How You Can Win Buyers Over In The First 10 Pages Of Your Script
Other education that may be of interest to you:
How to Break Into TV Movies: Development, Writing & Producing
TV movies are very much alive and well, and if you’re a screenwriter or producer looking to break into this huge market niche, you’ve come to the right webinar. Despite the change in viewer habits with on-demand movies, the TV Movie and the Movie of the Week on Hallmark, Lifetime, and Disney, as well as many other channels are still extremely popular. To breakdown this landscape and share the truths behind the TV Movie model, Stage 32 has brought in MarVista’s former Acquisition and Co-Production executive, Justine Wentzell. Justine has worked on almost 100 different TV movies in MarVista’s core business. After she digs into the specifics of what these networks are looking for, Julie will offer tips on writing a successful script for this niche. Stick around for a Q&A after the webinar to take an even deeper dive into other key elements of this form of storytelling. You will not get more in-depth overview of TV movies, what goes into developing, writing and producing them anywhere else!
Common Mistakes Screenwriters Make & How to Avoid Them
Learn common screenwriting mistakes and how you can avoid them with top literary manager and former script reader at CAA Jon Hersh! PLUS! You'll receive an exclusive list of Common Screenwriting Mistakes to help elevate your writing! A great script can open a lot of doors, but mistakes and errors can slam those doors shut just as fast. What if you have an amazing story, but glaring formatting errors? Or emotional character arcs, but gaping logic holes? Executives and reps oftentimes don’t have time to look past simple mistakes and errors. They’d rather just “pass” and move onto the next piece of material. Readers are ALWAYS looking for a reason to pass. So do not give them that chance with unforced errors! In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls that screenwriters make. Not only can these mistakes turn readers off from reading your script, but in the long-run they can even derail careers. These mistakes run the gamut from formatting errors, conceptual problems, bland characters, plot holes, common dialogue issues, and so much more. If you want to have a fruitful career as a screenwriter, it’s critical you are aware of these mistakes so you avoid them in your writing. Let’s work toward eliminating these missteps so that readers won’t get distracted by the little things and can focus on what really matters – your story on the page. Teaching you all the common screenwriting errors and how to avoid them is literary manager Jon Hersh. Prior to working as a literary manager, Jon was a development exec for 3 years, and a script reader at CAA for 4 years before that. Jon has read and evaluated thousands of screenplays. Some of those were memorable reads that garnered widespread success, like THE BIG SHORT, JOJO RABBIT, and JOHN WICK. But for every big hit, there are countless error-filled screenplays that never got made because the reader couldn’t look past the glaring - yet avoidable - mistakes the writer made. Jon has compiled a list of the most common mistakes he’s noticed in his many years in the business and is sharing it exclusively with the Stage 32 community. This list not only includes Jon’s pet peeves, but notes he has seen from studio executives, producers, production company executives, agents, directors, actors, and others. When a script really works, you can overlook a few issues here and there. But if enough of them build up, they risk tilting the scales toward the dreaded “pass.” If you’re looking to get positive reception on your screenplay, get your project made, and build a lasting career as a screenwriter, this webinar is a must! PLUS! Jon will provide you with his list of Common Screenwriting Mistakes to help you avoid them when you dive into writing your own screenplay. "I'm excited for the opportunity to speak with such a strong community of writers. Thank you Stage 32 for arranging such a fatsastic forum. I look forward to keeping the dialogue going!" - Jon Hersh
Pre-Production Musts To Set Any Filmmakers Up For Success
As a filmmaker, you know that every opportunity to shoot your story is precious. The days when your team is working, your cameras are rolling and your actors are in hair and make-up are days of golden opportunity. But they can also be days of stress and frustration if you haven't prepared properly during pre-production. We want you to have the best shoot days possible and that's why this webinar is invaluable for filmmakers. In this webinar, accomplished director Heath Cullens shares his process of preparing for a shoot exclusively with the Stage 32 community. As a filmmaker, the importance of preparation during pre-production cannot be overstated. Here is your chance to learn how best to prepare from a world-class director. Heath Cullens is a director best known for directing IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, AP BIO, GREAT MINDS WITH DAN HARMON, and FX’s YOU’RE THE WORST. Currently, he is directing MYTHIC QUEST for Apple TV. A good filmmaker is a prepared filmmaker. Filmmakers must focus on getting the story they envision onto the screen, but that vision will unravel if you don’t prepare before. However, if you do prepare properly, you give your film the best chance for success. You’ll receive a step-by-step approach to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team. You’ll cover how to: Hire the best team Communicate your vision Prioritize what you need to shoot Structure your shoot day Create a strategy with your DP Properly use rehearsal time and table reads And much more By the end of this webinar you’ll have a process you can use - and the ability to revisit the lesson on Stage 32 - to ensure the confidence to lead your team as a filmmaker. PRAISE FOR HEATH'S TEACHINGS: "I thought it was on point and very informative. Heath was great." -Frank L.
Spencer Robinson, Manager Art/Work Entertainment
Art/Work Entertainment Manager, Spencer Robinson joins our panel as we listen and read your pitches live to help educate the Writers' Room screenwriters on what is and isn't working in their pitch.
How To Produce Your Horror Movie From Development To Post-Production
Do you want to make a horror movie? Horror movies have never been more in demand in the global marketplace. Horror movies don't need big name actors so their budgets tend to be lower. Scary movies translate into every language where comedies can be hard to travel across borders. A career making horror movies can be lucrative and long-lasting for you if you know the tricks of the trade. And who better for you to learn this craft from than an Academy Award nominated filmmaker who has made multiple horror movies? This exclusive Stage 32 webinar will show you how to make a scary movie from scratch - from your initial idea through prep, production and post-production. Knowing how to take your film on this journey to completion can put you in the rarified air of being a proven filmmaker and can open doors throughout the industry. Your host, Jonathan Heap, will show you how to use every aspect of the filmmaking process to tell a gripping and fresh horror tale from scratch that doesn’t rely on imitating past films, unrealized characters, or illogical stories. Jonathan is an Academy Award-nominated director, writer, and producer with a dozen feature, television, and short credits, including an award-winning horror film now playing on Amazon and Tubi. He’s also worked with major studios like Warner Bros., where he developed a project for Sydney Pollack that became the Coen Brothers’ SUBURBICON, directed by George Clooney. In this webinar, Jonathan will show you how to: Utilize the five kinds of horror films to develop your material Reinvent and generate new horror ideas we haven’t seen before Find great creative and production partners Use lighting and special effects to your advantage Up the scares in post-production By the end of your time with Jonathan, you’ll have the tools to take your scary movie idea to the next level and actually get it made! Testimonials for John's webinar: I liked Jonathan and his presentation. He offered very practical and sound advice, which is always appreciated. - John G. Very meticulous & methodical. Great instructor! - Jefferson Covered all aspects of production. I found his homemade film very suspenseful. Horror with dread and a supernatural disappearing figure plus the music and lighting. - Arthur B.
How You Can Become A Development Executive In Entertainment
How you can land the coveted role of Development Executive at a streamer, studio or network from an executive who's worked with HBO, Paramount, Hallmark, and more! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you get ahead in your job search. Who picks what scripts get produced and become your favorite films and television shows? This role belongs to the Development Executive. The best development executives know how to spot a great script or book that can become a successful film or TV show. They nurture relationships with top talent. They shepherd projects from inception through development and into production managing the creative process while keeping the business side on track. It's all about finding and connecting the right people and helping mold a great script and package that companies want to make and audiences want to see. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll see exactly what being a development executive is all about and how you can land this creative and often lucrative position through both traditional and non-traditional routes. This webinar will flatten your learning curve and get you closer to stepping onto the development executive ladder. You’ll cover everything from how to find scripts to giving notes to landing the development jobs themselves. Your host, Kelly Edwards, is a former HBO executive who teaches a top-tier leadership program for creative executives, and now she’s sharing her fantastic insight on how to be a development executive with you. Kelly has worked with every major studio and her new book, THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO TV SERIES DEVELOPMENT is a bestseller available in stores and online. She’s also responsible for the success of LIVING SINGLE, GIRLFRIENDS, CLUELESS, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, and a host of other television series. In addition to Kelly’s incredible knowledge, she’s providing you with sample coverage, a list of ways to get your foot in the door, a sample resume, and more. When you’ve finished your webinar with Kelly, you’ll know what it takes to be a successful development executive and how people in the industry land these coveted positions. Put yourself ahead of the competition in your job hunt by snagging a spot with Kelly today. PRAISE FOR KELLY'S WORK AND EDUCATION: "Candid, witty, and extremely knowledgeable, she gets straight to the point which is so helpful for everyone - it’s a masters class on the business and TV in particular." -- Rona Edwards, writer/producer and author of l Liked It, Didn’t Love It (Screenplay Development from the Inside Out) "One word -- AMAZING! Kelly left our entire group feeling newly inspired not only about their writing but also about living their best selves. We will definitely be having her back!" -- Lynelle W. (TV writer, BLACK LIGHTNING, Z NATION, ARMY WIVES) "Kelly delivers an essential guide to necessary skills that every writer needs to successfully navigate the entertainment industry. She is a fantastic, knowledgeable presenter who will help you step up your career game." -- Katherine Craft, writer
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