Nur Ein XX Round Six "Dark Cove"

[Niveous]

Who will have the energy to cross the finish line?

Title: Dark Cove

Challenge: Use of handclaps and snaps.

Create a new original song from the prompt by June 29 at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Email your song to nurein.sidefight@gmail.com

[Mysteria]

With this being the 20th Nur Ein, the judging panel has tried to create challenges that celebrated this milestone without directly repeating a previously used challenge or title in exactly the same way and still (hopefully) equally valid as a standalone for this year’s songs/entries.

For this round, both the title and challenge have special meaning. The challenge is an elevated revisiting of the very first Nur Ein challenge, while the title is a tribute to the creator of the Nur Ein competition itself, Niveous.

I will share the exact details of what makes “Dark Cove” significant in terms of honoring Niveous after the entries for the round have been received so we do not unintentionally influence anything with respect to artistic interpretation of the title and challenge, but the judges agreed that everyone should know there is extra special meaning to this round before you all begin designing your interpretations of the title and challenge.

The entries this year have been very competitive and fitting of a 20th anniversary celebration and I look forward to seeing what these final rounds will bring to the battle. Nur Ein!

[furrypedro]

So you want us to interpret the title in a specific way, but you don't want us to know what that interpretation is. Gotcha.

Is the challenge supposed to say "handicaps"? You mean "handclaps", right?

[Lunkhead]

So you want us to interpret the title in a specific way, but you don't want us to know what that interpretation is. Gotcha.

That's the opposite of what she was saying.

so we do not unintentionally influence anything with respect to artistic interpretation of the title and challenge

Write whatever you want, we are not expecting you to read minds and write about the thing that inspired the choice of title. But we thought it would be fun to share to everyone at some point why it's meaningful to Niveous.

Is the challenge supposed to say "handicaps"? You mean "handclaps", right?

Yeah, I suspect some autocorrect shenanigans happening there. It should be "hand claps". I will edit the first post in the thread. Looks like it's correct on the web site.

[carlo bruno jr]

This is both fun and a relief! At first, I didn't understand anything and spent some time researching what it could mean. The only thing I gathered, if I understood correctly, is that SNAP is what some social benefits for people with disabilities are called in the USA. I also asked a friend who's an English teacher (born in England) if it was some kind of set expression. She told me she had no idea and thought it might be an American idiom she wasn't familiar with. I also couldn't figure out what connection "snaps" as a musical element, could have with the term "handicaps," so I'd already ruled out that option.

So, the idea I was leaning towards was tackling this week's song with some self-imposed difficulty, gaining some advantage from it. But that didn't sound right at all, and it still seemed like that wasn't the point of the challenge. So, before I considered starting to play guitar with one arm tied behind my back, I figured it would be best to come to the forum and ask (using my non-English speaking status as my permanent handicap! ), and here was the solution to the mystery.

[BoffoYux]

Update: I picked up a 6pm meeting on Monday - I think I'll be close to 8pm EDT start but might be a few minutes late if it runs long.

Monday 6/30 Round 6 - 8:00 PM - Normal time for the LP!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mci3cOTsPVg

[Lunkhead]

This is both fun and a relief! At first, I didn't understand anything and spent some time researching what it could mean. The only thing I gathered, if I understood correctly, is that SNAP is what some social benefits for people with disabilities are called in the USA. I also asked a friend who's an English teacher (born in England) if it was some kind of set expression. She told me she had no idea and thought it might be an American idiom she wasn't familiar with. I also couldn't figure out what connection "snaps" as a musical element, could have with the term "handicaps," so I'd already ruled out that option.

So, the idea I was leaning towards was tackling this week's song with some self-imposed difficulty, gaining some advantage from it. But that didn't sound right at all, and it still seemed like that wasn't the point of the challenge. So, before I considered starting to play guitar with one arm tied behind my back, I figured it would be best to come to the forum and ask (using my non-English speaking status as my permanent handicap! ), and here was the solution to the mystery.

Sorry that it was not clear. To try to be more clear, by "snaps" we just mean snapping your fingers.



In hindsight, maybe we should have phrased it as "finger snaps" to be more specific. I can see too how the "handicaps" auto correct typo combined with "snaps" could lead someone who is not a native English speaker down the wrong path.

[Niveous]

Wow. Autocorrect really did me dirty on that one.

[carlo bruno jr]

In hindsight, maybe we should have phrased it as "finger snaps" to be more specific. I can see too how the "handicaps" auto correct typo combined with "snaps" could lead someone who is not a native English speaker down the wrong path.

Nah! Both autocorrect and not wearing my old man glasses are an endless source of amazing and funny wrong paths that I generally enjoy.

[furrypedro]

That's the opposite of what she was saying.

Understood, but the following quote did introduce a little ambiguity, so I appreciate the clarification.

everyone should know there is extra special meaning to this round before you all begin designing your interpretations of the title and challenge.

Write whatever you want, we are not expecting you to read minds and write about the thing that inspired the choice of title. But we thought it would be fun to share to everyone at some point why it's meaningful to Niveous.

Okay, cool. So if entrants completely ignore the fact there is a special meaning and write something that is (probably) unrelated they won't be penalised by the judges?
This is probably all moot from our perspective, since I've got a feeling we're going out this round anyway

[Lunkhead]

Okay, cool. So if entrants completely ignore the fact there is a special meaning and write something that is (probably) unrelated they won't be penalised by the judges?

Speaking for myself at least, I have no expectation that folks' lyrics have anything at all to do with the real-life thing the title references. Also, I don't see how anybody has any choice _but_ to "ignore" that since it hasn't been disclosed.

[furrypedro]

Also, I don't see how anybody has any choice _but_ to "ignore" that since it hasn't been disclosed.

Well, indeed. However, the fact that a special meaning exists has been disclosed. What ol' Rummy would've termed a "known unknown". And this being Nur Ein, naturally we're going to be curious if this has any baring on the judging criteria.

Thanks again for clarifying your position. In spite of your comment to the contrary, I will take your clarification as speaking for the other judges in the absence of any other comments from them on this matter (done at my own risk, I know).

[Mysteria]

Thanks again for clarifying your position. In spite of your comment to the contrary, I will take your clarification as speaking for the other judges in the absence of any other comments from them on this matter (done at my own risk, I know).

The way I view the Nur Ein, everything is done at each’s own risk (but that’s the fun part, at least for me).

In all seriousness, I will not be penalizing any entry for not matching up to the title’s origin story, and I think it is reasonable to expect the other judges will not either. We really just wanted to let you all know that you will all be helping us pay tribute to Niv and, honestly, not knowing how this all ties together fits perfectly with that tribute.

[roymond]

I considered starting to play guitar with one arm tied behind my back,

This. This is the right answer.

On a related note: Let this act as attestation that I will hold nothing against anyone who doesn't know the thing that they're not expected to know even though it exists.

[Pigfarmer Jr]

I will share the exact details of what makes “Dark Cove” significant in terms of honoring Niveous after the entries for the round have been received so we do not unintentionally influence anything with respect to artistic interpretation of the title and challenge.

Exactly.

So you want us to interpret the title in a specific way, but you don't want us to know what that interpretation is. Gotcha.

Exactly the opposite of this as is clearly related in the post before.

Let this act as attestation that I will hold nothing against anyone who doesn't know the thing that they're not expected to know even though it exists.

Exactly.

At least, not purposefully. You know how judges can be.

[Niveous]

The songs are up.

[Mysteria]

As promised, now that the entries have been received, the significance of “Dark Cove”.

Several years ago (really decades but we will skip that detail), Niveous was a student at a high school studying creative writing, which is how we met. One spring, Niv came up with the concept of creating a teen soap opera which he produced, directed, starred in and served as head writer on. The name of this masterpiece was, of course, “Dark Cove”.

While we spent many hours over the next year and a half or so filming scenes for our various characters around NYC, I don’t know that we ever completed one entire episode (although recent there was talk of a reboot).

Now as you all know, the Nur Ein was created 20 years ago by Niveous, and we have been dropping in title / challenge homages to the past years of the Nur Ein throughout. For the last round before the final showdown, we wanted to specifically honor Niv as the Nur Ein’s creator and the use of “Dark Cove” as the title seemed fitting as it was taking an earlier form of his creative vision and celebrating this current one (and bonus that we finally have finished product associated with the name).

Thank you all for helping us to celebrate Niv and the Nur Ein!

[Niveous]

Masterpiece is a stretch but it was fun.

Back in the day, I was a camera kid. Ran around with my camcorder and made tons of videos. Did a PBS film contest once. Shot my junior high video yearbook. I did enjoy make videos and my big dream back then was making a teen drama. Got into high school and tried to make it happen. Failed spectacularly. But had fun failing.

When Mysteria (who helped write Dark Cove and played Heather St. James) decided to unearth Dark Cove for Nur Ein, I decided to go into my attic and see if I could find any relic of the project. I wasn't gonna dig up the tapes but I wondered if I would find any of the scripts or notes. Lo and behold, the very first book I check, I find the preproduction outline and the character bios and a bunch of bad scribbled logos.

Upon Brookes' request, here's a picture of my notes. With my teenage small handwriting...all in pencil.

Notes

20250628_083111.jpg (3.18 MiB) Viewed 89 times

And for those who don't wanna go blind but wanna know the beautiful madness of Dark Cove, here's a transcript of my notes and all the character bios. BTW- my character was Michael Valentine.

Spoiler

Dark Cove

Dark Cove is a “teen drama” in the vein of “Tribes” (Fox, ‘90), “Degrassi High” (PBS, ‘86-'92) and “Beverly Hills 90210” (Fox, ‘91-). It's the story of teenagers in a suburb of NY known as Dark Cove.

P.P.O.
Name- Ernesto Rayside
Project Title- Dark Cove
Purpose- To portray the lives of teens in an entertaining way
Potential Audience- Teenagers, Twentysomethings, the so-called “Generation X”
Goals- To entertain. To bring out emotions. To show teenage life without a lot of the saccharine overtones
Description- 30 min drama.
Characters- 8 or more teenagers who live in the town of Dark Cove. Already established are Michael Valentine- the “friend to all” with a mental disorder that gives him mood swings; Heather St. James- has the problems of being abused and being accused of being the town slut; Jasmine Chen- naive and spoiled; Nina and Alex Lopez- twin sisters who are total opposites, one who is antisocial, quiet and nice while the other is vindictive, sly and trashy.
Resources- life
Outline- leaving out.
Locales- 1. Worldwide Plaza.
2. South St. Seaport
3. Central Park
4. Far Rockaway
5. Astoria
Director- Ernesto Rayside
Camera- Sam Midwood/ Devon Joseph
Sound- Sam Midwood
A.D.- Sam Midwood/ Danni LaViscount
P.A.- Danni LaViscount
Music- Varying from Deep Forest to Stone Temple Pilots
Voice Overs- on certain drama scenes. Most use on Ep 1 Opening.
Graphic- Superimposition
Promotion- ?, could try public access

Michael Sobain Valentine
Born with a mental disorder that gives him both mood swings and nightmares. Mike tries to live a normal life in DCNY. He puts his friends above everything else in his life. He's very faithful and a friend to all.

Nina Blanca Lopez
Antisocial. She was born as one of a set of twins. She despises her twin sister and hates the way she manipulates her family. Otherwise, Nina's a very quiet nice girl who is very secretive. She's also very paranoid and politically minded.

Alexandria Negra Lopez
Nina's twin sister. Manipulative and sly. Comparing Nina and Alex is like comparing heaven and hell. She loves power and control. She likes using people for her own personal gain, especially guys. People think of her as the epitome of bitchdom.

Heather St. James
Growing up without a father and being physically abused by her mother has scarred Heather for life (both literally and figuratively). She bounces from guy to guy, earning her the reputation of being a slut. No one seems to disagree.

Jasmine Chen
Naive and spoiled. Jasmine always got what she wanted. She lives in her own perfect little world. She is very easily manipulated. She's too busy trying to have fun and obsessed with sex (even though she's not doing anything, she's obsessed with the idea) to realize her predicament.

Sebastian Wolfe
He struggles with the fact of his parents divorce. He wants them back together. He also struggles with the fact that his parents don't agree with what he wants to be. He wants to be an actor whilst they want him to be in a safer line of work.

Craig Bettencourt
The quiet type. Craig is closest to Sebastian though. He really keeps to himself. He is pretty new to this country since he has only lived here a year. Craig's mind is set on getting everything that this country has to offer. The only strikes against him are his foreign-ness and his lack of intelligence.

Jake Johnson
The player. He's older than the rest and certainly thinks he's better. He has a car, his own business and his own apartment. He thinks that all women of Dark Cove are his prey. But he fears that one day he'll get some girl and his days as a player will be over.

Gabrielle Olivia Delaney
The new girl in town. She's struggling to fit in. She's constantly depressed and self-conscious. The coincidence of her living next time Mike (one of the more popular guys in DCNY) is really helping her fit in but she still feels that she has a doomed existence, especially because of her family's bad luck about death.

Elijah Azreal Perez
Born from a family with a workaholic and a drug addict. She is a very shallow girl who blames her parents for her attitude and self-esteem. She is very obsessed with death which scares her friends especially Nina who already had a friend commit suicide and her best friend Gabrielle who doesn't want to lose her.