What?

[Chris_Keaton]

A western? Do those still exist?

[lawriejaffa]

Awe shame messagefest didn't make it as westernfest lends itself to quite pulpy treatments (unless we get some kind of meaningful worthy historical epic in 6 mins) I think most will consist of gunslingers and shootouts... oh wait its a required element hehe.

I love westerns in particular spaghetti westerns so im eager for this fest, but i just wish we could... finally... see something that encourages writers to engage on the worthier mental plane.

[Isaac_Brody]

The reason why we're not doing messagefest, is because it's kind of like doing visual fest. Like it or not everything you write and direct has some sort of message inherent to it. The act of choosing a frame, or writing a description detail or piece of dialogue is crafting a message. To have a fest dedicated solely to that could be pretty bad. If there's one thing I can't stand it's when a film's message is blatantly obvious.

<SARCASM> But, maybe I'll change my mind and next time we can do WORDFEST where the only requirement is that your script have words. "The worthier mental plane?" You're hilarious man. Nice one... :) </SARCASM>

[Captain Pierce]

Mental planes aside, what I think these fests are trying to do is to get us to work outside our "comfort zones" in other ways. For example, how many of us would sit down and write 30's pulp or a Western on our own? (Well, OK, some of us didn't actually manage to write 30's pulp... :embarasse )

[Amr Rahmy]

sorry didn't see that it's a script fest idea, not a short film.

[Chris_Keaton]

.... My concern is that they are not in fact challenging writers to engage intellectually, emotionally, spiritually etc ie. really making us explore ourselves and expressing raw experience into our stories....




We only have 6-10 pages.

[RodThompson]

Already have mine written and it's gnarly!

BRING THE HEAT~

[preston]

this thread just isn't what it used to be... haha

i'm goin' out to rent a western or two... http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/347_smiley_face_cowboy.gif

[lawriejaffa]

We only have 6-10 pages.
Yeah long enough though to make it a worthwhile pursuit. If you think a short film script is hard to make an impact with imagine what challenge faces a poet!!! Wilfred Owen could cripple a man's heart with a mere paragraph - others can elate joy (though probably not Wilfred Owen's poetry!)

If you want an example (of which there are many) in the short film arena check out World of Glory - excellent and among the most powerful shortfilms. Definately of a worthier mental plane ;)

There is no cop out to artistic aspiration and neither is it always required. But even of westerns its those of greatest artisitic merit, to me (as everyones opinion is different) those are leonnes particularly once upon a time, fistful of dynamite (full version) StageCoach and oh Matewan as well as good - there are a good few others.

[lawriejaffa]

"The worthier mental plane?" You're hilarious man. Nice one...


Yep thanks Isaac your hilarious too ;)