SKILLS BUILDING CHALLENGE idea

[echenry]

Jeff,

In a very "Windows 7" commercial moment I had an idea while eating my asparagus soup today at lunch that I THINK members of the GITS Club might enjoy. It's called ( Drrr...rrrt: drum roll) ...

The GITS Club Screenwriting Skills Building Challenge

In it you would select a subject matter that you want participants to write in with a overall desired affect:

* DRAMATIC: A character receives a parking ticket
* ACTION: Shoot-out with characters in multiple locations
* COMEDY: Humorous Easter Bunny gets caught by two youths
* HORROR: Jason Vehores returns and wrecks havoc a group of teenagers.

You could also throw in "producer variables" such as: suitable role for Danny DiVito, beach location, tough guy banter suitable for Jean Claude VanDamme, big budget spectacle set-piece, commercial tie-ins for Taco Bell, low budget.

You could post the challenge, and (personal homage to Barney Stinson from CBS's "How I Met Your Mother") wait for it...

Have a one day window for all writers to write their scene, AND a page limit. Not a scene limit, but a page limit.

So you post the challenge wait a couple days, then on the 3rd submissions can be made. The GOAL is to a boat-load of submission on one day, review them the next.

This challenge then gets writers to strive to use screenwriting conventions to achieve a desired affect, and meet several other benchmarks which a producer could ask a screenwriter to meet on an open assignment for hire opportunity.

What do you think?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

[oz]

Well, E.C., I personally love the Barney Stinson homage so I'm inclined to jump at this regardless! Gotta say, though, I'm not real clear on what you're proposing. Probably just me, but you lost me. Are we building skills by challenging each other with a defined category and predetermined event or inciting incident and then reviewing the work or -- well, I'm not quite clear on what that last sentence of yours means, so....

Again, I've been editing pages all day so I'm a little daffy, but I THINK I get it. Do I get it??

[echomusic]

Me likey.
Me inny.

[echenry]

@ Oz,

Everyone writes off a pre-determined set of parameters: genre and a couple points in the sequence the need to reach.

You learn by stretching your own writing chops, AND seeing how others faced the same challenge you did.

The last sentence was summary of everything I'd said before.

I just see this as a win-win for all. Those who are cocky and think they can write in all genre: well, let's see 'em do it. Beginners; it'll challenge and stimulate their mind. For those "STUCK;" this activity my jump start their creative and get them going again writing a feature they're excited about.

@ echomusic,

Thanks for showing enthusiasm -- but realize I'm just kicking an idea around. AND I think an idea like this NEED to go through Jeff, so let's what he has to say...

[Jeff Messerman]

Hey E.C.!

Well, first off, who put a gun to your head to make you eat asparagus soup?! Blech!

Secondly, that sounds very promising. At this point, I need to catch up on all my reading that's already been posted but certainly in the near future, we should probably do something along these lines - - little exercises to keep us fresh during that time "between projects," ya' dig?

I was also thinking, perhaps, if there's a dry spell in the future around here, of doing an actual "group" project, where we each do a few pages and build on each other's work. I've done projects like that in fiction groups and they are always very revealing and fascinating.

Thanks for the suggestion, man. Let's try and keep this on the front burners - - perhaps in a few weeks address it? Like I said, still trying to catch up with all the scripts and partials around here and find my way around this new and exciting Gits Club thingy.

Jeff

[echenry]

Jeff, I eat Campbell's asparagus soup a lot. I think it's good stuff. Yummy too!

Julie Grey over at:

www.justeffing.com/

(used to be "The Rouge Wave") did scene competitions and gave away a prize. So something like this has been done already in the blogosphere landscape. I just thought up a few tweaks, which hopefully will make it a little funner for pre-pro screenwriters IF used over here on this board.

And yeah, it's good to see so many writers jumping on this chance to show off their hard work, which hopefully gives them some ideas for improvement and encourages them on stregths in their writing. Sometimes a warm fuzzy is more important to recieve than critisims.
I know I've really enjoyed reading other writer's work, and getting fellow creatives to comment on my own script excerpt; Act I of "Revenge of the Fat Chicks" - which is still available for commenting on in the ENTIRE ACTS boards area for those who haven't jumped on that already...

Look forward to reading some more GITS contributors writings they've posted on these boards, AFTER I get some more work on a dark sci-fi I'm drafting away on... Besides, reading someone's else's script is a MUCH BETTER entertainment alternative to what the Networks have to offer on Tuesday night.

Thanks for weighing in on this "The GITS Club Screenwriting Skills Building Challenge" idea. Look forward to whatever you wanna do here on the GITS Club boards. So yeah sure, whatever time-line and direction you wanna take this thing...

You lead, I'll follow.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

[glengarry]

If Danny DeVito will be a variable, I am WAY IN! This could be a like the 48 hr. film fest but with writing... and less hours... and a Danny DeVito variable.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4rF-D5pS7I

I will be keeping an eye out for a challenge post! Sounds like great fun!

[ldw4686]

Great idea EC! And just like you, I love participating in Julie's writing challenges - I haven't won... yet! But, if Jeff can get it arranged, I would definitely be down.

Laci

[echenry]

ldw4686 (Laci)

Thanks for chiming in. My jar of "warm fuzzies" was getting dangeroulsy low on cold, dark night in Bonney Lake, WA...

Glad to read you're a veternan of such competitions. Nice to make your acquiantance. (Gentlemenly, sweeping bow given here to m'lady)

- E.C. Henry

[attatt]

Glad to see this idea posted already, I was having the same thought.

I have participated in challenges like this on Mark Millar's website where the focus is on writing comic books. These are a lot of fun, especially when you step outside your comfort zone and end up with a great piece or really constructive peer reviews.

[Deleted]

Ready...begin.

[echenry]

@ mybrainhurts

We can all line up the proverbial track and field starting line, but this site's moderator holds the firing gun to start this thing, not me.

IF you really believe in this idea, you COULD go all proactive on us, and expound on the template idea I posted, with a few GITS Club Screenwriting Skills Building Challenge of your own.

- E.C. Henry