Why They Passed: Understanding Industry Feedback
Why They Passed: Understanding Industry Feedback
Taught by Anna Henry, TV Executive (Educator)
On Demand
$49.00
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Summary

Learn from a top development executive who has sold projects to AMC, HBO, Amazon Prime & more

Walk away with a downloadable Final Draft Polish Checklist to apply to your next rewrite!

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.

Getting notes on your script isn’t a setback—it’s a signal that people are invested in your work. In fact, feedback is often the first step toward a “yes.” Writers who know how to embrace and implement notes are the ones who stand out. Development is a natural part of the process, and the most successful scripts are the ones shaped and sharpened through it. This exclusive Stage 32 webinar will show you how to turn industry feedback into your superpower.

 

Most screenwriters take notes personally—and it stalls their momentum. Others don’t know how to interpret vague comments like “didn’t connect with the character” or “the pacing felt off.” You might not know the difference between cold and warm reads, or how to spot patterns in feedback. And worse—many writers revise blindly or get defensive instead of seeing notes as creative fuel. This interactive Stage 32 webinar will help you finally understand what the industry means when they say “it’s not quite there.”

 

Anna is a powerhouse producer and development executive who has shepherded projects at AMC, HBO, Amazon Prime, Starz, Sony, and more. She’s worked for major networks including CBS, ABC, and Nickelodeon and has deep experience in both creative development and writer representation from her time at Andrea Simon Entertainment. She also serves as an instructor for the prestigious Netflix x Stage 32 “Creating Content for a Global Marketplace” Program—so you’re learning from someone who teaches pros at the highest level.

 

By the end of this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll know how to decode professional script notes, understand the psychology behind feedback, and approach revisions with clarity and purpose. You’ll gain insight into the development process and leave empowered to take your next draft from “almost” to “yes!”

 

PLUS! You’ll receive the following handout to help you:

  • Final Draft Polish Checklist

 

Praise for Anna's teachings with Stage 32: 

“This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods.” - John R. 

“What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity.” - Crispin L. 

"Comprehensive, insightful. Combined a lot of material I had heard snippets of on character, world dev, etc. but artfully stitched together in one presentation." -James F.

"It was amazing, enlightening - completely. I learned soooo much - especially as a feature writer who's been asked to turn a feature script into a pilot!! Thank you soooooo much."-Kristin G.

 

What You'll Learn

Getting Feedback:

  • Accepting feedback with professionalism and grace

  • Who are you getting feedback from - cold vs. warm reads

  • The different types of notes

  • Understanding note patterns and terminology 

 

Common Big-Picture Notes:

  • “Didn’t respond to the material”

  • Sticking to your genre

  • Fulfilling the promise of the premise

  • Addressing Overt or triggering themes

  • Inconsistent tone

Understanding Notes On Plot:

  • Not enough or too many plotlines

  • Structural beats –the key beats to hit and when

  • Problem of a passive protagonist rather than active one who drives the story

  • Building stakes - how to build conflict and stakes

  • Act breaks and pacing – why beginner scripts are often too slow

  • Why length matters – what to cut and keep

 

Understanding Notes On Character Development:

  • Whose story is this? 

  • "I Did not connect with the characters" 

  • Making characters more complex and interesting

 

Understanding Exposition Notes:

  • Getting information out when needed

  • Recognizing obvious exposition

  • Building a rich world the audience understands (without exposition)

  • Key pitfalls of narrative devices

 

You “Didn’t Draw Me In / Lost Me” - Logic And Clarity:

  • When the story is in your head but not on the page

  • Creating emotional logic and earning your beats

  • When you leave the audience behind

  • Properly understanding setups & payoffs

Utilizing The Notes:

  • How are scene notes useful?

  • How to address…

    • Vague notes

    • Contradictory notes

    • Nitpicky notes

  • Questions to ask a cold reader

  • How and when to push back on notes

  • “It’s too expensive” – when budget matters

 

Q&A With Anna

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.

Who Should Attend

  • Writers  at all stages preparing their scripts for managers, contests, or coverage

  • Screenwriters who’ve received notes and feel stuck or confused

Executive

Anna Henry, TV Executive (Educator)
Anna Henry, TV Executive (Educator)
at (Worked with CBS, ABC, Amazon, Starz, Sony, 20th Television)

Anna Henry is a Producer and Development Executive. Anna has set up projects at Sony, 20th Television, EOne, Starz, Amazon, Netflix, Corus, ITV America and more. Anna began her career as a development executive at Nickelodeon, then crossed over to prime-time television working at CBS and ABC in drama development and programming before working in management and establishing herself as an Independent Producer.

She was Head of Development at Andrea Simon Entertainment, a boutique literary management and production company representing writers and directors. She has more than 15 years experience working with writers on developing their passion projects and building their careers with client credits including Netflix's "Seven Seconds"; Starz'"Vida"; BET’s “In Contemt”; HBO's "The Deuce", "Big Love", and "Vinyl"; Showtime's "The Chi"; NBC's "This Is Us"; The CW's "Jane the Virgin"; Direct TV's "Kingdom"; AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead”; PBS' "Mercy Street"; and more.

Anna has projects currently in development around the world. She is currently developing procedurals, crime thrillers, dark comedies, YA and Millennial-focused projects, character-driven sci-fi, and recent period. She is a member of HRTS Associates and Greenlight Women.

Testimonials

Praise for Anna's teachings with Stage 32: 

“This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods.” - John R. 

“What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity.” - Crispin L. 

"Comprehensive, insightful. Combined a lot of material I had heard snippets of on character, world dev, etc. but artfully stitched together in one presentation." -James F.

"It was amazing, enlightening - completely. I learned soooo much - especially as a feature writer who's been asked to turn a feature script into a pilot!! Thank you soooooo much."-Kristin G.

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