I've only entered a couple of screenwriting competitions, so I can't tell if I'm getting bad notes or sound advice. Basically, I felt like the reader already had a preconceived notion of how my story should be told rather than evenly digest what I had written. I can appreciate the three-act structur...
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The Torah says we can learn from everyone which is wht I continue to take classes even though I'm multiple times published and produced. Which is why when I get feedback I have to ask myself what is i...
Expand commentThe Torah says we can learn from everyone which is wht I continue to take classes even though I'm multiple times published and produced. Which is why when I get feedback I have to ask myself what is it that the reader didnt understand. How can I clarify it better? Sometimes the story we think we are writing is not the story coming across.
In the example of AFF, (and it applies to the handful of top-tier competitions that are respected) they have a very well thought out process to make sure that all scripts get a fair read and they are...
Expand commentIn the example of AFF, (and it applies to the handful of top-tier competitions that are respected) they have a very well thought out process to make sure that all scripts get a fair read and they are very particular about their readers -- which is why they are a highly regarded competition. It's worth noting that you don't get feedback (even though notes are written) unless your script advances, this is partly because it is believed if your writing is strong enough to advance you have the ability to receive feedback constructively.
Yeah Howard, you’re rambling a bit but you’ve touched on some really important issues. I venture that all the more prestigious screenwriting contests each receive thousands of scripts of which the vas...
Expand commentYeah Howard, you’re rambling a bit but you’ve touched on some really important issues. I venture that all the more prestigious screenwriting contests each receive thousands of scripts of which the vast majority aren’t even worth reading – but somebody has to do it. It’s true our system has problems but it’s the only system we got. The major problem I see is the immeasurable number of wannabies clogging the pipelines with an unmitigated collection of pure junk. Not everybody is meant to be a writer and there is no shame in following an alternate career path.
All true Ben. As I re-read scripts I wrote a decade ago, it amazes me that I turned out so much junk and I’ve produced a couple of films that are so bad, they’ll never be seen by others – yeah, that’s...
Expand commentAll true Ben. As I re-read scripts I wrote a decade ago, it amazes me that I turned out so much junk and I’ve produced a couple of films that are so bad, they’ll never be seen by others – yeah, that’s how we progress. But many writers are upset when confronted by the readers’ contention that their script sucks – they take it personally and lash out at readers. There are good readers and bad, just as there are good writers and some not so good. I’ve had award winning scripts criticized and passed over by readers and yet I sold what I thought was a not-so-good script. During all this, I’ve found ways to better my writing from both good and bad critique. We learn more from our mistakes than from our successes.
Some readers actually offer a good analysis , and some others just seem to be going through the motions and repeating a lot of writing workshop clichés and buzzwords. The contests that offer notes hav...
Expand commentSome readers actually offer a good analysis , and some others just seem to be going through the motions and repeating a lot of writing workshop clichés and buzzwords. The contests that offer notes have to come up with a justification for rejecting thousands of screenplays. Very arbitrary system but sometimes our early drafts are flawed and the readers are correct.