Time To Revolt!

[mscherer]

Got your attention? Good.

Wanted to start by first apologizing for not spending more time monitoring this hallowed forum. Been a tad busy. Won’t bore you with all the details (I believe I have p*ssed and moaned about them, ad nauseam, in the past), but suffice it to say, I have been distracted.

That said, here’s the point of this post.

I want to see the GITS Club message board become the ‘go to place’ for screenwriting discussions. Maybe even, one day, top Done Deal Pro (hey, a guy’s gotta have goals ;-) So, consider this a call to arms; a plea for help; a cry of despair.

What do you find lacking here at the GITS Club? What is that one thing you wished you could see; feel; hear; touch; smell on this message board? What will rekindle your enthusiasm? What will spice up the board? What would make the board more useful to you, the aspiring screenwriter? After all, this IS your message board.

I don’t have the wit and repartee of Jeff Messerman. Nor the professional skills of Scott Myers. What I do have is a desire to see this message board succeed; to see my fellow writers succeed. You, we, are a family of sorts -- a family that has grown a tad dysfunctional lately. My bad. That’s why I feel it’s ...Time To Revolt! Help make the GITS Club a writer’s haven, a place you feel compelled to visit every day, and a tool for writing success.

Let the ideas flow!

Mike Scherer

[napolyphonic]

I think we should be a bit more dedicated to reading screenplays that are posted by the member of this board. I go through Completed Drafts, and I see a lot of features being read very little or very thinly. I've been increasing my effort in reading screenplays I don't necessarily enjoy, or those in genres I don't necessarily love. I do this because, first of all, everyone needs feedback. Feedback from whoever will take the time. Secondly, I want to be read as well, and by helping others, I'm hoping it'll come back around. I want someone to share their thoughts on my work as much as they want me to share my thoughts on theirs.

I know everyone's busy. I'm busy. I've only had a few hours to write this week. It's painful and frustrating when I can't write. But what I have done is taken time during my breaks at and when I'm performing mindless experiments at work to read a couple people that have posted features. I love being able to share my thoughts on something, even though I'm not always the best at helping.

Overall I think we should all be just a bit more dedicated to the site, and to our writing. We should write more and read more and share more.

That is all.

-G

[mydoggeorge]

Well, going off what Nap. said. Maybe the moderators could pick out a screenplay that's been posted and we all contribute each week what we can to reading and giving criticisms or compliments? I don't know.

Or maybe there could be a section where we look at the Fall T.V. shows and give feedback on what we like -- maybe other forum members could post screenplays of the shows and we could read them -- say what we like, what we don't like.

Maybe there could be a section about the art of screenwriting - like how to do this or why you would not do that.

I for one am happy that I found this site. It has been very valuable. The critique and information on here is great.

[Deleted]

Can I borrow about 20 hours a week?

Honestly, I think this is a great environment, and I really like the people here. I have learned a lot since I started visiting this board. I still check the boards several times a day.

If I ever have a suggestion on how to make it better, I quickly run it by Jeff or you to see if it is a good idea or not.

One thing we may want to try is that you cannot POST work for review until you have REVIEWED someone else's work? Not sure how that can be accomplished on the technical side of things, but it may prevent some from doing a drive-by posting. I think there have been a few that do the dump and run. They dump off their script, have someone read it and give comments on it, and then run to the next forum to see if someone there will give it a better review.

I actually enjoy reading and giving notes, but it is very time consuming process. What might also help if people broke down their scripts into Acts. We can read 30 pages and give comments a lot faster than reading 120 pages.

My biggest problem is that I am limited on time. I have only written two pages of my own script since Sept 1st, and I haven't had the time to even read a short.

Work has been very busy (Thank God!) and I really need as much cash as I can get right now. I'm sure there are others that are in the same situation.

I will always read and comment on scripts as I have time, and I will try to contribute as much as possible because I think this is a great hang-out for writers, but until I SELL my work for a bajillion dollars, I still have to work for "the man", and this month he is kicking my ass.

I think we also need to spread the word as much as possible. Follow other writers on Twitter? When they have questions, we can direct them here. If we all stay focused to spread the word, I'm sure the ranks will grow!

You have built it, so they will come...it just takes time.

[mscherer]

Thanks napolyphonic, mydoggeorge, MyBrainHurts for taking time to respond.

I whole-heartedly agree that time is the biggest problem for most, if not all, of us. My concern is that traffic seems to be dwindling and I don't want GITS Club to end up like one of those long forgotten towns along RT. 66 after I-40 opened -- boy, if that metaphor isn't a stretch ;D

Any way, I will put my Thinkin' Cap on to see what I can come up with.

Thanks again and always,

Keep Writing!

[Latka]

Hi,

Being a newbie I thought maybe the following:

• A writing challenges section - maybe once a week a challenge is set as a topic (e.g. write a scene that begins with specific dialogue, etc)
  
• On the General board there seem to be a lot of technical questions in regards to script writing, maybe there could be a section for technical questions (e.g. How do I write a treatment?)
  
• With the scriptwriting software section, could this be expanded to include technical/help questions about the specific software?
  
• An 'Introduce Yourself' topic with standard questions (e.g. favourite film, favourite scriptwriter, favourite script)
  
• Maybe the idea of a scriptbank, whereby if you read and give feedback you get some form of credit which is cashed in when you require feedback?? (this is a semi-formed idea which may make sense in my mind only )
  
• Maybe a Q&A section with established writers??
  
• You Gotta' (or Don't Gotta') See This! - maybe this could encompass TV too (as mydoggeorge has suggested)
  

I have been a little reluctant, as a newbie, to give feedback on projects. This, though, is me wanting to slowly integrate myself with the existing community of members, who have been extremely welcoming, and to look at other people's feedback to ensure I get it right from the start.

Finding this site was a stroke of luck, it has been a brilliant resource. I do agree with MyBrainHurts that members should promote the site whenever possible.

Thanks.

[mscherer]

latka,

Newbie or not ... some really good ideas. Thanks for the input.

I especially like the 'Writing Challenge' idea -- it got me to thinking (I know, a dangerous thing to do ) -- more later.

Thanks again and

Keep Writing!

[Deleted]

latka,

Those are great ideas!

Welcome!

[Latka]

Thanks both,

I also meant to suggest a collaboration section, where members can request writing partners for projects.

[dwight]

Good ideas. I'm of fan of the writing challenges, granted that they are small and thought provoking. And I think someone mentioned something about having "one member script of the week" for everyone to focus on, possibly get more exposure/feedback than currently. And another thought of getting more participation. Some forums i've been on have post limits, like members have to post a certain # amount before they can access certain threads, a way to avoid the dump and run posters.

Me personally I love a more roundtable back and forth discussion when it comes to scripts, and waiting to hear responses to stories, notes, and stuff, definitely a bother. But GITS Club is still young. I think this will get better with time and growth.

[mscherer]

I apologize for not responding sooner... in the process of moving. I sold my home in three (3) days long before I had another place to live -- who’da thunk it would happen that quick? Consequently, I have no place to live until my new home is completed sometime in late October. In the interim, I will be moving into / living in an extended stay hotel with my wife and the ball-and-chain (my Mother-in-law) ;D. That said........

Next weekend -- after the dust has settled -- I will put up a post on what my vision for the GITS Club is based on your wonderful suggestions. They are as follows:

1. Have a ‘Pick of the Week’ where a screenplay, posted by members and selected at random, is given feedback by the other members.

2. A TELEVISION section where members can give their feedback, comments, criticisms of the new Fall T.V. season.

3. A section for the ART OF SCREENWRITING where members can share advice, tricks, lessons learned on what to do and what not to do.

4. Because everyone is busy, one idea -- suggested by one of our members -- would be, instead of posting a completed screenplay of 120 pages, post your screenplay in ACTS. Submit ACT I first, then ACT II, finally ACT III. Thirty pages at a pop are a lot easier to critique than 120.

5. A writing challenges section - maybe once a week a challenge is set as a topic (e.g. write a scene that begins with specific dialogue, etc).

6. With the scriptwriting software section, could this be expanded to include technical/help questions about the specific software?

7. For new members, an INTRODUCE YOURSELF section where a new member can tell the community what level of writer they are, their genre of choice, etc.

8. A COLLABERATION section where members can request writing partners, etc.

9. A ROUNDTABLE section where members can have back and forth discussions (via some sort of instant messaging -- would have to see how this can work on a message board.

I will attempt to set this up as a poll and then implement the to three or four suggestions into GITS Club. What do you think? This is, after all, YOUR message board. Let me know this week and as always,

Keep Writing!

[supermikhail]

Two cents, just in case - introducing sanctions and restrictions like "Don't post your own script until you submit critique to 5 scripts of other people" is a bad idea. As I see it, most people come here because they need their scripts reviewed. It would kill the forum instead of increasing activity - well, maybe by few select members, but on the Internet activity goes hand in hand with the number of members.

Also, most people don't treat forums as a job, so making the forum better basically equals making it more entertaining. I think it will a long way towards that if there was a pick of the week (of some other period) section, and also if the Shorts subsection was viewable easier, or made into a section. And maybe if screenplays were viewable without downloading, because they always go into some unpredictable folders, but I suspect it's beyond the capacity of this forum engine.

And the pick of the weekmonth's author's name could even be featured on the front page somehow or in the blog, to add a competitive element to participation. I believe the blog gets many more visits than the forum, so it would be a nice advertisement.

[mscherer]

Fellow Citizens!

I apologize for the delay in updating the poll results. After moving into the hotel to await the completion of our new home, my mother-in-law took ill and we have been spending beau coup time at the hospital That said............

Here are the results:
1. Pick of the Week section.
2. Writing Challenge section.
3. A Collaboration section.
4. Was a tie, so being the Almighty, All Knowing, and All Seeing Grand Puhbba of the message board , I have anointed The Art of Screenwriting the fourth new category.

Today I will open the Collaboration Section for business with the rest to follow as time permits. In the mean time, brush off those scripts you might want featured in the Pick of the Week section as you,

Keep Writing!