Summary
Work one on one with a top TV executive and get the guidance and accountability you need to get your pilot written!
Our most popular and in-demand lab!
Limited to 10 Writers - 2 spots remain!
Drama television is at it's peak with such iconic shows like SHOGUN, THE CROWN, THE MORNING SHOW, WHITE LOTUS, YELLOWJACKETS and so much more. With the influx of networks and streaming platforms either moving into or expanding their original content libraries, the demand for dramatic TV ideas and pilots has never been greater. Thanks to streamers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, Max and others, over 600 shows were greenlit last year. But not only is the quantity increasing, so is the quality, as companies are funneling money, resources, marketing and talent into their shows. In short, there has never been a better time to write for TV. Now it’s just a matter of breaking in.
The opportunities are plentiful and the prospects have never been more exciting, but if you want to write dramatic television you need to prove that you have the chops, and to do that, you better come armed with a great pilot script sample. Something that shows that you have what it takes; something that shows that you understand the structure and craft that goes into a good teleplay; and something that shows off your own unique voice and sensibility. This is your calling card, your way in, the piece of material that will fire you off the launch pad. The intention of this lab is to help you create that piece of material that stands out, gets you the right meetings, and, ultimately, gets you representation, meetings with decision-makers, and/or a coveted seat in a writer’s room.
In this exclusive Stage 32 8-part screenwriting lab, you will write a dramaTV pilot script under the guidance of an industry leader to guarantee your script is ready to go to market. Guiding you through the process for your pilot is Anna Henry. Anna is a producer and development executive who has set up projects at AMC, Amazon Prime, Starz, HBO, Sony, Fox, EOne, ITV America, and OddLot Entertainment, among others. She’s worked at CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, and multiple production companies, as well as in management at Andrea Simon Entertainment where she worked with writers. Anna is also an instructor for Netflix & Stage 32 Creating Content for a Global Marketplace Program.
Anna has taught numerous webinars, classes and writing labs for Stage 32. She remains one of our most popular and in demand educators. In this lab, she will be working directly with you in a class setting and also during one-on-one sessions with the goal of helping you write a fantastic, market-ready pilot. To do so, Anna will guide you through picking a concept, creating engaging characters, perfecting your structure, constructing an outline and, finally, writing your pilot. Or, if you already have a concept or even a completed pilot, Anna will use the same tools to help you hone and sharpen your material. At the end of 8 weeks you will have a completed drama television pilot that you will be proud to go to market with!
Praise for Anna:
This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods.
- John R.
What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity.
- Crispin L.
"Comprehensive, insightful. Combined a lot of material I had heard snippets of on character, world dev, etc. but artfully stitched together in one presentation."
-James F.
"It was amazing, enlightening - completely. I learned soooo much - especially as a feature writer who's been asked to turn a feature script into a pilot!! Thank you soooooo much."
-Kristin G.
What You'll Learn
PRE-CLASS PREP
Read your syllabus and plan decide on an idea for the drama or dramedy pilot you want to write. Do appropriate research about the world of your show.
WEEK 1 – Introduction, Elements of a TV Series
This week we will cover the syllabus, your goals for this lab and launch into a discussion of what elements you have to create for a successful show.
We will discuss doing research about the world and characters you will be writing about. We will talk about coming up with a story engine for your show, and how setting, tone and point-of-view affect your story. We will discuss creating strong characters for your pilot. What makes a character compelling, the difference between likeable vs. relatable characters, and effective antagonists. We will address the differences between ensembles and star vehicles. We will take time to go over how to build complex relationships and use them to propel a series. Finally, we will talk about finding a “template show” to aid your writing.
The assignments for this week will be:
- Write a half-page description of the concept of the pilot you intend to write.
- Find a template for your pilot
- Write a detailed description (around half a page) on each of your series regular characters
WEEK 2 – Pilot Structure and Story Mapping
This week we will discuss the function of a beat outline. We will break down pilot structure, plot and subplots and discuss some differences between pilots for episodic vs. serialized pilots. We will talk about pacing, building stakes, creating mystery / suspense / anticipation, and act breaks. We will go over page counts and number of characters. We will also address budget and production considerations.
- The assignment for this week will be to write a beat outline for your pilot.
WEEK 3 – Pilot Outline Consultations (One on One Consultations – No Online Class)
This week will consist of one-on-one consultations regarding pilot structure. Each writer will send in their pilot outline in advance and will have a phone consultation to discuss what works and what doesn’t.
- The assignment for the week is to address any notes given on the outline before proceeding with next week’s class and to continue working on character descriptions as needed.
WEEK 4 – Acts One and Two
This week we will go over all the necessary story beats that exist in Acts 1 and 2 of a drama pilot, including world-building, setting up the “rules of the universe,” establishing character, setting tone, and creating an effective launch point for your pilot. We will talk about how to introduce characters, give backstory, and convey character through unique voices. We will address the challenges of exposition and some ways to bring the audience into the world of your pilot. We will also talk about the function of a teaser.
- The assignment this week will be to complete Acts 1 and 2 of your pilot.
WEEK 5– Writing Effective Scenes
We will discuss how to craft dense, efficient scenes that move the plot forward and reveal character and avoid “dead” scenes. We will talk about how to enter and leave scenes and move from scene to scene using character motivations. We will address how to weave together multiple storylines. We will also talk about nuanced dialogue and the value of subtext.
- The assignment this week will be to continue writing.
WEEK 6 – Pilot Acts One and Two Consultations (One on One Consultations – No Online Class)
This week will consist of one-on-one consultations regarding the first half of your pilot. Each writer will send in their draft in advance and will have a phone consultation to discuss what works and what doesn’t.
- The assignment for the week is to address any notes given.
WEEK 7– Acts Three, Four and Five
We will cover the necessary story beats that traditionally exist in acts 3 – 4 or 5 of a drama pilot, including building subplots, increasing layers and complexity, and making sure every character has a place in the puzzle and begins an arc. We will discuss writing dense scenes that move the story forward as well as reveal character. We will address how to create a series launch point at the end of your pilot that clearly establishes the series engine. We will also talk about how to embed larger themes into your story and address some common pilot writing mistakes.
- The assignment this week will be to complete the first draft of the entire pilot.
WEEK 8 – Finished Pilot Consultations (One on One Consultations – No Online Class)
This week will consist of one-on-one consultations on your first draft. Each writer will send in their first draft in advance and will have a phone consultation to go over notes.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good.
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This class is designed for all level creatives interested in writing a drama television pilot.
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This is an intimate, in-depth, practical, and detailed class held on Zoom where you will be interacting with your instructor.
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This class consists of 8 sessions roughly two hours in duration and offers significantly more in-depth content than a standard Stage 32 webinar.
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***Your instructor will be available on email during the eight sessions to answer any questions you have about your project.***
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To stay motivated and inspired you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge post where you can meet, connect and communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the class and beyond. Let Stage 32 help you find your tribe!
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Can't make it live? Don't worry, each session will be recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience.
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You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.
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Payment plans are available at checkout through Shop Pay
Who Should Attend
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to rewrite their TV series pilot episode script.
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of a TV pilot rewrite.
All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the the fundamentals of a TV pilot rewrite and how to improve an existing draft of any pilot script.
All levels of actors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to take more control of their career by learning the the fundamentals of a TV pilot rewrite and improve an existing draft of a TV pilot script.
Executive
Anna Henry is a Producer and Development Executive. Anna has set up projects at Sony, 20th Television, EOne, Starz, Amazon, Netflix, Corus, ITV America and more. Anna began her career as a development executive at Nickelodeon, then crossed over to prime-time television working at CBS and ABC in drama development and programming before working in management and establishing herself as an Independent Producer.
She was Head of Development at Andrea Simon Entertainment, a boutique literary management and production company representing writers and directors. She has more than 15 years experience working with writers on developing their passion projects and building their careers with client credits including Netflix's "Seven Seconds"; Starz'"Vida"; BET’s “In Contemt”; HBO's "The Deuce", "Big Love", and "Vinyl"; Showtime's "The Chi"; NBC's "This Is Us"; The CW's "Jane the Virgin"; Direct TV's "Kingdom"; AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead”; PBS' "Mercy Street"; and more.
Anna has projects currently in development around the world. She is currently developing procedurals, crime thrillers, dark comedies, YA and Millennial-focused projects, character-driven sci-fi, and recent period. She is a member of HRTS Associates and Greenlight Women.
Schedule
Sunday, October 13th, 10:00 AM PST
Sunday, October 20th, 10:00 AM PST
Sunday, October 27th, 10:00 AM PST(One-on-Ones)
Sunday, November 3rd, 10:00 AM PST
Sunday, November 10th, 10:00 AM PST
Sunday, November 17th, 10:00 AM PST(One-on-Ones)
Sunday, November 24th, 10:00 AM PST
Sunday, December 1st, 10:00 AM PST (One-on-Ones)
Testimonials
"This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods."
- John R.
"What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity."
- Crispin L.
"Comprehensive, insightful. Combined a lot of material I had heard snippets of on character, world dev, etc. but artfully stitched together in one presentation."
-James F.
"It was amazing, enlightening - completely. I learned soooo much - especially as a feature writer who's been asked to turn a feature script into a pilot!! Thank you soooooo much."
-Kristin G.