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Author	Topic: A question of ethics
ubio Member	posted 10-03-2000 05:52 AM In no way do I want to do a screw job reviewing someone's script to better my position in the contest. That said however, how honest should we be reviewing a script? I read a real bad one, and the likelihood I'll read more is good since all of us have never sold a script, don't have an agent, etc. I fear if I hold my tongue, I'm doing them a disservice, on the other hand being too truthful could scare a person away to the point where they don't want to write again. I wanted to add encouragement and offer some constructive criticism, but there wasn't much there and when there's 10 bad things, who notices the 1 good thing? IP: Logged
Falcon Member	posted 10-03-2000 06:10 AM I think you have to draw a line between criticism and insults. Don't insult the person. Just critique the work. Lastly, most of the measures are on a scale, so the numerical weighting will probably carry more weight than the accompanying narrative. Be nice, but nothing says you shouldn't be honest. IP: Logged
franks&beans; Junior Member	posted 10-03-2000 06:11 AM I know it'll sound cruel, but be honest, and if there's no encouragement to provide, then don't provide it. I know I read an awful script yesterday. I ended up sitting around last night feeling guilty for blasting it. But it was really bad, and there was no way around it. IP: Logged
BJoanne Junior Member	posted 10-03-2000 06:43 AM I would just reply honestly. You aren't doing anyone any favors by telling them something is good when it isn't. Besides, I would think that they will get more than one review so they can just go from the collective. But I am sure you can find 1 positive, can't you? IP: Logged
lhill Junior Member	posted 10-03-2000 01:37 PM Honestly, I've read two so far that I thought were really bad, but rather than rip into them about each and everything wrong with it, I just thought I'd mention a few of the larger problems and keep quiet about the rest. I have a hard time being too negative, just because I know how it is to get your work bashed. IP: Logged
Jodie Member	posted 10-03-2000 02:48 PM If someones script is totally unfilmable I think you should say so and why. People need to know if they are wasting their time writing when they might be better off in the wardrobe department. The truth saves everyone time. Imagine if the writers of all those spec scripts that weren't ready to be filmed knew that, and kept working on them, the post office could shut on Saturday and there would be unemployed readers everywhere. IP: Logged
dn51 Junior Member	posted 10-03-2000 09:09 PM I agree be honest but try to stick to constuctive critisism.Even if someones script is really really bad remember it took effort to write it and courage to submit it. If the script deserves critisism give it honestly but try to help them write a better one next time dont shred them and thier work. Fan thier spark of creativity dont stamp it out. Creative and imaginative people are really pretty cool we should encourage those traits. IP: Logged
Okiechas Member	posted 10-05-2000 08:31 AM When its bad, be honest, not cruel. Help them the best you can but check the box to pass on the film. When its good.... be honest, and look forward to seeing them at the top, knowing you had a part in it. IP: Logged
turpin Member	posted 10-05-2000 08:51 AM I think constructive criticism is very valuable. If it's not ready to be made, say so. I read one screenplay that had some potential, but just wasn't ready to go in front of the camera. However, when I thought about how the script could be improved, I started to understand that very peculiar phenomenon in film of "story by: person a", "screenplay by: person b". Just remember that "The Sixth Sense" went through somewhere around 20 drafts. How do you think that the reviewers of draft #1 responded? IP: Logged
mstone Member	posted 10-05-2000 09:37 AM I just read what I found to be a "weak" script. It didn't adhere to the basic principles of what sells - get the viewer in the first five pages, and stick to the paradigms. I will be honest in my critique, because Hollywood is a war zone - not a playground. Agents can't sell something they can't sell. Can I get an amen? IP: Logged
annuelle Member	posted 10-05-2000 06:26 PM I have seen some people mentioning a name of a screenplay and then just saying it's really bad, awful and so on. I think we should all keep in mind that a person who wrote it might be reading the message boards. And even though the script could be bad, there is no reason to hurt people's feelings, especially with non cunstructive, vague and subjective criticism. Besides, after seeing somebody trash a certain script, next person to review it might have a predetermined negative opinion about it. And that's just not fair. IP: Logged
Justina Junior Member	posted 10-05-2000 06:46 PM ooh, this is a sore spot for me. If you hate it and you don't know why or the reasons are stylistic, decline it. It's not your type of story and that doesn't mean it's bad. This may not be what you're saying, but I do want to put that out there. If you see the potential (which I believe all scripts have) and you see how it can be improved, say where you were confused and where the pacing was off. Make some suggestions, and be honest. Nothing is "unfilmmable," it's just a first draft. I am truly disgusted by the people who say they've read stuff that sucks. In my opinion, that shows a lack of professionalism. If you don't see how the script can be improved, how the hell do you do your own rewrites? IP: Logged
annuelle Member	posted 10-05-2000 11:17 PM Thats what I'm saying. If you read something, didn't like it and want to share your opinion, explain why. I see a lot of words like bad, ridiculous, horrible and so on, which don't say anything at all about the script. All they are saying is that the person didn't like it. If they can't give a reason why they didn't like it, then it's not really worth mentioning. It's too subjective. IP: Logged

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