RAVES AND TESTIMONIALS!
on this page:
I. RAVES about my
Clients!
II.
Consultation/Coaching Testimonials
III. Classes Testimonials
I. RAVES!
Zachary Zerries and Jeffrey Doornbos' action thriller Pirate Hunter has made the semi-finals of the prestigious Nicholl Fellowships, beating out thousands of other applicants.
My former client David Loucka was already a major studio script doctor when he came to me for notes on two of his previous scripts. In 2005, he scored two major deals -- “Dreamhouse,” his spec thriller was purchased by Universal for six (against seven) figures, and his pitch “Boat House”, an erotic horror thriller, was bought by Dimension Films. Variety (8/27/09) reports that Morgan Creek and Universal have greenlit Dreamhouse with star Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale, Defiance) in the lead role and Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father) as director. Congratulations to David and good luck with the shoot!
New screenwriter Zach Nelson worked with me to outline his screenplay The Void using my "Story Maps" method. The script went on to win Best Sci-fi/Horror Screenplay at the London Independent Film Festival and Zach signed with manager Brad Kushner of Creative Convergence in Los Angeles.
Scott LaCagnin won the grand prize for the 2006 Page Screenwriting Awards with his screenplay Warmonger, Inc. His script The Reston Protocol procured management after my notes.
Mark Kratter won the Grand Prize for the 2007 Fade In Awards
with
his screenplay Where the Dead Go. He is a working feature
film
producer with multiple credits, and is currently developing high
concept
specs with his management and studio-based producers.
Both Steve Leikin and Andy Krempasky worked with me
on multiple
drafts of their screenplays and both procured management in Los
Angeles.
Byrd Macdonald, a former development assistant for Jonathan
Demme, hired me to analyze The Auteur, which he went
on to produce; the film is now available on iTunes and Amazon.
Tony Muscio was co-winner of the 2007 Writers' Building
Screenplay Contest with his biopic The Waldorf=Astoria. His
screenplay A Justified Life was a quarter-finalist in The 2008
PAGE Awards Contest; both scripts garnered him a meeting at Dreamworks
and he's currently out to reps.
Anthony Furlong optioned his Thriller to an experienced
producer and they went out to two major directors.
Ken Solarz (CSI:NY, Supercross, City of Industry) went
out with
his new
Thriller after my notes and got interest from Fox and Sony.
Mike McGeever’s comedy spec “Smilers” has placed in or won
multiple
contests.
Brigitte Cunningham’s historical epic attracted serious
consideration
from one of the biggest directors in the world.
Steve Lyons attracted interest for his period drama from an
indie
producer in New York City.
-back to top-
II. CONSULTATION/COACHING TESTIMONIALS
"I have used Dan's services twice and I can say that it was an
invaluable resource as I begin the preproduction process of my film. I
could tell Dan gave me the straight-talk on my script from the position
of the audience and potential investors, and gave me the wherewithal to
shape the script to its full potential, giving me the confidence to get
the ball rolling with production and release it to an audience."
-John J.
"Hey Dan, not sure if you remember reading THE AUTEUR, but your
coverage was massively helpful. We made the film, it's played
festivals and can now be purchased through I-Tunes. Would be fun
to hear what you think of the actual movie after having read the
script."
-Byrd M.
"I had used [popular service #1] and [popular service #2] just to
realize they give "template" feedback. I'm not looking to waste
my hard-earned money for zombie-like feedback. I look forward to
working with you."
-D. Clark
"Thanks for your truly professional read of my screenplay. Your
margin notes told me immediately how I'd gotten too close to the story
and couldn't see it clearly anymore."
Kevin W.
"Your notes are extremely helpful and I very much appreciate your time,
attention to detail and professionalism on my script. I look forward to
meeting you in person and also taking my script from good to GREAT!"
-Tony M.
"Out of the 10 people who read my first draft, you were able to give me
the direction the story really needed."
-Mark K.
"Dan, thank you very much for taking the time in going through my
script so thoroughly. I enjoyed going through the notes and was very
pleased at the rough amount of criticism I received, as it will only
help me improve."
Ryan G.
“I don’t think my agent or her readers could have given even a
hair’s breadth of the insight that you offered. In fact,
they were pretty much done giving me notes, I was on an island...I
really understood your Master Consultation notes better after reading
your Story Maps Primer a couple times. It really helps organize
the writing process...You taught me a great macro lesson about my
writing: I need to head toward (escalating) conflict and
drama...I really appreciated that in some places you pointed out
problems, and even suggested solutions. Thank you.”
- Alex E., repped novelist and new screenwriter.
“Once again you demonstrate your UNCANNY SKILL for zeroing in on
unclear thinking that leads to plot weakness! Your points
immediately clarified some things for me -- lightbulbs are clicking on
all over the place.”
- C. Michelle Kaplan, produced screenwriter and playwright (client
of consultations and online classes)
"In my two classes and one consultation with Dan, I’ve completed one
screenplay and have a draft of a second one. "
-Lesley B.
“Just wanted to thank you for a terrific job. Everything you said rang
very true. I love the food for thought that you posed...perfect and so
right on. Thanks again!
Sincerely, Cindy G.
“Dear Dan,
Congratulations. Your story map which I followed for the rewriting of
"The Message” is certainly the MOST POWERFUL TOOL I have ever used and
heard of. It has helped my laziness, my lack of confidence and
all my troubles. Thank you again.”
All the best, Brigitte C.
“Just wanted to thank you for the constructive thoughts on my
logline. Interest in my logline on Inktip.com went up drastically
and I have a company interested in reading the script. Several others
have read the synopsis, since changing the logline.”
Kiven H.
“Hey Dan,
Your notes on my screenplay are most helpful and organized.
WOW! The format of your review is invaluable...I see where I can
do better and have already thought of ideas to bring "Page 90 to page
20" so-to-speak...I know there are too many side stories...I'll focus
on the spine during my rewrite as you suggested...I like your 15
Crucial Questions Page scoring. That lets me know how a story
analyst would view the story as they read.”
Godspeed, Mark K.
“Hi Dan:
Just wanted to thank you for your input on my screenplay. It's been
through revisions since that time, and I've begun submitting it to
screenplay contests. It was named one of fifty finalists in the Red
Inkworks competition (#22), and I'm waiting to hear from a few
more. Thank you also for the coaching on my pitch.
Look forward to working with you again.”
Best Regards, Michael M.
“I just wanted to say you have a great website. The other day I spent a
lot of time on your site and you have a wealth of information on it -
all great stuff. I love your use of actual screenplays to drive your
points.”
Best, Alan C.
“Thanks so much for your multiple rounds of notes on “Smilers.”
“Smilers” is now the 9th most successful romantic comedy screenplay in
terms of contest results, according to Moviebytes. It placed in
the top
30 in Scriptapalooza (beating out 3950+ other scripts). And
thanks for all the feedback on my two other scripts.”
-Mike M.
“Last weekend, I returned from a Robert Mckee seminar in Vegas feeling
both inspired and deflated all at once. I was feeling sorry for
myself tonight and ran a search with the phrase, "Screenwriters who
don't give up." Your essay, "Don't give up"
popped up first thing. I
wasn't looking for a motivational piece but rather something that would
reaffirm for me just how stupid it is to hang on by a mere thread of
faith/hope! After reading your essay, I read all your pages and
felt I wanted to write and thank you. Something (everything) clicked
for me. Thank you so much.”
-Stephanie L.
“Thanks for all your feedback, analysis and comments. I received
your hardcopy notes on my script today...It was a big time reality
check...I guess I kind of view it as my "baby"...and I would like to
try and see how I can improve it. I will look forward to speaking
with you down the road, after I have had a chance to dedicate some real
time to absorbing your analysis and applying it to my script.
Thanks again Dan.”
Regards, Mark K.
“I have to say this exercise (Story Mapping the X-Men films)
was really
beneficial for me, as it made me think of the stories in a more
structured way - this was better than merely reading Syd Field.”
-Nina T.
"Dan,
What can I say about your method, it works to the minute! I'd
tried
using [another consultant’s] beat sheets to do some analysis.
Although I found some practical usefulness in them, the sheets didn't
really do much for me in terms of giving a fully rounded picture of the
script. But...it's your combination of all the areas -
e.g. logline/engine/protag/ending and the map itself that really makes
it
easier to approach and I think, gave me some new insight into one of my
favorite films. It's also a very unpreachy, un-didactic skim
through those notes which is a blessing and you have a bit of leeway on
timings, etc. I notice that even the more offbeat films on your
list seem to have a 'conventional' structure. Interesting...”
Cheers! -Paul R.
III. CLASSES TESTIMONIALS
On-line classes...
"I’m grateful to find a class that provided the structure and
feedback to bring my ideas for writing screenplays to fruition! Dan’s
class is a combination of an accessible methodology for screenwriting
with on-going enthusiastic oversight and support. It’s exciting to see
scripts as they evolve over the class period."
"I’m totally sold on your story map methodology. It’s a great way to
get a handle on a story or even figure out if you have one or not,
which was what happened with the first map for my last script, i.e.
there wasn’t enough story there yet."
"Dan, this has really been the most organized writing process I've
ever had. I am rarely able to make myself write a complete
outline, so
this is an achievement for me."
"I liked the fact that it was oriented toward the writing and that
it was small and intimate enough that I knew I had to hold my end up."
"You always gave positive reinforcement that made me want to make the
script even better."
"Honestly, the format was really great."
"Personally I like email rather than chats or forums."
"I was very happy with what I accomplished and am still moving forward
on this script."
"I felt I really had a handle on what I needed after your input and
that of my 'NOTES BUDDY'."
"Thanks so much for the feedback, great classes, and most of all the
moral support. It's really good to have a person tell you what you can
do to improve your work without bringing you down, adding stimulating
thoughts and tips."
"Your notes were a great help and I used all of them to go back and
make
the necessary changes. Thanks again!"
On-site classes...
"VERY HELPFUL - THANK YOU! a tremendous amount of information presented in a painless format."
"Daniel was very knowledgeable on how to write a
screenplay. My time was very well
spent."
"Very clear, thorough, Daniel knows his stuff. Good communicator, works well with student
questions."
"I appreciate the hand outs and all the additional
information (much from personal experience) that he brought to the
class. There was so much great step by
step info
that I feel that I can use right away."
"I’m fired up about getting to work on my first
screenplay! Thanks."
Great offers for Coaching
and Screenplay Consultation!