Tickle/Punch Relationship with my Script.

[Hobbledehoy]

Sometimes I love my script and sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I find myself tickling its card stock cover and sometimes I find myself punching it. And the funny thing is that I can go from one extreme to the other in a matter of minutes.

I may be going crazy. That's it. I've always heard voices, but they were never loud enough to influence my behavior; that is, until now.

I wish I had a way to get feedback on my script. My family can't help but to be supportive and friendly. I need a blunt critique. You know; that Simon Cowell kind.

[dpaterso]

Ha, I've learned the hard way never to blindly say yes to reading someone's script. Next thing you know there's a 193-page compost heap written by an insane illiterate social outcast sitting in your in-basket, and your new best buddy in all the world is emailing you every 15 minutes to ask why you haven't replied yet, you're just like the others, and you'll die screaming in terror like they did. So, why not post the first 10 pages on Screenwriting Critique Board? If they're readable, maybe someone will offer to look at the script, or at least ask for the next 10 pages to be posted.

-Derek
My Web Page - shameless vampyre fiction & other shameless writings. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you have to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they're just gonna kill you.

[Hobbledehoy]

I may be insane and even a social outcast; but I'm not illiterate. Thank you. If I post the first ten pages, someone will still my idea. I can't have that, can I?

[dpaterso]

I post the first ten pages, someone will still my idea. I can't have that, can I?

Stilling is very much frowned upon in laterate circles. :)

One thing I can't quite grasp, no hassle intended, just a random thought with tongue firmly in cheek -- you're reluctant even to post the opening pages in a forum whose members are all too busy working on their own scripts to even consider stealing yours, but you're willing to send the entire script to a total stranger if they say they'll read it?

I recall no less than 3 occasions when people I thought I knew via forum postings kindly offered to read a script I was working on -- but after emailing them my scripts (3 different scripts to 3 different people), I never heard from them again or saw them posting in forums. Maybe the scripts were 193-page compost heaps! And/or caused irreperable brain damage. I'm just saying. Not wanting to spark paranoid thoughts or anything, but the moment you show material to anyone outside your own family or trusted circle of friends, there's some element of risk involved. You either learn to trust or you don't. Is your script truly so unique and based upon a totally original idea -- if there is such a thing! -- that you dare not show it anywhere?

That's either food for thought or it's total crap, feel free to ignore me.

-Derek
My Web Page - shameless vampyre fiction & other shameless writings. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
I'm just having a crazy moment. Once I get home and drink myself to sleep I'll be fine.

[scripter1]

you have a couple of options.

BUT first, have you copywrited the script? If you have then you are protected and IF someone steals the script and If, great BIG IF
any money is made from it you have proof of ownership.

Point one.
See the thing is, studios don't steal scripts, and they don't really steal ideas either, not intentionally. Every concept there ever was is all ready out there. There are big time writers, studio heads, actors, and grips who are tossing out concepts all the time and getting the writing jobs for them.

How an idea, which you CAN'T copywrite gets "stolen" is ; you manage to get in and pitch your idea. The stuido guy/gal doesn't go for it, doesn't like YOUR execution, your version. They reject you.
Then, a month later, they sit bolt up right in bed "I GOT IT!" They move on "your" concept BUT they take it a whole new direction. Different plot, different story beats, different characters, maybe with a few things that are similar to your ideas. You see a trailer for it two years later and scream "They stole my script!!!!"
No, they didn't.

D is right. There isn't a concept out there that is SOOOOO cool, SO new, SO fresh that several individuals couldn't come up with it as well.

Point 2.
Someone on a message board who steals your script or your idea won't have the skills to take it ANYWHERE. If they HAD the skills and the talent to do something with your idea they WOULDN'T have to steal. It's not that we are an honest bunch, it's just that people who actually sell scripts are so busy with thier own kicking ideas and rocking scripts they don't have time to dink around with your (no personal insult intended) troubled script. And they don't have time to mess with a court case and the damage to their rep if you were able to sue them.

It's all about the money.
You aren't really concerned about protecting the idea, you are concerned about it's potential to earn cold, hard, cash. In order for it to do that the writing has to be spectacular. You have to make a script get up and tap dance.

That is where your copywrite comes in and keeping your notes and drafts. If your script gets stolen, gets made, then you have proof of the work you've put in. Not fun by any means but you can win.

Now to your options. You have three.
You can post five to ten pages in a forum.
Go ahead, read through the posts for a few days, get a sense for us. Go with your gut.
Posting five or ten pages will not jepordize your script. It won't even give away your big concept. It WILL give us an idea of your understanding of screenwriting principals and your writing level.
If you don't want to post the concept then don't. Just post the writing and let us deal with the basic tools of the trade.
I've been on the boards for six years, I've only heard of one script being "stolen." The moron just copied it from the boards and started posting it as their own. Didn't even change the title or anything. The owner found it, stated their side, others recognized the script and the theif was not only banned but totally humiliated.
You can post it on Zoetrope.
There you would place the entire script. More risky.
You have no idea who will review your script. You will likely get a bunch of hacks, you may catch a few serious writers. It's a total crapshoot.
You can pay someone.
There are plenty of people who read scripts for a fee and offer various types of servives.
I offer feedback and edits for 45.00 dollars.
Exthollywoodday over at DoneDeal critiques for 150.
I believe Ravenlocks will read scripts for hire, and there are a few more.
Post a message asking about readers/editors/critiques for a fee and you'll get some hits.

Or you could just send off the script and hope you get lucky.
The odds are stacked against you though. Really stacked.
The best thing is to learn how to have your script match your kicking idea so that BOTH move forward together.

[Hobbledehoy]

Stilling is very much frowned upon in laterate circles.

Whoa, talk about accidental irony! The misuse of "still", in my proof that I'm not illiterate , was not intended.

On another note. My idea is pretty original. The only thing that comes close to it is vanilla sky. So, if I posted the first ten pages, guys would get hard on's and girls will get....Um, whatever women get when they are aroused. It's hard being a hobbledehoy.

So, I'm probably going to just finish it and send it into the ASA screenwriting contest. I posted 4 pages of random stuff. I think you left some feedback, scripter. Thanks. I found I do need to work on my screenwriting skills.

Thanks again,

[Mac H.]

My idea is pretty original. The only thing that comes close to it is vanilla sky.There are tens of thousands of original scripts with the same twist ending - we find out at the end that the main character has been living in a virtual world for the entire movie. In fact, I posted the first 10 pages of my script on this subject on this very site ...

C'mon - just post the pages.

Mac

[dpaterso]

Whoa, talk about accidental irony! The misuse of "still", in my proof that I'm not illiterate , was not intended.

You could have kept quiet and I would just have thought you were being intentionally funny. Remember that for next time. :) No big deal, we all make tpyos.

There are tens of thousands of original scripts with the same twist ending - we find out at the end that the main character has been living in a virtual world for the entire movie.

Assuming that's the twist, of course. You could be making a big fat inaccurate assumption!

C'mon - just post the pages.

I think he did, UNTITLED - Pages 1 - 5 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43535)
Edit: or not.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.

[Hobbledehoy]

You could have kept quiet and I would just have thought you were being intentionally funny. Remember that for next time. :) No big deal, we all make tpyos.


Oh, you make my blood boil.

[dpaterso]

If I knew why you said that, I might laugh. You made a typo, I said it's no big deal, and it could have been a funny joke. What am I missing? Is it a full moon again tonight or what?

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.