posted 04-17-2001 08:11 AM            

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I appreciate the concept of Project Greenlight and the wonderful opportunity it represented for all of us budding and hopeful writers out here. Invariably though there will be a disgruntled minority constantly trying to change the methodology used in such contests to fix the problems they encountered while trying to participate. Come on people, no one ever said winning was easy! Winning a national contest like this one is a shot in the dark at best! Many people have read the winning script and feel that theirs was far superior and wonder (and grumble I'm sure) why it was choosen while their "superior" work was thrown by the way side. In response I would first like to say that you can't have a contest like this one, with so many people entering their scripts and not have a hell of a lot more loosers than winners. It's just math, so I think that people who have had the wonderful opportunity to enter a contest that put them on even footing with thousands of hopefuls nationwide should express gratitude and not frustration. Yes, some of you weren't able to get your screenplay converted in time, (to which Project Greenlight admirably tried to assist you by extenting the deadlines) and others felt that their scripts weren't given the proper read or attention, or than many others didn't even fully read the scripts they were given. My only response to this is, if you can't take the heat, get out of the oven! This is a business people, a very exclusive one at that. Kick over a rock sometime and count the number of writers that crawl out...there are many people out there, just like you and me, hoping and dreaming of their three picture deal for six million. But the reality is that few make it and of those few, how many do you think actually spent time whining about not making it? Or wondered if they'd ever be successful? All of them!! We are not alone and THAT was the true gift of this contest, to create a forum for us to share and connect with other people, just like us who shared our dreams and desires to become if even for a moment the creator of our dreams to forge our unique vision into a work of film. I for one will always feel gratitude that there was someone in this business open enough to try what Project Greenlight has done. To give us the very real opportunity to connect and express ourselves in a way never before attempted. To me that fact alone outweighs the injustices that many feel were perpetrated in this venture. So let's grow up, dust off our bruised egos and do what really makes us happy, let's write. And by God, let's give it the best we have and not grumble and moan about that which only makes us look like ungrateful idiots, angry that we only got a shot and not a deal. In a world where the majority never even get a shot at success, let alone a shot at living their dream!

Humbly yours,
Ash Evans

P.S. My script never even made the top 250 and 3 of the five reviews I recieved, rated my script very favorably and yet still clicked pass, in fact on of the comments was : "If this writer wants other reviewers to pass this script then he should work on..." Clearly the reviewer was saying that a pass was a good thing and was giving me advice on how to get "passed" by other reviewers! Obviously the reviewer thought that "passing" my script mean acceptance to the contest and not dismisal. No big deal! I rewrote my script twice and I can't wait for next year!!

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posted 04-17-2001 09:49 AM            

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I understand what you are saying and to a large degree, I do agree with you. However, I do not believe it is unreasonable for a participant in a contest to have the expectation that the contest will live up to its own stated rules.

PEACE,
uhuru1701

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posted 04-20-2001 11:31 AM            

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Thanks for your words, and I must also digress and acknowledge that to a large degree I was myself dissappointed with the overall outcome but thrilled to have been a part. I look forward to seeing what new comments I get on the screenplay I submit for Greenlight 2! Keep on truckin!

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posted 04-21-2001 02:49 AM            

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Do'nt think the Greenlight could be made much better. Accept if i WON!
But seriously, the review process was messed up. Maybe a little bit. I hate to be critical of such a great contest though.

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posted 04-27-2001 06:56 AM            

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ONE BIG SUGGESTION:
Rather than judge the top 30 solely on their bios/questionnaires/videos, howsabout you read their scripts, too? I know it's daunting to have 250 scripts to pare down, but you're not giving many of these works their due by throwing them out based on your designated criteria.

Also, could you add a separate winner for best script that is announced later? The winner who gets the BIG greenlight prize of directing with the 1 mill budget could stand, but having a separate script winner for those of us who AREN'T directors, but only writers, would be only FAIR.

Thanks.

e.

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