ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXOptimus Feedback Comp - any good?
1 year, 4 months ago - Vicki Helyar
Hi all,
As per the latest Screenwriters bulletin, in the Submissions section there is a writing competition (entitled 'We know we're different) in which you receive detailed feedback for a piece of screenwriting. However, I have done this recently with BAFTA/Roecliffe and was very disappointed with what I received for £50.
Has anyone used or know of Optimus Feedback? Any thoughts?
Thanks so much,
Vicki
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1 year, 4 months ago - Lynwood Shiva Sawyer
Hi, Vicky,
Unfortunately, more and more contests are using AI to evaluate screenplays. If your intutiion tells you the feedback has been written by a computer, it probably has been.
There's also the problem of the fact that preliminary readers are paid so little that most of them are film students who have never been brutalized enough by the industry to recognize what scripts ACTUALLY would make a good film vs. what scripts would THEORETICALLY make a good film.They are paid by volume, not by expertise, so you often hear of cases where the report is based on the first 10 pages of a script, which actually were only a set up the rest of the film.
Finally there is the problem, exemplified by the BAFTA, that uses a tick-box method of ranking films, ultimately resulting in films that tick all the boxes but with films that general audiences are completely uninterested in watching.
There probably should be some sort of SP registry by screenwriters to rank contests the same way contests rank screenplays.
In my own experience, I would mention Austin, which once was a fabulous competition, one of the Big Six, which has deteriorated almost to the point of worthlessness, as indicated by the fact that a few years they only needed to make a few announcements at the beginning of the season to be flooded with submissions. This year, towards the end of the final date, they were sending almost daily pleas for people to submit their scripts.
Would love to hear other people's experiences with various contests.
1 year, 4 months ago - Nicholas Horwood
That's really interesting, Lynwood, thanks. A.I. generated feedback?! Yikes.
I've become increasingly jaded by screenplay contests and their general lack of transparency, particularly the newer ones. I've been entering contests for 18 years and, despite winning or reaching the finals of some big ones like Big Break and PAGE, and despite my writing improving over the years, I struggle to even reach the quarterfinals of newer contests. (My policy these days is to stick to the big, established contests.)
There is SO much money being taken by these contests, there really should be more transparency... or even regulation.
I'd love to see a contest registry on SP.
1 year, 3 months ago - SP User
Hi Vicky,
Optimus DOES NOT use AI, we use real analysts. Our analysts are listed on our website. Please email us if you have any questions.
M
1 year, 3 months ago - Vicki Helyar
Hi there,
Thank you for your response.
AI was never a concern for me, someone replied to the thread suggesting that some comps use it, but thanks for clarifying. My concern was spending out when not knowing track record with things like length and detail of response, more so. Obviously it's a lot of money to spend over and over.
Thanks so much.
Vicki
1 year, 4 months ago - Vicki Helyar
Hi Lynwood,
Thanks so much for your detailed reply, that's much appreciated. Mine was a sitcom comp, not a film, but yes it was only 10 pages. I didn't necessarily feel the feedback was AI generated - though it might be - but that the feedback was very minimal, as well as so focused on constructive criticism that it left me deflated. I don't need feedback to be all positive, that's not helpful, but I've had great feedback from various other places in regards to the script so the barrage of what BAFTA felt I didn't do right left me confused and torn as to what to do with it next.
Tick boxing...yep, definitely agree. Is tiring and not want most tv or cinema goers want to watch.
Good idea about ranking contests...this is an expensive industry where many of us are not making enough money - the fifty quid to enter the BAFTA comp was a lot for me.
Cheers for the response. Vicki
1 year, 4 months ago - Nicholas Horwood
Hi Vicky,
I've never been impressed with BAFTA Rocliffe feedback either (or the Black List) but I have had very good experiences with WeScreenplay - which has a very quick turnaround - and WriteMovies (both as a contest and as a feedback service).
1 year, 4 months ago - Lynwood Shiva Sawyer
Thanks, Nicholas.
Good to know.
1 year, 4 months ago - Vicki Helyar
Hi Nicholas,
Thanks for responding. I entered the BAFTA Rocliffe comp around 5 years ago and got a very detailed response with a very helpful mix of both constructive criticism and what they felt worked. This year was not like that and very disappointing. I will look into WeScreenplay and WriteMovies. Thanks so much.
Vicki