Hi Caroline, if you're going to ask people to unzip their pants and measure up, then you're going to have to flop your own balls on the table for everyone else to see, you get me?
Sorry - I've been watching 'The Wire' on DVD constantly for two days now and I'm starting to think I'm a tough-talking homicide detective.
Quote: Skibbington von Skubber @ August 27, 2007, 12:39 PMFurthermore, from a legal standpoint, they will not want material that has been 'published' on a public forum.
Do tell, what legal stand point would this be?
I don't think people in power will be looking through forums. If I saw that someone spent more time posting there work for a communal back slap on the internet, rather than sending to the people that matter then I wouldn't give their work the time of day.
I think some people are seeking assurance their work is 'good' from people on here, but the fact is the compliment is only as god as the person it comes from. If I put work up on here and someone said it was good or bad then it wouldn't affect me one iota - because it's a critique coming from someone who probably knows just as little as me and hasn't got very far themselves. It's the same as a very ugly woman telling me I'm highly attractive. It's only as good as the person who's saying it.
Compliments help of course. I got had my work read by a writer who knew what he was doing (and not one of these 'paid' script readers either - that, to me, seems like throwing money away. There's people who'll read for free and give you just as valid comments out there) and it helped me enormously, and gave me a lot of confidence and it changed my entire game plan. But the same words and help from someone who hadn't got anywhere - well, I would ignore it and it wouldn't mean a thing to me.
I think the 'legal' thing is probably true, but also I just think it's not wise for a million other reasons.
Seefacts, you're way too cynical man. I know what you mean about the very ugly woman though - your momma told me I was attractive and I wasn't impressed.
Quote: paul watson @ August 27, 2007, 4:20 PM
Do tello, what fragilistic stand point would this be?
Potential hassles related to ownership of something unpublished/unproduced posted on a public wall by someone probably using a pseudonym for a screen name.
Quote: Winterlight @ August 27, 2007, 11:00 AM
As to will anyone form this board actually be successful? Well I sincerely doubt it. I would say 98% of the material I have read on here is terrible. It's either trying to be Little Britain, Monty Python, The Two Ronnies or Not The Nine O'clock News and poorly done.
Please don't think I'm being harsh or bitter, I'm just being honest. We are all amateur writers and there is a lot of good advice in these forums. I've been coming here since the end of May and my sitcom writing has imprved tenfold due to the advice I've picked up here.
Like Baumski, I agree with Winterlight's assessment. I also agree with Skibbington, about the 'serious one's making it' - although whether there's any meat in his pies we don't know, because he won't put them out for us to paw over. I use the forum as whetstone, to keep myself sharp and of course i enjoy talking to writers.
There is a divide between those that work in television and those who watch it, and the programme makers have no interest in bridging this gap. They won't tell us what they're looking for, or what the trends are, or what they're sick of seeing. They rely on the very best writers fighting their way through by themselves. This is why most people on this forum won't make it - not because they don't have talent, but becasue they have a medium talent, or their talent needs input from the professionals (not those professionals, you cheap b'stards) and time that no-one is willing to give. They want scripts that can be broadcast with a tiny amount of work, and there isn't much like that on any comedy forum.
But there are good writers and minds here, and bad writers succeed as well, so there is never any reason to give up!
I agree, but I also think the people in this forum are the people who are willing to put the extra 10% in to apply to competitions, post to agents and production companies etc. and to learn what they can about writing screenplays on the net. To me this means that it's more likely that someone who posts on this forum is going to be successful - just because of the kind of people who log on here are (I guess) more driven and focussed than your average person. Whether or not they're talented. You're right - there are some terrible writers out there who got picked up (e.g. Grownups!)
Not bothered bout making "it" but I can make a mean batch of cupcakes.
Quote: Seefacts @ August 27, 2007, 4:27 PMCompliments help of course. I got had my work read by a writer who knew what he was doing (and not one of these 'paid' script readers either - that, to me, seems like throwing money away. There's people who'll read for free and give you just as valid comments out there) and it helped me enormously, and gave me a lot of confidence and it changed my entire game plan.
Are you willing to share the identity of the person who read your script and how others may contact this person?
Quote: earman2009 @ August 27, 2007, 9:14 PMAre you willing to share the identity of the person who read your script and how others may contact this person?
I've had my work read by more than one person really. Yes, we all know how hard it is to find places to submit work, and of course opportunities are limited but it's possible to find people if you do lots of research.
So no then. (Because someone else will post it if I don't . . .)
God, my sentences are appalling in that previous post of mine. I post in a hurry, honest.
Quote: Winterlight @ August 27, 2007, 11:00 AMI think some people probably do keep success to themselves. I wish I was, but I've only just finished my first sitcom draft!
As to will anyone form this board actually be successful? Well I sincerely doubt it. I would say 98% of the material I have read on here is terrible. It's either trying to be Little Britain, Monty Python, The Two Ronnies or Not The Nine O'clock News and poorly done.
Please don't think I'm being harsh or bitter, I'm just being honest. We are all amateur writers and there is a lot of good advice in these forums. I've been coming here since the end of May and my sitcom writing has imprved tenfold due to the advice I've picked up here.
I do love honesty Winterlight and if I'm being honest I tend to agree with you though I'd put the figure at more like 95%. The Slag Brothers can be excellent.
There are a lot of harsh comments going on here. Admittedly I haven't seen too much stuff so far in the critique section that would be good enough to get on TV or Radio but at least people are giving it a go.
You seem almost...surprised about the harsh comments, have you seen the Babycow mini update thread?
If people are using this place to show some of their stuff in the critics section and get some feedback on it and a confidence boost before going on to try the proper ways of getting feedback then theres no reason why they won't make it. If they see this site as some gateway to success in itself then they need to do more.
Hi Caroline,
There are a small number of people on this site who post quite harsh self-opinionated views about writing, often in an unhelpful way. You can easily spot them! They are probably best avoided/ignored most of the time, although occasionally there may be something of interest in their rantings!
Frankie xxx 