Any screenwriters thinking about this contest?
Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Creative Writing Corner
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Creative Writing Competitions or Creative Writing in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=391
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:34am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Any screenwriters thinking about this contest?
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Subject: Any screenwriters thinking about this contest?
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2006 at 11:11am
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I haven't written straight prose in a long long time. Still, I'm intrigued by the new contest.
Anyone else from the screenplay competition thinking about giving this one a try?
Chris |
Replies:
Posted By: Scott McKenzie
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2006 at 12:48am
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Hi Chris I'm giving it a go. There were plenty of great scripts in the last competition so it'll be interesting to see how everyone writes 'properly'  ------------- Scott McKenzie www.dvdactive.com - www.DVDactive.com Read my blognovel Rebirth at http://rebirthnovel.blogspot.com/ - http://rebirthnovel.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: johnnyd
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2006 at 5:47am
This screenwriter can't wait. 
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Posted By: BarbaraFL
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2006 at 9:52am
| Hey Chris! Definitely. This will be another great exercise. |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2006 at 8:35am
| Yep, I'm in. |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2006 at 5:03am
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I'm still on the fence. I haven't written a short story since college. I'm definitely intrigued by the idea, but some of those genres are terrifying. Romance in particular sends chills down my spine.
Chris |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2006 at 12:35pm
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I'm sure your signifi |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2006 at 12:37pm
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"Romance in particular sends chills down my spine."
(ooops - hit the post button too soon)
What I MEANT to say, Chris, was that I'm sure your significant other would be delighted by the above statement.
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Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2006 at 12:50pm
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I've been married for 13 years. She understands me all too well. Chris
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Posted By: BarbaraFL
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2006 at 5:20pm
Me too, both in real life and on the page at the moment
 |
Chris Messineo wrote:Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2006 at 9:47am
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Eeek, this is heavy stuff!
Chris - you wouldn't have been able to write a wonderful script like 'Night Music' if you weren't a cuddly poet at heart.
Barbara - I don't know you....but the best romantic moments I write seem to come from a yearning...
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Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2006 at 1:11pm
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Even if I forced myself to write it, I don't think I could live with myself if I had to put some Fabio look-alike on the cover page?
Chris
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Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2006 at 10:15am
| Fabio? Pah! Is he meant to be attractive? |
Posted By: BarbaraFL
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2006 at 3:22pm
| can't I write a mockumentary about cutting Fabio's hair? |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2006 at 8:34am
| That's more of a horror story isn't it? Especially if you were to use a chainsaw. |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2006 at 8:35am
See, now, that I could write, but having to write about Fabio falling in love gives me the shakes. Chris |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2006 at 2:57am
| Even lumberjacks and mad axe murderers have a little romance in their souls... |
Posted By: Julie
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2006 at 7:46am
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hello - I'm new to this forum, and in fact joined because I came across the site and competition via a posting in the WriterBytes site forum.
Well, I've signed up for the competition - and am looking forward to the 2007 screenwriting competition.
Hope to get to know you all better over the next few months.
------------- Julie |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2006 at 7:57am
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Julie,
Welcome to the site. The writers here are a great bunch. It's a little quiet at the moment, but once the contest gets underway, the forum gets pretty interesting. Good luck in the competition,
Chris |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2006 at 2:01am
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Hi Julie,
Welcome aboard! Where are you in France? I used to live in Pau for a couple of years. It'll be good to chat to you on the forum,
Best wishes,
Caroline
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Posted By: Julie
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2006 at 11:09am
Hello Chris and Caroline and thank you for your welcome. 
Caroline - I live in Port Cogolin on the Gulf of St Tropez and am originally from Manchester in the north west of England.
I came here specifically to write full-time. I packed up my three bedroomed house and came here with only what I could pack into a Ford Fiesta - which included my computer, a trunkful of notes, 2 dogs and a daughter. So not many possessions as you can imagine. The most cathartic experience in my life thus far.
A lot poorer - and a lot happier - 4 years later I have worked my way through that trunk and written my first screenplay. I've started work on 3 other screenplays and realise that I need an agent or manager.
That soul-less and disheartening task led me to exploring the plethora of sites for writers. I immediately liked both NYCmidnight and WriterBytes - the first for the opening statement "The mission of NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness is to discover a new wave of talented filmmakers and storytellers from around the world and provide them with an outlet for their creativity." and the second for the contacts and submission tracking tool.
So - within the next year I shall enjoy the Short Story and Screenplay competitions with you guys, I shall keep track of my submission requests with WriterBytes, I shall finish at least one of the 3 screenplays that I've started and - biggest hope of all - I shall have an agent to manage me.
It's going to be fun and hard work.
------------- Julie |
Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2006 at 6:36am
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I have signed up. I'm looking forward to this. It's good to get my brain working in multiple directions. An assignment can never hurt!
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Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:05pm
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I'm curious to see how many people actually sign up for this competition. The forums are kind of dead so far.
I'm hoping there are more than a small handful of participants.
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Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:10pm
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It's hard to say how many will sign up for this one, since they haven't run it before. Typically though (and unofficially), only about 1 out of 5 contest participants seems to take part in the forums. Chris |
Posted By: SavageG
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:18pm
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Chis, chris, chris. How did I know you were going to take part in the short story competition.
Now the question is... are you back in the forums for the contest, or did you just never leave? ------------- Not all who wander are lost, not all who wonder without wisdom. |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:21pm
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No, I haven't signed up. I don't think I have time to do this one, as I am shooting another short film in January.
I just like hanging out with all of you writers.
Chris |
Posted By: SavageG
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:24pm
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I'm starting to think that you're not actually a person, but some sort of electronic entity that haunts these hallowed servers... ------------- Not all who wander are lost, not all who wonder without wisdom. |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2006 at 12:34pm
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Sometimes I think that as well. Chris
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Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2006 at 4:40am
| Well, he is a black belt ninja..... |
Posted By: nicole
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2007 at 1:33pm
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Add me to the list! 
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Posted By: johnnyd
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2007 at 4:51am
I'm the same way; these contests are without a doubt the best remedy for that. ------------- "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." — George Bernard Shaw |
Posted By: SavageG
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2007 at 7:32am
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Greetings Nicole and welcome to the beast. Soon you'll be sucked in and find yourself pariticipating in Midnight contests left and write (forgive the pun). Hell I'm thinking about signing up for the animation competition and I can't even draw! ------------- Not all who wander are lost, not all who wonder without wisdom. |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2007 at 8:18am
Are you from the UK Nicole? I don't know....just the way you put sentences together. Yes, welcome. Just wait until next year's screenplay competition! That'll get you going. Meeting the deadlines made me realise that I CAN work through the pain barrier and the writer's block if necessary...that knowledge has been useful in all aspects of my writing. 
|
Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2007 at 9:53am
| I'm really starting to look forward to this challenge. It's just over a week away and I'm looking forward to the opportunity. It should be a lot of fun. |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2007 at 12:01pm
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I'm here, too. I've participated in the Screenwriter's Challenge the past two summers.
Now for a short story challenge...this should be interesting. I had to mark my Outlook calendar just so I'd remember the start date. Otherwise, I'M READY!!!!!! ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2007 at 12:11pm
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Less than a week to go. I'm dying to know what the assignment is. It's just eating away at me. Of course, when I get it I'll probably roll my eyes or pass out... one or the other. |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2007 at 12:52pm
That's no problem, just make that your opening: "I woke up on the floor-the computer monitor still humming. One look at the screen and I knew it hadn't changed it's tune. It still read, "Durden7, Heat 10, Genre: Your least favorite." By the way, I reserve the right to make that my opening as well... Good luck. It's been a while since I've posted regularly, but I guess it's good practice for now. ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2007 at 2:10pm
Chris |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2007 at 11:43am
You should know. |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2007 at 11:43am
Wow, Julie, impressive. Do you have a day job? Just so you know, Chris is the defacto benevolent first among equals on these forums (sometimes reverently referred to as the site's "bartender"), the heart that keeps beating just below the surface even when all else appears dead. If you have a question, chances are he has the answer. Other than that, it's a great group of people who are all willing to share, if nothing else, their opinions, but usually much, much more. One thing I would strongly encourage you to do is to really consider posting your entries in the forums after each contest. For some reason a lot of entrants don't do it, but I dare say you will not find anyone who posted in the Screenwriter Challenge last year who did not get at least some useful feedback from the forum and learn a thing or two to improve their writing skills. You've found a wonderful place, hope to get to know you in the coming months. Good luck with the writing. Charlie |
Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2007 at 12:35pm
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I Agree with the posting suggestion.
Posting your work in the forums is definitely helpful. It's good to see what other people think about your work and helps pick out things you didn't think about.
It's also true that a lot of people don't post their work... which is kind of a bummer. It's kind of inspiring to see what other people are doing.
|
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2007 at 7:40am
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Chris,
What's up with the Toaster in Space short film???? I saw it listed on your website, but haven't seen an update lately. ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: Chris Messineo
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2007 at 8:40am
Great question. Unfortunately, it sits in limbo, a half formed mutation, an experiment gone horribly awry. Honestly, the answer to that question is much longer, complicated, and depressing than you might imagine. Someday, I'll have to write it all up, as a horror story, a cautionary tale for wide-eyed independent filmmakers. Chris |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2007 at 10:26am
So what are you saying, gonna be a few more weeks? Impossible casting the toaster part? Teleportation licensing problems? |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2007 at 12:50pm
Someday, Shomeday...just use your time machine and go back and fix it.
I've found a useful way to occupy my time lately. Anyone heard of IYSTV.COM?? NBC and Carson Daly are putting this on. I've won two Challenges so far. I've produced 15 videos since October. By myself, except for occasional camera operator help from my wife. I utilized my sister's family for one Challenge, too. It's awesome. Check it out. Site http://www.iystv.com/ My homepage on the site http://www.iystv.com/2184pro/home/profile/ ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: Julie
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2007 at 4:34pm
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Hello Charlie / ABEAR111 - and thank you for your welcome. I had similar warm welcomes from both Chris and Caroline and am so pleased to have found this forum and will follow your advice about posting my entries in the forum. No I don't have a day-job as such, although I do run a website for visitors to the Gulf of St Tropez which earns me a bit of pin money. The French government are quite supportive of both my website and my writing ambitions and have allocated me some funds (about 600 euros per month) to pursue same. My rent is 700 euros - so the website is important. I also do occasional ad hoc translation jobs.
I've been in the UK for 3 weeks visiting my mum - and have had only dial-up access to the internet for the duration - slow and frustrating
 , and I"ve not been keeping up with the forum. However, today I put on my patient head  and waited for the site to slowly load in case there were any last minute instructions or advice for me to pick up on before we are allocated our genres/topic.I fly back to the south of France on Monday 15th - which means that I lose a writing day at the beginning of the competition week - but I can't wait to get home to my daughter, my dogs, the warmth, my friends, the Provencal light, and my fast broadband connection .........
I'm looking forward to the competition and to reading all the stories that get posted here - meanwhile I'm promoting one script and working on 2 others.
So - all the best to everybody for 2007, and see you all here next week,
Julie ------------- Julie |
Posted By: crlncxn
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 12:33am
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Welcome back Julie...Thought you'd disappeared under a pile of Liverpudlian mince pies!
Can't believe the French government is so supportive - that's fantastic. I reckon the day travelling won't be at all wasted. Good thinking time. In the screenplay competition I tended to be too panicky and bash something out without stopping to think it through properly (although in the final, with only 24 hours, there's not much option but to do that!) Happy New Year and the competition is such a great way to start it. Can't wait - although if I get horror or monster again I shall SCREAM. |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 5:46am
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I've found a useful way to occupy my time lately. Anyone heard of IYSTV.COM?? NBC and Carson Daly are putting this on. I've won two Challenges so far. I've produced 15 videos since October. By myself, except for occasional camera operator help from my wife. I utilized my sister's family for one Challenge, too. It's awesome. Check it out. Site http://www.iystv.com/ My homepage on the site http://www.iystv.com/2184pro/home/profile/ [/QUOTE] Looks really awesome, gonna check it out in detail tonight. So you won $2K? Nice job. |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 5:49am
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Hey, Julie, good luck in the competition.
Sounds like you have the life, I'm jealous. |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 6:06am
Have you heard about this one: http://www.thelot.com/ Spielberg and Mark Burnett are doing a reality show with a $1 Million development deal as the prize. |
Posted By: yakkity
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 6:35am
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I'm in.
Writing is writing is ....
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Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 8:17am
I have, actually. I didn't enter, though. I didn't think I could handle the time commitment during the show. No pay if you don't win, you know. I'll be interested to see how this turns out. Project Greenlight turned sour over time, if I remember right. ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: ABEAR111
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 9:00am
| 2184Pro, Are your films listed under 2184Pro or some other name on the iystv site? |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2007 at 11:34am
Thanks for asking. All of my videos are listed as 2184pro. When you type 2184pro in the search function you can choose MEDIA, which lists the 15 videos I've made. Or you can choose PEOPLE as the search function. That brings up a link to my profile. I have to tell you I love that site. The constant deadlines for various Challenges keeps me on my toes. My editing skills are improving by leaps. If you make your own videos you should definitely give it a shot. ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: SavageG
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 7:46am
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I'll be one of the folks entering "On the Lot."
I'm pretty excited about it, this short will be my directorial debut after years of watching other directors butcher my scripts.
Now I can butcher my own! ------------- Not all who wander are lost, not all who wonder without wisdom. |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 8:46am
Is it posted anywhere we can view it now???? ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: SavageG
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 11:54am
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Not yet it's still in production. I only found out about the contest last week, thankfully they extended the deadlime to Feb. 16th.
Still not a lot of time... but nothing a veteran midnighter can't overcome. ------------- Not all who wander are lost, not all who wonder without wisdom. |
Posted By: 2184pro
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 12:57pm
Good luck to you. I checked out the website today. I finally saw some of the movies. I changed my mind. If I can get a movie done in time, I'm entering. I thought the deadline passed by now. My confidence level is up since making so many videos for IYSTV.com. Plus, today's the day!!!! I'm ready to write!!! Bring it on!!!! ------------- Check out my other videos. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=2184pro |
Posted By: durden7
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 1:53pm
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Wow,
The start is just about here. Seems like I was just signing up yesterday. "sniff"..... |
Posted By: Requiem
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 2:48pm
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Is it me, or is it mostly screenwriters entering this challenge? It'll be interesting to see if us screen folk can break away from the conventions and really dig inside our characters' heads for a change. As a screenwriter, I really struggle with boundless possibilities of prose. I feel more comfortable with the strict restrictions of screenplay format. I reckon this challenge could be a real eye-opener. Good luck everyone! |
Posted By: johnnyd
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2007 at 3:11pm
I completely agree. It's been awhile since I tried to write straight prose, and reviewing my last attempts at straight prose from my college days reveals why. This should be interesting. ------------- "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." — George Bernard Shaw |