Screenplay wins at IMDb qualifying festivals

I’m not sure what good is having an IMDb qualifying film festival recognize
an accomplishment if you can’t list it on IMDb (well, you can but only if you are a certain kind of artist...) all artist are not created equally in Hollywood or on IMDb. The reason I entered the festival was so, if I won, I could put it on IMDb and increase my chances of getting agency... But now you’re telling me that it’s worthless to have the IMDb name and logo.

IMDb qualifying festivals are few and far between. When a film wins one they can put their win on IMDb for the world to see which allows them to get more work and possibly representation. But sadly, if you are a brilliant writer who does well on the festival circuit and win an IMDb qualifying festival, IMDb doesn't seem to care. If it's a festival that qualifies for IMDb then there should be a way for writers to list their win.

Hollywood seems to be in the habit of treating writers as second-class citizens. Is there some way we can begin to change that somehow? Having IMDb recognize the hard work of writers may help Hollywood begin to see them as real talent, real artists.

If a film festival is an IMDb qualifying festival, and someone is talented enough to win that festival, then IMDb should allow them to post their screenplay. This would increase their chance of getting it made. And in fact, the interest generated may drive more people to the IMDb website.

I’m not suggesting everyone’s selected for a festival, just those who are winners. Or some sort of minimum level.

Can we get a thumbs up from the community on recognizing ALL artists for film festival wins?

Responses

ACT_1

8.5K Messages

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176.1K Points

6 years ago

Michael Abel
Joined community on April 7, 2017
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Someone may ask:
The title and the film festival you entered ? ?

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https://www.imdb.com/festival-central/

https://www.imdb.com/event/all/

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https://www.imdb.com/find?q=Michael%20Abel&s=nm&exact=true
Displaying 12 results for "Michael Abel"
Search category: All Names (Exact Matches)
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michael_abel

7 Messages

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230 Points

Best Comedy Screenplay, Olympus Film Festival, Athena Award. "...Something New"

6 years ago

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

6 years ago

Michael,

IMDb is constructed around movies (and series, TV movies, videogames...) first, all things that can be viewed on screen, then on people, then around all data related to them.

Unfortunately, what you are requesting would have to put scripts at the core of the data system. Which it is not meant and designed to be, how interesting the concept would be.

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

As far as I know, you can state such awards in your 'Other works' section.

6 years ago

michael_abel

7 Messages

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230 Points

I'm not saying ANY film festival. Just the ones IMDb recognized. Everyone else who wins in that festival can. Films in festivals can already be put on IMDb because they are already films. But there is an additional category for film festival wins for IMDb festivals. They are allowed to put their win for that festival in IMDb but I am not. That festival win is tied to their name because their name is in the system. My name is in the system. In an IMDb qualifying festival, writers of films that are made get to put it in and it's tied to their name even if the film itself didn't win. That additional category is not at the "core of the data system".

Quick story. I used to drive Hollywood tours and host them. I talked about the Walk Of Fame in those tours. I went to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and talked to them about why there were only 5 kinds of stars. Radio mic for radio, record player for music, TV set for television, Film camera for movies, and the last one added in the 70s, faces of comedy and tragedy for theatre. I asked them why there wasn't one for writing - like a typewriter or pen and paper. Would you like to know what I was told? I still have the voice message I received on my answering machine 20 years ago in a sound file. It sickened me what was said because it's that core belief that has kept writers as second class citizens in "Hollywood"... They (She) said, Because "writers don't entertain". Can you believe that? "Writers don't entertain."

6 years ago

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

Michael,

Databases have their own intrisec rules: implementing what you (legitimately) request amount to consider a screenplay as an object, so it can be related to a festival and to a person regardless of any movie.
This is a tremendous change in the data models. I wish that the (huge) list of requested changes, which do not impact the data models, could be considered first.

6 years ago

michael_abel

7 Messages

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230 Points

I understand. But you should understand that no one understands. Even at the film festival level. One of the reasons I entered that festival was that it was IMDb recognized and I wanted to be able to officially tie it to my name - to help me get recognition and help me get repped. And, after I won, I emailed the festival and asked them how I would link my screenplay win to my IMDb. Even they thought I could. They sent me a link on how to do it. They did not know I was not allowed to. Then your system didn't know to tell me why I couldn't. It didn't tell me I couldn't because it was a screenplay - it told me I couldn't because the film title was not entered in the title section. I spent days trying to figure out how to enter it properly.

I'm annoyed on two levels... first, how writers are treated by the industry in general which bleeds into secondary industry support systems like IMDb. and second that IMDb is well known by everyone as a cumbersome database likely because it was programmed long before more modern programming language. I'm guessing it's been built on top of long standing rules that could be overhauled into a modern database interface. Even with things that can be entered, it's difficult to figure out. This isn't the first time I've beat my head against the wall with frustration when trying to figure out why IMDb isn't working.

I know this is on the back burner for IMDb but it sure would be nice to have a credit to my profile that I can use to show my evolution in the industry. And, writing is the backbone of the industry, not the coccyx, not the appendix. Without it, the industry fails.

6 years ago

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

1.8K Messages

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55.3K Points

6 years ago

Hi, Michael Abel.

I'm not a fan of anyone, but used to respect all the people involved in the industry: writers, story(-board) artists, stunts, wranglers, and all the rest who is not filmed but actually makes a movie feasible and finally released.

Sorry, but I really can not understand what is going on in this thread. It sounds more like the basis for a new long dystopia story to be written. I suggest to be more informative in less words, so others could understand if any problem really exist and then think for possible ways to solve.

Let us start with the fact that Olympus Film Festival is an empty event on IMDb. That means no movies added to the base to be related to the festival. Michael Abel, please first add a movie to the event to understand whether writers is a restricted category there. Or maybe no groups for people there at all...

Then please could you be more specific for your own profile link, for the rest of people here to understand what should be added to the movie which has not yet added to the event? Thank you very much.

michael_abel

7 Messages

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230 Points

I was extremely informative. Everyone else is following okay. Sorry you aren't following very well... Let me try to explain it better.

Let's start with your statement about Olympus being an "empty event". Here is the event https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0006573/overview/
and here are some winners to the event https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0006573/2019/1
Writers are NOT a restricted category, however, writers who have won for the screenplay competition are restricted because the film has not yet been produced.

What this means is I can win the film festival but I may not show that on my IMDb. Someone else who has won a best screenplay award for a produced film IS allowed to have it shown on his/her/their IMDb.

I just want to post the best screenplay win and tie it to my name on IMDb just like someone who has won a best screenplay win for a produced screenplay. We each wrote something good that the film festival recognized but I may not post that I won in my awards section... He/she/they may post it in their awards section.

6 years ago

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

1.8K Messages

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55.3K Points

Sorry, if you would be "extremely informative" no such questions occur.
Now you may thank me for making you providing the link to the event. You are welcome, by the way )))

Could you please proceed in making your information consistent, and provide a link to the movie that is a part of the event?

6 years ago

michael_abel

7 Messages

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230 Points

As I said, everyone else understands but you do not. There is no produced movie. That is the issue at hand. I won a film festival for a screenplay. At this point you aren't being serious and acting more like a troll. My first response to ACT_1 I gave the name of the screenplay because there is no link since I cannot add it to IMDb.

The fact that everyone else understands and you do not shows me that I was informative but not enough for you to understand. The fact that you could not find the festival and the winners shows me that you do not understand the platform enough to understand - which means you are only here to troll.

please troll elsewhere

6 years ago

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

1.8K Messages

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55.3K Points

Well, since you prefer such terminology, it's the fact there is a troll (an honorable one) who suggest the IMDb to neglect its fundamental rules, making this in a hidden form. It is you, my dear. Have a good celebration. Best wishes.

6 years ago

LMJ

2 Messages

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80 Points

8 months ago

I don't know if you still use this platform, Michael, but I have the same problem. 6 awards for my screenplays, but I can't get them listed on IMDB because, like you, unproduced screenplays aren't recognized. Like you, I have spent a week trying to get them recognized, but it's impossible. Incredibly frustrating after years of hard work and no recognition on IMDB, even though the festivals all state IMDB recognized. They don't mention, but not for writers of unproduced films. If someone knows how to crack the system, please post on here please.

AYK

1 Message

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60 Points

I have the same issue. Thanks.

Hopefully someone can kindly advise.

Thanks everyone.

6 months ago

michael_abel

Screenplay wins at IMDb qualifying festivals

ACT_1

michael_abel

Vincent_Fournols

Vincent_Fournols

michael_abel

Vincent_Fournols

michael_abel

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

michael_abel

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

michael_abel

mathepa_a3hykm7n2dxp2

LMJ

AYK

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