Hope everyone is having a good week! I wanted to share something that might be helpful:
I see a lot of projects that are technically strong. Proper format, well paced, dynamic writing.
Yet, I pass. Why?
Usually it comes down to:
• Failure of Premise
• A lack of a strong directorial POV
• Unclear audience
99% of films fail on premise. Writer/Directors, ensure your premise is strong and something the market is hungry for. Think: Who is going to watch this? Avoid spending time outlining, developing, writing, and rewriting a screenplay that was never going to work from conception.
Consider what is working in released films today, and how you can make it different. It’s never personal, and often about a project’s place in the market, or lack thereof.
For directors—what kind of feedback do you wish execs were more transparent about?
Hey Sean, cool. Play Date was a funny movie and good action
Agree. But for what it's worth, much more important is:
"In his Film Courage interviews, Mandell often recounts pitching his script Metropolis to Scott. When Scott asked, "What is it about?", Mandell started summarizing the plot. Scott interrupted him and asked: "No, what is it really about? What is the core?"
According to Mandell, the theme is the "unifying force" or the glue that connects every scene, every character, and every line of dialogue. If a scene doesn't contribute to that central answer, it doesn't belong in the script."
I agree with you. These days, many films tend to follow the same patterns — after 20–30 minutes, you can already predict how the story will end and who will survive. There’s often a lack of real unpredictability and tension. this is especially noticeable in the superhero genre, where even if a character dies, they usually return after some time.
That’s why, even if it takes more time, I believe it’s more important to create stories that stay with the audience — stories they want to revisit and maybe even look forward to continuing. that’s the direction I’m aiming for, rather than making something just for hype.
Sean Hussey This really hits. A strong premise does so much of the heavy lifting it’s what makes someone lean in before they’ve read a single page.
I think where a lot of writers/directors struggle is balancing market awareness with originality. If you chase what’s working, you risk blending in but if you ignore the audience entirely, the project can feel disconnected from the market.
For me, the sweet spot is a clear, compelling premise with a specific POV that only you can bring to it. That’s usually what makes something stand out.
In terms of transparency, I’d love more clarity on why something doesn’t feel marketable is it the concept itself, the audience targeting, or just timing? That kind of specificity would help creators adjust much earlier in the process.