Stage 32 is extremely excited to exclusively present They Said "No" - Why Did They Pass on My Material taught by Dan Wiedenhaupt, former Creative Executive of Atlas Entertainment (OPPENHEIMER, WONDER WOMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE, SUICIDE SQUAD, AMERICAN HUSTLE, THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY)

Many filmmakers and writers look forward to that exciting moment when they get their work in front of executives. Once in front of an executive, it's exhilarating waiting for the decision makers to view a reel, hear a pitch, or read a script. Then, when the call comes and the decision has been made, sometimes it's a "pass" or "no" and the only question left on a filmmaker or writer's mind is "Why?" Why did they pass on my material?

Says Dan, "After reading thousands of scripts and hearing hundreds of pitches, I found that there are many common problems and red flags in scripts and presentations that nearly everyone makes - problems which will immediately make me, or another executive, pass on the script or idea. This is something that affects every single director or writer at any stage of the process - whether you're a first-time filmmaker or a Hollywood veteran.

I have spent several years working in all aspects of film, television, and commercials - from both a physical production and development angle. I've seen the best of the best and I've seen some of the worst. After this time of cultivating my taste and my thick skin, I'm ready to pay the wisdom forward. I will be brutal, direct and to the point, and hopefully a little funny, pulling back the curtain of the development process."

Dan will teach you why you are not receiving the response you are looking for from your film or screenplay pitch and how to fix those issues immediately. He will show you the do's and don'ts related to introductions and openings of a pitch or submission. He will teach you the red flags within your pitch including your story, presentation and personality. He will dive into what execs are looking for, how to assure you're tailoring your pitch to who you're pitching and navigating the "Culture of No" (and giving them a reason to say "Yes".) Dan will even show you examples of pitches he's passed on and pitches that had him begging for more. That's just some of what Dan will tackle, and rest assured, he'll leave you not only with a wealth of actionable information, but a ton of inspiration as well!  Please note Dan elected to not to not be on camera, but you will see his full presentation.

Dan will explain to you exactly what it looks (and sounds) like from an executive's side of the table. He'll give you the tips and tricks to assure that your film or screenplay pitch is on point and attractive to representation, buyers, producers, financiers and development execs.

PRAISE FOR DAN'S TEACHINGS:

"There's nothing like learning at the feet of an expert in their field. I was inspired from the beginning to the end!" -Marla O.

"There's nothing worse than being rejected. Except now understanding WHY I've been rejected. Thank you, Dan, for making me see the error of my ways and helping me course correct." - Terry G.

"Worth 10 times the price. Gold." - Thom P.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks to Dan, I can't wait to pitch. What was pure horror in my mind has now turned to an abundance of hope."- Tasha P.

• Approaching the Pitch
  • The First Impression
  • How to Introduce Yourself
  • How to Introduce Your Project
  • Phrasing
  • Occam’s Razor
• Red Flags In a Presentation
  • Organization
  • Clarity
  • Efficiency
  • Originality
  • What Does Your Presentation Say About You?
  • Story
  • Personality
• 4 Mistakes We All Make
• Know Who You’re Pitching
• The Culture of "No" (and giving them a reason to say "YES")
• Original Ideas vs. IP (True Stories)
• Examples of Pitches I’ve Passed on
• Examples of Pitches I’ve Loved
• Conclusion/Inspiration
• Q&A with Dan

• Writers
• Directors
• Producers
• Any filmmakers trying to get projects off the ground
• Writers in ANY stage of the process (this goes for writers BEFORE they have even started their next screenplay).

"Worth 10 times the price. Gold."

- Thom P.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks to Dan, I can't wait to pitch. What was pure horror in my mind has now turned to an abundance of hope."

- Tasha P.