Joe - your web page shows....

Enigma · Jul 24, 2005

I noticed on your web page that you listed loglines for your spec scripts but sample pages from only one (which I happened to like!).

I might already know the answer to this, but why didn't you show the synopsis and sample pages on all your spec scripts?

Joe Calabrese · Jul 24, 2005

Partly due to laziness, partly to putting the best foot forward and enticing those to request the others.

Enigma · Jul 24, 2005

Okay....

Joe Calabrese said:
Partly due to laziness, partly to putting the best foot forward and enticing those to request the others.

... So, as usual, I followed your fine (blush) example and removed the synopsis. It makes sense. It gave away too much.

The page has been up for about three days now. The geeks (affectionally stated) have helped me get it listed on all the "majors" in quick time. So far a skin-head took offense at degrading Nazi's, and my first ex wife, after ten years of pure silence (and no law suits), e-mailed me, reminding me of my many short-comings - and a continued warning about using her as a character. Fat chance of that happening.

Here's the weird part; I've had over 400 hits (hidden counter)! In three days(!)? Man, I've gotta find out who's lookin' at that puppy!

dpaterso · Jul 24, 2005

Sticking your URL at the bottom of your messages might get you even more hits.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.

Enigma · Jul 24, 2005

Page

dpaterso said:
Sticking your URL at the bottom of your messages might get you even more hits.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.

The only reason I have one is because the women in my life - my manager, bartender, AE, secretary, mistress and accountant said I should have a, "Web presence." Why I should, they haven't said and don't have a clue.

A couple of years ago my company put one up. It had all the whistles and bells, and it should have, it cost about $2,700. My secretary said in no uncertain terms that if I expected her to even look at the e-mails that were coming in, I'd better get a gun. A BIG gun. Or professional help.

Since I'm scared to death of that woman, we took it down a month later.

The "bet" is that decision makers do/don't look at web or home pages. Odds are that they don't. The demographics of producers indicate that's the way to bet, but who knows?

I'd give you the URL but you might hit "refresh" a few hundred times and drive me up a wall.

Maybe later.

dpaterso · Jul 24, 2005

Wise precaution! We both know I'd just sit here all day hitting the refresh button and grinning as I imagine you tearing your hair out.

My site cost nothing, I wrote it myself using Notepad, but you can probably tell -- no bells or whistles. Dammit, now I'll have to work on adding sound FX...

I've had pings and requests from folks who've read various loglines and script samples, no major producers but interesting contacts and info sources, some of whom are regular email pals now and helpfully nudge me this way and that, and have offered intros to more interesting people. So I think, why the hell not air my dirty linen in public?

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, dirty linen.

Enigma · Jul 25, 2005

FX

dpaterso said:
.... We both know I'd just sit here all day hitting the refresh button and grinning as I imagine you tearing your hair out.

You do know what a DDOS is, don't you?

I've seen it used. Wow, it'll mess up Corn Flakes in the morning!

My site cost nothing, I wrote it myself using Notepad, but you can probably tell -- no bells or whistles. Dammit, now I'll have to work on adding sound FX...

Hey, adding sound was your idea!

My homepage doesn't cost anything either and it was sort of fun figuring out how to do it. I used Front Page, which came with the computer.

I'm looking for free sound bytes too, so share intel? Two to two and a half seconds, so I've been told, should be the max. Anything more and you lose the viewers attention, or hack him off. I'm getting a short course in editing sound for web pages from some geeks on a computer forum. When I get it translated, I'll pass it on.

I've had pings and requests from folks who've read various loglines and script samples, no major producers but interesting contacts and info sources, some of whom are regular email pals now and helpfully nudge me this way and that, and have offered intros to more interesting people. So I think, why the hell not air my dirty linen in public?

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, dirty linen.

I noticed the change in your signature. Insanity worked for me.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a section or site that listed our pages, by (our real) name and what we write - novels, screenplays, short stories, etc? I would think that decision makers might, if they knew about it, find it interesting, if not useful.

InkTip has one, but it's so buried and in such small type hardly anyone knows it's there. There's an Open Directory Project site, or something like that, that does list writers, but getting around in it and past the commercials is a pain, plus they put tracking cookies on and, I suspect, sell your address.

Richard · Jul 25, 2005

400 hits is nothing, to be honest - a hit is counted everytime someone or something downloads any element of your website, so they spin up quickly. You'll probably be getting your visits from search engine spiders and the like rather than actual visitors.

Enigma · Jul 25, 2005

Hits

Richard said:
400 hits is nothing, to be honest - a hit is counted everytime someone or something downloads any element of your website, so they spin up quickly. You'll probably be getting your visits from search engine spiders and the like rather than actual visitors.

Absolutely! The number is climbing, rapidly. I'm going to give it a month, maybe two, then reset the counter.

Richard · Jul 25, 2005

I'd find a different one. You want a tracker that gives you unique visits a day - this is based on IP addresses. Hits are effectively meaningless for tracking your traffic.

Enigma · Jul 25, 2005

Trackers

Richard said:
I'd find a different one. You want a tracker that gives you unique visits a day - this is based on IP addresses. Hits are effectively meaningless for tracking your traffic.

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure what mine is counting.

Any suggestions? Recommendations?

GonnaBeFamous · Jul 27, 2005

Enigma said:
... So, as usual, I followed your fine (blush) example and removed the synopsis. It makes sense. It gave away too much.

The page has been up for about three days now. The geeks (affectionally stated) have helped me get it listed on all the "majors" in quick time. So far a skin-head took offense at degrading Nazi's, and my first ex wife, after ten years of pure silence (and no law suits), e-mailed me, reminding me of my many short-comings - and a continued warning about using her as a character. Fat chance of that happening.

Here's the weird part; I've had over 400 hits (hidden counter)! In three days(!)? Man, I've gotta find out who's lookin' at that puppy!

I admit it was me. See it's a conspiracy where I rack up a crap load of producers to bid onyour scripts. Then you mesmorized by my humble intentions gladly give me my 10 percent on the deals.

Enigma · Jul 27, 2005

Sure

GonnaBeFamous said:
I admit it was me. See it's a conspiracy where I rack up a crap load of producers to bid onyour scripts. Then you mesmorized by my humble intentions gladly give me my 10 percent on the deals.

Sure. Got change for a dime?

I'm just coming to realize how important a web/home page can be to a writer.

GonnaBeFamous · Jul 27, 2005

Enigma said:
Sure. Got change for a dime?

I'm just coming to realize how important a web/home page can be to a writer.

How long have you had it and what has it done for you?

Enigma · Jul 27, 2005

Page

GonnaBeFamous said:
How long have you had it and what has it done for you?

It's only been up for about a week and already people in the business have let me know they've seen it. Today I had someone to ask for a script. If he's legit or not (I don't think he is, but that's another issue), I'll know before I send it, or e-mail it, that's for sure.

I have some friends on a computer forum, AumHa, who know computers inside and out, and they're helping me get it higher up on the food chain. I posted some useful information on this subject, I believe on this thread and in my heart believe it would help all of us if there was a section here that listed our pages - so producers, directors, talent, agents and ex-wife could easily find us. So much for my social contribution.

What the end result will be, I don't have a clue, but, "... Nothing ventured, nothing gained" applies. It doesn't cost me anything (it's "free" with my e-account) but if it generates a sale, well, that's the objective, isn't it? It's fun to talk about writing, but it's a lot more fun to go down to the bank and cash a check.

GonnaBeFamous · Jul 27, 2005

Enigma said:
It's only been up for about a week and already people in the business have let me know they've seen it. Today I had someone to ask for a script. If he's legit or not (I don't think he is, but that's another issue), I'll know before I send it, or e-mail it, that's for sure.

I have some friends on a computer forum, AumHa, who know computers inside and out, and they're helping me get it higher up on the food chain. I posted some useful information on this subject, I believe on this thread and in my heart believe it would help all of us if there was a section here that listed our pages - so producers, directors, talent, agents and ex-wife could easily find us. So much for my social contribution.

What the end result will be, I don't have a clue, but, "... Nothing ventured, nothing gained" applies. It doesn't cost me anything (it's "free" with my e-account) but if it generates a sale, well, that's the objective, isn't it? It's fun to talk about writing, but it's a lot more fun to go down to the bank and cash a check.

So as a general rule you don't publish your whole screenplay? Is this for keeping people from stealing your ideas?

Joe Calabrese · Jul 27, 2005

Hey Enigma,
If you want a slicker looking site, let me know. I can spice it up.

GonnaBeFamous · Jul 27, 2005

Joe Calabrese said:
Hey Enigma,
If you want a slicker looking site, let me know. I can spice it up.

I don't know, I think a good ole white page with bullet points does the trick. There is something to be said about that.

Enigma · Jul 27, 2005

Yes

GonnaBeFamous said:
So as a general rule you don't publish your whole screenplay? Is this for keeping people from stealing your ideas?

That's certainly a factor. So is space. My ISP allows 5MB for a homepage, free of charge, and mine's up to about 4.17 MB now. Putting entire scripts on there would push it over the limit.

Enigma · Jul 27, 2005

Oh?

Joe Calabrese said:
Hey Enigma,
If you want a slicker looking site, let me know. I can spice it up.

Tell me more, good buddy. You certainly have my attention with remarks like that. I'm all ears. Er, eyes?

Joe Calabrese · Jul 28, 2005

First, I would have the script pages links go to a pop up and not replace the same page as home, especialy without a back or home button.

I would have the loglines directly under the title, since the title alone is not an inticement to click to read the loglines.

I would also break up the site into sections and not have a one page site.

Add a bio.

Change the title of the site from Index to your name/screenwriter whcih shows up at the top of the browser.

Colors are ok, but a bit generic.

Enigma · Jul 28, 2005

Learning to run

Joe Calabrese said:
First, I would have the script pages links go to a pop up and not replace the same page as home, especialy without a back or home button.

I would have the loglines directly under the title, since the title alone is not an inticement to click to read the loglines.

I would also break up the site into sections and not have a one page site.

Add a bio.

Change the title of the site from Index to your name/screenwriter whcih shows up at the top of the browser.

Colors are ok, but a bit generic.

I've just learned how to do the basics and your advice is certainly welcomed.

My next big move is to design a new one - I've already started on it - that's far more artistic, get myself a domain name and expand on it from there. Space (5MB) offered by my ISP is a problem, naturally. So is content. They're pretty strict on using a homepage for a commercial site and, face it, it is a commercial site. In fact, they've busted my chops once already.

I'm looking/asking around for leads on fonts or I should say free fonts. The background I'm planning on using came from NASA and will blow your mind, and it is in the public domain! Putting the lead (or slug) in chrome letters over that should really make it pop.

Paying $110 for seven letters (that are in my name) is hard to justify, but I will, if I have to. So is paying for hosting, although there are some pretty inexpensive ones around, so I hear. Prices for domain names are all over the ballpark. As soon as I figure out why, then I'll go for one.

I'll skip lunch for the next few days, eating instead my own words. Pages, as I'm finding out, do get noticed and I'm beginning to realize that their importance to a writer can't be over estimated.

Joe Calabrese · Jul 28, 2005

Call me.
Number on my site.

Joe - your web page shows....

Enigma

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Richard

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GonnaBeFamous

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Joe Calabrese

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Joe Calabrese

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Joe Calabrese