Collaborative Screenwriting with WikiScripts

I have an edge-'O-Hollywood screenwriter friend who regularly riffs along these lines: “A writer should always carry his script on a clipboard...makes it more convenient for everyone else to pen in their changes.”

So here's WikiScripts:

“Wikiscripts is a collaborative script writing site, which decentralizes the movie and television script writing process. Anyone can edit a script and add their own creative skill and talent. This is how the site works: Click on a movie or television genre below. You can edit any script listed or add your own script for others to edit. Here, at Wikiscripts, we believe in collaborative media. Together, as a community, we will revolutionize television, Hollywood, and Bollywood by organically producing consistent high quality and entertaining scripts. [...]

Here at Wikiscripts, we believe that all humans want to create. However, we also understand that the process of creation is inherently risky, time-consuming, and opens the creator up to uncomfortable possibilities of rejection. Wikiscripts eliminates all of these concerns. There is no risk. You can edit on breaks during work, at home, or even in your favorite cafe. The script writing process is no longer time consuming. You can contribute as much or as little of your time, as you want. You're in control. [...] Wikiscripts is decentralized media. There is no editorial oversight or quality control. Media is created by the crowd not by a self-selected group of professional screenwriters. This site believes that a million people can get together and collaboratively produce great works. The collective creativity of humanity far surpasses the unique talents of a few individuals, and together, will lead to higher quality, more entertaining scripts.”

I especially like the optimism about how the writing process no longer needs to be time consuming. Anyway, this may be a better idea than the pitch they have ginned up for it. Truly a place of miracles, this Internet.

Comments

[Teague Lyons]

When the British journal Nature evaluated the accuracy of Wikipedia articles last December, they were pretty upbeat about the factual content. What's interesting in light of WikiScripts is that the biggest problem they found with the Wikipedia entries was readability -- all those contributors made for a somewhat messy product.

That said, WikiScripts probably has something to offer. Some genres (I'm thinking comedy) are better-suited to committee-style writing, but others (I'm thinking drama) need a strong auteur.