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Stage 32 Screenwriting Lab: Develop And Write Your TV Pilot Script With An Emmy Nominated Showrunner

Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details
Taught by Todd Slavkin
$999

On Demand Class - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.

Sorry. This lab is fully sold out.

Who Should Attend:

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to write their TV series pilot script.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to add a marketable TV series pilot script to their portfolio.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the craft of TV pilot script writing from a top showrunner who has ben nominated for multiple Emmy awards in recent years. 

Producers who want to better understand the TV pilot genre and what represents a marketable TV series pilot script.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by writing a TV series pilot script.

Stage 32 Next Level Education has a 97% user satisfaction rate.

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Class hosted by: Todd Slavkin

Veteran Showrunner, Writer, Director

Todd Slavkin is a showrunner/writer/director with over 35 years of experience in both film and television. Working with his oldest friend and writing/producing partner Darren Swimmer, Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS (winner of 2017 GLAAD media award for outstanding drama series, 2018 People’s Choice Award for Best Show & Most Bingeworthy Show, 2019 People’s Choice Award Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Show) and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he was nominated for four Emmys; 2022 & 2023 Outstanding Young Teen Series and Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program. He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, SYFY, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was co-showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez. Full Bio »

Summary

Only 3 Spots Still Available To Work One-On-One With Todd Slavkin

Write your television series pilot episode in 10 weeks while being mentored directly by multi Emmy nominated TV showrunner Todd Slavkin.

***Flexible Learning: if you cannot attend any of the sessions live don't worry - you will be sent the links to the recordings of each session within 48 hours of the live session and you will have direct access to Todd on email to ask him any questions about your project, craft or career so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.***

Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details

 

If you are ready to write your TV series pilot episode under the mentorship of one of the best showrunners working in TV then this exclusive Stage 32 screenwriting lab is for you.

Over the course of this 10 week writing lab, you will develop your series idea into a professional pilot episode outline and then you will actually write your pilot episode. 

Guiding you on your writing journey is multi Emmy nominated television writer and showrunner Todd Slavkin. Todd will teach you about about story structure, scene structure, scene description, dialogue and everything in between and you will walk away from his lab with the first draft of your completed teleplay for your pilot episode. 

Todd is a showrunner/writer/director with over 35 years of experience in both film and television. Working with his writing/producing partner Darren Swimmer, Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS (winner of 2017 GLAAD media award for outstanding drama series, 2018 People’s Choice Award for Best Show & Most Bingeworthy Show, 2019 People’s Choice Award Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Show) and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he has been nominated for four Emmys (2022 & 2023 Outstanding Young Teen Series and Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program). He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, SYFY, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was co-showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez.

You will work with Todd and your fellow writers in a virtual class setting, with ample time for Q&A’s, and you will also have one-on-one sessions with Todd where he will give you constructive notes and share his thoughts on your story, outline and script pages.

These sessions will mirror the experience you would have working with a showrunner on your pilot and allow you the opportunity to be mentored by a top professional to get your script written.

This lab is a must experience for any level of writer looking to harness your talent into a strong TV pilot/writing sample that will help further your career.

 

Praise For Todd's Teaching

"Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B.

"I never realized how much fell on the showrunner before working with Todd. He's a fantastic educator!" - Meg L.

What You'll Learn

WEEK ONE - THE IDEA

  • INTRODUCTIONS
    • Todd’s Story
    • Your Story
  • THE IDEA
    • Do You Have An Idea Now? What is it?
    • Still Searching? How Do You Find It?
    • Commerce Ideas Versus Art
  • IS IT A TV SERIES?
    • What Does That Mean?
    • Why Does It Matter?
  • YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION
    • What It Means To You
    • Passion, Passion And More Passion
    • The Story That Won’t Go Away
  • CHARACTERS
    • Who Are They?
    • Be Specific
    • Details Matter
  • BEATING IT OUT
    • Moments
    • Scenes
    • Structure
    • Index Cards

ASSIGNMENT: Submit Your Idea or Several Ideas In Three Sentences Or Less

READ: Outline for Soar & Outline for Cat Scratch Fever

 

WEEK TWO - ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH TODD TO DISCUSS YOUR IDEA(S)

  • ZOOM MEETINGS WITH TODD
    • Schedule at your convenience via email
    • Discuss Your Idea(s)
    • Discuss Your Story
    • Ask Todd Anything

ASSIGNMENT: Write Character Sheets

 

WEEK THREE - THE OUTLINE

  • DISCUSS THE OUTLINES TO SOAR & CAT SCRATCH FEVER
    • What Did You Like?
    • What Did You Not Like?
    • Were They Clear?
    • What Was The Tone Of Each?
  • STRUCTURE
    • Teaser
    • Push Off
    • Four Acts?
  • SHAPE OF A SCENE
    • The Nut
    • The Judo
    • Beginning, Middle and End
    • Unpredictability
  • THE WRITING
    • Language Counts
    • Clarity
    • Flow
    • Tone
  • WHAT DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START?
    • A Pilot Roadmap Is Helpful
    • Beat Sheet Can Be An Alternative
    • Index Cards Also Work

ASSIGNMENT: Write Your Outline (2 weeks)

 

WEEK FOUR - CONTINUE TO WRITE YOUR OUTLINE

  • CHECK IN WITH TODD 
    • Can Schedule A Zoom Meeting
    • Ask Any Questions
    • Share Your Struggles And Victories
    • Todd Ihere for you

ASSIGNMENT: Submit Your Outline To Todd

 

WEEK FIVE - ONE ON ONES TO DISCUSS OUTLINE

  • RECEIVE NOTES DIRECTLY FROM TODD
    • You Will Have A Zoom Meeting With Todd
    • Be Prepared For Constructive Criticism
    • Be prepared to make adjustments

ASSIGNMENT: Submit Revised Outline To Todd And Classmates

 

WEEK SIX - THE TELEPLAY

  • DISCUSS CLASS OUTLINES
    • How To Give Constructive Thoughts In The Writer’s Room
    • Put Your Ego Aside
    • Open Your Mind And Heart
    • The Work Can Always Be Better
  • OVERVIEW OF WHAT MAKES A GREAT SCRIPT
    • The Story
    • The Dialogue
    • Scene Description
    • Finding Your Voice
  • DIALOGUE
    • Conversational
    • Naturalistic
    • Listen And Record Others
    • Use Funky Punctuation And Grammar If Need Be
  • SCENE DESCRIPTION
    • Words And Language Convey Tone
    • Economy Matters
    • No More Than Three Or Four Lines
  • YOUR VOICE
    • Make It Fun To Read
    • Only You Can Write This
  • THE LOOK OF THE PAGE
    • Easy Reading Tips
    • Character Names Begin With Different Letters
    • Resist The Checkerboard
  • FINAL DRAFT TUTORIAL (For Those Who Need It)

ASSIGNMENT: Begin Writing Your Script... And Have Fun! (3 Weeks)

READ: Teleplays for Soar & Cat Scratch Fever

 

WEEK SEVEN - CONTINUE WRITE YOUR TELEPLAY

  • CHECK IN WITH TODD
    • Share Pages For Feedback Via Email
    • Schedule A Zoom Meeting With Todd At Your Convenience
    • Receive Todd's Thoughts
    • Ask Todd Any Question

ASSIGNMENT: Continue Writing

 

WEEK EIGHT - CONTINUE WRITE YOUR TELEPLAY

  • CHECK IN WITH TODD
    • Share Pages For Feedback Via Email
    • Schedule A Zoom Meeting With Todd At Your Convenience
    • Receive Todd's Thoughts
    • Ask Todd Any Questions

ASSIGNMENT: Submit Your Pages Via Email To Todd And Rest Of Class

 

WEEK NINE - DISCUSS YOUR TELEPLAYS & KEEP WRITING

  • THE ROUNDTABLE IN A WRITER’S ROOM
    • Thoughts On Scripts
    • Compassion And Kindness In The Room
    • Keep Your Mind Open
  • DISCUSS REWRITE IDEAS
    • What if?

ASSIGNMENT: HAVE ANOTHER ONE-ON-ONE WITH TODD DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK

  • Schedule Your Zoom
  • Hear Directly About Your Script From Todd

 

WEEK TEN - WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PILOT SCRIPT IS FINISHED

  • HOW TO POLISH
    • Tweaking Forever - When To Stop
  • USE YOUR PEERS
    • Writer Groups
    • Feedback Is Gold
  • DEVELOPING THE SERIES
    • The treatment
  • THE PITCH
    • Seasons 2, 3, and 4
  • REPRESENTATION
    • Managers vs. agents

 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an executive and 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.

  • This lab is designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced writers interested in writing a TV series pilot script.
  • By the end of this 10-week lab, you will have a TV series pilot script vetted by a professional in the industry.
  • This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with one-on-one time with the instructor and significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
  • You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.
  • Plus, to stay motivated and inspired, you will have access to a private, dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the lab.
  • **Todd will be available to you on email during the 12 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft, career or project.**

Payment plans are available - please contact edu@stage32.com for more information

About Your Instructor

Todd Slavkin is a showrunner/writer/director with over 35 years of experience in both film and television. Working with his oldest friend and writing/producing partner Darren Swimmer, Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television

shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS (winner of 2017 GLAAD media award for outstanding drama series, 2018 People’s Choice Award for Best Show & Most Bingeworthy Show, 2019 People’s Choice Award Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Show) and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he was nominated for four Emmys; 2022 & 2023 Outstanding Young Teen Series and Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program. He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, SYFY, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was co-showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez.

Schedule

Saturday January 27th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday February 3rd 11am-1pm PT

Saturday February 10th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday February 17th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday February 24th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday March 2nd 11am-1pm PT

Saturday March 9th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday March 16th 11am-1pm PT

Saturday March 23rd 11am-1pm PT

Saturday March 30th 11am-1pm PT

 

FAQs

Q: What is the format of a lab?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Classes are typically 90-minute broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32.

Q: Do I have to be located in a specific location?
A: No, you can participate from the comfort of your own home using your personal computer! If you attend a live online webinar, you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the class.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live class. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer

Q: What if I cannot attend the live lab class?
A: If you attend a live online class, you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the class. If you cannot attend a live class, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A. Plus, your instructor will be available via email throughout the lab.

Q: Will I have access to the lab afterward to rewatch?
A: Yes! After the purchase of the lab, you will have on-demand access to the video recording, which you can view as many times as you'd like!

Questions?

If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have.

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