How do you process/deal/approach a situation where coverage and feedback seems to conflict?
My latest screenplay, a sci-fi comedy, is getting very positive feedback, overall. Generally, all agree on the writing, the voice, the humor, etc. But there are a number of scenes that reviewers have called out specifically, where their notes are diametrically opposed to each other.
i.e. in one scene the protagonist tries to help an animal but things go horribly wrong in a series of missteps, each getting worse than the previous, ultimately ending in the animal's demise.
One reviewer says they "loved it!" (yes, with exclamation mark) and they "laughed out loud", "enjoyed how the calamity builds", "It takes 'Save the Cat' to a whole new level." It's "a solid introduction to the protagonist and their plight." and it "sets the tone of the rest of the script perfectly."
Another reviewer says about the very same scene "It's a 2 minute long joke that has nothing to do with the premise." "it's pointless and wastes the reader's time." and "it tells us nothing about the protagonist." "It should be cut, altogether."
Another says they enjoyed and how it introduces us to the protagonist but thought it could be trimmed after the first misstep.
One reviewer found the story "A fresh take on an old premise." Another reviewer said it was "unoriginal".
There are a number of situations like this in the feedback I've gotten.
I'm really confused by this because I've submitted to a few competitions and it's placed in most, a finalist in another, and didn't place at all in a few others.
My initial thinking is "pay attention to the feedback that aligns and disregard it where it doesn't." But, do you really have that option where competitions are concerned?
Curious to hear what your thoughts/experiences are.
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Is the feedback relevant in the context of the story you are trying to tell?
Some people want to rewrite your story as they'd like (if they are a paying producer, you have to consider their notes or fight your case) and some people get what you're trying to do and give notes accordingly.
The notes to really heed are from working industry professionals and those that repeatedly flag the same thing.
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Dismiss any readers mentioning Save the Cat. Choose readers with skin in the game. Preferably salary readers with job titles at prod companies.
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IMO, you have to understand that the feedback is based on opinion. Now, that opinion might be informed by years of experience and technical insight. But it is an opinion. I've found that, whether I whole-heartedly agree with what coverage asserts, I always find something useful that I can apply to my craft in a positive way.
In the end, it is your work. Just like everyone has ideas and suggestions for how you should raise your kids (typically unwelcome), so too does everyone have opinions about your writing. However, you are the be-all and end-all. Learning to sift the wheat from the chaff is how you move ahead.
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I've been there as well. I believe it's a numbers game; that you should get as many readers' opinions as you can to narrow down and point out the hotspots of criticism for repair. The less complaints, the less their feedback matters on that area.
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There's something wrong, just different opinions on what it is...
Or, if one is positive and the other negative...
There's something wrong, but it didn't bother the other person.
The purpose of feedback is to find the problems, so my focus is on the problems rather than the praise. I can't fix praise. If one person has a problem with something and another doesn't? How can I know which type of person will read it when a production company wants to read it? What if I end up with someone else who thinks it's a problem? Better to just fix it!
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I try to find people that I imagine would be sitting down to watch the story. I then ask them. Producers know what these people want. So if you hit the mark with these people a producer will see it. The rest is craft that comes with practice.
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I have also received contradictory feedback from reviewers. If it is for an individual scene, then it may be best to ask yourself a couple of questions: Does it advance the plot? Or Does it help develop the character?
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Take the useful. Ignore the rest, Chris Gannon. Sometimes notes are based on a person's opinions. If something comes up in many reviews, however, you might want to pay attention to it.
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I go with my first gut reaction, "yeah, they're right," or "nope, don't agree with that". It helps to find a trusted reader that resonates with you. Sounds like you've already had success with it, so these issues can't be major. A two-minute gag might be able to be trimmed tho'. Again your gut reaction ;-)
As in the John Wick's community - you have served, you'll be of service...meaning I do not shy of negative feedback if someone deserves it, but am prepared to receive it on my own pieces....c'mon guys be real, one can only learn from his failures...
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Its good to get feedback fro different sources, but it does mean that sometimes there will be different feedback. When reviewing the feedback and making notes it is good to keep in mind what you set out to have as the core of your story - themes and character journeys - and look at the notes from that perspective to see if they are helpful to you or not. Sometimes when a script has had lots of different notes and its changed to try and please everyone, it can come out looking like a patchwork quilt where nothing really matches - so going back to what is at the core of your story and using it as your reference point will keep you on the right path and make it easier to pick out which elements of notes are constructive to your story.
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Kiril- my question isn't about receiving negative feedback. I've got no problem with that. It's with conflicting feedback. One reader hates something that another reader "loves." And both are supposedly "industry pro's". Reader-A thinks the scene doesn't move the story forward but Reader-B thinks it does. Is it a net wash?
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I'll always go with the source that loves the material. People tend to give much better feedback on something they genuinely care about. A lot of negative feedback is reaching for reasons to justify not liking something based on a disengaged read and an obligation to give the writer something to work with.
Always keep in mind that 99% of peers (and a lot of people calling themselves consultants and industry pros) are not in a position to give good craft advice. I literally watched a member on here re-brand themselves as a consultant overnight recently.
As ever, the best way to improve your scripts, in my opinion, is to study the craft itself and develop your artistic voice through practice. Feedback is a dangerous route into bad-think and self-doubt.