Screenwriting : Conflicting Critiques by Edward Dorsey

Happens all the time. I had one critique basically say my writing was crap, and shortly after the same script won the Grand Prize in a screenwriting contest. Its all a matter of perspective and timing. As long as you did you best.

If you have one good review and one bad review, just take the bad one with a grain of salt. If you have two good reviews and one bad review, just ignore the bad one. If you have three bad reviews, sit down and rewrite the heck out of that script.

Conflicting critiques is as normal as the sun rising in the east for the same reason one exec will buy a script and another turns it down. It all comes down to WHY. Why did you receive that particular criticism. A good reader will explain it. If you're getting feedback that's negative without supporting commentary and suggestions on how to improve, don't use that service again.

In this instance, what I would do is analyze what they're saying about "stale" vs. "highlighting". They should have given something more than the single adjective of "stale". You should also be able to go back to them and ask them to clarify their comment if you don't understand.

Now, for the critique of writing style is "too dense" but the other says engaging. This sounds like one of them thinks you're not leaving enough white space on the page. Script readers, especially execs, do not like long sentences or paragraphs. It slows down the read and fatigues their eyes. Go back and look your script over with that in mind. A rule of thumb (that I made up for myself) is to keep each sentence as succinct as possible and never have more than three sentences in a paragraph. I always shoot for two. This leaves a lot of white space break for my readers.

Spend some time reading scripts from shows/movies that you are familiar with. Look at how they're structured and how minimal the writing really is and how much white space is left.

Final thought. The more feedback you get, the more you'll be able to pick up on constructive criticism that will help you and dismiss criticism that isn't grounded in anything other than the reader didn't like the story. It's also a good idea to not touch your script when you get less than positive feedback until you've had a chance to absorb and process what they're telling you. What may sound like BS when you first read it can be insightful the next day.

I try and get 10 different critics if 7 or more say somethings good it's good if 7 or more say it's bad it's bad,Removes my ego from the equation that way.

Everyone has an opinion. Get as much as many as possible and find the balance, consensus. Then use your gut.

The lesson to take is how vague and subjective most feedback is. What most writers are looking for is alignment with the right industry members.

My general rule is, if someone loves what I'm doing, I'm going to take their critical feedback seriously. If someone doesn't, they're on a different wavelength and likely to send me in the wrong direction.

As ever, studying the craft is 100x more powerful than asking peers for guidance.

Different reviewers have different opinions. It still has value. In the end you go with what you feel is best for your script and your vision. I had a reviewer once suggest a totally different take to my script. I would have had to change an important character. I stuck with my story. I found other parts of the feedback useful. My script won a competition. I think getting scripts reviewed is very helpful. Just do your due diligence on which ones you use. All of them aren't equal.

Another reason developing relationships is more important than coverage. Get to know people, find friends and/or colleagues. You'll get more honest critiques. You'll find people that your stories resonate with. You'll discover more doors opening.

it's paid coverage from a script service business. Not movie making for a living. Seek coverage/feedback from folks with skin in the game

Adding to what Dan MaxXx said, give the script to other screenwriters whom understand story structure and how stories work. If a few of them bring up the same points (good or bad) then they're on to something.

I've had this happen, getting conflicting feedback.

What I've always done is considered two things when thinking about feedback.

One was the source of the feedback, basically if the person is telling me something they know absolutely nothing about and then try to figur out why. Most of the time it's my fault for asking the wrong person who can't give me feedback for feedback and so they feel obligated to give you something and find something they just don't like and then give you that. But at the same time they might be telling you a bunch of stuff that you can yous in between the lines.

The second one is either people who don't like your work because it's good and they don't want to give you positive feedback. Usually you figure it out soon and never ask them for help again. On the same note it can be people who give you honest feedback but you need to put it into context. Usually I've found this to be the best kind because it makes me think about whatever they exposed and then I might figur out something else by myself.

All in all feedback is subjective ask a hundred people and you'll get a hundred different things something about something and ultimately it's up to you to decide if you think that the feedback or some of it is relevant to you and gives you a new perspective.

That's how I tend to use feedback.

Of course there's some feedback that should go directly to the trash can.

I had this happen once for a project and I even paid for it and then realizing the feedback was a copy/paste form with some basic info you can get by casually browsing trough the screenplay.

It's a very subjective business and I've received plenty of conflicting feedback from people who work in the industry. Unfortunately, you can never please everyone, but with some luck you can please the right person at the right time. When to pay attention: when everyone, or almost everyone, has the same critique. That's when you take it seriously. Otherwise - all you an do is chalk it up to the inherent subjectiveness of writing, movie-making, and art in general.

I've spoken with a few people lately that have had conflicting notes. Its great to seek advice but trying to please everyone all the time can result in the script becoming "a patchwork quilt". Its difficult, but if you have a solid idea in your mind of what you are trying to achieve with your themes and characters, make it your mantra/guide you can't go far wrong. To give yourself some objectivity as a writer, try arranging a virtual script read. It doesn't have to be with professional actors, but make sure someone else reads the scene description, and not be tempted to do this yourself. This way you are put in the audience's seat and you can "watch" your screenplay. If you found that some notes apply in some places and others in other places, you can make a note of it from the perspective of an audience member and see how it feels after thinking it over for a while.

Find someone you can trust (preferably yourself) and seek their advice. Coverage is not a step. It is not needed, but sometime sort.

I would say that there has been a surge in new screenwriters (the reason is unknown to me), this has produced a surge in “consultants”. Since there is no quality standard for this industry it is open to everyone. I can be a “consultant” tomorrow.

I find the industry lacking in professionalism as there are no professional standards. Thread after here and and other forums have people complaining about the quality of coverage. Then the close second is people offering free coverage so they can practice and then charge for it.

In today's world of streaming video and subscription channels, etc., the value of a positive opinion outweighs that of a negative one. Netflix, for example, considers the situation where every member of the family has a favorite, can't miss show to be ideal -- far better than to have all five like the same show, unethusiastically.

Tarantino was told his writing was garbage. He grabs a camera and shoots his flick the way he liked it and the rest is history. Put your work out there, you'll find an audience for it.

Hey, everyone.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback! I, honestly, didn't expect this many replies! I've read each and everyone and will definitely take your thoughts moving forward.

I definitely agree with what the majority of you have said to take into consideration that it may/may not be the right person. I know I definitely ran into this with a critique. The script I submitted used a lot of slang and phrases from Hip-Hop culture within the dialogue. I had one reviewer literally try to correct the dialogue into proper English. I ended up laughing and skipped that portion of the critique.

Hope everyone is having a good week and happy writing!

Having gained feedback from varied sources, paid and unpaid, I have found that you can usually tell if someone made an honest effort to engage with the material. If they have done that, I study their critique carefully. If not, I tend to dismiss it.

There are many films and TV shows that do not grab me at all, but which are very popular. Tastes differ. If someone doesn't connect with the material, that doesn't necessarily mean it is bad, just that it is not to their taste. Twice, a reader has brought up a particular film set in Greece as an admirable example of a Greek project, and it happens to be a film I consider the worst kind of badly written kitsch possible.

Since my current project is set in Greece, I have also run into having it not conform to people's preconceived notions about the location. This is on purpose and part of the whole point. Some people really dig that, while others are disappointed that there are no Santorino sunsets, little white villages, quaint natives and Zorba the Greek dancing. In my view, those looking for the latter or with a taste wildly divergent from mine are not the right collaborators for this particular project.

Personally listen to all the criticism you can. No one is perfect and there will always be a chance to improve on your writing skills. Everyone's opinion is different some will like others may not. Nothing will ever change that, the point is write in your own style. Be yourself.

A number of films I thought were garbage won academy awards. Films I thought would make money, made nothing. Citizen Kane was considered a flop in its days and later became one of the top ten greatest movies of all time. Don't get locked into analysis paralysis thinking. The old saying is those who can "do" those who can't "become critics." You'll get better by doing. Learn the fundamentals and get going.

Needless to say, I'm a little late with this. However, if I can lend a little perspective -- as you receive more and more coverage on your work, you'll notice a common thread in the opinions. If multiple readers are bringing up the same issue, well... there you go. Focus on that.

The entire world is subjective. Not just film. The entire planet.

From a notes POV. I learnt to trust myself. After all I am the one that will be collaborating with people. Then the only subjective opinions I have to deal with are people I am working with.

An antique thread thar continues to be true today as it was years ago. Several years back back - when I submitted scripts to festivals/compactions - I submitted a script to the Blue Cat - it won, it also won at Moondance and was second at Austen. So I figured that it was pretty good. I submitted it to a little back-water start-up festival thinking that it would be nice to let them read a pretty high octane script - didn't even make the cut. I learned something from that, hopefully you will too.

I have had wonderful coverage over the last 7 years from Coverage Ink...and they are not expensive. Their readers are all very good...but you do have to learn to trust your own voice.