Mikal
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Film Maker's Blog
Trutopia User's Guide
Oct 19, 2006 01:33AM
I wish to be very clear about our Membership requirements, so I am posting a copy of the Trutopia User's Guide.
What is TRUTOPIA, anyway?
Well, we're something of a discussion board, something of a self-directed study course, and something of a very good place to study and discuss screen, stage, radio and multimedia script writing with like-minded, intelligent professionals, as well as explore what it is that writers need to be able to do to remain writers.
In our interactive learning and working environment, we offer a complete screenwriting course, expert advice from established professionals, links to all the best writing and screenwriting sites, interactive writing assignments, script, logline and query workshops, an incredible list of Prodco addresses and weekly updates on leads and on-set jobs, etc.
We also feature sections for most other forms of writing.
Our sincere hope is to make Trutopia a pleasant and informative place to study, workshop and collaborate, without the nastiness and rancor we have all seen on other screenwriter's forums.
All we ask is that you sign up using your REAL NAME, complete your profile to the best of your ability, and post a BIO and your picture if you have one in your MEMBER OFFICE which you will receive upon completion of your Profile.
We have a zero tolerance policy for screen names and anonymity.
Here are the instructions for editing your profile (not that there's much to do):
Click on PROFILE (the face icon near the top of your screen).
Your next screen will have a series of menu choices on the left hand side of the page including "Account Related Settings," and "Forum Profile."
Click on ACCOUNT RELATED SETTINGS
From this screen, you can set your onscreen name and (if you need to) reset your password and set up a question/answer in the event you forget your password and need to retrieve it.
*Important* PLEASE ENTER your REAL NAME (first & last) for your on-screen name.
If you feel strongly about revealing your real name, send a message to Mikal and we will discuss options.
Press CHANGE PROFILE to save your changes before moving on.
After you are done with "Account Related Settings," click on FORUM PROFILE.
In this section, you may load a picture of yourself or an avatar.
We prefer that you upload a clear portrait of yourself, but have provided a small selection of avatars just in case you don't wish to. If none of the avatars seems to suit you, either upload a suitable image or contact Mikal and he will send you a number of others to choose from.
You are however required to post a PHOTO of yourself and a brief BIO in your office as soon as you are given one.
This is not a request, it is a condition of membership.
Please also add your birthday, your location as well as contact information (ICQ, IM) if you use them, your website URL and a signature line if desired.
GENERAL POSTING
To start new posts, you click on the far right icon.
In order to reply to a post in the middle of a thread, simply click on REPLY WITH QUOTE, then remove any sections of the quote that you don't wish to include. You can just remove it all unless the post you are making wouldn't make sense without it.
To post a screenplay, use the TITLE and GENRE as your subject, along with your name. Add a LOGLINE and brief SYNOPSIS to the text, then below and to the left you'll see ADDITIONAL OPTIONS. Click on that to browse your computer for the document you wish to upload.
(As for other documents, including pngs and jpegs, you should put something in the BODY of the post).
You may also LOCK and STICKY the post if you don't want people replying to it directly.
If so, add a note to your text to suggest ALL REPLIES go in a separate thread please.
If you do wish replies, don't LOCK the post, but instead click the NOTIFY OF REPLIES box.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions, or are having trouble with any part of the site, either click on the BOOK icon for the HELP files or ask one of the Administrators.
Access your Personal Message system by cliicking either on a person's name somewhere on the boards, in the MEMBER LIST, or on the link in the words:
"You have X new messages."
Pull down descriptions of each icon can be toggled on and off using the + or - icons.
There's a little arrow beside each FORUM to open or close it.
Most of your first few days (maybe even weeks) will be spent reading, but for idle chit chat, there is a section called RANDOM BABBLE, and for more serious subjects one called NONRANDOM BABBLE in the GENERAL CHATTERING forum.
If you can't see a FORUM, click on the arrow to expand it.
For each post a NEWBIE or JUNIOR MEMBER makes, they get FIVE KARMA points, which will add up in a short time to a visiible rise in the ranks, so keep posting!
If a post intrigues or informs us, you may get double posting points, so make 'em good!
If you have a particular area of expertise or interest, I'm sure it's there somewhere. If not, post a suggestion.
We also have a variety of member groups for such things as POETICS, SHORT STORIES, FLASH FICTION, DOCUMENTARIES and so on.
Watch the FORUM NEWS near the top of the page for any announcements.
Check out the CHAT ROOM, and introduce yourself to anyone you meet.
Post a "Hi, there!" message in the MEETING SPACE.
You might also post a direct link there to your office by going to your office "door", copying the URL and pasting it in.
MEMBER OFFICES
If your profile is complete, an OFFICE has already been set up for you. They work just like the rest of the board, so it's really pretty easy. I'll add whatever description you wish.
Please add a brief BIO and a picture of yourself, preferably alone, preferably a face shot. Click ADDITIONAL OPTIONS to browse your computer for an image.
(This is also how you post screenplays or other writing.)
POSTING IN YOUR OFFICE
Here are the specific posting instructions for your office. Most of this is the same as any other other forum.
Look at the top of, say, your office for starters. There are three icons to the right. The first is MARK TOPICS AS READ FOR THIS BOARD. The second is NOTIFY OF REPLIES (basically "subscribe to this topic"), and the furthest icon is START NEW TOPIC.
Check the User's Guide under POSTING. There are many things one can do with the fonts, sizes, colors, FX and styles in a post as well. Mess around, try scroll, shadow, glow, teletype (looks like Courier) justify left, center and right, font size, color, and so on. As long as you enter at least www. and the site, the URL will usually work. If in doubt, copy the http:// part as well.
List is the only thing that's buggered, for some reason if you try to create a bulleted list you will have to go back and edit out some of the l signifiers. You only need the first list and the last list to end it.
To REPLY to a post, as long as you're the first person to reply (and the thread isn't locked) the first icon top right outside of the text box allows for REPLY. For replies inside a thread, you use REPLY WITH QUOTE, and then either edit the entire quote out and simply post as normal, or selectively edit (in order to make what you're reply to clear) without removing the quote and quote markers.
Use ADDITIONAL TOPICS for other options, such as:
Notify me of replies. Lock this topic.
Return to this topic. Sticky this topic.
Don't use smileys. Move this topic.
Announce topic.
Browse your computer to make attachments:
Attach: (more attachments)
Allowed file types: txt, doc, pdf, jpeg, jpg, gif, mpg, png, fdr, rtf
Maximum attachment size allowed: 25000 KB, per post: 4
Some of these functions are only available in your own office, since you are the MODERATOR there.
Add a Subject (your name and BIO are best) and the text and then upload your attachment.
Use ADDITIONAL OPTIONS to LOCK and STICKY your post.
Once you've been here a month or so, I will admit you to our VERIFIED member's group, which will allow you to simply click on any member's name and read their PROFILE. Very useful if you want to PM people, as the system will only accept their USER NAME, and that must be viewed in their Profile.
There is a PM ADDRESS BOOK in MEETING SPACE.
Well, I hope I've covered everything.
I'm onsite pretty much all the time, and if I'm not, I soon will be, so just PM Mikal D. Huber if you wish to contact me, or post something in my office.
Please use my Gmail address for all correspondence.
mikaldhuber@gmail.com
Mikal D. Huber, Founder
What is TRUTOPIA, anyway?
Well, we're something of a discussion board, something of a self-directed study course, and something of a very good place to study and discuss screen, stage, radio and multimedia script writing with like-minded, intelligent professionals, as well as explore what it is that writers need to be able to do to remain writers.
In our interactive learning and working environment, we offer a complete screenwriting course, expert advice from established professionals, links to all the best writing and screenwriting sites, interactive writing assignments, script, logline and query workshops, an incredible list of Prodco addresses and weekly updates on leads and on-set jobs, etc.
We also feature sections for most other forms of writing.
Our sincere hope is to make Trutopia a pleasant and informative place to study, workshop and collaborate, without the nastiness and rancor we have all seen on other screenwriter's forums.
All we ask is that you sign up using your REAL NAME, complete your profile to the best of your ability, and post a BIO and your picture if you have one in your MEMBER OFFICE which you will receive upon completion of your Profile.
We have a zero tolerance policy for screen names and anonymity.
Here are the instructions for editing your profile (not that there's much to do):
Click on PROFILE (the face icon near the top of your screen).
Your next screen will have a series of menu choices on the left hand side of the page including "Account Related Settings," and "Forum Profile."
Click on ACCOUNT RELATED SETTINGS
From this screen, you can set your onscreen name and (if you need to) reset your password and set up a question/answer in the event you forget your password and need to retrieve it.
*Important* PLEASE ENTER your REAL NAME (first & last) for your on-screen name.
If you feel strongly about revealing your real name, send a message to Mikal and we will discuss options.
Press CHANGE PROFILE to save your changes before moving on.
After you are done with "Account Related Settings," click on FORUM PROFILE.
In this section, you may load a picture of yourself or an avatar.
We prefer that you upload a clear portrait of yourself, but have provided a small selection of avatars just in case you don't wish to. If none of the avatars seems to suit you, either upload a suitable image or contact Mikal and he will send you a number of others to choose from.
You are however required to post a PHOTO of yourself and a brief BIO in your office as soon as you are given one.
This is not a request, it is a condition of membership.
Please also add your birthday, your location as well as contact information (ICQ, IM) if you use them, your website URL and a signature line if desired.
GENERAL POSTING
To start new posts, you click on the far right icon.
In order to reply to a post in the middle of a thread, simply click on REPLY WITH QUOTE, then remove any sections of the quote that you don't wish to include. You can just remove it all unless the post you are making wouldn't make sense without it.
To post a screenplay, use the TITLE and GENRE as your subject, along with your name. Add a LOGLINE and brief SYNOPSIS to the text, then below and to the left you'll see ADDITIONAL OPTIONS. Click on that to browse your computer for the document you wish to upload.
(As for other documents, including pngs and jpegs, you should put something in the BODY of the post).
You may also LOCK and STICKY the post if you don't want people replying to it directly.
If so, add a note to your text to suggest ALL REPLIES go in a separate thread please.
If you do wish replies, don't LOCK the post, but instead click the NOTIFY OF REPLIES box.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions, or are having trouble with any part of the site, either click on the BOOK icon for the HELP files or ask one of the Administrators.
Access your Personal Message system by cliicking either on a person's name somewhere on the boards, in the MEMBER LIST, or on the link in the words:
"You have X new messages."
Pull down descriptions of each icon can be toggled on and off using the + or - icons.
There's a little arrow beside each FORUM to open or close it.
Most of your first few days (maybe even weeks) will be spent reading, but for idle chit chat, there is a section called RANDOM BABBLE, and for more serious subjects one called NONRANDOM BABBLE in the GENERAL CHATTERING forum.
If you can't see a FORUM, click on the arrow to expand it.
For each post a NEWBIE or JUNIOR MEMBER makes, they get FIVE KARMA points, which will add up in a short time to a visiible rise in the ranks, so keep posting!
If a post intrigues or informs us, you may get double posting points, so make 'em good!
If you have a particular area of expertise or interest, I'm sure it's there somewhere. If not, post a suggestion.
We also have a variety of member groups for such things as POETICS, SHORT STORIES, FLASH FICTION, DOCUMENTARIES and so on.
Watch the FORUM NEWS near the top of the page for any announcements.
Check out the CHAT ROOM, and introduce yourself to anyone you meet.
Post a "Hi, there!" message in the MEETING SPACE.
You might also post a direct link there to your office by going to your office "door", copying the URL and pasting it in.
MEMBER OFFICES
If your profile is complete, an OFFICE has already been set up for you. They work just like the rest of the board, so it's really pretty easy. I'll add whatever description you wish.
Please add a brief BIO and a picture of yourself, preferably alone, preferably a face shot. Click ADDITIONAL OPTIONS to browse your computer for an image.
(This is also how you post screenplays or other writing.)
POSTING IN YOUR OFFICE
Here are the specific posting instructions for your office. Most of this is the same as any other other forum.
Look at the top of, say, your office for starters. There are three icons to the right. The first is MARK TOPICS AS READ FOR THIS BOARD. The second is NOTIFY OF REPLIES (basically "subscribe to this topic"), and the furthest icon is START NEW TOPIC.
Check the User's Guide under POSTING. There are many things one can do with the fonts, sizes, colors, FX and styles in a post as well. Mess around, try scroll, shadow, glow, teletype (looks like Courier) justify left, center and right, font size, color, and so on. As long as you enter at least www. and the site, the URL will usually work. If in doubt, copy the http:// part as well.
List is the only thing that's buggered, for some reason if you try to create a bulleted list you will have to go back and edit out some of the l signifiers. You only need the first list and the last list to end it.
To REPLY to a post, as long as you're the first person to reply (and the thread isn't locked) the first icon top right outside of the text box allows for REPLY. For replies inside a thread, you use REPLY WITH QUOTE, and then either edit the entire quote out and simply post as normal, or selectively edit (in order to make what you're reply to clear) without removing the quote and quote markers.
Use ADDITIONAL TOPICS for other options, such as:
Notify me of replies. Lock this topic.
Return to this topic. Sticky this topic.
Don't use smileys. Move this topic.
Announce topic.
Browse your computer to make attachments:
Attach: (more attachments)
Allowed file types: txt, doc, pdf, jpeg, jpg, gif, mpg, png, fdr, rtf
Maximum attachment size allowed: 25000 KB, per post: 4
Some of these functions are only available in your own office, since you are the MODERATOR there.
Add a Subject (your name and BIO are best) and the text and then upload your attachment.
Use ADDITIONAL OPTIONS to LOCK and STICKY your post.
Once you've been here a month or so, I will admit you to our VERIFIED member's group, which will allow you to simply click on any member's name and read their PROFILE. Very useful if you want to PM people, as the system will only accept their USER NAME, and that must be viewed in their Profile.
There is a PM ADDRESS BOOK in MEETING SPACE.
Well, I hope I've covered everything.
I'm onsite pretty much all the time, and if I'm not, I soon will be, so just PM Mikal D. Huber if you wish to contact me, or post something in my office.
Please use my Gmail address for all correspondence.
mikaldhuber@gmail.com
Mikal D. Huber, Founder
Trutopia Membership Requirements
Oct 19, 2006 01:16AM
Since everyone here but me is using a Screen Name, it behooves me to clarify that NO SCREEN NAMES are allowed on Trutopia. Please use your REAL NAME when signing up. No spacers or underlines are required, just like: Mikal D. Huber.
Ignore what it says in the Registration pages about certain information NOT being required; read the User Agreement - no, I mean REALLY read it! It says there what IS actually required.
Once you are a probationary member, there is a PROFILE PAGE that needs filling in. The information there IS actually required for active membership. It's really not much, just FULL NAME, DOB, LOCATION and a working Email addy. (I allow for fudging on the birth year only. We celebrate birthdays.)
All information will remain confidential, and will not be sold or passed around at parties to be chortled over.
Ignore what it says in the Registration pages about certain information NOT being required; read the User Agreement - no, I mean REALLY read it! It says there what IS actually required.
Once you are a probationary member, there is a PROFILE PAGE that needs filling in. The information there IS actually required for active membership. It's really not much, just FULL NAME, DOB, LOCATION and a working Email addy. (I allow for fudging on the birth year only. We celebrate birthdays.)
All information will remain confidential, and will not be sold or passed around at parties to be chortled over.
Hey, budding screenwriters and filmists, actors and directors!!
Oct 18, 2006 02:27PM
Hi, folks. Allow me to introduce myself.
My Name is Mikal D. Huber, and I run Trutopia.org, an interactive learning and working environment for writers, with a particular focus on screenwriting.
Here's a LINK to my web site, Trutopia: TRUTOPIA
My life has been so damned strange, the only thing I could do was to become a writer. I surely have enough "fodder" for a million stories.
I was born in the late fifties, raised in the "turbulent" sixties, and on my own by 1970 at the tender age of fourteen.
I am a Canadian of Irish/Swiss descent, am primarily self-educated and have been writing professionally for more than twenty years.
I spend most of my time doing rewrites- there IS no writing, only rewriting! Plan your work, then, work your plan, as Bill Goldman says.
I have almost two decades of professional acting work behind me, on stage, in film, TV and commercials.
I am also a cinematographer, Steadicam operator and film editor, and hope one day to take a stab at directing.
I possess a firm grasp of cinematic principles (a good "film head"), and understand low-level budget and how to write for it.
In the seventies I needed several names to publish under, as I was living illegally in the States (gasp!). My poetry was published under either M.D.Patchen or Dharma Badger, and my prose either as Mikkel Huber, Michael David Huber or under the name Michael Davidson.
As Davidson, I have two long OOP Sci-Fi novels:
"Daughter of Is" Popular Library, 1978 Terraformers play God.
"The Karma Machine" Popular Library, 1977 Cybernetic Buddhism.
I dropped out of sight upon returning to Canada, living with the wild hippies in the bush of Northern Vancouver Island. I did a bit of acting, some FX work, too much camera work and kept my hand in by writing for various games companies.
Eventually, I had to give up the writing and concentrate on making an actual living for a change.
Over the last few years, I have returned to writing, and have become focused almost exclusively on screenplays. My initial attempts were all horror, but a recent stab at Family fare proved extremely popular with producers, almost making it to the screen four times. I hope to develop more scripts along those lines.
At this time, I have twelve "final" screenplays, of differing lengths and genres, with another eight in various stages of completion.
I'm looking forward to my first Romantic Comedy, as I am a huge fan of those "snappy" Preston Sturges films. I currently do script analysis for the Hidden Talent Agency.
My Name is Mikal D. Huber, and I run Trutopia.org, an interactive learning and working environment for writers, with a particular focus on screenwriting.
Here's a LINK to my web site, Trutopia: TRUTOPIA
My life has been so damned strange, the only thing I could do was to become a writer. I surely have enough "fodder" for a million stories.
I was born in the late fifties, raised in the "turbulent" sixties, and on my own by 1970 at the tender age of fourteen.
I am a Canadian of Irish/Swiss descent, am primarily self-educated and have been writing professionally for more than twenty years.
I spend most of my time doing rewrites- there IS no writing, only rewriting! Plan your work, then, work your plan, as Bill Goldman says.
I have almost two decades of professional acting work behind me, on stage, in film, TV and commercials.
I am also a cinematographer, Steadicam operator and film editor, and hope one day to take a stab at directing.
I possess a firm grasp of cinematic principles (a good "film head"), and understand low-level budget and how to write for it.
In the seventies I needed several names to publish under, as I was living illegally in the States (gasp!). My poetry was published under either M.D.Patchen or Dharma Badger, and my prose either as Mikkel Huber, Michael David Huber or under the name Michael Davidson.
As Davidson, I have two long OOP Sci-Fi novels:
"Daughter of Is" Popular Library, 1978 Terraformers play God.
"The Karma Machine" Popular Library, 1977 Cybernetic Buddhism.
I dropped out of sight upon returning to Canada, living with the wild hippies in the bush of Northern Vancouver Island. I did a bit of acting, some FX work, too much camera work and kept my hand in by writing for various games companies.
Eventually, I had to give up the writing and concentrate on making an actual living for a change.
Over the last few years, I have returned to writing, and have become focused almost exclusively on screenplays. My initial attempts were all horror, but a recent stab at Family fare proved extremely popular with producers, almost making it to the screen four times. I hope to develop more scripts along those lines.
At this time, I have twelve "final" screenplays, of differing lengths and genres, with another eight in various stages of completion.
I'm looking forward to my first Romantic Comedy, as I am a huge fan of those "snappy" Preston Sturges films. I currently do script analysis for the Hidden Talent Agency.
Things Mikal said...
cat
My Friends & Favorites
-
cleafrost
Friend Since: October 24, 2006
Last Online: 6:20 pm, June 23, 2008
-
IndieFilmNation
Friend Since: October 19, 2006
Last Online: 2:23 am, February 16, 2008
-
richmanclubonline
Friend Since: October 18, 2006
Last Online: 8:05 pm, June 04, 2008
-
CosmicControlProductions
Friend Since: October 18, 2006
Last Online: 8:56 pm, June 21, 2008
CuartoCreciente
Friend Since: October 18, 2006
Last Online: 12:01 am, April 09, 2007
2 Comments about Mikal
Oct 19, 2006 07:39AM
Don't have a Pod, Mike, but we can stay friends anyway.
Oct 19, 2006 02:45AM
G'day,
Just wanted to let you know about the Indie Film Nation podcast which will keep you up to date with the latest independent film news, film festival updates, interviews with filmmakers and industry professionals from around the globe.
Check out the podcast at http://www.indiefilmnation.com or subscribe in iTunes for free by cut and pasting this link in iTunes: - http://www.podshow.com/feeds/indiefilmnation.xml
Please support Indie Film Nation by downloading each episode!
All the best,
Mike Smith
Indie Film Nation
Leave a comment about Mikal