The Ethics of Reading

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  • #61
    Re: The Ethics of Reading

    I read the original blog post, so I know when she wrote that she was referring to her past actions. Dude.

    Did you read this?

    "Now, it may be that you claim that you don't read those materials anymore but, based on your discussions of those materials on this forum, I just don't believe it."

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    • #62
      Re: The Ethics of Reading

      I never claimed she still sources unproduced material from Scriptshadow - only that she still does source and read unproduced material.

      carcar; Chief -- can you give it a rest for a while and let others have a chance to contribute? I'll do likewise.

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      • #63
        Re: The Ethics of Reading

        Originally posted by Rhodi View Post
        I never claimed she still sources unproduced material from Scriptshadow - only that she still does source and read unproduced material.

        carcar; Chief -- can you give it a rest for a while and let others have a chance to contribute? I'll do likewise.
        Happy to.

        Comment


        • #64
          Re: The Ethics of Reading

          I've been writing novels and scripts for ten years now, starting as therapy of a sort and developing into something else -- something more grandiose, in any event. Because I don't have the time or resources to pitch or promote much if any of my work, and because a lot of what I see in print and onscreen, is simply second-rate, knock-off, shoddy, it was easy for me for me to fall under the ScriptShadows spell, a couple of years ago.

          I'll admit it. I thought it was cool that Nosac could highjack some blowsy pro script that the powers-that-be had been carefully inflating behind the walls of their glitter-city Jericho, and toss it out for us ne'er-done-wells to poke a stick at. What did they have to complain about, anyway? (I thought, though I didn't get into the online squabble about it). After all, these guys are making money, pitching projects, gaining credibility in the Industry, while the rest of us, whatever our potential, or our already-bona-fide accomplishments, go unread, hungry and unwashed....

          Well. Sadder but wiser. Now that Seveer has turned around and done the predictable thing -- treating his followers with the exact same exploitative contempt that he earlier showed toward the pros -- I sing a different tune.

          And I should have known better. In the arts, there really isn't a valid place for guerilla actions, such as I imagined script-jacking to be, any more than there's a valid place for forging paintings or plagiarizing whole works (while changing some of the names). There may be those that do it, and make money off of it. But they're no better than flim-flam artists and grifters.

          As someone who's devoted thousands and thousands of hours to writing -- and none to con artistry -- how indeed would I feel if, at the moment of breaking into this field, someone like the Shadster came along, took my script w/out permission, and blasted a "not for me" review across the Internet. Would I take it lightly?

          I think not, and I hereby apologize to those professionals, who didn't take it lightly two years ago, for not being more serious-minded about it myself.
          Last edited by Max Otto Schrenck; 12-20-2012, 03:10 PM. Reason: clarification

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          • #65
            Re: The Ethics of Reading

            I think I'll speak for myself now, if that's ok with everybody.

            I started writing a good while before Carson started his blog. It was exactly like I said - I didn't have access to scripts. I was told the access would come with time and with the friendships I made, and it did. Occasionally someone would trade scripts with me over email.

            Then Carson started his blog. Did I take advantage of the free scripts he offered to the world? Absolutely. I even reviewed a few on my own blog until Gary Whitta made it clear that it was uncool. I didn't necessarily understand why, but I respected that he had a stake in this that I didn't, and that I should listen to him. So I stopped. I still took the scripts and read them privately. But as time went on I took them less and less, and eventually I just deleted the email as soon as it hit my inbox. Then I unsubscribed.

            I have never been opposed to private script trading. I have never said I was opposed to private script trading. I am opposed to posting scripts on public forums and in email blasts. I am opposed to the idea that you have no idea who you're sending that script to, that it's no longer in a circle of trust, but a free for all. Of course I still read unproduced material. I never said otherwise. I just don't post it to a public sendspace account.

            I still have mixed feelings about Tracking Board's script forum. That's why this is a good conversation to have - so we can suss out where that line is.

            Every time we have this discussion, I give some serious thought to my opinion based on someone's well-thought-out response. And for the record, I didn't "make it." I haven't sold a thing. And my rep has only ever sent me one script, a script he thought I should read, not one I asked for. So this isn't about me suddenly having access and rubbing my hands together with glee that nobody but me gets to have the scripts.

            I got along just fine before I had access to those scripts. And come to think of it, I'm getting along just fine now. I've only read two unproduced specs in the last year. My writing hasn't suffered a bit.
            Last edited by emily blake; 12-20-2012, 03:36 PM.
            Chicks Who Script podcast

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            • #66
              Re: The Ethics of Reading

              please do not trade my script on The Tracking Board.

              please do not distribute or review my script.

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              • #67
                Re: The Ethics of Reading

                Also, I have a rant to the people who run The Tracking Board.

                I asked them to take down their announcement that my script sold on Monday. They challenged my assertion, even going as far as contacting my agents to verify that THEY (and not me) are correct.

                I understand Tracking Board folks want to deliver news to its subscribers. But show some journalistic integrity for goddamn sakes. Don't challenge THE ACTUAL WRITER OF THE SCRIPT on the veracity of sales. And do not go behind that writer's back and contact his reps.

                I understand that their HIT LIST helps give more exposure to writers, especially many newer writers with specs. That's great. But please don't become Script Shadow.

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                • #68
                  Re: The Ethics of Reading

                  I was planning to hit The Tricking Board and trade your script for a high-end "escort."

                  Comment


                  • #69
                    Re: The Ethics of Reading

                    Originally posted by Hamboogul View Post
                    Also, I have a rant to the people who run The Tracking Board.

                    I asked them to take down their announcement that my script sold on Monday. They challenged my assertion, even going as far as contacting my agents to verify that THEY (and not me) are correct.

                    I understand Tracking Board folks want to deliver news to its subscribers. But show some journalistic integrity for goddamn sakes. Don't challenge THE ACTUAL WRITER OF THE SCRIPT on the veracity of sales. And do not go behind that writer's back and contact his reps.

                    I understand that their HIT LIST helps give more exposure to writers, especially many newer writers with specs. That's great. But please don't become Script Shadow.
                    Did they ever take down the listing? Last I looked, it was still there.
                    Chicks Who Script podcast

                    Comment


                    • #70
                      Re: The Ethics of Reading

                      Originally posted by Hamboogul View Post
                      please do not trade my script on The Tracking Board.

                      please do not distribute or review my script.
                      I still haven't even figured out which one is yours yet...

                      Comment


                      • #71
                        Re: The Ethics of Reading

                        Originally posted by karlosd View Post
                        I still haven't even figured out which one is yours yet...
                        RODHAM. He's fourth, which is pretty amazing.

                        Michael B's client is third.

                        DD FTW!

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                        • #72
                          Re: The Ethics of Reading

                          Originally posted by emily blake View Post
                          Did they ever take down the listing? Last I looked, it was still there.
                          No sale is reported on the site.

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                          • #73
                            Re: The Ethics of Reading

                            I've said this before and I'll say it again; people have been breaking into show business and figuring out how to write scripts for about a century, long before all this widespread distribution of scripts started to happen.

                            And a whole lot of people now say that they "need" access to these scripts for educational purposes. And I'm sorry but I think that's just Buuuuuuullshit. It's not about "need" it's about "want". And it's about feeling cool and like people are part of the inside process (which is what Carson is selling all day long). Does that really make people more productive or better writers? I don't think so.

                            There are lots of great scripts out there that are available without passing around someone's work without their implicit permission. All this crap that people need a spec draft or an early production draft to really understand how to write? I just don't buy it.

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                            • #74
                              Re: The Ethics of Reading

                              To succesfully write movies, I feel like one only NEEDS three things:

                              1)Literary talent- which includes a comprehension of drama, learned from reading stories, theater, etc...

                              2)A good sense of cinematic storytelling, learned from watching GOOD films and sure, reading a few scripts- especially of classics.

                              3)Hard Work.

                              Feel free to argue these points.

                              Comment


                              • #75
                                Re: The Ethics of Reading

                                Originally posted by Chief View Post
                                RODHAM. He's fourth, which is pretty amazing.

                                Michael B's client is third.

                                DD FTW!
                                *cough* Tied for 2nd. *cough*.

                                And thanks!

                                Best,

                                MB
                                twitter.com/mbotti

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