10 Reasons Why Screenplays Fail
How To Identify and Fix Common Screenplay Problems
Leader: Dana Coen
This workshop has already taken place; no future dates are scheduled.
About the Program:
Speculative screenplays are rejected for numerous reasons. Many are out of the control of writers, such as taste, social, political and industry bias, marketing concerns, perceived lack of box office appeal, similar projects, and so on.
What the writer can control is the quality of their work. Excellent screen stories don’t die. They live on to face another round of judgment. How many times have you heard the story of a script that was rejected by every studio in Hollywood only to collect multiple awards after it was finally produced?
So, given the obstacles, it’s essential to enter the process with a script that works on multiple levels. Otherwise, you are dooming yourselves to a warranted rejection, one that judges the material as faulty or inferior.
This class examines ten major areas in which screenplays tend to fail and examines ways of overcoming each, using a series of checklists, along with examples from two well-known feature films, to provide screenwriters with a toolkit that can be employed to either improve existing work or avoid common mistakes in new projects.
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE CLASS:
- “I was in this class at UNCG, and learned a lot…in fact, just what I needed! Thank you so much. I already had a play…and using your guide I have created the outline of a screenplay.” –Nancy N.
- “Thank you for your excellent class on screenwriting at the North Carolina Writer’s Network spring conference. I found your framework extremely helpful, and I have saved all the course materials for future reference.” –Ray D.
Price: $39
Register Now: this workshop has already taken place
Important Notes & Conditions:
- This talk will not be recorded. If you would like to participate, you must join at the listed time.
- We will email registered participants 5 to 7 days before the workshop is scheduled to take place and a reminder the morning of the workshop.
- If you do not see the email (please check your spam folder), or if you would prefer that we email you at a different address from the one you use to make payment, get in touch with us at info@pagecraftwriting.com. After the cancellation deadline, we will not be able to accept a lost or overlooked email as a reason for a refund.
- Cancellation Policy: You are entitled to a refund of your registration price minus 5% if you cancel by noon PT the day of the workshop. We will not be able to provide refunds after that time.
About Dana Coen:
DANA COEN is the former director of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Writing for the Screen and Stage program, a two-year, dramatic writing program. A former New York actor and stage director, he has written extensively for television, including Co-Executive Producer/Writer positions on the Fox series BONES, the CBS series JAG, where he spent eight seasons and wrote 37 episodes, and a comedy development deal for Walt Disney Studios. Screenwriting awards include the 2021 Silver Bullet Screenwriting Award for his screenplay SLEEPING UPRIGHT, The Jewish Image Award and The Templeton Prize. As a playwright, his work has been produced extensively, including an off-Broadway production of his play SYMPATHY.
