He will not read your F*ing script

Barry_Green said:
Yes he could have written it differently.
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Right, he could have written a more civil, IE uninteresting piece. In which case no one would have given it a second glance. But since it's laden with f-bombs and an uber-condecending tone, it's fodder for the internet.

And thank God for the internet. In the past, the Village Voice would have gone straight in the garbage after reading. Now at least people have the just (and instant) opportunity to call this guy a rectum wearing eyeglasses.
 
I'm in a private internet group that's top industry people, writers, producers, directors, studio execs and this has got to be the most talked about subject in 5 years.

All the writers are trying to play it off by being the good guy saying how much of a dick Josh is and how they read scripts all the time to help others out (horseshit btw). Everybody knows who everybody is so it's a matter of time when all the other screen writers get swamped with others asking them to read thier scripts because they are all "good guys", then yea, they will be worse than Josh for bashing him on the subject then pulling the big NO. This is gonna be good.
 
Time is a scarce resource, everyone must choose how to use it wisely. Are professional writers, producers, directors, etc., in the business of education or are they focused on being productive content creators? This is the only question that needs to be answered. Once they know what they're about, then they need not apologize to anyone under any circumstances for how they choose to use their time.
 
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This approach is good. I removed his name for privacy.

"I receive 15 unsolicited submission per day. I was a judge for {EDIT}. The President asked me for my recommends. I had none. Not one was worthy. I now follow up with every unsolicited submission with one question: “Is this your masterpiece?” I have yet to get a yes and thus it cuts much of the crap material out quickly."
 
i dont know, i kind of agree with him.

When i meet famous Dps and Photographers, i NEVER ask them to see my work.... Unless they ask or its like the 3rd dinner party hes invited me to.... in which case they like you enough to keep you around, and hence you can take that liberty.

its rude to assume someone has time to burn on just you and your work, especially if they are a high end pro. Top end guys dont have spare time to poo..... forget looking at the work of a 22 year old they ust met at an opening...
 
This is what I wrote

Sorry Josh, but you are the d***. If and when I ever make it in this godforsaken industry, I'll be sure to remember your name even though had to Google it because I had no idea who you were.
I loved History of Violence, but it was Viggo and Cronenberg that brought that mediocre screenplay to life.



Thanks for giving back and being grateful to those that may have respected your opinion.
 
Ryan Paige said:
Surprised Josh isn't already a member.

You should invite him. You won't regret it.
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I can't invite anyone, I shouldn't be there. No comments from him. None are needed, just other writers trying to grandstand in front of producers, ass kissing, they look worse for complaining about someone who complained. Not one person who signs his or other writers checks has a problem with it.
 
ChipG said:
I'm in a private internet group that's top industry people.....
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Hmmmm....you seem to be a conduit for Hollywood's upper echelon.

Why don't you get them to make DVXuser accounts so we can hear from them firsthand? :Drogar-Dum(DBG)::Drogar-Dum(DBG)::Drogar-Dum(DBG)::Drogar-Love(DBG)::Drogar-Love(DBG)::Drogar-Love(DBG)::grin::grin::grin:
 
I think some of you are giving this article too much weight. I read it more as entertainment then a revelation of the soul.

Have you ever agreed to something you quickly regretted... mainly because you either felt the love of the moment or you were put on the spot? Then soon afterward... even if you ride it out... you realize there's no way for you to come out unscathed?

That's frustrating... and this guy's just venting the reality of that situation.

The insult to injury is that yes, it's true, most people do not want an honest assessment of virtually anything they do. That puts a caring person in the awkward situation of figuring out how to not betray their honesty and intellect... while offering a genuine opinion.

The worst part is when it's all over... the professional time you gave that person (time is time... and time is money... I don't care if you're swinging a hammer or sitting down reading. I watch about 1 hour of TV a week... because I just don't feel as though I have TIME to watch TV... so if somebody asks me to do something that takes an hour or two... I consider that a genuine favor to oblige them.)... so anyway... when it's all over... all you get for your professional time invested (this guy doesn't manage a laundrymat... the ONLY reason this other guy wanted him to read his script is because of WHO HE IS... that's why getting the read is valuable in the first place!!!)... anyway... so after agreeing to do what is a huge favor, because of who he is... the guy gets a quick, heartless thanks, followed with behind the back insults to the rest of their mutual circle of friends.

I can fully understand the f*cking venting article.
 
I think his frustration is twofold: first, it's the imposition of somebody asking for his professional time as though it's a 'spare time' favor, like asking him to join a local softball game (assuming he's not a full-time baseball professional). Of course, for the person asking, it *is* a spare time thing - they do something else in 'real life'. This is their *dream*, not their reality. But it *is* your (in this case, Josh's) reality. Every single day. From which you might be trying to take a break right now by the way, while *you're* in 'spare time' mode, chatting with him (and others) at a cocktail party or whatever. Second, there's the (potential, if not likely) dilemma of 'what to say' later, while trying to stay nice, to an amateur who has little or no clue as to his level of incompetence at Doing The Thing In Question, when you most certainly do, and can clearly identify 'the issues' in seconds.

I deal with a variation on this dilemma very often in my recording work with aspiring musical artists. Even though they're *paying me* for my time, I still find it extremely thorny when a musician/singer of little ability asks me what I think of their work. In the vast majority of cases, these people really believe they want me to tell them "the truth" about it, and "even if you don't like it" it's ok. The problem is, I've been doing this stuff professionally for over 30 years, with big-name talent (which is of course why they are so interested in my opinion). My standards are mighty darn high. I've made a relentless effort to get them there and keep them there to ensure I'm worthy of 'playing with the big kids'.

So...like Josh, I'll have a clear handle on Mr. Wannabe's level of ability about 30 seconds (often much less) into the piece. 90%+ of the time, I find myself in Josh's dilemma - what do I say to the guy/gal that both satisfies some version of 'the truth' and also doesn't absolutely crush their spirit, when the music, well...sucks? The only answer I've found is to focus *heavily* on the positive. Find something - anything - truthful you can say that's positive/enthusiastic ("cool background vocals!" or "I liked that bass riff!" or whatever), and sprinkle as much of it in as possible along with a *small dose* of *heavily diluted* medicine, like: [gently] "I think there may be some issues with song structure" (honest translation: you have not a clue about song structure) or "there are some places where you might want to look at intonation" (honest translation: your singing is seriously out of tune, frequently).

I've made the mistake of being more direct and honest on a few (thankfully very few) occasions, and have seen some of those people essentially pack it in and quit trying immediately afterwards. Career/dream/whatever - over. Because of what *I* said. Man, that is a horrible feeling. What if I made the wrong call? What if a few months later they had a breakthrough and everything suddenly got magical? Too late...I told the truth and nullified that possibility.

Arghh...

So I sympathize with Josh, although I probably wouldn't have said so quite so publicly or quite so angrily. But...I have felt exactly the same way...
 
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I started this for entertainment but immediately realized that this vent, rant, diatribe, whatever - was so totally and completely spot on I can only stand in awe . . .

Amen.

Is there going to be nothing but links to this thread the next time somebody posts some pages on DVXUser for feedback?
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Should I choose to read it and it's good, I'll comment. If it's not, I'm definitely linking them here.
 
If I have to see this damned post again, on another website...I'll die. Literally. This is the 3rd place I've seen it.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
One hour eh? Not a lot of time. So......do you watch "Hell's Kitchen", or are you more of a "Do You Think You Can Dance?" kinda guy?
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I rely heavily on my Tivo... I watch some, if not all the Flight of the Concords... but even then I may FF through some of it... then of course Venture Brothers, but unfortunately there aren't many (any?) new episodes... so that's basically knocked down to zero... then Colbert Report... but usually just up to the first commercial break unless he's really on fire.

So yeah... an hour... about... more or less (depending on the season).

If I think I have "free time" I make that time work for me... with improvements to my house or something productive. I envy people that would find it worthwhile to sit around reading hacky scripts from people that will hate you if you're honest with constructive criticism... (which I don't even think people deserve until they are at least approaching "decent".)

:beer:
 
I've decided to never read anything again -- anything! I can tell by the first letter if they have any talent, and they don't, no one does -- nothing is up to my standard.
 
This article is so annoying to read. After reading "f*cking script." for the sixth time the article just loses all it's potential value. I would have thought a screenwriter would know better.

He makes a few points, but it could have been done in a friendly manner in one paragraph. I guess he got beat around in High School.
 
Dude... it's like "I f*cking hate you"... it's just a hook... a THEME for the article. It's an extreme used to express a high level of frustration about the situation. I'd bet the guy debated using profanity and finally decided to "go to 11"... as a reaction to his own internal debate. There are many times in life when you really want to think something out to the point it drives you nuts... and finally the best response is "f*ck this".

:)

The fact that he SAYS he has this push-pull emotional battle in trying to AVOID insult... well... that's your proof of my theory.

I think the article should be viewed like The Onion, but with less comedy and more truth.

Either way... I guarantee the apparent viral success of this vent session wouldn't have occurred with a more reserved vernacular.
 
I sent one of my scripts to a good friend of mine, along with this article. Let's just say my friend totally agrees with what Olson said. I even updated my sig.

Now Olson is my personal hero. :beer:
 
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