I seem to be getting more and more aggravated lately and that would be the reason as to why I am writing this post. Several factors in the contest over the past two weeks have seriously caused me to consider leaving the contest.
When I read the baits this morning, I had a hard time getting into the baits because of poor grammar. I don't know if I'm just noticing it more than before or what, but everyone should've taken time and checked their baits from grammatical mistakes. It's very annoying when you're trying to read a story and a sentence is so messed up that you can't even figure out what it's trying to say.
And I say this month after month, and it seems to have no impact but I will continue to profess it, the baits are drifting away from what the contest is really about: creating a movie idea that would actually win Oscars. Movies about gruesome murders or supernatural beings would not win Oscars. "Silence of the Lambs" was an exception because it was so well executed and acted and that year was bad for other movies. "The Sixth Sense" had the amazing twist with a classic, heartbreaking ending. Those two films were just two scary movies over the past 20 years that have been recognized. Horror baits are what the tournament is for. But I will agree that there are a few exceptions, Zgamer's "Fallout" comes to mind because it was very well written and the plot wasn't extremely outlandish.
I guess I'm not really going to speak much further on this topic because almost everyone seems to be on the other side and I've never had success in this venture before, so what makes me think that this month will be any different? James Somerton and his Twisted Thoghts (idk if you meant to spell it wrong or what) should just come out and say that his articles are mostly about my complaining but I feel that my opinions are justified and that the baiters with James' are trying to hijack the contest from Johnny by changing his original vision to make it something easier for everyone else.
So if this post causes me to lose voters, then fuck you, because this is my blog and I can say whatever the fuck I want.
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11 comments:
don't worry, your not the only one who feels the same way, but I dont mind it as much
Whoa, calm down Pat. There's no need to get hostile.
Look, I agree there is a problem with some of the new authors coming out and yes this contest is about writing Oscar films, but we can't just limit everyone's creativity. If they want to write an idea, than they can, whether it's baity or not. However, they should make the bait at least credible. I noticed a lot of grammatical problems too and those people need to learn to fix those. But we should also keep in mind many of those violators were new authors, so this is just an experiment for them. Cause come on, didn't you make errors on your first baits?
I'm all for keeping to the original vision, but I think what it all comes down to in the end is that we should be able to have fun writing this while thinking realistically and artistically. And besides, the Oscars are pretty biased against certain types of stories, even if they are better than the ones they nominate (like nominating Babel over Pan's Labyrinth cause it's fantasy related). So why can't we have normally unbaity ideas be up for big awards? If we have at least a balance of baity and unbaity when considering big awards, maybe it might make things better. But I agree that it doesn't mean we should throw out baity ideas all together.
Please don't leave the contest because of this. True, things change after a while and people's opinions can vary, but it's people like you who do the baity ideas that inspire others to be a part of the contest. And besides, didn't you do an unbaity idea this month with Bat Out of Hell?
And don't worry, not everyone is against you. I still respect you for being a writer who stays true to the formula.
Maybe if you didn't state your opinion so rudely, people would be convinced. For the record, I agree with neither you nor James, so I'll post what I said on his blog:
Who would have expected that a movie like The Silence of the Lambs or Lord of the Rings would win Best Picture? Or that movies like The Exorcist or Little Miss Sunshine would get nominated? It all comes down to the quality of the film. The same goes for baits. Baitier subject matters are more easy for me to accept just because it's more realistic to something the Academy would like, but if a sci-fi, horror or comedy bait is truly one of the best of the month, it should be rewarded accordingly.
So basically, baitier projects have better chances because they're staying true to what the contest is made for, but I think you're taking it way too literally. Writing non-baity projects isn't "hijacking" Johnny's idea. If it was, he'd say so, or else deny the bait. And remember, he chose Ironic Nonfiction as his favorite bait of 2006, so he obviously thinks that if a non-baity bait is of quality, it should be recognized for that. And both you and James were mad as hell when you wrote your posts, and didn't even consider the other side. I think we need a happy medium, where it's easier for less Oscar-friendly baits to be nominated, but if someone wants to write a not-so-Oscar-friendly one, more power to them.
Damn Pat! I guess you're really mad huh. Lol.
We all know my opinion on "baity" vs "unbaity". However, I was highly offended by your comment on authors like myself trying to "hijack" the contest from Johnny. If he didn't want our "unbaits" in the contest, then he would not allow them entry. He has blocked baits from being published before when they are grossly unbaity, so obviously our baits have some merit in one way or another. I am not completely hostile about this though. I really would like to thank you for the comment on the poetry of "The Legend of Zelda: The End of Forever". And you were not the only author I was referring to in my blog.
I agree with James more, but I really think that "Bait an Oscar" is about an Oscar season because if it were just complete Oscar baits, it would be really boring, and sometimes unbaity ideas turn out to be extremely baity.
I think in the end the "baity v. Non baity" argument is useless. For the majority of the contest Baity baits have been crowned Bait of the Month, with Ironic Nonfiction being the only exception. So even if the non baity baits get good recognition on the forums it usually doesn't equal a great turnout when the oscar nods are announced (Batman was great and had a good support on forums, but only had a adapted screenplay nod in the big 8)
Also, I can't speak for others who write non baity baits, but when I write a non baity bait I never expect it to get praised or do good in the big 8. That isn't my purpose for writing those type of baits. I write them because there more fun to write and be involved with. (I'm having a blast doing kotor right now with z)
I know the contest is about writing a bait that the academy would just eat up, but that's the thing. These days no one can truly tell what the academy will or will not like. Everyone thought they would like All The King's men... And everyone thought The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine weren't baity enough to get nods, let alone win. You also said that when a non baity bait is written to the point of excellence you can make an exception, but authors don't write a non baity bait horrible on purpose. I'm pretty sure everyone who has written a non baity bait this month wouldn't have released it if they thought their writing was horrible (even if it was).
I feel seeing something as baity or non baity in this contest (not in real life) is really in the eye of the beholder. An author can write a bait one way, and readers can interpret it another way. The fact is this contest has one fatal flaw, these aren't films, and we have no idea how these baits would do as films. I'm pretty sure that if each bait was turned into a film, some of the great baits would turn out as horrible movies and some the worse baits would turn out as the best movies (and vice Versa)
I think your crazy for thinking about leaving tho lol Border Man was #1 bait of the forums, and was a serious contender at the Oscars, losing only to BOTY winner Daniel. you were also the first author to win Best author twice. That just proves that even though there is a huge amount of non baity projects and grammar error baits, the academy (at least the one on the site) knows how to pick the baity baits for best pic nods each month, rarely making exceptions.
Besides I feel once the Tournament becomes more familiar with the audience and grows, I think we'll start seeing a place for both baity and non baity projects.
I respect everyones opinion but that was low and basically uncalled for to take an easy way out and bring Johnny in it saying what were doing to him is "unfair" and hijacking.
And note when I said "unfair", I meant that's basically what you're trying to say, I know you didn't say that exactly but it basically could mean the same thing as "hijacking", in other words making it unfair to him.
Wow, ballsy article. I liked it. I'm infuriated with my two baits this month because of a few grammatical errors that I deeply apologize for because i am one of the big sticklers for it. I'm actually trying to be less active with the contest and just submit baits because I get so critical and expect too much. I love writing baits and competing but trying to change everyone's way of thinking is beyond my control and it can be frustrating.
As for baity projects, I feel that any project no matter what genre would and should be up for contention if done right, just like any ol' movie. The problem is like you said, people take those few exceptions and run with it, almost comparing their baits to the likes of The Silence of the Lambs or The Sixth Sense. Movies like those don't come by that often and neither should these kinds of projects and if they do, then they should be held to higher standards.
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