The Quick ‘n’ Dirty List
COMPLETED SCRIPTS
For completed scripts, email me.
CONTEST ENTRIES
CS Open Fall 2009 Round 1
CS Open Spring 2010 Round 1
CS Open Spring 2010 Round 2
CS Open Spring 2011 Round 1
The Detailed List
COMPLETED SCRIPTS
For completed scripts, email me.
CONTEST ENTRIES
Cyberspace Open Fall 2009
The Cyberspace Open is a contest designed to test writers’ ability to write on a tight deadline. You get a premise Friday afternoon and have until Monday morning to complete a 5-page script.
The first round premise:
Your PROTAGONIST is in a jam. He (or she) had been relying on deception in order to further his objective, but his ENEMY has figured out the ruse. Write the scene in which your protagonist’s LOVE INTEREST confronts him with this information acquired from the enemy – while staging it in a tricky or dangerous situation.
My entry: CS Open Fall 2009 Round 1
My score: 90/100 (Structure 22, Dialogue 21, Style 23, Originality 24)
Reviewer comments:
Well done. Creative. Fun. Imaginative. The dialogue is a bit wordy at times. Needs to be more concise and use more subtext. Good action. Good visual storytelling. Scene was unique…
The score needed to advance to round 2 was 93, so I was shy 3 points.
Cyberspace Open Spring 2010
This time I made it to round 2!
The first round premise (paraphrased; I can’t find the word-for-word original):
The protagonist’s plans have fallen apart, but he can’t give in without dire circumstances. A friend/mentor/love interest/rival gets the protagonist going again, and we see his/her success/failure.
My entry: CS Open Spring 2010 Round 1
My score: 93/100 (Structure 23, Dialogue 24, Style 23, Originality 23)
Reviewer comments:
Funny, absurdist scene with solid visuals and snappy dialogue. Good mash-up of styles and personalities here. The banter between the DARK WIZARD and GARY is a hoot. Good visual punch with the approaching nuke. Nice work.
My score was just enough to advance, but hey, a win’s a win!
The second round premise (paraphrased again; my memory’s a little fuzzy so this might not be 100% accurate):
Your protagonist’s confidant/closest friend/etc. has betrayed the protagonist, but unknown to the confidant, the protagonist is on to him. Write a scene where they confront each other over the betrayal.
Unlike the first round, or ANY round of the following CS Open, this round only gave aspirants a DAY to write the scene.
My entry: CS Open Spring 2010 Round 2
My score: 89/100 (Structure 22, Dialogue 22, Style 23, Originality 22)
Reviewer comments:
This a sequence of betrayal that hints at a much greater back story, and starts and finishes in a visceral battle that acts in nice counterpoint to the more emotional flashbacks concerning Pacifica. However, the overall effect is a little ‘overcooked’. it would have been better to start the scene with the two friends arguing about the Crystalline Blessing; as it is, it’s not much of an ending to an otherwise compelling scene.
Sucks not to advance to the final round, though I should be happy I made it that far for only being my second contest.
Cyberspace Open Spring 2011
My third go at this, and unfortunately I was eliminated on the first round again.
The first round premise:
Your PROTAGONIST and his or her LOVE INTEREST are at odds. One of the protagonist’s schemes has gone terribly awry, and the love interest has had it. Write a scene in which they have it out – but in an unconventional way. Their words seem measured and reasonable; but the subtext says another thing entirely. You may use additional characters other than the ones specified.
My entry: CS Open Spring 2011 Round 1
My score: 90/100 (Structure 21, Dialogue 21, Style 24, Originality 24)
Reviewer comments:
Strong scene, lots of great visuals, lots of energy and action. Structurally, it runs a little long and a fully linear approach would have kept things moving more. But kudos for the visual, cinematic writing style and the energetic scene.
I see its weaknesses and where I need to improve. Admittedly, I cranked the scene out in a hurry, rather than giving myself sufficient time. And time is too important to mismanage in a contest like this.