Screenwriting : Film reviews - comments - where are they? by Chanel Ashley

www.rottentomatoes is one of the most popular sites to make and see reviews of movies. At least that's where I go..

Thanks, guys, saw that You The Critic, bit tame, weak, actually - can't see why it would become heated, it's only an opinion on whether a film appealed to you - Rotten Tomatoes is fine, but it would have been nice to have something here, geez, how hard could it be to have film reviews on a site like this, sadly, another subject in the too hard basket - the people that run this site should be careful it doesn't stagnate, that it doesn't become too stale and comfortable being a small player.

Just send an email to Richard and let him know your thoughts on the subject and maybe give him some ideas. Perhaps reviewing films on this site doesn't fit as well as other things. IMO, but I could be wrong.

Thanks, Owen, I sometimes start my own thread with certain films, but would rather participate in a film review forum - not that simple, Armando, I tried contact before and received no reply when I enquired about reviewing screenplays here - all one had to do was explain why Stage 32 would prefer NOT to discuss certain issues, got me nowhere except some vitriol from a handful of members, lol - actually, Owen, I see your point, I was stunned at the reaction of some members when you try to initiate CHANGE or something NEW, the negativity surprised me.

I see. Well, the only issue with reviewing screenplays is the fear that the idea could be stolen. I personally do not see any problems with you making a suggestion that I think could add some value to this site. Me personally I would go to rotten tomatoes since its got a more diverse and wider audience for reviews. So you can either continue pursuing it or just move on. I have made suggestions in the past that were ignored, so I just moved on and let it go. I don't see why anybody would make it personal just by making some recommendation for a change. My 2 pennies.

Everyone suspects their ideas may be stolen, but realistically they won't be - if you don't get your script out there and valuable feedback, surely it can only hold you back re exposure - but uploading screenplays is always an option, you feel uncomfortable, don't upload, quite simple, really - I have two of mine uploaded here, they are not the final drafts/finished product, but enough to display whether I can/can not write - you are correct, one can go to Rotten Tomatoes, but wear your business hat, is it wise to have members LEAVE this site and search on the opposition's? Not a smart move in my opinion - I have moved on and I was incredulous why people would make it personal when one suggested CHANGE - it's true, it takes all kinds to fill the world, but I enjoyed the skirmishes, a bit of theatre/fire doesn't hurt.

Feedback is crucial for writers and they cannot progress without it. What are our options in this regard? - - Trigger Street was the best but will be closing this month. - Zoetrope is good but has it's shortcomings in comparison. - Talentville is too restrictive unless you pay and even then, it's not a patch on Trigger Street. - Other peer review sites are so-so. I've had a quick look at some of them and I haven't returned. - Writing groups are good but lack the volume of feedback. That said, I'm in two international groups and I like how those ones operate. I sometimes respond to posts here looking for feedback but it's really just a system of begging for reviews and unless people are feeling generous with their time, you will simply not receive the volume of feedback you require plus most requests are usually flooded with offers of feedback for a fee. A give and take system is the best particularly if people can build up points for the reviews they submit during their "down time" and then utilise those points for feedback on their work when they're running hot.

Chanel - - I saw "The Imitation Game" in early November at a critics screening. IMO, it has Oscar written all over it. The Stage 32 category you are looking for is - - You're the Critic. I used to post links to my reviews of stage plays there, however, there were no responses, no "thumbs up," no action. So I stopped. Just saw "Beyond the Lights" and I felt it is a great example of how NOT to write a screenplay. We see Noni (the protagonist) as a child, singing at an amateur competition. Next scene: Noni is an internationally famous Billboard-charter. Third scene: Noni tries to commit suicide. A cop saves her life and he becomes the love interest. The rest of the script shows various ways Noni sabotages her career - - - we are meant to see this as Noni's attempt to be authentic. Oh, the actor who plays the love interest is as just exciting as watching dental surgery. High rating on Rotten Tomatoes - - - but in reality "Beyond the Lights" is a movie you should recommend only as a revenge tactic.

Pierre, TriggerStreet closing reviews or the entire site, either way I'm saddened at the news - TS was the best and I met so many great people on that site - I was able to learn so much I feel blessed that I had the opportunity, especially acquiring a thick skin - I might have to go back and say a few goodbyes, I'm grateful at least you're here, Pierre, you're an asset to me and to the site - I can't speak highly enough of TS, it was magnificent in the old days with those amazing personality clashes and so much theatre, but geez it was fun until they decided to clean it up and sanitise the site, LOL - I will miss it, bummer.

Owen, I know where you're coming from, but I was able to glean some positives even from the most negative, vitriolic reviews, and boy, I received a few of those, lol, hence the thick skin - do not fear bad reviews, do not fear criticism, eventually you will receive a cross-section of reviews and opinions, which I stress, are only opinions - the appalling, useless reviewers were usually countered by some excellent reviewers, it comes out in the wash eventually - do not pick and choose your reviewer, let perfect strangers give a critique otherwise you might as well stick to family and have a constant flow of glowing reviews which will be of no help/advancement to anyone - Owen, don't be precious, take a punt and risk a few bruises, you might surprise yourself - besides, perhaps one's script does suck and one is about to find out why, how good is that, cheers - yes, it can be, and it is, demoralising and can and does sting, so what, just one of life's hard knocks, that's how we learn, how we improve and grow.

Hahaha, I shall remember that revenge tactic, LindaAnn - I think you are correct, You're The Critic is where we are supposed to write reviews, but no one knows it exists - perhaps FILM REVIEWS may have served as a better title, lol - anyway, I wrote some comment, see if anyone notices.

Sorry that TriggerStreetLabs shuts down. I discovered it just a few weeks ago. I think that Film and TV Discussion is the good place, but the lounge suffers the general weakness of Stage 32 browse/search interface: difficulty to find anything in sections, posts... So you may add a post about any movie... without finding what has already been posted about it. E.G. Interstelar: - 19 posts in the whole lounge, including 5 in You're The Critic and 5 in Film and TV Discussion. Even if discussions are often bu(r)stling, it would be more rewarding to share all these experiences. It's mostly the same to find particular comments from anybody in any post. So all these infos are lost after some time, just as in to many networks (May day Google!)... Just as the Lost Ark in its shed... I just discovered the "Ask Stage 32" section (569 topics!) and that Alle Segretti already asked about this 7 months ago. The Stage 32 team already made a great job last year to improve the site. Hope they can do this in 2015 as well as an avenue for voluntary screenplay reviews.

I think this is the place for general discussions: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/anything_goes

Chanel@ It's the entire site that will be closing down. No specific date mentioned but sometime this month. Yes, a lot to be thankful for, I met you on that site and I'm very thankful for that. Owen@ I disagree. If you receive one review and that person highlights one aspect that they say you need to change, are you going to change it? Suppose you then receive six other reviews and no one else raises the same issue as the first reviewer but they all mention another issue, which issue do you fix? The benefit of feedback from multiple sources shows you a trend in your issues. If you're happy with just the one notable telling you what's wrong with your script then you're better off paying for feedback from a notable. Another benefit of peer review sites is learning how to give feedback to others. That is also a valuable tool to improve your writing which you will never learn if you're only interested in receiving feedback from your preferred individual source.

How do you know, Owen, that quality is better than quantity? I speak from experience, do you? TriggerStreet was a tough school of knocks re reviews, but the experience was invaluable - I had some of the worst, harshest, vitriolic reviews ever received on that site, but I learnt to cope and glean positives, not to mention my work improved - of course paid feedback is valuable, but that is only one tool, I've experienced both - from my experience too many members here are too sensitive to ANY criticism of their work which is not healthy - Pierre made an excellent point, you also learn to GIVE reviews and feedback to others.

GREAT advice Pierre!

Pierre, I just went into TS and said a few goodbyes, wow, that was sad - because they all know you, why not suggest they come onboard here, at least it will be people we know and respect - most have probably forgotten me, but not you, so they may follow suit.

Do you know why TS shut down?

@ Chanel -- if the category were FILM REVIEWS, then where would STAGE REVIEWS be posted? Nowhere.

Good point, LindaAnn, I wasn't thinking, make that FILM-STAGE-TV REVIEWS - talking about stage, I saw Al Pacino in Angels In America which I thought was stunning, the acting and writing first class, was the stage play just as good? What did you think of it?

I'm smiling at the idea of a stage play aired on TELEVISION, Chanel. I have never owned a TV set. Instead I'm at the theatre three times a week -- where LIVE performances reign. And the actors hear an audience applaud. :-D It took Tony Kushner a lot of revising. The first version was HOURS long. It was interesting to watch his project evolve.

You still haven't mentioned Angels in America - have you seen it? What did you make of it? Theatre three times a week, bravo.

Chanel, perhaps my Tony Kushner comment was hidden under "Expand Comment." I've seen it -- from the first version that was almost 8 hrs long, revised versions, and the final -- here in New York City and always live. I actually preferred certain elements of the earlier versions.

Jean-Marie, TSL is closing because the site's founder, Dana Brunetti, is pretty busy being an A-list producer these days and doesn't want to spend any more money (and I guess time) running it. Chanel, that's very kind of you. There are plenty of 'Streeters' here already but most of them want a peer review site. Two facebook pages have sprung up to cater for those who are being kicked off the Street but it's not the same.

Hope I can cross paths with a few, yes, we would all love a peer review section - it can be voluntary so no need for hostilities, lol.

In the Stage 32 Lounge there are two great places for film reviews; the already mentioned "You're the Critic;" and "Film & TV Discussion." The Friday Blog occasionally posts trailers and/or articles about new release films as well. As far as script reviews, I believe the idea here is to leave it up to members to share their scripts, ask for reviews, or offer to read. Of course you can post a script pdf on your page and those who do take a look can leave comment under the logline/screenplay post. Perhaps if Stage 32 does launch a formal "Script Review" section, or forum, it would probably need to be its own separate entity and not be part of the Lounge -- similar to Happy Writers. If a "Script Review" section is desired then please do post a request under "Ask Stage 32" in the Lounge to allow others to openly support the idea. And, also send a message to RB or Amanda. But, do keep in mind, that adding a whole new section to the site does take time and much consideration. :)

Thanks Beth, as regards to reviews, we should keep it simple - upload our screenplays and make it known you are open to reviews - no point system, no credits, a simple ask and receive with the proviso there will be no hostility as it's only an opinion and the writer did seek that feedback/opinion - some will offer constructive feedback, others may not warm to your script to put it politely - but it is all voluntary - happy for people to read mine, good or bad - no need for an entirely new section except for the writer's name and the scripts available on one's page, I believe ion the KISS principle.

Thanks Benjamin, I'll have a look.

Actually, while I'm at it, a review is a starting point and the feedback can be simple - example, I usually find most of the initial errors are spelling/grammar - get that right then the next problem is usually too much description and too much dialogue - get that right and we are halfway there, we can then consider structure/story, etc. without the earlier distractions - it's a process of elimination, no need for hostility and if your script still sucks after all that, start a new one, LOL.