Summary
Learn from Jeff Portnoy, a top Literary Manager at Bellevue Productions and former CAA Story Analyst
Get a downloadable document with "The Top 25 Reasons They are Passing on Your Script" to help you avoid pitfalls on your own script!
Most filmmakers, writers and creators look forward to that exhilarating moment when they get their pitch, material or screenplay in front of a decision maker. The opportunity is electric and the hope is that your project connects and moves forward.
Then, when the call comes and the decision has been made, sometimes it's a "pass" or a "no" and the only question left on your mind is "Why?" Why did they pass on my material?
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn why you may be reaching a "pass" or a "no" and how you can best fix those issues before you submit your work to any execs, producer, or representatives. Teaching you everything you need to know to avoid a dreaded pass when you submit your work is literary manager Jeff Portnoy of Bellevue Productions. Jeff's clients have written such hit films and series as COBWEB (2023) produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, TRUE DETECTIVE, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022, Netflix), SUMMER OF 84, ASH VS EVIL DEAD, and more!
Jeff has successfully developed many spec scripts with his clients that have moved forward and helped his clients find agency representation, build a fanbase of producers and studio/streamer executives and led to sales and paid writing gigs.
During this information-packed and essential webinar, Jeff will help you troubleshoot your screenplay or pitch by anticipating issues that potential producing partners and financiers might bump up against, thus causing them to pass. He will dive into what execs are looking for, how to assure you're tailoring your screenplay or pitch to who you're pitching and how to navigate the "Culture of No" (by giving them a reason to say "Yes".) Jeff will walk you through the most common issues (and some less common) that are cited by producers and studio/streamer executives when they pass on scripts and pitches.
You will walk away from this webinar with the skills you need to assure that your screenplay or pitch is on point and attractive to representation, buyers, producers, financiers and development execs.
PLUS! You'll receive an exclusive download of "The Reasons They Passed" handout to help you avoid the pitfalls that lead to a pass on your script!
"Having read thousands of screenplays and teleplays as a story analyst and literary manager, and having shopped hundreds of client screenplays to producers, studios, streamers etc., I am constantly hearing the various reasons why producers and executives pass on scripts. This is something that affects every single writer at any stage of the process - whether you're a first-time screenwriter or a Hollywood veteran.” - Jeff Portnoy
What You'll Learn
- How to approach your pitch
- Why the First Impression matters
- How to Introduce Yourself
- How to Introduce Your Project
- Why the timing of your pitch matters
- Who is in the room (or zoom)? The importance of knowing your audience
- Catering your pitch to your audience
- Red Flags In a Presentation
- Layout and organization of your presentation
- Are you being clear?
- How to get your point across without boring your audience
- Is your story original?
- Why you? Why now?
- How to get your personality into your pitch and what it matters
- Common Mistakes We All Make and how to avoid them
- Why "No" is so common (and how you can get a "YES")
- Original Ideas vs. IP (True Stories)
- Examples of Pitches I’ve Loved
- Q&A with Jeff
Who Should Attend
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn why they are not receiving the response they are looking for from their film or screenplay pitch and how they can fix those issues before submitting their work to any execs, producers, or representatives.
All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn why they are not receiving the response they are looking for from their film or screenplay pitch and how they can fix those issues before submitting their work to any execs, producers, or representatives.
All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn why they are not receiving the response they are looking for from their film or screenplay pitch and how they can fix those issues before submitting their work to any execs, other producers, or representatives.
All levels of actors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to take control of their careers and create their own film or television series.
Executive
Jeff Portnoy is a literary manager at Bellevue Productions. He was named as one of Variety's New Leading Managers.
Prior to joining Bellevue, Jeff worked at Creative Artists Agency, The Gotham Group, Resolution talent agency and Heretic Literary Management.
Jeff’s clients include Samuel Franco & Evan Kilgore who wrote KEEPER OF THE DIARY, which is set up at Fox Searchlight with Weimeraner Republic Pictures producing, as well as MAYDAY 109, which is set up at Thunder Road Pictures with Flynn Picture Company producing; Ben Bolea, who wrote THE MISERABLE ADEVNTURES OF BURT SQUIRE ABOARD THE HORN HIGH YO!, which is set up at LD Entertainment with Kim Zubick producing; Josh Golden, who wrote ROAD TO OZ, which is set up at New Line Cinema with Flynn Picture Company producing; Mark Townend, who wrote CONTINGENCY PROTOCOL, which is set up at Broad Green Pictures with Bellevue Productions, Storyscape Entertainment and Weed Road Pictures producing; Michael Schatz, who wrote THE WOMAN WITH RED HAIR, a 2016 Black List script which is currently being packaged by Berlanti Productions; Mark Mavrothalasitis, who wrote VERTICAL for Alcon Entertainment, as well as WOLF IN THE WILD, which is set up at Awesomeness Film; Jorge Rivera, a staff writer on the Fox series A.P.B.; Matt Saracusa, who wrote CIRCLEVILLE, which is set up at Endgame Entertainment; Matt Leslie & Stephen Smith, who wrote THE HARROWING, which is set up at Cinelou Pictures with Jeffrey Reddick (FINAL DESTINATION) producing, as well as SUMMER OF ‘84, which appeared on the 2016 Blood List; Michael Salomon, who wrote SURVEILLANCERS, a half-hour comedy pilot set up at Warner Bros. TV Studios with Intrigue Entertainment and Quadrant Pictures producing; Chris Devlin, who wrote THE WRETCHED EMILY DERRINGER, a 2015 Black List script which is being directed by Adria Petty; and Andrew Zilch, who wrote A CROOKED SOMEBODY, which was directed by Trevor White and starred Rich Sommer, Clifton Collins Jr., Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Joanne Froggatt.
Originally from Massachusetts, Jeff received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film Production from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and studied Film and Television writing at UCLA Extension.
Credits
