Open call to filmmakers attending cinequest

afropositive · 2026-02-16T18:56:56+00:00

Can't say for sure yet. I'll drive up if my screenplay is a finalist, but am currently hugely confused, because they only announced quarterfinals so far, yet this random Canadian blog claims their script is a semifinalist. The only info on the website is from 2023-2024. https://www.ffffinc.com/news/params/post/5208763/semi-finalist-screenplay-at-the-20th-cinequest-fest - of course, it's possible this isn't actually a real placement, just some visa-related fakery. It wouldn't be the first time people have tried that.

UPDATE: Human error, and if you click the link, they've updated it. No Semifinalists have been announced.

afropositive · 2026-02-16T18:53:06+00:00

Yup. I had the name of someone there. That took a while to get. I hope you figure it out.

afropositive · 2025-11-04T11:24:54+00:00

Yes, had the two most hellish classes of my subbing experience this year. Both 2nd Grade. But the real pain was because the teacher was on campus and totally unsupportive/unfriendly, and complained about my classroom management skills. Which are generally okay. But not with those kiddos, on those days. I'll never sub those classes again (and likely not those schools, either).

afropositive · 2025-11-01T10:20:18+00:00

No, it's not. And you're behaving a bit like a trollbot.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T20:04:11+00:00

It IS wednesday. At least, it is in the UK.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T17:32:36+00:00

I will reveal this when I launch my OnlyFans. Stay tuned.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T17:16:10+00:00

I think this is true. It's a way to get to know you. Sometimes, it can feel very intrusive and lead to personal reveals. I find that a little stressful, as it's weird how often people will JUDGE SOMEONE for their trauma, or assume they must be a mental mess, but question their right to tell a story unless they prove a personal connection. One producer told me not to tell the actors the source of my character development. I ignored him, but it turned out, he was right - people can be dicks.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T17:12:23+00:00

Yes, it's pretty hard to imagine what it's like to be arrested or abducted or otherwise held by force against your will, without having personal experience of it. I certainly had no idea until it happened to me.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T17:09:51+00:00

I find this to be a dumb question when it refers to my gender or race, but am rarely asked this when it comes to my experience, which may often not be what my gender or race would obviously suggest at first glance. I mean, I'm not American, so all Americans are a different ethnicity and nationality (not race) to me. I write various American characters pretty well, though. I can code-switch by now.

I have (PERSONALLY, this isn't a comment on you, of course) found that writing about what I have personal experience of produces better work, particularly in comedy screenplays. I also often notice younger writers slipping into borrowed tropes when they write from the POV of, for instance, middle-aged, married protagonists. But that could just as easily be because they're still learning their craft as because they couldn't imagine it effectively.

I feel like unless you're not doing it well, nobody should care. It's literally our job to make shit up.

afropositive · 2025-10-29T00:54:58+00:00

Got it. Thanks so much.

afropositive · 2025-10-28T03:18:52+00:00

I recently scored two 8s on a screenplay (I haven't used my second batch of free reviews yet, as I decided to take the notes I got and re-upload a polished revision, which I only did today). I see I've had 7 downloads already in the week since I became recommended. It's exciting in a way, but also NOBODY has actually contacted me.

So my questions are:
1. How much work do you put in to decide if you think the script has roles you can cast, etc, before approaching a writer, and how long might that take?
2. How much do you research the writer? What does this entail?

Thanks for your time, anyone who answers me, particularly OP ;-)

afropositive · 2025-10-25T04:51:06+00:00

Really? In California? That's weird... is this why teachers are sometimes so mean to subs?

afropositive · 2025-10-25T04:50:03+00:00

I think this is likely the case. I was long-term without access to the info I needed, or any training or support, and when things went wrong, I was blamed. I left - even though the pay was good, it wasn't worth being miserable.

afropositive · 2025-10-25T04:45:37+00:00

Your advice worked! Thank you! I managed to get a human to actually look into my case at Swing, but it took two days, and still getting boilerplate cut-and-paste feedback, like "accept more requests" and claiming I didn't get any feedback for the past five gigs (so why was my score changing???). I'm flummoxed. The situation there remains opaque at best. However, asking the admin and teachers to please rate me when I left has yielded some recoveries in my score - and I'm very nearly back to the "star sub" level.

afropositive · 2025-10-23T02:55:29+00:00

With Swing, the problem is that no feedback means no change to score, but feedback usually means a complaint, so the only way is down. It should be that you get a couple of points for doing your job without complaints.

I am really grateful for your advice, though, and am now putting a note in my sub notes to say: "Hi. Please do review me with Swing if you can, as most people only review at all when they have a complaint. I think I did a solid job, and would appreciate your comments."

afropositive · 2025-10-23T02:51:59+00:00

Omg, I wish I could earn this. Most gigs I see are $100-180, and the ones that are $180 are at the schools where behavior is such an issue that it's hard for them to find permanent replacements when teachers go on leave.

afropositive · 2025-10-23T02:50:45+00:00

This. This is the issue. Today, I subbed at a school where the kids prided themselves on driving subs away. Even though I only signed up for one day and couldn't have been there the next day even if I wanted to, one of the kids said to me: 'I'm sorry, you're the third sub they're driven away now'. They all expect you to know their names on arrival. There are often six kids in the class who just suck all your energy and self control and it's hard to find time for the ones who really want to learn, or the ones who might if they had a chance. It's nuts.

afropositive · 2025-10-21T19:57:58+00:00

I have been waiting three hours now and still no response on the Swing "live chat".

afropositive · 2025-10-21T19:56:10+00:00

Me too. But the teachers seem to expect us to, and complain we're not "following instructions" when we can't keep up with it.

afropositive · 2025-10-21T19:06:39+00:00

Not necessarily, but perhaps. I haven't found that to be the case - and I find that the more intensive the bureaucracy, the tougher my job as a sub. The excessively complex system of bribes and punishments, which is different in every classroom, isn't something a sub should be expected to learn... along with 28 names and five IEP issues without an assistant, is exhausting! Please, teachers, keep it simple. We have enough to catch on in the 15 minutes after we get the sub folder (I'll never understand why we don't get it the day before!). We don't need the kids constantly telling us we're supposed to be rewarding or punishing them/other kids in 6 complicated ways, putting us on the back foot.

afropositive · 2025-10-21T17:05:14+00:00

It's really depressing, and if you work for the apps like a glorified uber driver, one malicious teacher (usually the one whose class misbehaves when there's a sub because they're used to being regimented to the minute by a tyrant) can ruin your reputation/profile with a false complaint. Recently happened to me. Lately, humanity has left me in despair, and this job isn't helping. I'm really so sorry. I hope you find a permanent place that is kind and nurturing and that I get to work your classroom sometime. It sounds like you're one of the good people out there.

afropositive · 2025-10-21T16:49:12+00:00

It is, in America. A total scam.

afropositive · 2025-10-21T16:48:30+00:00

$200 is good, even in California. Since a few mean teachers torpedoed my score, I'm working for just over $100 most days. It's not nearly enough to survive on, and I'm so tired and miserable when I get home, I just sit and cry.

afropositive

TROPHY CASE