Comments on: The Bizarro World of Nice Notes http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/ Thoughts on television writing for screenwriters Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:21:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Ben Bowman http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14844 Ben Bowman Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:21:53 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14844 I don't think you should be so quick to let this idea sink. A newbie writer getting notes from an exec who had established this pioneering practice would certainly need to know to root out the problems. But such an enlightened exec would certainly have established this expectation early on with the writer. I do agree with Rich. It is important to know what is not working. And Heather's point about time in production is well made. Also, nice notes that point out issues in a good way are often well received. In fact, a good exec might already know this to be important skill that elicits positive results. I always wonder that negative feedback is the standard in this industry -- along with a 12 hour production day. It might be revealing to see an experienced showrunner introduce this revolutionary technique. Nice Notes: the new standard? I don’t think you should be so quick to let this idea sink. A newbie writer getting notes from an exec who had established this pioneering practice would certainly need to know to root out the problems. But such an enlightened exec would certainly have established this expectation early on with the writer. I do agree with Rich. It is important to know what is not working. And Heather’s point about time in production is well made. Also, nice notes that point out issues in a good way are often well received. In fact, a good exec might already know this to be important skill that elicits positive results. I always wonder that negative feedback is the standard in this industry — along with a 12 hour production day. It might be revealing to see an experienced showrunner introduce this revolutionary technique. Nice Notes: the new standard?

]]> By: Elize http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14791 Elize Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:06:51 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14791 I think it would be *heartening*. The doesn't mean that it would always work. For newbie writers there's definitely a bit of play there -- where if all they see is good they'd wonder (perhaps) why another write was required. It really lends itself to experience. All negative notes can kill a script. All positive can leave a mediocre script... well... mediocre. Perhaps, though, this is just me coming from it as an editor. As a writer I'll admit that having a lot of positives would definitely propel what needs work on the other side. I think it would be *heartening*. The doesn’t mean that it would always work. For newbie writers there’s definitely a bit of play there — where if all they see is good they’d wonder (perhaps) why another write was required.

It really lends itself to experience. All negative notes can kill a script. All positive can leave a mediocre script… well… mediocre.

Perhaps, though, this is just me coming from it as an editor. As a writer I’ll admit that having a lot of positives would definitely propel what needs work on the other side.

]]> By: An email is an email — or is it? | RedFlameOut's Musings http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14696 An email is an email — or is it? | RedFlameOut's Musings Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:55:54 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14696 [...] The Bizarro World of Nice Notes [...] […] The Bizarro World of Nice Notes […]

]]> By: admin http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14671 admin Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:39:13 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14671 Obviously, one reason you need comments that aren't entirely positive are to deal with glaring errors -- like a completely wrong name. Julie, a thousand apologies. I KNOW your name, but my fingertips betrayed me. And thanks for the thoughtful comments. Clearly, the idea won't fly. And I agree, especially with less experienced writers, it's great to have another writing mind dig into a script and help you to find and solve problems. But there are lots of professional situations in which the focus is entirely on what's not working. And if that can achieve a production worthy script, I still wonder if the opposite would be true. Obviously, one reason you need comments that aren’t entirely positive are to deal with glaring errors — like a completely wrong name. Julie, a thousand apologies. I KNOW your name, but my fingertips betrayed me.

And thanks for the thoughtful comments. Clearly, the idea won’t fly.

And I agree, especially with less experienced writers, it’s great to have another writing mind dig into a script and help you to find and solve problems.

But there are lots of professional situations in which the focus is entirely on what’s not working. And if that can achieve a production worthy script, I still wonder if the opposite would be true.

]]> By: Julie Gray http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14657 Julie Gray Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:39:00 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14657 Uh - it's Julie GRAY but thank you for the paraphrase. I think this is a lovely idea but ultimately unworkable. It's not so much WHAT you say to the writer, it's HOW. If you are respectful and professional and of course point out what is working, then the writer is in a more comfortable place to hear what is NOT working and why. Very new writers need and appreciate confidence-building comments but are being under-served if you don't point out what is not working as well. They can't necessarily reverse-engineer your nice comments to see what is not working. That's the point. They are asking for an honest opinion. More experienced writers don't get that excited about flattering comments because they know they are talented and that's nice but what they paid for is to hear what can be improved. You can be nice and truthful at the same time. Production company readers are trained to take no prisoners. That is the kind of coverage you will get on your script. And you need to be prepared for no holds barred criticism. But you can ramp up to that with kind, honest, considered notes from a professional. My job is not to be "nice" per se, but rather to be respectful. Being rude or short or completely focused on the negative is not respectful of what the writer was trying to accomplish. But being completely sweet and only pointing out the good is cheating the writer of the opportunity to grow. Uh - it’s Julie GRAY but thank you for the paraphrase. I think this is a lovely idea but ultimately unworkable. It’s not so much WHAT you say to the writer, it’s HOW. If you are respectful and professional and of course point out what is working, then the writer is in a more comfortable place to hear what is NOT working and why. Very new writers need and appreciate confidence-building comments but are being under-served if you don’t point out what is not working as well. They can’t necessarily reverse-engineer your nice comments to see what is not working. That’s the point. They are asking for an honest opinion.

More experienced writers don’t get that excited about flattering comments because they know they are talented and that’s nice but what they paid for is to hear what can be improved. You can be nice and truthful at the same time. Production company readers are trained to take no prisoners. That is the kind of coverage you will get on your script. And you need to be prepared for no holds barred criticism. But you can ramp up to that with kind, honest, considered notes from a professional. My job is not to be “nice” per se, but rather to be respectful. Being rude or short or completely focused on the negative is not respectful of what the writer was trying to accomplish. But being completely sweet and only pointing out the good is cheating the writer of the opportunity to grow.

]]> By: Heather http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14655 Heather Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:59:33 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14655 I believe that a good writer will find and fix their own mistakes - eventually. But Production is a fast moving train and it's just plain quicker to tell the writer what needs to be fixed so he/she can get the rewrite out asap. As for positive feedback, it's just as important so the writer doesn't waste time wondering if they should change something that doesn't need to be. I believe that a good writer will find and fix their own mistakes - eventually. But Production is a fast moving train and it’s just plain quicker to tell the writer what needs to be fixed so he/she can get the rewrite out asap. As for positive feedback, it’s just as important so the writer doesn’t waste time wondering if they should change something that doesn’t need to be.

]]> By: Adaddinsane http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14654 Adaddinsane Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:30:20 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14654 I think it would work for skilled writers but not for newbies. But I like it a lot as a concept. I think it would work for skilled writers but not for newbies. But I like it a lot as a concept.

]]> By: Rich http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14652 Rich Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:22:30 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14652 If I knew that all the negative comments were being left out . . . maybe. I also think that any negative comment can be made neutral. I *really* want to know if my audience doesn't get what I've written, even if they like the jokes. And any writer can conveniently forget to kill one of their little darlings. Especially if they're on a writer's high from getting only compliments on their script. If I knew that all the negative comments were being left out . . . maybe.

I also think that any negative comment can be made neutral. I *really* want to know if my audience doesn’t get what I’ve written, even if they like the jokes.

And any writer can conveniently forget to kill one of their little darlings. Especially if they’re on a writer’s high from getting only compliments on their script.

]]> By: Jane http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14651 Jane Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:21:11 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2008/08/the-bizarro-world-of-nice-notes/#comment-14651 Nope, that wouldn't work for me. I need people to say "this is broken" so I have the motivation to fix it. If someone just gave me good notes I'd be all "Well, then, I'm going out for a drink since my script is all good!" I guess it depends on what type of person you are. Maybe I'll try the all good notes on my writers' group and see what happens. Nope, that wouldn’t work for me. I need people to say “this is broken” so I have the motivation to fix it. If someone just gave me good notes I’d be all “Well, then, I’m going out for a drink since my script is all good!”

I guess it depends on what type of person you are. Maybe I’ll try the all good notes on my writers’ group and see what happens.

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