Message Board

Cash prizes!

Agents and producers on the "Board of Directors."

Timely return on all feedback.

Good ratings here on MovieBytes!

Great odds of winning.

http://www.screenwritertakesall.com/

Mike

Short screenplay contest is wide open!

Feature length, great odds as well!

C

Just a friendly reminder, tomorrow night is the deadline for this month!

Shorts are wide open and Features are competitive.

http://www.screenwritertakesall.com/

Received my feedback on the script I entered for the April contest. The fact that I didn't place in the top 10 certainly disappointed me, but I've realized that it obviously depends on the reader with these contests, like anything else in this business.

However, now that I've gotten my feedback, I'm missing Script Savvy a lot. With STA, for $65, I received about two-thirds of a page worth of feedback, and whoever wrote it couldn't even get my main antagonist's name right. $59 with Script Savvy got approximately three times as much of a review and breakdown that was truly aimed at improving my script. The $99 Script Savvy option blew STA out of the water.

If you're entering the contest to win money, I understand. I can't speak to STA's ability to market your script for you, although their website does claim past success in the past when they had a different name.

For me, I'm gonna wait on Script Savvy to get back into their groove and get real value for money with the incredible feedback they provide. I'll pass on STA going forward.

Gary sorry to hear you didn't get the response you wanted.

All I can say is we have received feedback that has been very positive.

For example,

Marc DeLamater Posted: 03/25/2011 05:14 PM Excellent experience. Very affordable. Timely responses. Strongly recommend.

With that said, we are working to improve whenever we can. I will look at your feedback and if I agree it was not what we want, we can remove judges.

Kind Regards, Mike

Gary:

You post bothered me so I left this board and immediately logged into our system and viewed your feedback.

Here's what I found:

You wrote: "I received about two-thirds of a page worth of feedback, and whoever wrote it couldn't even get my main antagonist's name right."

I found that the PDF you were emailed was 3-4 pages in length and included links to articles and websites to assist in the further development of your screenplay.

I also found that the judge did once write "Devil" instead of "Devin." And repeatedly got your character's name correctly. It was a typo, indeed in ONE instance and should have been corrected. However, you give the impression that it was something more. Please do not misrepresent our contest.

I felt the judge made thoughtful comments and suggestions and even praised such things as your dialogue. I also feel there could have been more feedback. Something I will address with the judge.

I'd be happy to refund the feedback portion of your contest entry fee.

Now, I understand, you didn't place in the top 10, very sorry.

If you feel this response is not correct, please do post the PDF file so everyone can see.

Additionally, I am today going to post a PDF sample of the feedback from our contest.

Kind Regards, Mike STA Coordinator

Note: When I say I a posting a sample, it is not of Gary's script. It's just a general sample.

Thanks for the personalized response, but I have no interest in a refund. I was just giving other MovieByters a review of my experience compared to other contests.

I can get a little more detailed. The info that I consider relevant in feedback is what is specific to my script. For example, the following, included in my "3-4 page" feedback, I do not consider helpful:

ABOUT THE JUDGING CRITERIA Your script was judged based on the criteria specified in the FAQ and in the disclosure on the registration page. Here is a very basic and general breakdown (Note: this is not set in stone, but simply a guide): CHARACTERIZATION Were your characters simply expressions of attitude or fully and richly developed with their own unique voice. Character development is crucial as well as character arc. Did you have a well developed protagonist and antagonist?

Regarding the name issue, my antagonist's name was referred to as Jamal throughout the 367-word feedback, which is not correct. Perhaps I'm nitpicking, but if you were giving feedback to the author of "Shawshank Redemption" and you kept referring to the main characters as Randy and Fred, how much confidence would that give the author that the reader really took the time to analyze the script? It would make it seem more as though the reader flew through the pages.

I think the idea of posting a sample of what feedback looks like is a good one. I've got an even better one. You have my email address from my entry. Email me, and I'll send you a copy of the $59 feedback I got on an earlier version of the same script from Script Savvy.

I'm not saying STA has to be Script Savvy, but if they really are out of the game, then your contest has the chance to become the best monthly around. If your feedback really could pinpoint exactly what a writer like myself needs to do to improve their script, maybe that #1 spot for STA can become a reality.

Gary I have your feedback in hand, I run the contest. I don't need you to email it to me. Perhaps the reader was confused as to who the protagonist was? Could have been an issue. Anyway, very sorry.

I did see that this same script you entered with us and loved so much in the Script Savvy contest was a winner there. Sorry we could not do the same.

Thanks again for your comments.

For everyone else, deadline for this month is tonight!

Mike

Wait, sorry, I see you were asking to send me script savvy's feedback. I will take you up on that and email you soon.

Mike

Only 1 hour and 16 minutes left to enter!