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EXTEND THE DEADLINE! (Page 2)

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Author	Topic: EXTEND THE DEADLINE!
sepu Junior Member	posted 10-24-2000 05:40 PM I tried to convert my screnplay in a "pdf file" this last Friday ( October 22) and I couldn't make it. Adobe never converted it. I tried 20 times. Saturday, I could not even go on line. Sunday, I tried again, I sent five files and Adobe converted just one, but I could not even open it. The weird thing was that my screenplay shriked so much that I think it turned to be three pages long. I tried to summit my screenplay and projectgreenlight told me that there were problems with it. I continued trying and I belive I could never make it. So far I don't know what happened. I did not do this at the last minutes. It is unfair for me and for you that " we are not in the competition ", because of the computer and web sites problems. Technical support responds to our claims ! Please : EXTEND THE DEADLINE ! IP: Logged
sunday3 Junior Member	posted 10-24-2000 06:02 PM So, I finally received my converted screenplay from Adobe today (Tuesday). Have we heard anything official from tech support about the deadline? It would be nice to know if I should put any more time, effort, frustration, etc. into this. IP: Logged
johnjr Junior Member	posted 10-24-2000 10:16 PM I offer this as a more plausable solution to PGL: obviously there was some problems with Adobe; there are people who complained, who played by the rules but experienced technical difficulties. I have worked in the internet industry for four years, but this was beyond normal. To respond to a technical solution, the suggestion to ask Adobe for help is wrong. Adobe is not going to coordinate it's database to match emails or some other identificaiton to help PGL out. Adobe just will not do that. So, what PGL might do is just accept the 10 or 30 scripts that experienced technical difficulties. Those who experienced problems can email the Adobe PDFs to the PGL systems administrator. PGL's systems adminsitrator can post them on the site (some changes might needed to be made to the database)and then everyone can be happy. the cost is about, at most, 10 hours of PGLs systems administration time and DBA time. That amounts to at most $8,000. This is not much to pay for happy customers. (Less than a small ad in any magazine). If you want to run a good business, make your customers happy, come out smelling like a rose, it's not much at all. IP: Logged
johnjr Junior Member	posted 10-24-2000 10:27 PM to continue. . .(sorry) Actually, probably the best marketing ploy for the contest is to say that so many people applied to the contest, the "best technology" just could not accomodate it. And the only way this story gets any play is if PGL also says but PGL overcame it, it's more than about technology, etc., etc. . . If you just say "problems, too many people," it just doesn't make a good story . . . and that's what we all want -- isn't it? IP: Logged
gmoney Junior Member	posted 10-25-2000 05:11 AM EXTENDING WAS WRONG - Why does everyone think they are a special case? You knew the rules and the deadline. Have you never been subject to a dead line? That's the way things work. IP: Logged
STACKINTOE Junior Member	posted 10-25-2000 06:01 AM I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE GALL OF GREENLIGHT POSTING IT'S GREATNESS AND SUCCESS. THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS WEBSITE IT WASN'T EVEN FUNNY. GREENLIGHT SHOULD EXTEND THE DEADLINE OR AT LEAST HAVE SOME RESPONSE FROM THIER NON-EXISTANT TECH SUPPORT. I KNOW THERE IS NO TECH SUPPORT. I HAVE NOT RECIEVED DIDLY. MATT AND BEN YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING OR I'M GOING TO THE NET WORKS. IF YOU THINK I'M KIDDING TRY ME. E-MAIL: STACKINTOE@AOL.COM IP: Logged
12vob Member	posted 10-25-2000 07:11 AM To all my fellow unfortunates who did not get their script in by the deadline: It's OUR OWN fault. If we submitted our screenplays to Adobe on Sunday the 15th we wouldn't be where we are today. The Deadline WILL NOT be extended. We would have heard by now, and they WON'T change their minds. You can threaten to sue. (you have no case) You can threaten to go to the networks. (I don't think they'll find you newsworthy enough) I know it's easier to blame someone else for your troubles then yourself. Heck, I just reviewed my now one manadory screenplay and it was horrible. Which led me to believe that I had even a better shot of winning if this was an example of the quality of scripts people are submitting. But I can't win because I missed the deadline. That's my fault. Just like it's YOUR fault for not getting YOUR act together sooner. Own up to it already. If you're THAT good you'll make your mark in Hollywood one day anyway. IP: Logged
STACKINTOE Junior Member	posted 10-25-2000 11:00 AM I'M NOT KIDDING SOME US HAVE BANDED TOGETHER DECIDING WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS ABOMINATION SITTING DOWN. THIS WEB PAGE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A HEADACHE AND TIME WASTED. FROM NON-EXISTANT TECH SUPPORT, TO CHAT THAT'S ARE INOPERABLE, MATT AND BEN YOU WASTED OUR TIME. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO THE NETWORKS WITH OUR STORY. UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SOON. WE HAVE SENT PLENTY OF E-MAILS AND TECH QUESTIONS. WE ALSO HAVE HAD ALL OF OUR INFO IN UNDER THE GUN OF OCTOBER 22, EXCEPT THAT UNEXCESSABLE PERSONAL REVIEW FORM, WHICH MAKES US INELIGABLE. WE WILL MOVE ON THIS IF NOT CONTACTED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS SITUATION AND SIGN A PATITION, SEND ME E-MAIL: STACKINTOE@AOL.COM, OR TECH SUPPORT, OR BEN OR MATT QUICKLY OR IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE TODAY SHOW............... IP: Logged
jomeer Junior Member	posted 10-25-2000 12:14 PM To those who think that anyone who wasn't able to upload their screenplay on time because of difficulties is a whiner. I created my own PDF (I own the software) , filled out the registration form in plenty of time and tried to upload my script several times. I was told there were errors in submission and was told to leave an email to "whoever" and that was that. I was stuck in a no win situation. I am not whining, I would just like GL to own up to it's problems. Yes, it's only a contest, but there are a lot of people who took the assignment very seriously. I am one of them. Two more thoughts. One, all those who are saying we are whiners are "Members" and probably have their scripts in the contest. Lucky them. Whether they know your name or not all those who have did not get to upload their scripts are now reviewers. I hope you don't get a "whiner" as a reviewer, but if you do I hope they are fair and not upset. Could be the ultimate justice for someone who has no heart.Kinda pluts an ugly sant on the whole process. Two. I look at the glass as half full. I have a great script ready to go elsewhere and I am happy and excited. I hope all those who didn't get their scripts in in time do submit them elsewhere and someone gets a blockbuster deal out of the process. (If this happens to anyone I would love to hear about it ... Jomeer@aol.com). Would make a great feature column in the entertainment section. If someone from GL would just speak up (even if they say no way to an extension) it would make the dissapointment much easier to take. It's the silence that's angering people. Jomeer Jo Rieder-Malone IP: Logged
dalecus Junior Member	posted 10-25-2000 04:04 PM I don't care if they don't want my script, which I think is very, very good -- especially for the $1 mil req (keep this in future) -- yeah, I'm patting myself on my back, but I also still want to work on it some more. What I really want is for this site to apologize to us for making us use adobe! I want Greenlight to issue a formal apology to those who didn't make the deadline, and acknowledge the problems that people have with adobe. That is good enough for me. So far, the site is silent about problems people had. It would be an insult to those who worked so hard only to miss the deadline if some kind of acknowldegement is not made. Dalecus quote: Originally posted by thriller: There must be MANY MANY others - who aren't even aware of these forums - who will never choose to vent about their frustrations with the ADOBE issue. (and who's frustration will be forever associated with...Project Greenlight.) This will be my last visit to this site. Hopefully I'll get an e-mail from Greenlight indicating that: ... "we are aware of the effort required to develop an excellent screenplay. Because it appears obvious that you made every effort to enter the contest in a timely manner, please proceed, now, and submit your script to us! Although we warned everyone of potential technical problems, we have decided to take advantage of our option to extend contest submissions for those who were registered and prepared to submit their script before the Sunday at midnite deadline. This decision is based on the overwhelming change in expected file conversion times. This surprise prevented many prepared contestants from contributing to our fun. Enjoy the contest!" -Thriller. IP: Logged
dalecus Junior Member	posted 10-26-2000 10:33 AM quote: Originally posted by gmoney: EXTENDING WAS WRONG - Why does everyone think they are a special case? You knew the rules and the deadline. Have you never been subject to a dead line? That's the way things work. I'm sorry, but I must disagree. We are not special cases, we are typical cases with a poorly run system. If my company was hosting PGL, this would never had happened. And, even if it did, we would have provided enough of a refund to allow for the extension of deadlines. So, if cost is a problem for PGL, I can maybe understand that -- but, as one poster had mentioned $8k (I can't vouch for the numbers, since I don't look at sales figures for my company) is nothing in this industry. To claim that this is a success, and, moreover, not to even apologize, is just bad business. Dale IP: Logged
dalecus Junior Member	posted 10-26-2000 11:16 AM quote: Originally posted by 12vob: To all my fellow unfortunates who did not get their script in by the deadline: It's OUR OWN fault. If we submitted our screenplays to Adobe on Sunday the 15th we wouldn't be where we are today. The Deadline WILL NOT be extended. We would have heard by now, and they WON'T change their minds. You can threaten to sue. (you have no case) Technically, YES, we do have a case. They were the ones who made the offer (i.e. the contest), which required us to use Adobe. In order to accept (i.e. participate) the offer we had to use their system. Were other means available? YES. We could have mailed, we could have done other things which were industry standard. Because PGL made us do these other things, jump these extra hoops, they should hold some liability for the poor performance of their system. In other words, their offer is imperfect. Technically, the whole contest should be void, but because both sides of the agreement want to come together, accomodations should be made. It's only fair. As far as damages, which is the bottom line, the cost of trial, and pursuing this matter would be both non-feasible, and non-economical, only if for principal. I just reviewed my now one manadory screenplay and it was horrible. Which led me to believe that I had even a better shot of winning if this was an example of the quality of scripts people are submitting. But I can't win because I missed the deadline. That's my fault. Just like it's YOUR fault for not getting YOUR act together sooner. Own up to it already. If you're THAT good you'll make your mark in Hollywood one day anyway. [/QUOTE] Well aren't you the self-righteous. Dale IP: Logged
edavid Junior Member	posted 10-26-2000 11:44 AM I just got an email from tech supp saying to "save that pdf form and stay tuned" Sounds hopeful, don't you think? Maybe they'll figure out a way to include us technical retards... IP: Logged
n2films Junior Member	posted 10-26-2000 06:34 PM I agree with a lot of you. (1) we are writers, not computer nerds (okay, some are, but not me). My writing partner and I write everything on legal pads before finally typing. Until last year, he was using a typewriter and I was on an old word processer. Does that make us any less talented? We have a voice...I'm just sorry we have trouble putting it out there b/c we're not computer literate. (2) I tried to make myself feel better also when my file didn't convert by saying that the competition was probably too tough anyway...now I see the other scripts that made it and I kick myself in the butt. I did have a good chance. But we do have to keep in mind that if we are good, it will happen for us. I hope all of us who didn't make the "deadline" can one day look back at this and laugh as we sign a three picture deal or accept that Oscar. IP: Logged
Kurt&Amy; Junior Member	posted 10-26-2000 06:51 PM quote: Originally posted by Brittani: I did not wait until the last minute. In fact, I uploaded my script before the review process even began. But I was never able to complete my personal review because of technical difficulties on the part of PGL. I tried every day. This has been one of the most frustrating things I've ever done. It's like being stuck in traffic for a month. EXACTLY! I had no problems with Adobe. It was on PGL's end. For days and days - until past the deadline - I was unable to access my personal review. I begged and begged tech support for help. NOthing. I know I'm not alone. How is this our fault? Why should we be disqualified? I started my PRF, the computer crashed. I could never get it back. I'd hate to be disqualified by a computer error. Amy IP: Logged

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