Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

    Originally posted by Vertigo51 View Post
    Because its not properly formatted. While that is a point that is obviously under debate, I consider proper spacing/formatting to be no different, than say proper spelling: a few errors here and there can be overlooked.

    However, if the same problem happens consistently throughout the script, that makes it obvious that the writer failed to read the script multiple times, in order to correct said mistakes.

    If I recommend a script with 20 spelling or formatting errors to my partners, that makes ME look bad.

    When a job applicant sends out a resume in the real world, it's expected that said resume will be properly formatted with no spelling errors (and yes, I realize there are various ways to format a resume). If an applicant submits a resume riddled with spelling/formatting errors, that resume would most likely be tossed in the trash. Why should a writer submitting a script be treated any differently?
    So you would count every single-space following a period as a formatting error? Not an intentional choice, but a mistake.

    Sorry, but that's motherfvcking ridiculous. I hope the next big script doesn't fall in your lap.

    Originally posted by gregbeal View Post
    Anyone who allows one or two spaces after a period within a paragraph to affect their read of a screenplay (or any other document, for that matter) is an idiot.

    Comment


    • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

      Aspirant, just to be fair: every 3rd snide comment, I feel duty bound to tell you you're full of sh!t. You're on two.

      Comment


      • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

        Originally posted by Vertigo51 View Post
        Because its not properly formatted. While that is a point that is obviously under debate, I consider proper spacing/formatting to be no different, than say proper spelling: a few errors here and there can be overlooked.

        However, if the same problem happens consistently throughout the script, that makes it obvious that the writer failed to read the script multiple times, in order to correct said mistakes.

        If I recommend a script with 20 spelling or formatting errors to my partners, that makes ME look bad.

        When a job applicant sends out a resume in the real world, it's expected that said resume will be properly formatted with no spelling errors (and yes, I realize there are various ways to format a resume). If an applicant submits a resume riddled with spelling/formatting errors, that resume would most likely be tossed in the trash. Why should a writer submitting a script be treated any differently?
        Hey, so, you're using "partners" in the cowboy sense, right?

        Comment


        • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

          Question for Greg...

          Not sure if this has already been asked, since I skipped over a number of pages (for obvious reasons), but would it be a good idea to submit a newer, better draft of what I submitted last year? Are there any disadvantages to this or will it be treated as if it were a new entry?

          Of course I'll be submitting a fresh script as well; just wanted to know if this would be worth the money and effort.

          Thanks.

          Comment


          • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

            Originally posted by iggy View Post
            Which professionals had a difference of opinion on this issue? The professionals who have posted in this thread said it doesn't matter.
            I don't know Vertigo, but his posts suggest that he is a professional. For all anyone knows, the reader who provided feedback to the OP also is a professional. I'm not saying that he is, but maybe we should ask him before ATB punches him in the throat. I don't believe the OP even indentified the contest he read for. Many pros here haven't even weighed in. And I believe in the other thread some who've said that they don't think it really matters also have said that they use two spaces because it reads better. I also referred to David Trottier and John August earlier. Here's what August writes in his blog:

            Modern typefaces are designed to look best with a single space after the period which ends a sentence. Courier, however, is not such a typeface. As a monospace font, it looks best with two spaces after the period. When writing a script, it's pretty easy to type two spaces sometimes, one space other times. Before printing the "final- draft, you could scroll through the whole document, looking for periods with only one space. But it's much easier to use Find and Replace.

            I guess he forgot to run that one by Lowell for approval.

            Comment


            • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

              Originally posted by Aspirant View Post
              Here's what August writes in his blog:

              Modern typefaces are designed to look best with a single space after the period which ends a sentence. Courier, however, is not such a typeface. As a monospace font, it looks best with two spaces after the period. When writing a script, it's pretty easy to type two spaces sometimes, one space other times. Before printing the "final- draft, you could scroll through the whole document, looking for periods with only one space. But it's much easier to use Find and Replace.
              Footnote: John August has a passion for typefaces. For example, he dislikes Courier's italics font. IIRC, when he needs italics, he switches to some font other than Courier.

              Comment


              • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                Originally posted by JeffLowell View Post
                Aspirant, just to be fair: every 3rd snide comment, I feel duty bound to tell you you're full of sh!t. You're on two.
                I'm shaking. Are we counting yours? Because you're way ahead of me.

                I tried to dial things down with you, but you're a classic bully, and whether they agree with you or not, everyone knows it. Just look at what you wrote above. Are you proud of that?

                Grow up.

                Comment


                • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                  Originally posted by Aspirant View Post
                  I guess he forgot to run that one by Lowell for approval.
                  I use two. I also think one is fine. Because, unlike you, I understand that people can have preferences, all of which are acceptable.

                  I get it. It's hard. You've been at this for four years, and haven't earned a penny. It's scary. What if you never make it? Was it the right call, to walk away from a law career?

                  And you feel the clock. Six months ago, your managers said they were about to go out with your script. And yet, here you are, being told the same thing. Will this be the time?

                  And if it does go out, and doesn't sell... What then? Write another spec? It took six months just to revise this one... So what will it be for the next one? A year? Five years in? Christ.

                  Again, I get it. I'd probably cling to two spaces, too. To be able to control something, anything...

                  Hey, best of luck. Knock it out of the park.

                  Comment


                  • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                    Guys, come on. This is getting too personal. Save it for the dance floor.
                    Chicks Who Script podcast

                    Comment


                    • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                      Originally posted by emily blake View Post
                      Guys, come on. This is getting too personal. Save it for the dance floor.
                      Exactly. Let's not lose sight of the real issue. What's all this got to do with MY erectile dysfunction?
                      If you really like it you can have the rights
                      It could make a million for you overnight

                      Comment


                      • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                        Wait, what? I can't wish someone luck?

                        Comment


                        • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                          Originally posted by docgonzo View Post
                          Question for Greg...
                          Not sure if this has already been asked, since I skipped over a number of pages (for obvious reasons), but would it be a good idea to submit a newer, better draft of what I submitted last year? Are there any disadvantages to this or will it be treated as if it were a new entry?
                          Not Greg, but I can help you out. He wrote this in another post

                          Originally posted by gregbeal View Post
                          As far as I know, only a few Nicholl readers also read for other competitions. That reduces the possibilities. Plus the relatively few scripts any reader judges in any competition causes an overlap to be even less likely.

                          Additionally, we ask readers to stop reading immediately if they only have an inkling that they might have read a script before - wherever they might have read it - and we assign a different script in its place.

                          Our system doesn't allow us to assign a script title to a reader who has previously read that script and warns us if the reader has read the writer previously. By and large, we do not assign any writer's script to a reader who has read the writer in a prior year.

                          So it is a clean slate for your script.

                          Comment


                          • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                            Looks that way. Thanks, Hilander.

                            Comment


                            • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                              Originally posted by docgonzo View Post
                              Looks that way. Thanks, Hilander.
                              You're welcome, and good luck.

                              Comment


                              • Re: Nicholl Fellowship 2012 open for submissions

                                Originally posted by JeffLowell View Post
                                I use two. I also think one is fine. Because, unlike you, I understand that people can have preferences, all of which are acceptable.

                                I get it. It's hard. You've been at this for four years, and haven't earned a penny. It's scary. What if you never make it? Was it the right call, to walk away from a law career?

                                And you feel the clock. Six months ago, your managers said they were about to go out with your script. And yet, here you are, being told the same thing. Will this be the time?

                                And if it does go out, and doesn't sell... What then? Write another spec? It took six months just to revise this one... So what will it be for the next one? A year? Five years in? Christ.

                                Again, I get it. I'd probably cling to two spaces, too. To be able to control something, anything...

                                Hey, best of luck. Knock it out of the park.
                                Except for the first line, and the last two, you are absolutely right. Those are exactly the thoughts that run through my head. So it doesn't trouble me to hear it from you. But when you write something like that, which relates to the kind of doubts and struggles that most of us experience as we try to break into this difficult business, you're putting down all non-working writers on this board.

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X