Learn the most effective strategies on how to write and produce a romantic comedy feature from Matt Bierman, a producer and executive who has worked at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more! In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you'll learn the fundamentals of creating a successful romantic comedy. This is your chance to learn how to craft a winning story, identify target buyers, and explore budgeting and monetization strategies to make your film a success. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this webinar is a must-attend for anyone looking to make their mark in the world of romantic comedies. Your Stage 32 Educator is Matt Bierman, a studio executive and producer who has previously worked as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more. Matt is an expert in the field of romantic comedies having produced Christmas With the Darlings, Love at First Bark, Love Under the Stars, Memories of Christmas, and more. Under Matt's guidance, you will learn how to map out your unique idea using his proven tactics and techniques. Matt will cover how to develop, write and produce a successful rom-com you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the key elements that make for a successful film. You will cover the complete gambit of what makes a successful romantic comedy: understanding your audience, exploring the various sub-genres of this feature type and discussing rom-com script structure. You will also get key tips on current market trends and needs, valuable insight into who the buyers of such features are and what they are looking for and Matt will also walk you through the economics of romantic comedies including physical production considerations. Don't miss out on your chance to learn how to create and produce your romantic comedy feature! Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge: “Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, Director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2 "This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M. "Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.
Learn from an executive and producer with over 25 years of experience behind holiday and rom-com films such as A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, LOVE AT FIRST BARK, LOVE UNDER THE STARS, and more. Holiday-themed romantic comedies have become a year-round staple for television viewers. It goes beyond Christmas. There’s a holiday event every month and a “rom-com” on countless networks and platforms to celebrate it. So are you ready to write or produce your feel-good holiday-themed rom-com for audiences worldwide? In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how to write, develop, and produce a holiday rom-com. These films aren’t the same as straight Christmas movies or other romantic comedies. The holiday rom-com is its own genre, and you’ll find out the rules and norms that audiences require and how to break those rules effectively. You won’t just learn how to write these stories but also who the buyers are how and how to produce them. You will cover the budget ranges, how to generate the budget, how to monetize your film, and what you need to sell your film. It’s no longer just Hallmark telling these audience-favorite stories. Now, they’re being shown on networks and streaming platforms across the spectrum, giving you more opportunities than ever to get your project made. Your teacher is Matt Bierman, a studio executive and producer with over 25 years of experience. Matt has previously worked as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more. He has also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon. Matt has vast experience making low-budget holiday films and romantic comedies, including A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, LOVE AT FIRST BARK, LOVE UNDER THE STARS, and more. You’ll learn all about this hugely popular genre as Matt shares his vast knowledge and experience with you so you can discover how to jump into this in-demand genre by writing and producing your own movie today. Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge: “Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2 "This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M. "Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.
Learn How To Budget and Manage Your Film or TV Project from an Emmy Winning Producer Whether you’re a producer, director, or a department head, budgeting and managing your production is the key to creating a successful film. In this exclusive, on-demand 4-session Stage 32 class you’ll learn how to identify and determine your budget needs and learn tips and tricks to keeping on budget and making the most of each dollar. You’ll find out how to not only plan for each day, but to execute with the end-game in mind. Whether it’s a film festival premiere, distribution with a streaming platform, awards, or a theatrical release, you need to know where you’re going in order to pave the road to success. A poorly planned film can derail quickly and the budget can balloon out of control. If you don’t have the right tools, resources, and foresight, you’ll end up with a film that can’t be completed. This class and assignments will help you identify the budget level that’s right for your film, point you to the tools to manage it, and provide you with tips for building relationships and resources to support your efforts. Class take-aways prepare you for creating and managing a company of crew, cast, and stakeholders. You’ll come away from this class with the knowledge to ask the right questions and build a solid plan for your next film. Sharing this invaluable information for you exclusively through Stage 32 is Allison Vanore, an Emmy Award-winning producer with projects at Amazon Prime, NBC Universal, Canvas Media Studios, Facebook Watch, and more. She produced the six-time Emmy-winning series AFTER FOREVER and directed the follow-up special RILEY'S UNFORGETTABLE SCHOOL PROJECT, for which she was awarded the Television Academy Chairman's Pillar Award for getting the production back to work safely during the pandemic. She also produced the award-winning series DARK/WEB and currently produces digital content for Mattel's doll brands, American Girl and Barbie. She was previously the Head of Production at Canvas Media Studios. Having produced films during these significant union, health, and safety changes, Allison is uniquely equipped to highlight the obstacles you're about to face and show you how to circumvent them. WHAT MAKES THIS CLASS UNIQUE How to identify essential elements in your script during development. Practice assignments for creating a plan for a crew of 60 people And more great resources!
Learn How To Craft Characters That Pop Off The Screen And Write Dialogue That Resonates With Your Audience From A Writer And Producer Who Has Worked With HBO, FOX, CBS, NBC and More! There is a critical beat in the Oscar winning film EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE when the lead character Alpha-Waymond declares "Every rejection, every disappointment, has led you here, to this moment. Don't let anything distract you from it." This is a great example of perfectly developed character saying a transcendent and memorable line at just the right time. It isn't an accident. Moments like these are earned on the page through well crafted writing and Stage 32 is here to teach you how you can develop memorable characters and world-class dialogue in your scripts. Brian Herskowitz is a veteran film and television writer and producer who has worked on over 2 dozen films and television shows (with HBO, FOX, CBS, NBC, UNIVERSAL and more) and he's bringing his experience across all formats to the Stage 32 community on this on-demand class! In this four-session Stage 32 on-demand class, Brian will delve into what makes a character memorable and then how that special character can lead you to unforgettable dialogue. Brian is going to teach you how creating memorable characters and world-class dialogue can be the difference between a movie or show that’s “fine” and one that’s exceptional. Don't miss this chance to take your writing to the next level and your scripts from good to great! Plus! Brian will provide you with over a dozen exclusive handouts to help develop your characters and dialogue! Downloads include: Selected scenes from the script of THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Selected scenes from the script of PAN'S LABYRINTH Selected scenes from the script of THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Praise for Brian's Teaching & Knowledge: “As a collaborator with Brian and a guest in his class, I am hugely impressed with his screenwriting knowledge. I heartily recommend him and his course.” - Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, Pretty Woman, Listen Up) "I have a master's degree and a doctorate, Brian is by far the most caring and best teacher I have ever had." - Alan J. "The course was everything I needed and then some. An excellent course." - Katie R. "Mr. Herskowitz is very knowledgeable, patient, and superb at discerning problems and helping us solve them." - Sandra O. "A solid course in which I felt I had learned a LOT by the time it was over." - Peter L.
When people think of Manchester By the Sea, they think of an independent film drama that finds comfort in its misery. There is a stoic color palate that highlights the depressing grey of New England and its melancholy protagonist. The script (and film) are also filled with a certain quirkiness and comedy typical of the American working class city by the sea. Through its incredible pain, there are rays of sunshine and humanity that are delicately written and incredibly effective. We've brought in the Development Executive for Mandalay Pictures, Patrick Raymond, to deconstruct this Oscar-winning script. What we will discuss and uncover is the process and elements required that enabled a film as seemingly small and intimate, like Manchester, to become a commercial and critical success. We also will address the elements of writing that attract A-level talent and help create characters that support great performances. Patrick looks forward to the discussion. All attendees will receive the Manchester by the Sea script and we highly recommend you read it in advance of the webinar.
The Cartel Manager Corey Ackerman 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.