mark Giacomin Hey, Mark, it’s great to hear from you. How are you doing? “Breathe” is a 20-25 minute short. I have an idea for a short series of films (this would be #1) of the journey of the poet in four different landscapes - and four different experiences. The main character is a first nation woman, inspired by my love of Joy Harjo, the Muskogee Creek Nation poet.

A short story to whet your appetite. I was in Christchurch last year and we visited the national museum there, which was a great experience. The Maori Art was stunning. At the time I was writing the script on the plane and at various hotels and air b n bs (the was during the November Write Club) and I was watching a video installation at the museum and I suddenly twigged with the idea that this could be a possible video installation for a gallery tour. I was talking to Shellie Schmals about the project and she said the same thing. So, that ticked a box! Noted. project file updated.

Proof of concept. Well, no and yes. Not for a feature length film but yes for a series of films. Thanks again for your encouragement, Mark.

Craig D Griffiths you are officially picked as my narcissistic preener of the year!

Nikki April Lee thanks Nikki. That’s my thought too. Thanks for commenting. How are you doing? What challenges are you facing?

Thank you. If a person cannot believe in themselves and have overt confidences in something they have spent years mastering. Then they need to find an endeavour that has a lower bar for success.

Plus I find no value in self doubt.

M LaVoie yet another reason why I don't usually enter competitions, but there you go. Now I know why!

Craig D Griffiths indeed, Craig. We have to be confident in what we do, especially if we have spent many years honing our craft. Where's the sin in that?

In the past Stage32 has been criticised as a 'dream factory for delusional wannabes', usually it seems written by a depressed wannabe with a sour state of mind. But, then as soon as you share a disappointment you are criticised. I just wonder who has the delusional state. Anyway, I hate these dismissive takes on our community. We roll together through the highs and the lows and we get the support we need in either instance.

@M LaVoie - I personally have overseen our Stage 32 + Palm Springs Women in Film partnership and I can assure you that the judges for all rounds for this contest, and all our contests, have a minimum of 5 years of entertainment industry experience reading for studios or production companies. Our Palm Springs contest has judges who are producers who have been screened at Cannes, Tribeca, and Sundance and have read every single script are really passionate about this partnership. We have been in constant communication throughout the entire process.

@Geoff, I'm sorry to hear that you didn't make the Quarterfinals. We are paying $10,000 to the winner of this contest and putting the film into production in Palm Springs with the support of a mentoring team. The judges are keeping this in mind as they are deciding on who will be chosen with the Grand Prize.I know it's always hard to get a "No", but try not to let it get you down. A poetic film about a poet sounds really inventive and you should be really proud of getting that on paper. You will find your champion, I promise.

@Amanda Toney (sorry, tagging is off again) thanks Amanda. I’ve already moved on and spent the day working on a new project. An animation fantasy series. A new departure for me, in terms of medium and genre.

“You will find your champion, I promise.” Well, I hope so, but the clock is ticking…I must admit I’m crap at finding champions of my work with the right connections.

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't make it into the next round. It always sucks when your work "fails" and it's easy to get in your head about it I think most of us have wondered if we're good enough, at one point or another, to actually "make it" in our creative field- I know I have. But it's normal to feel like crap after news like that. what counts is that after you've given yourself time to feel the negative emotions, you keep writing.

Congratulations, Geoff!

Geoff Hall Greetings from Hampshire to Bristol! Firstly, thanks for embellshing a bit more about your concept, genuinely sounds interesting, challenging, and ambitious - a cultural mood piece (if that is not doing your concept a disservice). I definitely think it has potential as a video installation. Prior to the pandemic I used to pop up to London every 3/4 months to roam either of the Tate museums. Been to a couple of the Venice Biennials too. I overdid the running this weekend (only myself to blame), so had to put my sensible hat on today and not run. I like that you were so caught up in the moment you were writing wherever you could!

Geoff Hall Sorry to hear this, Geoff. Ah! The "Inevitable NO." Been there. Done that. If it makes you feel any better, please note that the DALLAS BUYERS CLUB script took 20 YEARS to get produced, resulting in McConaughey and Leto taking home Oscars for reading those words on the page. Keep your chin up. : )

Lisa Lee and that’s what I’m doing Lisa. Today I was back on the old grindstone of creativity. Love it, by the way! Bad news is always followed closely in me by resilience.

@Jed Power Irony?

Mark Giacomin hello and backatcha Mark! I wish we had access to great collections, but the galleries in Bristol are a tad ‘provincial’ for my taste!

Okay. I’ll go with the ‘cultural mood piece’. It sounds cool and full of contemporary hubris. We’ve been to Venice a number of times and only seen what was a Biennale fringe show at Saint George’s Church in the Dorsoduro. It was very good. Must try harder though to time it a little better for our next visit!

Writing “Breathe” I was definitely caught up in the moment. It’s the first time I’ve written at 37,000 feet! I’m sure that’s not what they mean by the ‘Mile-High Club’!

@Bill Brock chin is decidedly up today, thanks Bill. Yes, there’s a long list of films that took a looong time to be made, but I’ll be in no position to make a film, if I have to wait another 20 years!!

Scorsese waited on ‘Silence’ for 30 years? La La Land 8 years. Seeing Rachel (self promotion) 10 years thus far. The Thin Red Line, 10 years. Koyaanisqatsi, 7 years. The list goes on!

Thanks Dan Guardino Yes, that’s what I’m working towards. Writer/Director. As you know, that just makes things a little/lot harder to get ‘there’.

I’m in the great position of knowing no one. In the UK we are told that there’s a legal problem in approaching acting talent directly, so it’s frowned upon to do so. Yes, another Catch-22 situation. I seem to have infected myself with them.

I’ve spent the week hitting the road running with my new project. When I get this juiced, my dream life kicks into overdrive. Last night I was introduced to a new character from Persia, who will be in what is now a new episode.

I’m not really a competition kinda guy, but this one had a good, but obviously misplaced feeling about it. And from what Amanda was saying, bearing in mind the prize and the producers of the film, they will have looked at something so experimental and thought it wasn’t for them. So lesson learnt. Look at the prize and see if those who will be handing out and producing the prize/film are actually a good match. I obviously misread that and shouldn’t have entered the competition.

Why a writer/director? Well, I was there at conception and it would seem irresponsible of me not to be there at the birth!

I have a pilot script that has 8 accolades and more than that in no placements. Another script has won 3 times and recently got a no placement. So one "thank you, but no" is not a sample size to judge your script by.

@Candice Egan noted, but I don't usually enter competitions, so this is 0/1 and that's all that matters, because I'm not here to write scripts for a judgment panel to peruse and get accolades. Accolades don't get a film financed. I'm here to write scripts to be made. This was just me dipping my toes into the ocean to test the waters - and I will not be returning to that particular ocean again.