MAY BE WORTH A LOOK

Goodwriterguy · Dec 10, 2006

I received this as an email from a screenwriting list I'm subbed to. For those of you looking for reviews of your work, this may be worth a try.

An interesting approach, to be sure.

Last call for 2006!

I have a bit of free time over the next few weeks, so finally I'll be able to review more scripts and query letters for review. If enough submissions come in, I'll be hosting a "10 BEST LIST" of unproduced screenplays on my site.

THE UNSUNG CRITIC:
a single voice championing the plight of undiscovered writers everywhere...
[URL="http://theunsungcritic.blogspot.com/"]http://theunsungcritic.blogspot.com/[/URL]

I am not affiliated with this blog in any way and don't know the guy and have not used his services, which are free, BTW.

English Dave · Dec 10, 2006

A crock of sh1t.

No sign of any real industry contacts or experience. And suddenly having to 'revise' the submission procedure, no doubt meaning ' Gosh I'm so busy now I have to charge'. I had thought you would know better GWG?

dpaterso · Dec 10, 2006

Do you have a screenplay that has the makings of a really great movie, but Hollywood producers and agents just don’t give a damn? The Unsung Critic is here to help. If your work measures up, if it is truly worthy in his eyes, then he will do his part and tell the world.

Not trying to be cynical, but... telling the world would appear to consist of posting a mini-review of your screenplay on his site. I'm not sure what happens then. Do prodcos visit in the hope of finding the next great script? Impossible to say for sure, I can't find any statements that support this. Regardless of which, the anonymous aspect puts me off. But that's just me.

-Derek

Mike The Mover · Dec 10, 2006

For his own safety and well being, The Unsung Critic prefers to remain anonymous. He will, however, indulge you with these four facts:

He lives in Los Angeles, and has been working within the entertainment industry for over ten years.

He worked for over three years as a professional script reader (at two film studios and one talent agency).

He is the author of three published novels and seven screenplays, three of which have been sold, and another two currently under option. (Sadly, he has yet to see any of his scripts actually produced.)

He is allergic to used cars, cats, and self-important prima donnas.

This guy could be a thief.

English Dave · Dec 10, 2006

Thank you Mike. Though I'd prefer to use snake oil salesman or fantasist more than thief. Use some common sense. Does anyone really think that someone who had allegedly sold 3 and optioned 2 out of of 7 written screenplays would be advertising free reads on the internet?

Mike The Mover · Dec 10, 2006

Do you really think that anyone who had allegedly sold 3 and optioned 2 out of of 7 written screenplays would be advertising free reads on the internet?

I agree. The only thing that gets to me is that this guy made such a convincing page.

English Dave · Dec 10, 2006

What gets me is is why someone who gives pretty decent advice by and large like GWG would seek to promote what on face value looks like one of the thousands of people on the web who peddle expertise with no backup.

xhouseboy · Dec 10, 2006

English Dave said:
Thank you Mike. Though I'd prefer to use snake oil salesman or fantasist more than thief. Use some common sense. Does anyone really think that someone who had allegedly sold 3 and optioned 2 out of of 7 written screenplays would be advertising free reads on the internet?

Note also that none of his work has been produced. 'Sold' could mean to his best mate who's a wannabee director/producer, a few dollars and a contract changing hands. Optioned could mean exactly the same.

He also describes himself as a literary critic, whatever that means in his world. Why not describe himself as a screenwriter?

Mike The Mover · Dec 10, 2006

What gets me is is why someone who gives pretty decent advice by and large like GWG would seek to promote what on face value looks like one of the thousands of people on the web who peddle expertise with no backup.

^^^^^^^^^
Uh oh. Now it's getting personal. :Ssh:

But I must say GWG, what were you thinking?

Goodwriterguy · Dec 10, 2006

English Dave said:
What gets me is is why someone who gives pretty decent advice by and large like GWG would seek to promote what on face value looks like one of the thousands of people on the web who peddle expertise with no backup.

Promote?

Hardly dude.

Read the title of the thread again.

I make no judgements. You folks have made yours. I have no problem with that.

Goodwriterguy · Dec 10, 2006

Mike The Mover said:
^^^^^^^^^
Uh oh. Now it's getting personal.

But I must say GWG, what were you thinking?

Strictly neutral my good man.

I think his expertise is reflected in his reviews, for whatever that may be worth. The guy does not strike me as being a filmic idiot.

jonpiper · Dec 10, 2006

I'm with GWG on this guy. His reviews and Q/A's reveal his knowlege about the industry.

Has anybody asked him why he's doing this free of charge? Theunsungcritic says he's got a heart condition, and perhaps the condition includes a soft heart for writers.

Mike The Mover · Dec 10, 2006

I e-mailed the guy. I asked him if he took 10% and I said I don't believe him.

jonpiper · Dec 10, 2006

From his posts, it sounds like he doesn't have a lot of time to devote to this project -- three months for a review. Anyway, let's see if he answers you or posts an answer on the site.

Mike The Mover · Dec 11, 2006

This is what the guy e-mailed me and said:

Michael, my blog is only designed to provide a nice word-of-mouth for worthy scripts. There are no fees, no requirements, nothing needed at all...and certainly no percentages! I'm not an agent, and even if I was, charging people fees for a paltry blog review is something I'd find sinister and disgusting.

Should someone be featured on my blog and end up making a film deal I'd only be happy for them.

I suggest contacting any of the screenwriters already mentioned on my blog if you have any doubts; I'm sure they'll vouch for me.

T.U.C.

It seems to me he does nothing to sell your script. If he did I'm sure he'd want $$$

dpaterso · Dec 11, 2006

If legit, this looks like an offer of free feedback from a pro screenwriter.

Proving the legit angle is the problem. Anonymous critic, unverifiable industry credentials. And I'm not sure what "word-of-mouth" means, who will read these reviews?

Let the user beware. But make your own free choice.

-Derek

Goodwriterguy · Dec 11, 2006

dpaterso said:
If legit, this looks like an offer of free feedback from a pro screenwriter.

Proving the legit angle is the problem. Anonymous critic, unverifiable industry credentials. And I'm not sure what "word-of-mouth" means, who will read these reviews?

Let the user beware. But make your own free choice.

-Derek

All true ... enough.

"Word of mouth" refers to a well known phenomenon in Hollywood in which scripts that are fascinating reads have a way of getting around and getting read by a wide variety of industry people. Many such screenplays are never bought or produced but they are read, often because they represent some new or ground breaking take on a particular subject, a fascinating integration of multiple genre, a fabulous voice, goofball humor, smash mouth politics, or something that grabs for whatever reason. Prior to the advent of the web this all occurred via the handing off of actual scripts around town; now days, it's all web-based.

My take on this fellow is that he's not a bad guy driven hard by ulterior motives or devious intentions. Hey I might even give him a go, who knows. Not a heck of a lot to lose, my work is all registered with the LOC and if he steals so much as a scene I'll sue him so fast he won't know what hit him.

There are some people at an agency who do a site where they put up lousy queries they receive and then comment on them, producing some hilarious moments. Everyone and his brother in the industry has posted on this site at one time or another ... comic relief at work. This site has shown me that anything to do with screenplays on the web can become quickly known and frequented by industry people, assuming it has something unique going for it.

My guess would be that d-people are aware of this guy's site and have a look there now and again as they cruise around looking for material. It's too easy not to do.

Celia Cyanide · Dec 11, 2006

If your film did get made, would this guy let you put a quote from him on the poster?

Goodwriterguy · Dec 11, 2006

Celia Cyanide said:
If your film did get made, would this guy let you put a quote from him on the poster?

In most cases this would be out of your hands. You sell a script, it's gone and normally you don't have much to say about things from there on to the screen, whether in its casting or crew assignments, editorial priorities, advertising content or promotional package.

That said, I'd be surprised if he resisted a producer's appeal to apply a quote from him on the picture's poster. What's he got to lose?

Joe Unidos · Dec 12, 2006

Clearly, the blogger has no stroke. Clearly, the blog has no buzz, it seems that the only comments are from the folks who's scripts he's reviewed. That said, I think the blogger is not doing anything scammy, he's trying to create a buzz blog. Nothing wrong with that. The important thing, as I see it, is that the model he's using involves his hope that the quality writing of the scripts he's reviewing eventually brings buzz and traffic to his blog, not his blog (and his own vaguely-defined influence) bringing buzz to the scripts.

Doesn't make him a bad guy, obviously, but clearly he's not doing anyone any favors. Not because he doesn't want to --but because he can't.

PS-- The "quote on the poster" issue is absolutely ridiculous. I'm sorry, but come on --it will never ever be an issue.

PPS-- Come on, GWG --admit the guy is your friend. Stop pretending you stumbled on the blog randomly and thought it seemed like a great opportunity.

Goodwriterguy · Dec 12, 2006

Joe Unidos said:
PPS-- Come on, GWG --admit the guy is your friend. Stop pretending you stumbled on the blog randomly and thought it seemed like a great opportunity.

Puhleeze!

Anyone here thinks this comment has any merit can go to Yahoo and sub themselves to a group list called "SCREENWRITING STRUCTURE" and check the archives for December 8 and see the message I quoted in the thread starter.

Moreover, I did not claim it to be a "great opportunity" and in fact invoked some caution in the thread title and provided a disclaimer in the post.

It'd be nice if we stuck a little closer to reality here and stopped taking unwarranted pot shots at one another. Oh I note the smilie but that doesn't completely obviate the dig, IMHO.

Keep writing!

English Dave · Dec 12, 2006

Goodwriterguy said:
Promote?

Hardly dude.

Dude? Really? Dude?

It's a crock of sh1t. Anyone who knows anything knows it's a crock of sh1t. Hide your head in shame for posting it GWG.

Joe Unidos · Dec 12, 2006

Goodwriterguy said:
Moreover, I did not claim it to be a "great opportunity" and in fact invoked some caution in the thread title and provided a disclaimer in the post.

Okay... what you said was:

Goodwriterguy said:
My guess would be that d-people are aware of this guy's site and have a look there now and again as they cruise around looking for material. It's too easy not to do.

Goodwriterguy · Dec 12, 2006

English Dave said:
Dude? Really? Dude?

It's a crock of sh1t. Anyone who knows anything knows it's a crock of sh1t. Hide your head in shame for posting it GWG.

Am I supposed to salute your excellency while I do as you command?

What is this, the Board Police?

Get real English Dave. Stop making mountains out of molehills and do not assume our fellow members aren't able to determine for themselves what's good for them and what isn't.

Now, get back to your script, it needs your attention.

English Dave · Dec 12, 2006

Goodwriterguy said:
Get real English Dave. Stop making mountains out of molehills

I will if you will.

MAY BE WORTH A LOOK

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