- Site Map >
- Community >
- Sims Discussion >
- Joint Sims Contests >
- Closed Contests >
- Application - Genre Drama--Application/Round 1
- Site Map >
- Community >
- Sims Discussion >
- Joint Sims Contests >
- Closed Contests >
- Application - Genre Drama--Application/Round 1
#1
28th Oct 2013 at 5:32 AM
Last edited by Qnshr5 : 18th Nov 2013 at 6:49 PM.
Posts: 293
Genre Drama--Application/Round 1
Qualifications to Host:
Contestant in Heaven’s Story Time: Hero’s Edition;
Contestant in Official MTS Sim Contest (TS3): Cultural Diversity;
Contestant in Qbuilderz Groundwork: A TS3 Foundation Challenge
Contestant in Heaven’s Story Time: Hero’s Edition;
Contestant in Official MTS Sim Contest (TS3): Cultural Diversity;
Contestant in Qbuilderz Groundwork: A TS3 Foundation Challenge
Concept:
Storytelling is as old as time. Just as our ancient ancestors exchanged tales in different forms--from oral to dance to drawings--so are Sims stories told in different forms. In the modern world there are 3 major storytelling mediums: written, moving picture and still picture. This contest will take those mediums and give you the opportunity to create each one (written stories, films or screenplays and pictures to be used like graphic novels) in 3 rounds with one continuous story. There is a final hitch. You must also switch and mesh different genres each round, too. Combining genres is popular in all forms of commercial storytelling right now. While it’s not as easy as it looks, done well, this skill brings a freshness to old structures. If you’re looking for a challenge, want to flex your storytelling muscles or just want to have some fun, Genre Drama brings it all.
Contest Rules:
1. Forum Rules Apply
2. Sims 2 & 3 accepted
3. No eliminations.
4. No post-editing (unless absolutely necessary and after PMing me for permission). This way judges can begin judging as soon as they’re ready to.
5. One entry per person. First round is application. No placeholders. Must have 5-20 entries.
6. Any CC are allowed. Giving credit is optional, but not necessary as CC neither counts for or against you. Also, all WCIFs regarding entries should be handled in private messaging and not the contest thread itself.
7. Original stories only. No borrowed or recycled stories.
8. Main character(s) must be your creation. Can be any age, species, pet, etc.
9. One continuous story that must have a beginning, middle and end. Endings can be ambiguous or cliffhangers, but must be conclusive.
10. Must have a title and include a 1-3 sentence synopsis with your story’s question above your entry. (See entry form & Round 1 Act 1 below)
11. PG-13 or below only! No Explicit material please! This means no graphic violence, sexual themes, or mature adult material. Cursing is allowed, but must be kept within reason/relevancy.
12. Entry must be in spoiler tags. Example:
[spoiler]entry[/spoil… (ending with "/spoiler]" in 2nd brackets)
Requirements:
Noobs-veterans. This is more about learning and honing the story telling skill in general through handling character, genre, fiction elements and atmosphere cohesively with words, pics, film.
Rounds:
1. Each round will feature a different medium of storytelling: written story, film (or a screenplay with storyboard) and pictures (to be used like “graphic novels”).
2. There are a total of 12 genres to choose from (see below for genre list). In the first round, you will pick 1 genre from 4 sub-genres (speculative/setting based fiction genres) to be the main genre of your story. Because these genres rely heavily on setting and world building, it’s difficult to pull them in out of nowhere. This genre must be featured in each round throughout your story--beginning, middle and end.
3. Out of 10 broad genres you must choose a second genre for each round (a total of 3). This genre will be secondary to the main genre. You cannot use the same secondary genre twice. Once you use it that’s it. The goal is to mesh the two genres together while keeping the continuity and fluidity of the story. You can continue any subplots or refer to anything that happened during the use of a previous round’s genre. You just have to incorporate the new genre into your story. You can even plan your genres from the beginning and have bits that point to a future round. That’s fine. The point here is blending and mixing the genres well. How you use the genres in each round is up to you. Be sure, though, that only two genres are clearly prominent in each round.
Genres: (please see: Genre Explanations & Objectives)
Main: Dystopian. Gothic. Period Piece. Steampunk.
Secondary: Adventure. Comedy. Drama. Fantasy. Horror. Mystery. Romance. Sci-fi. Supernatural. Thriller.
4. In the genre explanations, each genre is grouped into one of four categories of story elements. These elements are found in every genre, but have a greater emphasis in the genres that are featured in them. Pay attention to the story element category and objective of the genres you choose each round. Judges will be looking to see if you accomplished the expectation (objective & element) of your genre.
For example, all main genres feature the Setting--Place & Time story element so a Dystopian will explore a world of repression. If it's a Dystopian Romance (in which character connection is the story element) then that round should feature a deep look at the characters (Romance's story element) in love (Romance's objective) within a repressive society (Dystopian's element & objective). If your next round was a Dystopian Thriller, you'd explore a conflict of heightened danger for your character (Thriller's objective) that antes up the tension & suspense (Thriller's story element) within that same repressive society (Dystopian's element & objective). You could continue the romantic arc as a subplot or the driving force or kill it off, that's up to you and the story. The point is to feature another secondary genre each round. Thus, round 3 would still be Dystopian (whether you topple that society or not), but neither Romance nor Thriller would be the central focus. Your entire story could have the same story element throughout with different secondary genres or different genres and different elements each round.
The story element categories will make it easier for you to decide which genres will work best for your story as they give you a general look at a main focus of what otherwise would appear to be very different genres.
5. Follow the Three Act story structure. Each round will explain what’s expected. (Don’t worry. It’s actually quite simple. )
Judges:
2-3 judges and 1-2 emergency judge are needed. Judges should expect to score within 72 hours after a round closes. I can fill in as a judge. Judges must meet contest forum rules. I’d prefer that judges have a background in any form of sims story making, ie stories, machinima, pictures or avid reader/watcher or judging so good constructive feedback can be given to contestants with their scores. Please PM (private message) me with qualifications and tell why you’re passionate about stories.
Judging:
Parameters:
All the criteria breakdown is based on a 5 point scale with 5=nailed it, 4=mostly yes 3=almost 2=somewhat 1=barely 0=not at all
1. Creativity (10): Is the story original?(5) Is it entertaining?(5)
2. Character (15): Is the main character realistic and relatable, emphatic?(5) Is their goal and desires clear & understandable?(5) Do they have a development arc?(5)
3. Story (20): Does the plot make sense/understandable?(5) Are the points in the Three Act structure there?(5) Is it flowing, choppy, or stagnant?(5) Does every scene, shot, picture, word move the story/film forward?(5)
4. Genre (20): Is the main genre clearly represented/shape the story(5) Are the expectations of the genre met?(5) Do the main genre and secondary genre blend together well?(5) Do the story elements of the genres stand out?5
5. Atmosphere (20): Altogether (plot/characters/setting), does the overall mood, tone, emotion fit the genre/storyline?(5) Do the props/staging draw us into the world?(5)
***NOTE: Each medium (story, film, picture) will have 10 points specifically for that medium’s round. The following is a breakdown of three separate rounds NOT one or all rounds. ***
- For Story Round: Do the words paint a picture?(5) Do the screenshots complement the story/bring it alive?(5)
- For Film/Screenplay Round: Is it visually stimulating?(5) Films Only: Does the audio/music complement the film/bring it alive?(5) Screenplays Only: Can the story be "seen" like a moving picture through the words?(5)
- For Picture/Graphic Novel Round: Do the pictures tell the story?(5) Is it visually stimulating?(5)
6. Presentation(15): Is it organized/follow the entry form?(5) Does it adhere to the rules?(5) Is it within the rounds limits (screenshots/words/time/editing)?(5)
7. Bonus Rounds(15): Breakdown of points determined per round.
Scores will be added and averaged between the judges. Max points=100/round. Bonus round max=115/100
Timeline:
You have three (3) weeks to complete each round. Rounds end 11:59:59 PST.
Round 1 begins Oct 29; ends Nov 19
Round 2 begins Nov 20; ends Dec 11
Round 3 begins Dec 12; ends Jan 4(two extra days because of the holidays)
Extensions: Late entries will be accepted with a -10 point penalty up to 24hrs and -20 up to 48 hours after a round closes. This applies to all rounds EXCEPT Round 1 (no late entries!). Penalties are taken out of your final round score (not bonus points).
This applies unless I’m PM’d before the round ends with a good excuse for an individual no penalty extension. If there are a lot of contestants who need an extension, a round extension without penalty will be made, but don’t bank on it.
Entries and Scores:
Contestants | Round 1 Entry | Rd 1 Score | Round 2 Entry | Rd 2 Score | Round 3 Entry | Rd 3 Score | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||||
2 | |||||||
3 | |||||||
4 | |||||||
5 |
“The main question in drama, the way I was taught, is always, 'What does the protagonist want?' That's what drama is. It comes down to that. It's not about theme, it's not about ideas, it's not about setting, but what the protagonist wants.” --David Mamet, playwright
Rules For Stories:
1. Word count must be within 1,000 min--3,000 max words. Please use Microsoft Word or Word Counter for your count.
2. Screenshots are required and must be within 10-25 pictures. Pictures must be 800x600 (minimum) to 1280x1060 (maximum). No larger than 250kb.
3. Grammar/spelling will not be judged. But please put your best effort into it. Your scores could be warped if judges can’t understand what you’ve written.
4. Photoshop can be used at minimal. So, borders, greyscale/sepia, smudge/fog, saturation are all okay.
Story Scoring for Atmosphere category:
--a. For Story Round: Do the words paint a picture?(5) Do the screenshots complement the story/bring it alive?(5)
1. Word count must be within 1,000 min--3,000 max words. Please use Microsoft Word or Word Counter for your count.
2. Screenshots are required and must be within 10-25 pictures. Pictures must be 800x600 (minimum) to 1280x1060 (maximum). No larger than 250kb.
3. Grammar/spelling will not be judged. But please put your best effort into it. Your scores could be warped if judges can’t understand what you’ve written.
4. Photoshop can be used at minimal. So, borders, greyscale/sepia, smudge/fog, saturation are all okay.
Story Scoring for Atmosphere category:
--a. For Story Round: Do the words paint a picture?(5) Do the screenshots complement the story/bring it alive?(5)
Storytelling is all about setting up a character, sending him on a journey and learning about him while on that journey. This round, you begin your short story with Written Story. As soon as humans figured out how to work a chisel and a slab of stone, they wrote down their stories. Myths, legends, histories… tales that once could only be heard if someone knew it could now be shared and enjoyed for millennia.
Now you are beset upon to take up your pen (yes, pen. It’s more poetic. Pretend the keyboard is a pen.) Write, at least, Act One of your story.
Act One
This is the set up of the story. It focuses on the who of the story, the Main Character (MC). It usually consists of Presenting the MC’s normal world, a Disturbance, the MC preferring to stay or unable (afraid) to leave their normal world, and the 1st Doorway of No Return.
You should have a Disturbance, Present your Main Character’s World and have the 1st Doorway of No Return.
You can end with the 1st Doorway or go into Act Two, the main conflict. Either is fine as long as the 3 main objectives of Act One are there.
Now you are beset upon to take up your pen (yes, pen. It’s more poetic. Pretend the keyboard is a pen.) Write, at least, Act One of your story.
Act One
This is the set up of the story. It focuses on the who of the story, the Main Character (MC). It usually consists of Presenting the MC’s normal world, a Disturbance, the MC preferring to stay or unable (afraid) to leave their normal world, and the 1st Doorway of No Return.
- Disturbance (also inciting incident): Can be small but is jarring enough that it disturbs the Hero’s status quo. At this point, the MC is not locked into conflict and can walk away from the story.
Examples:
In Stars Wars this is when Princess Leia’s hologram pops up as Luke works on R2-D2.
In The Wizard of Oz it’s Miss Gulch taking Toto.
In Romeo & Juliet, it’s when they are attracted to each other at the ball. - The 1st Doorway of No Return (also Lock In or End of Act One): The MC passes from the ordinary world into the unknown world. Something major happens that causes the Hero to make a choice that they cannot walk away from thus thrusting them into the main conflict (which is Act Two). The door back to status quo ordinary world is locked.
Examples:
Star Wars--the murder of Luke’s aunt and uncle by the Empire pushes Luke to join the rebellion, thrusting him to be in opposition to the Empire.
The Wizard of Oz--after being knocked in the head, a twister picks up the house Dorothy’s in landing her in Oz, thrusting her into a quest to get home.
Romeo & Juliet--the two confess their undying love for each other which is at odds with their families undying hatred of each other, thrusting them into the middle of a clan war.
Your Story Question, which will be used in all 3 rounds, comes out of the End of Act One. It's 1 sentence with a "yes" or "no" answer that drives the plot but isn't resolved until the end. Star Wars: Can Luke defeat the Empire? Wizard of Oz: Will Dorothy find a way home? Romeo & Juliet: Will Romeo and Juliet's love conquer all?
You should have a Disturbance, Present your Main Character’s World and have the 1st Doorway of No Return.
You can end with the 1st Doorway or go into Act Two, the main conflict. Either is fine as long as the 3 main objectives of Act One are there.
Bonuses Choose one or both:
Bonus #1: Incorporate any holiday like Halloween or Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) or Hanukkah or make one up into your story. It can be the holiday itself or something/someone associated with the holdiay. It doesn’t have to be the center of your plot, but neither should it only be casually mentioned. Make sure that it has a purpose. +5
Bonus #2: Create a book cover for your story. A front cover with a back cover text beneath it. The front cover must have a picture with the title that catches our attention while encapsulating the essence of the story and the back cover is simply text gets us interested/excited to read your story. You may use Photoshop to your heart’s content. +10
Bonus #1: Incorporate any holiday like Halloween or Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) or Hanukkah or make one up into your story. It can be the holiday itself or something/someone associated with the holdiay. It doesn’t have to be the center of your plot, but neither should it only be casually mentioned. Make sure that it has a purpose. +5
Bonus #2: Create a book cover for your story. A front cover with a back cover text beneath it. The front cover must have a picture with the title that catches our attention while encapsulating the essence of the story and the back cover is simply text gets us interested/excited to read your story. You may use Photoshop to your heart’s content. +10
Round 1 Ends: 19 Nov 2013 Timer
Entry Form Structure:
- “Title”
“Round Genres (Main; Secondary)”
“1-3 sentence Synopsis with Story Question at end”
“Entry” (in spoiler tags)
“Bonus, if separate” (in spoiler tags)
"Word and Picture Count"
Resources:
For Story & Picture:
How to Write a Good Story
Picture Taking Tutorial
For Plotting/Other:
Five Plot Point Breakdowns Good for understanding story structure
Movie Genres Includes all but one of the genres used in this contest.
Advertisement
#2
29th Oct 2013 at 8:08 AM
Oopsee. Looks like whoever approved just forgot to write the approval post. Sorry if that caused a little bit of a delay. I think you're good to go though. Hope you get plenty of entrants; it looks like a fun contest
Contest Approved
Guys, rules are good! Rules help control the fun. ~ Monica E. Geller
Contest Approved
- The host has checked in so let the contest applications commence!
- DO NOT WRITE USELESS POSTS like "Hey cool contest, I think I might join." Reserve type posts and useless posts about coming back with an application will be deleted.
Guys, rules are good! Rules help control the fun. ~ Monica E. Geller
#3
29th Oct 2013 at 8:29 AM
Posts: 293
Thank you missroxor! Checking in for real! Let's get this show on the road!
#4
29th Oct 2013 at 8:48 AM
Last edited by Qnshr5 : 14th Nov 2013 at 4:29 AM.
Posts: 293
Genre Explanations & Objectives:
You can get more information on the sub-genres of these genres at The Script Lab (which is what I used for most of the explanations below as it has good, to the point info.) So some of these may say film, but the genres stay the same no matter the medium. You don’t need a sub-genre, but seeing what the sub-genres of the big genres will give you a good understanding of not only what the genre entails, but how wide and open the genre is.
Each genre has a general explanation and an objective for the contest to help you better zone in on how to present it.
Secondary Genre Options:
--Each are grouped in the Story Element they best feature. This is the feature you want to bring out when using the genre.
Character Connection
"An idea has no worth at all without believable characters to implement it; a plot without characters is like a tennis court without players.Daffy Duck is to a Buck Rogers story what John McEnroe was to tennis. Personality. That is the key, the drum, the fife. Forget the plot."
--Chuck Jones (animator/director)
Don’t really forget the plot! But, seriously, believable characters are imperative to a good story. The plot could be the most unique idea since the beginning of time, but if the characters fall flat the whole story fails. The audience wants to worry about your Main Character (MC), but the audience needs to feel connected to your character in order to care and worry about them. While its easy to take a stock, cliched character and throw them into a plot, you’ll be more successful if you take the time to allow the audience to get to know your MC.
This means background, desires, fears, goals, actions, reactions and reflections scattered throughout the work that makes us, the audience, feel like we not only know the characters, but that (at least in some way) we are the characters.
The following genres: Comedy, Drama and Romance are driven by character. A good, solid, consistent understanding of the characters is what makes the audience laugh, cry and sigh. To achieve this element, make sure the Main Character(s) goals, desires, fears and background are made clear and relevant to the story.
Tension and Suspense
“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
~Alfred Hitchcock (film/television director)
If Mary goes grocery shopping for milk for her baby and when she’s rung up she finds she doesn’t have enough money in the bank, that’s sad. But if Mary is unsure if she has enough money in bank before she goes grocery shopping for milk for her baby, that’s tension and suspense. Why? Because there’s no conflict in the first until she finds out, but in the second she already suspects, the conflict is already there--she may not be able to feed her child, and the audience will hold their breath as she inches closer and closer to the register to find out.
Every story must have conflict or there’s no story. Tension and suspense are created from the conflict. More specifically, they come from heightening the stakes of the conflict and then drawing the conflict out. The conflict for your MC should progressively get tougher and their ultimate goal should be farther out of their reach. That’s Tension. At the same time, the audience is worried, anticipating worse to come while wondering how this is all going to end. That’s Suspense.
The following genres: Horror, Mystery and Thriller are the epitome of tension and suspense. To achieve this element, put your character in danger and constantly up the ante. All the while interspersing with anticipation by slowing down the revealing of the result.
Willing Suspension of Disbelief
“Drama is that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith..."
--Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet/author)
When an audience comes to any story, they invoke a willing suspension of disbelief. This is a sort of contract between the audience and the writer. The audience agrees to believe the story and the writer agrees to keep the story believable. The writer does this by creating a world for the story--whether it be this world, a past world or one that is made up--and sticking to the rules and laws that they put in place. Another way of putting this is that you can ask the audience to believe the impossible, but not the improbable. No cheating the audience for dramatic suspense or an implausible solution out of an impossible situation. The story doesn’t have to be realistic, but it does have to be believable and consistent.
The following genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Supernatural are built on the audience’s willing suspension of disbelief. To achieve this element, let the audience understand what your world’s rules are and stick to it while making it logical (for the world), and thus believable.
You can get more information on the sub-genres of these genres at The Script Lab (which is what I used for most of the explanations below as it has good, to the point info.) So some of these may say film, but the genres stay the same no matter the medium. You don’t need a sub-genre, but seeing what the sub-genres of the big genres will give you a good understanding of not only what the genre entails, but how wide and open the genre is.
Each genre has a general explanation and an objective for the contest to help you better zone in on how to present it.
Main Genre Options:
Choose from the following genres to be your Main Genre. All these genres are so based in setting that there’s no way they could play second fiddle in round 2. They have to set the stage for the entire story. There are genres for the future, the past and the present. Most speculative and one reality based for those of you who like to keep your feet on solid real Earth. Each of the following is actually a sub-genre of a bigger genre so they’re more specific in what they entail. Please feel free to Google any of the examples for a better look at the tone of the settings of these genres.
Therefore, everyone has the Story Element of “Setting--Place & Time” for all 3 rounds. Please see Secondary Genre Options below for the other three Story Elements and their genres.
Setting--Place & Time
”Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else... Fiction depends for its life on place. Place is the crossroads of circumstance, the proving ground of, What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?..."
--Eudora Welty (author)
Setting is all about anchoring the audience (whether reading or viewing) in a place and time. Put a story in a different setting and the story changes as the culture, society and expectations of that setting change. Setting is seen as the third major player along with plot and character in a story.
This is accomplished through description and details that anchor the audience into the story world. It doesn’t matter if it’s Paris, France or Planet X, the audience wants to feel like they’re really there.
The following genres: Dystopian, Gothic, Period Piece, and Steampunk are entrenched in their settings. To achieve this element, give descriptions in your words and details in your pictures to suck the audience into the world your characters inhabit.
Choose from the following genres to be your Main Genre. All these genres are so based in setting that there’s no way they could play second fiddle in round 2. They have to set the stage for the entire story. There are genres for the future, the past and the present. Most speculative and one reality based for those of you who like to keep your feet on solid real Earth. Each of the following is actually a sub-genre of a bigger genre so they’re more specific in what they entail. Please feel free to Google any of the examples for a better look at the tone of the settings of these genres.
Therefore, everyone has the Story Element of “Setting--Place & Time” for all 3 rounds. Please see Secondary Genre Options below for the other three Story Elements and their genres.
Setting--Place & Time
”Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else... Fiction depends for its life on place. Place is the crossroads of circumstance, the proving ground of, What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?..."
--Eudora Welty (author)
Setting is all about anchoring the audience (whether reading or viewing) in a place and time. Put a story in a different setting and the story changes as the culture, society and expectations of that setting change. Setting is seen as the third major player along with plot and character in a story.
This is accomplished through description and details that anchor the audience into the story world. It doesn’t matter if it’s Paris, France or Planet X, the audience wants to feel like they’re really there.
The following genres: Dystopian, Gothic, Period Piece, and Steampunk are entrenched in their settings. To achieve this element, give descriptions in your words and details in your pictures to suck the audience into the world your characters inhabit.
DYSTOPIAN is a sub-genre of Science-Fiction that focuses on the upset state of the world. These films take place in the future and feature a world that is overrun with violence, oppression, and disease. In other words, a Dystopian film explores what it would look like to achieve the opposite of an Utopian society. This sub-genre often holds the same themes and characteristics of a post-apocalyptic film. Generally, the common themes within Dystopian films include dehumanization, the repression of individuality, and uniformity at the cost of human rights.
(The difference being a huge sudden calamity brings about the Post-Apocalyptic world that may actually turn out as well as or better than before where the Dystopian world is never good and can come about without a big disaster preceding it, aka gradual government takeover, for instance.)
Examples: V for Vendetta, Mad Max, Blade Runner, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Brave New World, Oblivion, The Island, Children of Men, Minority Report, Total Recall, Gattaca, 1984, Planet of the Apes
Objective: To explore what it would look like to achieve the opposite of an Utopian society.
(The difference being a huge sudden calamity brings about the Post-Apocalyptic world that may actually turn out as well as or better than before where the Dystopian world is never good and can come about without a big disaster preceding it, aka gradual government takeover, for instance.)
Examples: V for Vendetta, Mad Max, Blade Runner, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Brave New World, Oblivion, The Island, Children of Men, Minority Report, Total Recall, Gattaca, 1984, Planet of the Apes
Objective: To explore what it would look like to achieve the opposite of an Utopian society.
GOTHIC is a genre with stories often taking place in an isolated setting and involving strange and/or perilous happenings.
'Gothic' was originally synonymous with 'horror,' and in recent decades has come to indicate a certain tone and setting. Think of it as a light horror or dark fantasy often with an idealistic or romantic bent (albeit twisted in some way). Many of these tales involve an evil from the past, as with haunted mansions and/or encroaching personal insanity. They often deal with darkness, loneliness/ isolation, romanticism and emotional depths. Haunting, insanity, isolation, obsession, rejection, evil, etc are common themes that are enhanced by the setting of the story.They are often set in the past, but can be modern or in another world altogether. Either way they have a darker tone and style in writing, setting and visual. (The 'Gothic' genre is not the same as the 'goth' lifestyle though there are goths who enjoy gothic fiction.)
Examples: Labyrinth, Black Swan, The Phantom of the Opera, Pan’s Labyrinth, Sweeney Todd, The Woman in Black, The Crow, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, Flowers in the Attic, Interview with the Vampire, Dracula, (most Edgar Allen Poe)
sub-genres include: English gothic, southern (US) gothic
Objective: To explore romance and idealism through the darkness (off set through setting) of reality or supposed reality.
'Gothic' was originally synonymous with 'horror,' and in recent decades has come to indicate a certain tone and setting. Think of it as a light horror or dark fantasy often with an idealistic or romantic bent (albeit twisted in some way). Many of these tales involve an evil from the past, as with haunted mansions and/or encroaching personal insanity. They often deal with darkness, loneliness/ isolation, romanticism and emotional depths. Haunting, insanity, isolation, obsession, rejection, evil, etc are common themes that are enhanced by the setting of the story.They are often set in the past, but can be modern or in another world altogether. Either way they have a darker tone and style in writing, setting and visual. (The 'Gothic' genre is not the same as the 'goth' lifestyle though there are goths who enjoy gothic fiction.)
Examples: Labyrinth, Black Swan, The Phantom of the Opera, Pan’s Labyrinth, Sweeney Todd, The Woman in Black, The Crow, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, Flowers in the Attic, Interview with the Vampire, Dracula, (most Edgar Allen Poe)
sub-genres include: English gothic, southern (US) gothic
Objective: To explore romance and idealism through the darkness (off set through setting) of reality or supposed reality.
PERIOD PIECE is a sub-genre of Drama film that focuses on a specific time era. The era in which the film is set adds not only to the plot, but to the characters and costumes as well. The difference between this genre and Gothic or Steampunk is that it is based in historical reality (though it’s not gunning for historical accuracy per se). This is just as often seen as a hybrid sub-genre incorporated with another genre.
For the sake of this contest, I am opening up Period Piece to include any place or time period, including the present. Please indicate your place and time (in century, decade or year) on your entry as so: “Period Piece, China, 1860s” or “Period Piece. London. Present Day.” etc.
Examples (traditional and hybrid): Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Gone With the Wind, Bonnie & Clyde, Titanic, Elizabeth, Amadeus, Braveheart
Objective: To focus on a specific time era that adds to the plot and the characters.
For the sake of this contest, I am opening up Period Piece to include any place or time period, including the present. Please indicate your place and time (in century, decade or year) on your entry as so: “Period Piece, China, 1860s” or “Period Piece. London. Present Day.” etc.
Examples (traditional and hybrid): Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Gone With the Wind, Bonnie & Clyde, Titanic, Elizabeth, Amadeus, Braveheart
Objective: To focus on a specific time era that adds to the plot and the characters.
STEAMPUNK is a sub-genre of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Being relatively new name-wise, it’s harder to peg down.Brass, gears, mechanical things...these are the normal associations with the genre. There is a strict traditional view and then a “more open” view. It is traditionally set in the 1800s in Victorian England or the American West where modern advanced technology like robotics, computers, motorized vehicles, (any tech) are used and powered by steam in a gritty “punk-rock”-like world.
The other view can have a story set as late as the beginning half of the 20th century or earlier than the 19th century or even in the future. In this view, advanced technology and certain themes are seen as being Steampunk rather than solely steam power of the short lived Steam Age. Recently, there have been more technology mashups from modern tech in the past to old tech future times (genetic modification, the supernatural, spring-powered robots, 22nd century zeppelins, Edwardian atomic power, steam-powered hovercraft, etc). Also, much more diversity in settings including time, place, and tone (from gritty/downcast to upbeat). Steampunk in a future setting has a future that is purposefully built to mirror a more "innocent" time while keeping/updating the technology of the future. This widening view is due in part to Steampunk moving beyond fiction and being art, music, fashion and a life style. So it is a look as much as it is a genre bringing more diversity to it.
For this contest, style and technology will be the focus over traditional setting. Focus more on the "what if" advanced technology were in the past or the future regressed to a past time/culture while keeping some/all advanced technology. I’ll allow 1760-1940 with modern advanced technology or futuristic with the overall style/look within the stated time periods of 1760-1940 (thus there can be some things that have a modern or futuristic look/function).
Examples: Wild Wild West (movie), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Difference Engine, Steamboy, Laputa Castle in the Sky, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Three Musketeers (2011), Stardust, Van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Prestige, City of Ember, Hugo, The Brothers Grimm. Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells & Jules Verne would be placed in this genre if they wrote today.
Objective: To incorporate advanced technology in a past time/culture or a past time/culture in a regressed future with technology that has a "brass and gears" style.
The other view can have a story set as late as the beginning half of the 20th century or earlier than the 19th century or even in the future. In this view, advanced technology and certain themes are seen as being Steampunk rather than solely steam power of the short lived Steam Age. Recently, there have been more technology mashups from modern tech in the past to old tech future times (genetic modification, the supernatural, spring-powered robots, 22nd century zeppelins, Edwardian atomic power, steam-powered hovercraft, etc). Also, much more diversity in settings including time, place, and tone (from gritty/downcast to upbeat). Steampunk in a future setting has a future that is purposefully built to mirror a more "innocent" time while keeping/updating the technology of the future. This widening view is due in part to Steampunk moving beyond fiction and being art, music, fashion and a life style. So it is a look as much as it is a genre bringing more diversity to it.
For this contest, style and technology will be the focus over traditional setting. Focus more on the "what if" advanced technology were in the past or the future regressed to a past time/culture while keeping some/all advanced technology. I’ll allow 1760-1940 with modern advanced technology or futuristic with the overall style/look within the stated time periods of 1760-1940 (thus there can be some things that have a modern or futuristic look/function).
Examples: Wild Wild West (movie), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Difference Engine, Steamboy, Laputa Castle in the Sky, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Three Musketeers (2011), Stardust, Van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Prestige, City of Ember, Hugo, The Brothers Grimm. Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells & Jules Verne would be placed in this genre if they wrote today.
Objective: To incorporate advanced technology in a past time/culture or a past time/culture in a regressed future with technology that has a "brass and gears" style.
Secondary Genre Options:
--Each are grouped in the Story Element they best feature. This is the feature you want to bring out when using the genre.
Character Connection
"An idea has no worth at all without believable characters to implement it; a plot without characters is like a tennis court without players.Daffy Duck is to a Buck Rogers story what John McEnroe was to tennis. Personality. That is the key, the drum, the fife. Forget the plot."
--Chuck Jones (animator/director)
Don’t really forget the plot! But, seriously, believable characters are imperative to a good story. The plot could be the most unique idea since the beginning of time, but if the characters fall flat the whole story fails. The audience wants to worry about your Main Character (MC), but the audience needs to feel connected to your character in order to care and worry about them. While its easy to take a stock, cliched character and throw them into a plot, you’ll be more successful if you take the time to allow the audience to get to know your MC.
This means background, desires, fears, goals, actions, reactions and reflections scattered throughout the work that makes us, the audience, feel like we not only know the characters, but that (at least in some way) we are the characters.
The following genres: Comedy, Drama and Romance are driven by character. A good, solid, consistent understanding of the characters is what makes the audience laugh, cry and sigh. To achieve this element, make sure the Main Character(s) goals, desires, fears and background are made clear and relevant to the story.
COMEDY is a genre that uses humor as a driving force. The aim of a comedy is to elicit laughter from the audience through entertaining stories and characters. Although the comedy film may take on some serious material, most have a happy ending. Comedy film has the tendency to become a hybrid sub-genre because humor can be incorporated into many other genres.
--Examples: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Shaun of the Dead, The Hangover, The Princess Bride
Objective: To incorporate humor through entertaining plots, situations and characters.
Comedy sub-genres
--Examples: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Shaun of the Dead, The Hangover, The Princess Bride
Objective: To incorporate humor through entertaining plots, situations and characters.
Comedy sub-genres
DRAMA is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. Often, dramatic themes are taken from intense, real life issues. Whether heroes or heroines are facing a conflict from the outside or a conflict within themselves, Drama aims to tell an honest story of human struggles.
--Examples: Casablanca, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, The Godfather, Steel Magnolias
Objective: To incorporate real human struggles emotionally and relationally.
Drama sub-genres
--Examples: Casablanca, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, The Godfather, Steel Magnolias
Objective: To incorporate real human struggles emotionally and relationally.
Drama sub-genres
ROMANCE revolves around the love between two protagonists. This genre usually has a theme that explores an issue within love, including but not limited to: love at first sight, forbidden love, love triangles, and sacrificial love. The tone of Romance can vary greatly. Whether the end is happy or tragic, Romance aims to evoke strong emotions in the audience. Romance is as much about what doesn’t happen as it is about what does. Since the main desire is getting the lovers together, the main conflict is keeping them apart.
--Examples: Titanic, The Notebook, Slumdog Millionaire, When Harry Met Sally, Romeo & Juliet
Objective: To incorporate the pairing and driving apart of lovers.
Romance sub-genres
--Examples: Titanic, The Notebook, Slumdog Millionaire, When Harry Met Sally, Romeo & Juliet
Objective: To incorporate the pairing and driving apart of lovers.
Romance sub-genres
Tension and Suspense
“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
~Alfred Hitchcock (film/television director)
If Mary goes grocery shopping for milk for her baby and when she’s rung up she finds she doesn’t have enough money in the bank, that’s sad. But if Mary is unsure if she has enough money in bank before she goes grocery shopping for milk for her baby, that’s tension and suspense. Why? Because there’s no conflict in the first until she finds out, but in the second she already suspects, the conflict is already there--she may not be able to feed her child, and the audience will hold their breath as she inches closer and closer to the register to find out.
Every story must have conflict or there’s no story. Tension and suspense are created from the conflict. More specifically, they come from heightening the stakes of the conflict and then drawing the conflict out. The conflict for your MC should progressively get tougher and their ultimate goal should be farther out of their reach. That’s Tension. At the same time, the audience is worried, anticipating worse to come while wondering how this is all going to end. That’s Suspense.
The following genres: Horror, Mystery and Thriller are the epitome of tension and suspense. To achieve this element, put your character in danger and constantly up the ante. All the while interspersing with anticipation by slowing down the revealing of the result.
HORROR is a genre with stories incorporating supernatural and/or inexplicable elements and intended to arouse fear and dread.
Horror aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience. These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Horror usually center on the arrival of an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large amount of violence and gore into the plot. Though it has its own style, Horror film often overlaps into Fantasy, Thriller, and Science-Fiction genres.
Examples: Saw, Friday the 13th, Paranormal Activity, Shaun of the Dead, Dracula, Frankenstein, (most Stephen King)
Objective: To incorporate supernatural and/or inexplicable elements to arouse panic, fear and dread.
Horror sub-genres
Horror aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience. These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Horror usually center on the arrival of an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large amount of violence and gore into the plot. Though it has its own style, Horror film often overlaps into Fantasy, Thriller, and Science-Fiction genres.
Examples: Saw, Friday the 13th, Paranormal Activity, Shaun of the Dead, Dracula, Frankenstein, (most Stephen King)
Objective: To incorporate supernatural and/or inexplicable elements to arouse panic, fear and dread.
Horror sub-genres
MYSTERY is a genre in which the main character is occupied in tracking down the truth about an event, usually a murder. If the protagonist is in any danger, it is usually moderate, and becomes a problem only as the detective approaches the truth.
Mystery genre centers on a person of authority, usually a detective, that is trying to solve a mysterious crime. The main protagonist uses clues, investigation, and logical reasoning. The biggest element in these films is a sense of “whodunit” suspense, usually created through visual cues and unusual plot twists.
--Examples: The Maltese Falcon, Blue Velvet, Chinatown, Clue, The Italian Job, Kay Scarpetta series, Sherlock Holmes series
Objective: To create a sense of “whodunit” or “how-was-it-done” suspense as the truth of an event is being uncovered.
Film: Mystery sub-genres
Book: More Mystery sub-genres
Mystery genre centers on a person of authority, usually a detective, that is trying to solve a mysterious crime. The main protagonist uses clues, investigation, and logical reasoning. The biggest element in these films is a sense of “whodunit” suspense, usually created through visual cues and unusual plot twists.
--Examples: The Maltese Falcon, Blue Velvet, Chinatown, Clue, The Italian Job, Kay Scarpetta series, Sherlock Holmes series
Objective: To create a sense of “whodunit” or “how-was-it-done” suspense as the truth of an event is being uncovered.
Film: Mystery sub-genres
Book: More Mystery sub-genres
THRILLER is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a Thriller falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax. The main character must be in a threatening situation that presses harder and harder against them. Like squeezing a walnut in a nutcracker. The opposition is doing the squeezing on your walnut MC.
Examples: The Bourne trilogy, The Firm, The Silence of the Lambs, Die Hard, Kill Bill, Inception, The Da Vinci Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Objective: To incorporate an emphasis on heightening danger for the main character(s).
Thriller Sub genres
Examples: The Bourne trilogy, The Firm, The Silence of the Lambs, Die Hard, Kill Bill, Inception, The Da Vinci Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Objective: To incorporate an emphasis on heightening danger for the main character(s).
Thriller Sub genres
Willing Suspension of Disbelief
“Drama is that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith..."
--Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet/author)
When an audience comes to any story, they invoke a willing suspension of disbelief. This is a sort of contract between the audience and the writer. The audience agrees to believe the story and the writer agrees to keep the story believable. The writer does this by creating a world for the story--whether it be this world, a past world or one that is made up--and sticking to the rules and laws that they put in place. Another way of putting this is that you can ask the audience to believe the impossible, but not the improbable. No cheating the audience for dramatic suspense or an implausible solution out of an impossible situation. The story doesn’t have to be realistic, but it does have to be believable and consistent.
The following genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Supernatural are built on the audience’s willing suspension of disbelief. To achieve this element, let the audience understand what your world’s rules are and stick to it while making it logical (for the world), and thus believable.
ADVENTURE is a genre that revolves around the conquests and explorations of a protagonist. The purpose of the conquest can be to retrieve a person or treasure, but often the main focus is simply the pursuit of the unknown. These films generally take place in exotic locations and play on historical myths. Adventure films incorporate suspenseful puzzles and intricate obstacles that the protagonist must overcome in order to achieve the end goal.
Examples: Pirates of the Caribbean series, Indiana Jones series, The Three Musketeers, National Treasure, The Odyssey, Gulliver’s Travels, Alice in Wonderland
Objective: To incorporate conquests, exploration and the pursuit of the unknown.
Adventuresub-genre
Examples: Pirates of the Caribbean series, Indiana Jones series, The Three Musketeers, National Treasure, The Odyssey, Gulliver’s Travels, Alice in Wonderland
Objective: To incorporate conquests, exploration and the pursuit of the unknown.
Adventuresub-genre
FANTASY is a genre that incorporates imaginative and fantastic themes. These themes usually involve magic, supernatural events, or fantasy worlds. Although it is its own distinct genre, these films can overlap into the horror and science fiction genres. Unlike science fiction, a fantasy story does not need to be rooted in fact. This element allows the audience to be transported into a new and unique world. Often, these films center on an ordinary hero in an extraordinary situation.
Examples: The Lord of the Ring series, Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Wizard of Oz, What Dreams May Come, The Avengers, Superman, Disney fairy tales
Objective: To incorporate imaginative and fantastic themes.
Fantasy sub-genres Film
Fantasy sub-genres broader
Examples: The Lord of the Ring series, Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Wizard of Oz, What Dreams May Come, The Avengers, Superman, Disney fairy tales
Objective: To incorporate imaginative and fantastic themes.
Fantasy sub-genres Film
Fantasy sub-genres broader
SCIENCE FICTION is a genre that incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Often, this genre incorporates futuristic elements and technologies to explore social, political, and philosophical issues. The film itself is usually set in the future, either on earth or in space. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will incorporate heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology.
Examples: Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, Terminator, Back to the Future, Dr Who, Ender’s Game, Dune
Objective: To incorporate hypothetical science based themes.
Sci-Fi sub-genres
Examples: Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, Terminator, Back to the Future, Dr Who, Ender’s Game, Dune
Objective: To incorporate hypothetical science based themes.
Sci-Fi sub-genres
SUPERNATURAL (also called Paranormal) is a genre that centers around supernatural elements, such as ghosts, gods, goddesses, and miracles. Supernatural/paranormal deal with the unknown questions of life; therefore, they tend to incorporate religious elements into the plot. Since they emphasize the unknown, Supernatural films are considered quite suspenseful. This genre is not Horror because the objective isn’t fear.
--Examples: Film: What Lies Beneath, Poltergeist, Ghost, Ghostbusters, The Da Vinci Code
Books: Twilight series, The Mortal Instruments series, Sookie Stackhouse series, Harry Potter series
Objective: To incorporate supernatural elements and explore the unknown.
Supernatural sub-genres
--Examples: Film: What Lies Beneath, Poltergeist, Ghost, Ghostbusters, The Da Vinci Code
Books: Twilight series, The Mortal Instruments series, Sookie Stackhouse series, Harry Potter series
Objective: To incorporate supernatural elements and explore the unknown.
Supernatural sub-genres
#5
29th Oct 2013 at 2:13 PM
Posts: 259
Hello I want to be a Judge I am particapating in Loafs It takes a village contest and I've been a member since Janurary
Check out my Tumblr its called Sims2pictures
Call me Colin
Check out my Tumblr its called Sims2pictures
Call me Colin
#6
31st Oct 2013 at 7:49 AM
Posts: 293
Just a reminder, if anyone is interested in either being a Judge or an Emergency Judge, please PM me.
Everyone: If you have any questions about this contest, don't hesitate to ask.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Everyone: If you have any questions about this contest, don't hesitate to ask.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Test Subject
#7
1st Nov 2013 at 5:09 AM
Posts: 1
I would like to join this contest if I may.
#8
1st Nov 2013 at 6:06 AM
Posts: 293
You certainly can Pseudocode. When your entry is ready submitted here. I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#9
4th Nov 2013 at 10:34 PM
Posts: 76
Okay, just so I can make it clear so I don't get into hard work only to do things all wrong, all three rounds -has- to be a different form of storytelling? Say round one I chose to film, second round would be my "graphic novel", and the third would be the traditional way of Sim story telling: pictures with words?
"Open your mind before your mouth."
-Chris Motionless from Motionless in White
"Open your mind before your mouth."
-Chris Motionless from Motionless in White
#10
5th Nov 2013 at 12:31 AM
Posts: 3,720
Thanks: 27116 in 66 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by PrettyKitty23
Okay, just so I can make it clear so I don't get into hard work only to do things all wrong, all three rounds -has- to be a different form of storytelling? Say round one I chose to film, second round would be my "graphic novel", and the third would be the traditional way of Sim story telling: pictures with words? |
Each round seems to already be chosen for which medium you should be using. Under the Round 1, it says "Written Stories" so I believe the first round is the traditional story form. You'll just choose your genre.
Heaven Sims | Avendale Legacy
"On the internet, you can be anything you want. It's strange that so many people choose to be stupid."
"On the internet, you can be anything you want. It's strange that so many people choose to be stupid."
#11
7th Nov 2013 at 3:09 AM
Posts: 293
Quote: Originally posted by PrettyKitty23
Okay, just so I can make it clear so I don't get into hard work only to do things all wrong, all three rounds -has- to be a different form of storytelling? Say round one I chose to film, second round would be my "graphic novel", and the third would be the traditional way of Sim story telling: pictures with words? |
heaven is right. To make it easier for judging, the mediums are chosen for each round. You'll choose your main genre for all rounds and then a secondary genre for each round. The first round is "traditional" Sim story telling: pictures with words/prose or Written Stories (with pictures). Chosen since it is the easiest for a beginner to ease into Sim story telling.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#12
12th Nov 2013 at 10:42 PM
I've got a start at this, but I still don't know if I'm going to enter. There's a LOT of different components to this contest; it's a bit overwhelming. It's not terribly complicated, it's just a lot to consider. I'm also a bit bummed by the steampunk time period restrictions, it wouldn't stop me, but I like to blend a "rebuilt" future with steampunk. I thought about some sort of alternate timeline with in your given eras, but then my head started hurting, lol. Dystopian is better as far as stuff I already have for TS2, most of my steampunk stuff is in TS3, which doesn't play well enough on my pc for this contest.
#13
14th Nov 2013 at 4:01 AM
Posts: 293
Quote: Originally posted by jones7659
I've got a start at this, but I still don't know if I'm going to enter. There's a LOT of different components to this contest; it's a bit overwhelming. It's not terribly complicated, it's just a lot to consider. I'm also a bit bummed by the steampunk time period restrictions, it wouldn't stop me, but I like to blend a "rebuilt" future with steampunk. I thought about some sort of alternate timeline with in your given eras, but then my head started hurting, lol. Dystopian is better as far as stuff I already have for TS2, most of my steampunk stuff is in TS3, which doesn't play well enough on my pc for this contest. |
I had thought of putting a future option in the time restrictions. I can't remember why I decided not to. I may have thought it might confuse someone, but I guess they could just ask if they're unsure. Anyway, I'll open the genre up to include a future option just be sure to have an explanation (can be brief) as to why the future looks this way and keep the overall style/look within the stated time periods of 1760-1940 (thus there can be some things that have a modern or futuristic look/function).
But another option that may go better with what you already have in game is to go with dystopian and just have a steampunk look or flare. A dystopian world doesn't have to be grey or medieval. It could be the opposite in appearance. You can have more than two genres, but you'll be judged on the two genres you state in your entry form. So, if it was a dystopian with a steampunk style then the dystopian world would be judged not the steampunk look to the world. So the oppressive society should take precedence over the "what if" advanced tech were in the past or the future regressed to a past time. As far as the four main genres go, dystopian has the most leeway in how the creator wants it to look. Even gothic, though it's open as far as time is concerned, has look as its restriction as it needs a dark style. So, as long as what's in your world looks like it's apart of that world, you can do whatever you want in dystopian.
I hope that helps. I know it's a lot of options to sort through and decide on.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#14
14th Nov 2013 at 2:36 PM
What I have going on is dystopian, with a bit of "forced" steampunk because of having to reuse materials and relearn technology.
#15
16th Nov 2013 at 4:32 PM
Posts: 293
Alright, there are 3 days and 15 hrs left until round 1 closes. Hopefully we'll start seeing some entries soon.
Also, if anyone is interested in being a judge, we still have one slot left. Just send me a private message.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Also, if anyone is interested in being a judge, we still have one slot left. Just send me a private message.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#16
17th Nov 2013 at 7:34 AM
Posts: 220
Thanks: 39 in 1 Posts
I considered it because I love doing stories, but in the end the need for the film part just wouldn't have made it enjoyable for me
#17
18th Nov 2013 at 3:06 AM
Last edited by Qnshr5 : 18th Nov 2013 at 3:31 AM.
Posts: 293
Quote: Originally posted by Tamlyn
I considered it because I love doing stories, but in the end the need for the film part just wouldn't have made it enjoyable for me |
Don't let that keep you away! The film part has two options. You can either do a film or a screenplay. The "screenplay with storyboard" option will look like a script with pictures. So, going that route would be still be writing for those who don't or can't do a film. The difference being that the writing style and amount would not be the same as a written story since a script is more visual in tone, is in present tense and focuses on dialogue & action (not thoughts since you can't see thoughts unless, of course, you think out loud or use a voice over ). I see that I did forget to add the second judging criteria for the screenplay, though, which might be cause for confusion.
But for anyone who is feeling intimidated by either the film or graphic novel parts, you can write through the entire contest! I have no intention of forcing you add speech and thought bubbles to your pictures in the graphic novel round either. But how the written parts are done will change in each of these rounds. Instead of stretching your visual arts muscles you can focus on stretching your writing and picture taking muscles. I hope that helps and it's not too late for anyone who still wants to enter!
ETA: There will be resources for each round to help anyone unfamiliar with that medium gain understanding of how to do it.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#18
18th Nov 2013 at 8:09 AM
Posts: 220
Thanks: 39 in 1 Posts
I think it probably is a little late for me. I should have said something earlier!
#19
18th Nov 2013 at 6:51 PM
Posts: 293
Quote: Originally posted by Tamlyn
I think it probably is a little late for me. I should have said something earlier! |
I'm sorry, Tamlyn. I would have loved to have you.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#20
18th Nov 2013 at 6:55 PM
Posts: 293
We have the 3 required judges: eyelleenn, ijustneedsomeeyes and myself. And our emergency judge heaven. If someone else would like to be an EJ there is one more slot open, but it's not necessary. Now all we need are some contestants! Can't wait to see what stories everyone comes up with.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#21
20th Nov 2013 at 9:14 AM
Posts: 293
Time's up. This round and the contest are closed due to no entries. I guess I should have been less confusing and taken more time to explain the film category as that got several agrees to being off putting. It sounds more scary than I had planned it to be. Even in the screenplay option the script format would have been bonus points so it could have been written in prose since only words, not format, are actually judged. But, then again, I'm not sure that that's the main reason there was little interest so I don't know if I would try this contest again or not. Story contests don't seem to get as much lovin'.
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
Memory Games A Sims 3 Thriller Mystery
#22
20th Nov 2013 at 10:25 AM
Posts: 4,228
Thanks: 10340 in 107 Posts
I think some of the problems regarding contests in general is that MTS needs to promote them better as they are rather 'buried'. An announcement on the front page would help enormously! I saw your contest but I am not a story writer so had no plans to enter. I am sorry that your contest did not receive any entries.
Want a specific style of house or community building? Why not take a look at my profile and see what I build and then come ask me to make it!
#23
20th Nov 2013 at 10:29 AM
Bah
I think it is a real shame that you did not get the entries; though I now realise that November is nanowrimo month. Its such a huge investment in time to do a story contest; the ones that have got the entrants have always turned out to be one of the fave things people do and something people can look back on with pride. I think its often a case of too many things we want to do and not enough time.
Don't give up on the idea - I like the format and I think if you were to perhaps post a story in the story section using this format then that would help for a future contest as then you could link to a finished example.
@ Karen - we really did try and publicise - several staff posted to tumblr and we also posted a front page announcement : http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=514604
More downloads by Leesester, BoilingOil and others at Leefish.nl | My Stuff at Leefish.nl | LeeFish RSS | Sims4 News Blog | TumblinLeefish
I think it is a real shame that you did not get the entries; though I now realise that November is nanowrimo month. Its such a huge investment in time to do a story contest; the ones that have got the entrants have always turned out to be one of the fave things people do and something people can look back on with pride. I think its often a case of too many things we want to do and not enough time.
Don't give up on the idea - I like the format and I think if you were to perhaps post a story in the story section using this format then that would help for a future contest as then you could link to a finished example.
@ Karen - we really did try and publicise - several staff posted to tumblr and we also posted a front page announcement : http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=514604
More downloads by Leesester, BoilingOil and others at Leefish.nl | My Stuff at Leefish.nl | LeeFish RSS | Sims4 News Blog | TumblinLeefish
#24
20th Nov 2013 at 10:40 AM
Posts: 4,228
Thanks: 10340 in 107 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by leefish
@ Karen - we really did try and publicise - several staff posted to tumblr and we also posted a front page announcement : http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=514604 |
Want a specific style of house or community building? Why not take a look at my profile and see what I build and then come ask me to make it!
#25
21st Nov 2013 at 4:31 AM
Posts: 141
Quote: Originally posted by Qnshr5
Time's up. This round and the contest are closed due to no entries. I guess I should have been less confusing and taken more time to explain the film category as that got several agrees to being off putting. It sounds more scary than I had planned it to be. Even in the screenplay option the script format would have been bonus points so it could have been written in prose since only words, not format, are actually judged. But, then again, I'm not sure that that's the main reason there was little interest so I don't know if I would try this contest again or not. Story contests don't seem to get as much lovin'. |
Thanks for making the attempt. I considered entering but could not commit to the time involved. The whole setting up the world thing was a bit intimidating for me. Loved the idea of the genre mashup though and I would have loved to read all the stories.
Who Posted
|