How to Avoid A Pass on Your Pitch or Screenplay

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