Comments on: Near Death Tango Kills at the Philadelphia Screenplay Festival

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:08:25 +0000

A big THANK YOU to the many people who have read my screenplay, Near Death Tango, and given me such great feedback! And another big THANK YOU to everyone who has attempted to vote for it in the Philadelphia Screenplay Festival!
The festival website has been down for over a month, but THE SITE IS FINALLY WORKING.

And Near Death Tango is in the lead!

But as they say, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” and the competition is tough.
So if you’d like to vote, please do! You can vote from now until December 31st.

How to Vote in the Philadelphia Screenplay Festival:
1. Register for free on phillyscreenplay.bside.com
2. Once you are registered, click on the word “films” near the top of the web page (under the lavender bar).
3. A “Films List” will appear. Near Death Tango is on page 2 of this list.
4. Click on the Near Death Tango button to review and rate the script.
(You can download the script from this page as well.)

Important Voting Rules:
1. In order for your vote to count, you’ll need to review another script in addition to mine. A little time consuming, I know, but I’d be eternally grateful!

2. VOTER BIAS RULE: Your votes will NOT count if you are biased (for example, if you vote 5 stars on one screenplay and 1 star on all the others).

3. You may NOT vote on any contestant’s screenplay more than once. If you do so, you will be disqualified.

4. VOTING ENDS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009, 11:59pm.

If you have trouble navigating the festival website, please email me at tangoforward@gmail.com and I’ll help you with it.

Best Wishes,
Jackie Stahl

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:04:29 +0000

Hello Denice,
Please forgive me for not responding to your post sooner. (In fact, I thought that I did, but sometimes I can be spacey!) I’m so glad you “curled up” with my screenplay partly because I’m so happy to get your enthusiastic response! Very encouraging! And much appreciated!
Many Thanks,
Jackie

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:59:50 +0000

Hello Eileen,
I’m sending a belated thank you for taking the time to read my script. (I thought for sure that I replied to your post, but sometimes life gets confusing!) I’m so glad that you liked the story, and I really appreciate your positive feedback.
Many thanks,
Jackie

By: denice horlacher

denice horlacher — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:56:39 +0000

ohhhh!! So glad I got some time to curl up and read your screenplay! It was a great story – a great read – and something I can definitely identify with. I love “meeting” new people/characters and feeling for them. I was really cheering for Liz. You certainly have a talent!

By: Amy Kann

Amy Kann — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:10:21 +0000

I felt for Liz with her unending lackluster days and nights. She seems paralyzed, dead already… Just when I was ready to start shoveling the earth on her, she gives me some hope about her determination and then moves on to becoming a powerful force in her own destiny– which you don’t see coming. It happens slowly in the same way that transitions do it real life. Very gentle story about a persons capacity to evolve. Pretty inspiring stuff! This was great!

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:29 +0000

Hi Shirley,
Your review “shines” with your own wonderful writing abilities! Thank you!
Jackie

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:34 +0000

Hi Maria,
Mucho thanks for your comments!! I hope this screenplay encourages people to escape the mundane and to find a more real, more adventurous, and more “alive” self. If Liz can do it, anyone can!
Jackie

By: Eileen

Eileen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:48:31 +0000

Great story!! I was able to picture the whole thing and was able to feel the sadness of the characters. Can’t wait to see it on a screen.

By: Shirley

Shirley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:18:25 +0000

Finally! A screenplay with originality, sensitivity, and gut-busting wit. I think we all have felt like Liz – stuck in a life and a relationship that isn’t satisfying. I particularly love how there aren’t easy answers in this story; no man or miracle comes to save the heroine from her life. Liz has to figure out how to shake her world up, and boy, does she!

Congratulations on creating a piece of art that shines with integrity, hope and humour. I truly hope this screenplay gets the recognition it deserves.

By: Jackie Stahl

Jackie Stahl — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:24:55 +0000

Hello Anne,

I really appreciated your perceptive response to my script. You said that “love runs through your story.” I think you are right. I LOVED writing this story, and I think of it as a love story. Of course, it’s not boy meets girl; it’s what happens long after boy meets girl. It’s about all kinds of love, in many phases. And I really hope it’s funny, at least some of the time. I don’t like being “overly serious;” that’s too taxing!

And yes, Liz’s fantasy of tango keeps her going. It makes her dull life seem intolerable and forces her to make changes. Then, the reality of tango (both the pleasant and unpleasant) starts poking little holes in her fantasy; and this, I feel, is one of the places where the story gets interesting.

Thanks for your plan to vote on my script in the Philadelphia Screenplay Festival! Unfortunately, the festival website, where you would vote (and also vote on one other script) is not working right now. I will be sure to let you know when the site is working so that you can vote.

Thanks so much for reading!
Jackie