For those unaware, Scriptshadow.net is an indispensable resource for aspiring screenwriters. It's a blog I've been following for the last couple years, and I was always fascinated with one weekly feature on there called Amateur Friday, where Carson Reeves, the site's moderator, reviews a screenplay by one of Scriptshadow's loyal followers.
The growing popularity of the site caused more screenplay submissions than Mr. Reeves knew what to do with. So he created the Amateur Offerings Weekend, where five amateur scripts are posted, and the users decide which one would be reviewed on Amateur Friday.
I'm happy to report that after a year and a half of submitting my work to Scriptshadow, one of my scripts was chosen as part of the Amateur Offerings Weekend!
But before I go any further, a little backstory on the script in question, which I've entitled VEGAS TRIO.
In July 2013, a friend of mine got in contact with a couple of producers that wanted to make a madcap Las Vegas comedy about three pick up artists who party like rock stars, then run afoul the mob for one reason or another. I was told that there was already a script written, but they were unsatisfied with it. So I was given the opportunity-- not to rewrite, but to create a completely different script from scratch. And they wanted it done in three weeks. I was told the budget was in place, and given a list of locations and props I could include in the screenplay. They were just waiting on ME to finish the draft before they started shooting.
I thought to myself, "This sounds legit." Why wouldn't it be? I researched these producers online, and found that they did have work out there. And the project I was writing was being promoted on Facebook, and people seemed like they were genuinely excited about it.
Needless to say, I thought this was my ticket to the big time. This was exactly what I needed to establish myself as a professional writer. These guys make shit happen!
I started the script, and emailed it piece by piece as pages were completed. I was ensured that what I was giving them was exactly what they were looking for. I was ecstatic!
A couple weeks later, in the midst of writing the script, I was told that I was going to be paid 300 dollars upon completion, plus more for whatever rewrites I did. I was destitute, so 300 dollars was almost like hearing a million. My wife was pregnant at the time, so that 300 dollars was going to be a great help to get us through the month.
In any case, I was just happy to be a paid screenwriter, no matter how paltry the sum was. Only problem, that paltry sum never came.
After a week of waiting, I emailed the main producer. I asked him when I should expect the 300 dollars to be wired to me. He evasively replied, "Today or tomorrow..."
That was five months ago...
I don't think I'm getting my money.
I was a fool! I shouldn't have sent one page of that script without signing a contract that guaranteed payment. I later learned that the producers in question were alcoholic cokeheads that just wanted to party, and not make a serious picture. Bully for them!
In the end, they threw my screenplay away, then made a shitty pilot with a different script that makes Vegas Trio read like Shakespeare in comparison.
So my motives for submitting Vegas Trio to Scriptshadow, as opposed to one of my more superior scripts, is an enduring desire for vindication. I may not have been paid for my work, but at least the work is out there.
And as excited as I was that Vegas Trio was chosen as part of the Amateur Offerings Weekend, I was more excited about the reaction the script was going to generate among the users. Were they going to hate it? Or would they consider it a deeply involving exercise in excessiveness?
Here are some blurbs from the comment section of the article:
"It went beyond humor into outright crudity."
"...I read to p22 of Vegas Trio and then all the stuff about 'you fucked my mother' and descriptions of her vagina - and I'm out."
"...it's way way way too crass, juvenile and just mean-spirited and disgustingly misogynistic... This has no heart, no likeable characters and is just offensive, not in a good way."
"Who are we supposed to like here? Are we supposed to root for these idiots who indulge in endless drugs and sex and seem to despise women?... Your punchlines are all delivered with a crude sledgehammer. It's cheap. Do better... write something you can be proud (of), something that you wouldn't be embarrassed to show to family members."
"IMHO, the writer should dig deeper and not make his leads so unlikable/disgusting without any "Save the Cat" redeeming qualities."
"I hated, hated, hated the leads in Vegas Trio. It's not that they were badly written but that they were just awful people. I want to see people change and better themselves, but I like there to be something about them that makes me want to go along on that ride with them."
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In other words, it wasn't well received.
I did get ONE marginally positive review that complemented the story structure in spite of its vulgar nature, but no raves.
I don't know why I was surprised, while I was aware that the leads of my script would be construed as unlikable, what I didn't count on was the viewpoint that my bumbling PUA trio was SO off putting that it would cause the readers to recoil in utter disgust. I was confounded by the poor reception. So much so that I lowered myself to defend my work on the forum.
In response to the negative reviews, I wrote this:
"I can't help but feel I'm being baited to react to the overwhelmingly negative criticism that Vegas Trio has received. I can't pinpoint exactly what I'm feeling except for an intense adrenaline rush from all the feedback. My goal with this script was to assault the reader with its excessiveness. To marvel at how irredeemably douchey these guys are. Because personally, I hate douchebags, but I' m fascinated by them. This script is really just a "fuck you" to them. However, most of the folks that have started Vegas Trio immediately see it as a "fuck you" to the reader because they didn't get a nice, cuddly, relatable protagonist to take their hand and lead them through a wondrous journey of change, and self discovery. I could have done that, but it would have felt inauthentic for the story I wanted to tell. I wanted the characters to be people you love to hate, but can't help finding out what shenanigans they're going to get into next. This is something reality shows get away with all the time. Vegas Trio (like reality TV) is junk food for the brains. At the same time it was experimental in the sense that you get to see the world through the eyes of over privileged alpha male degenerates who are used to getting whatever they want, and see women as nothing but a pair of tits, and a juicy hole with some limbs around it.
After long consideration-- confused as to whether I should be upset, defensive, or concerned at the bad reviews-- I've decided to be proud of this reaction. It's inspiring that something I've written could ignite such a level of scorn among the users of this site. Because if you're not going to love my work, I encourage you to hate it. Hate it with every fiber of your being. Because there is no bigger failure than mediocrity."
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I kind of wish I could unwrite that. Defending your work on a public forum is like exposing your penis to a group of geriatric nuns. It's just asking for trouble.
But I was upset. This project caused a lot of heartache for me after I wrote it. It diminished a lot of my hope for being successful as a writer. And I had to get my feelings out somehow.
I understand places like Scriptshadow exist for people looking to improve their work, and I appreciate the chance to get reviewed on the site. The feedback was rough, but it was a nice bit of exposure I desperately needed to evolve as a writer. It was both humbling, and horrifying to have my work eviscerated by total strangers. It's something every writer should go through in order to keep your ego in check.
It also helped me come to a very sobering realization...
There are millions of writers out there who pass their work along to others for feedback, but they really don't want feedback. They want to be told that their script is amazing, that they did good. They want a theoretical pat on the head, or a cookie for doing such a great job. And honestly, that expectation is just fools logic. And it's a logic I've been guilty of for far too long.
Look within yourself. Do you love what you've written? Stand by it, regardless of criticism, then move on to the next script. If not, keep working on it until you do love it, then move on to the next script. Because no matter how tight you make the plotting, or how much depth you give the characters, there's always going to be people out there who will consider it a complete waste.
It's all about keeping busy. Forging ahead, and satisfying your own personal vision. It may not get you into the limelight, or turn you into a celebrated screenwriter, but at least you'll have a piece of writing you can be proud of.
I more than likely won't get a review from Carson Reeves on next week's Amateur Friday. But in all honesty, I don't think it's necessary. I've already learned so much from this experience, and I'm thankful for that much.
If anyone is brave enough to read Vegas Trio, click HERE.
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