I got an offer to buy “Plot Control” through InkTip.
I looked at the commercial video and I admit I was tempted. The only problem was that there was no demo to download. Even if there was a guarantee I would get my money back within 60 days if I wasn’t satisfied, I still want a free demo to test. The demo could have had the save function eliminated and you would have a functional demo that no one could work with for real, but do all the testing needed.
Why do I want a demo instead of simply returning the product? There are two reasons for this. One is that a buy demands that I test right away and have to remember to make a decision within the limited time; otherwise I have to keep the product. The other reason is that I figure that the company rely on this forgetfulness; a sort of use I contemn.
So, even if Plot Control seemed like an interesting program, I will not test it on those terms.
No, I don’t trust that it will be what I want. If I thought that there would be a fair chance that it would fulfil all it said to do in the commercial, I would probably buy and try it, even if I don’t like the demo-free idea. You see, when someone claims that a software works just as my brain does, it is just as waving a red cloth in front of a bull. I’ve so far only seen software that are structured and organised. The note board software and Internet services I have tried have had demands on organising my notes. My brain is not interested in an organised pattern of things.
When I – as I am now – working on the first sketches of a feature, I write an rtf-document. What I really want, but have not found, is a program that let me write in the same way – with flow – but spitting out notes pinning them to a virtual board – and keeping them in a fairly unorganised manner. At least they should be a little tilted and partly cover each other.
Then I want to be able to take a note and pin it to a skeleton of a structure instead. And then in turn pin it to the script. It is much easier to follow the thoughts and remember whats and whys if you can link back. Maybe things get invalid in time, but that is beside the point. I don’t want to check three or four different documents to find an answer to what I was thinking when I planned things in a certain way.
And they claim that Plot Control works as my brain does. I think not. I’ll be the first to cheer if they can prove me wrong.
9 comments:
I got the same email and had the same thoughts. Although the one thing that peaked my interest above the rest was the focus on structure. Although I don't buy the lofty promises and the guarantee's and the wonderful free q&a phone call (I had to roll my eyes at that part), I do know that if there is a tool that can help with structuring my story, that's a useful tool to have.
Yes, I'm sure it is useful. And I'm the first to agree that structure is important. If it is worth the money, though, is hard to tell.
But I happened to found what I think is a demo. When I tried to leave the page by deleting the url only leaving the domain left - I wanted to see their main page - I got a question asking if I wanted a 14 days free trial.
I'll try this and see what happens.
Just to say that I got same email but allows you 30 days use of the software (free trial) and a free intro of the mega course, so maybe you can contact the company and ask for that promo.
Regards, Jose
Thanks. I found a 14 days trial, then in October, but unfortunatly I never reviewed the program here on the blog. But I didn't like it.
Hi Desiree,
It seems that your review is not actually a review of the software, rather a review of the company's promotion.
I want to point this out, because I almost did not buy the software because your "review" comes up on Google and appear somewhat negative. Thankfully I read your review and realized what you meant, because I DID buy the software and have been using for almost two weeks now.
So let me review the software for anyone who may stumble across your page:
Without a doubt Plot Control is the most unique story plotting software for a movie. It is truly as powerful and helpful as the creators claim it to be. I have been able to plot out my screenplay projects which an amazing clarity since I began to use it.
(One disclaimer though... If you are going to buy this software, please be sure to invest in the extensive training videos which are provided. The more you understand the underlying concepts on which the software is built, the more you will benefit from it.)
Regard,
Cathy Lang
Dear Cathy,
thank you for your comment.
You don't have to read much of my blog entry to understand what you yourself realized. I never claimed this to be a review of the software. I can't help if this comes up in Google as a review.
If you read the comments, you will see that I did get access to a free demo version and tested it. I didn't like it much, but unfortunately I never reviewed the actual program on the blog.
I think I had an idea of testing a few more programs with the same idea and compare them, because it gives a more fair view of things. But the next program didn't work at all and time went by without me reviewing.
Having been tempted by the email, I looked around and found your comments. Strangely, I found a trial, which you said you did not.. 14 day trial and after installing the trial, I am even more tempted to make the purchase. I will decide within 24 hours since that is when the sale is supposed to be over.. can I justify the expenditure? (without the sale it would be one more thing I would have to pass on.)
I just got an offer for a super discounted Plot Control package. Before I spend any money, I always like seeing reviews, and you have a great answer to the question. I once had Sophocles (I am sure you have heard of them and their demise!!) and want to be super, duper careful the next time I purchase screenwriting software.
Do you recommend any?
Thanks,
Randy Parsons
Hi Randy, what tool you need in your writing is very personal and what works for one may not work for another.
Personally, I don't like software dictating the structure or telling me how I should do things, like Plot Control did.
I recommend FreeMind (a mindmapping program) to work with an idea, SuperNoteCard to work with scenes and structure, and finally Celtx to write the script.
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