John August, ScriptShadow, and Courier12′s future
Yesterday, John August wrote about how he believes ScriptShadow is damaging to writers. Courier12 isn’t immune; what I do is only slightly different from what ScriptShadow does. There’s been an extensive amount of bluster and back and forth in the online screenwriting community. Thing is, John August is right.
I’ve been hiding behind ScriptShadow for quite some time; I’ve always felt like, “Well, if he’s doing it, then it’s OK for me to do it.” This isn’t fair to the writers whose scripts I write about.
I’m trying to figure out just where to go from here. For now, I’m removing the .pdf links on the site. August suggests getting permission from writers before posting scripts or only posting scripts from movies that have already come out. I don’t think either idea is realistic. Hopefully I can come up with a way to do this ethically while still keeping it interesting.
John Gary
I’m the same boat with ya…and it’s being surrounded by sharks. I modified my recent review to see how that works. I have a feeling it’s a no win situations. By cutting the synopsis/plot then it’s less interesting to the fans. Personally I never read reviews, I know that makes me a hypocrite but I like going into scripts with no preconceived notions of what happens. I modified that and my linking which will suck for my new fans that I acquire lol
Time will tell I think.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to at least ATTEMPT posting reviews of scripts that have already made it into theaters…. That’s what the rest of us did before ScriptShadow came along anyway. But we just read them by ourselves, no one really reading them along with us and posting an in-depth analysis.
For instance… why not try to review a copy of “Up In The Air”?? That would be incredibly valuable for us. We can read your review… or Kristy’s… or “Carson’s”… or whoever else wants to jump in on the game… and then we can go watch the movie — possibly even the NEXT DAY… which would keep in the script fresh in our mind and enable us to compare the script to the film much easier.
I see that scenario as much more valuable than posting reviews of scripts that might not even be a final draft…
Any interest?
I mentioned Courier 12 over in August’s discussion (not by name, afraid that might bring the heat). You write it like coverage, constructive criticism. I think your way it is valid. What works for you what doesn’t.
You’re more upfront about the idea of a work in progress than a straight review comes across.
Seems this has become a sticky situation. To be honest, I’ve gotten more use as an aspiring screenwriter out of yours and Carson’s sites than I have from John’s. I love all three, though. Check them everyday. I think it’s also good to read scripts that may never get made. I think getting permission first would work. But denying a chance to read working screenwriter’s scripts, that’s just not the way to go. This is the information age. If you or Carson isn’t posting them, someone else will.
The thing I don’t understand, and which really hasn’t been addressed by anyone in the multiple discussions, is why is it so bad to post the script of a movie in production, whether it is an early draft or not?
A LOT of sites put up reviews on scripts that have not even made it into production, so what’s it matter if you or Carson actually add the scripts to the review?
At least the reader can make up his or her mind and figure out if your opinion is worth it.
The real problem Hollywood is facing is illegal downloads, not illegal downloads of SCRIPTS.
I think Adam is on to something. It would be interesting to read coverage of the script after seeing the film itself, and a good teaching tool for screenwriters- What worked or didn’t work in the final movie, and how much of that could have been nipped in the bud during the development process? Perhaps you could publish on the same day the critics are allowed to publish their reviews.
Ive got to disagree on this. I believe sites like yours are only making writers better. They are not ruining movies for people, people will always be able to read plot synopsis and such on the web.
Keep up the good work, give my blog a look if you get a chance.
Camden