Stage 32 8-Part Lab: Create All The Tools You Need To Sell Your Holiday Romantic Comedy

Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details
Taught by Matt Bierman

$799

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

Sorry. This lab is fully sold out.

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

Projects:

Class hosted by: Matt Bierman

Producer and Studio Executive (Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Brothers and DC Comics)

Matt Bierman has been a studio executive and producer for over 25 years. He started in the feature film business working as an executive for Jon Peters. He has worked directly as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and DC Comics. Additionally, he has been an executive at Village Roadshow Pictures and Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures (SONY). He has also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon. He produced the holiday films A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, and MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS, and the romcom LOVE AT FIRST BARK and LOVE UNDER THE STARS, among others. He has expertise in low-budget mainstream films as he ran the creative at Paramount DVD Premiere and Warner Premiere, those two respective studios' lower-budget made-for-DVD divisions. He has overseen and supervised several dozen movies in the $3-8 million range including BROKEN BRIDGES, SAVE THE LAST DANCE 2, ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY, SCOOBY DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS, LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, FREE WILLY PIRATES COVE ADVENTURE, SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE’S ROYAL ADVENTURE, CINDERELLA STORY IF THE SHOE FITS, MAX 2 and over two dozen others. In addition, he was involved in the creation of the DC UNIVERSE series of animated films and helped put together a WB Anime business for the Japanese market. In his capacity as an executive, he developed and oversaw such theatrical movies as: ROSEWOOD, MYSTERY ALASKA, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, TAKING LIVES, SAVING SILVERMAN, and HOLES to name a few. He also co-wrote and produced a comedy about poker called THE GRAND, directed by Zak Penn. Most recently, he ran the tv department at DC Comics, overseeing the pilots for SANDMAN and DMZ among others. Full Bio »

Summary

Only 2 Spots Still Available In This Lab - Grab Your Spot Now

Create all of the elements that you need to pitch and sell your holiday romantic comedy feature film in 8 weeks with a Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney executive and producer who has made television movies with Hallmark and Nickelodeon including A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS and CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS!

***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 have access to Matt on email to ask him any questions so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.***

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

 

The holiday season will be here before you know it and audiences will be clamoring for new lighthearted television holiday romantic comedies to enjoy with the ones they love. With these movies in such high demand on networks like NBC, Hallmark and Lifetime and streamers like Netflix and Paramount+, it’s never been a better time to create and sell your own holiday romantic comedy.

In this exclusive interactive 8-session Stage 32 lab, you’ll get hands-on guidance to bring your fantastic idea to life from concept to treatment, one-sheet and pitch that you can sell, all while being mentored by an industry veteran and holiday romantic comedy producer.

You’ll learn who the TV and streaming buyers are for holiday romcom films, why you need a one-sheet and a treatment to meet with them to pitch your idea, what story elements they’re looking for, and how you can approach them with confidence.

Guiding you through the entire process 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 also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon.

Matt has vast experience making holiday films and romantic comedies for television, including A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, LOVE AT FIRST BARK, LOVE UNDER THE STARS, and more. And he will be using his work as case studies throughout the lab.

Matt is only accepting 9 more people in his lab to make sure everyone's project get focused attention. You’ll learn in an online classroom setting, where students are encouraged to troubleshoot their ideas and give notes on each others’ work. You’ll also have assignments after every session to guarantee that you’re always progressing toward the completed materials you will need.

You’ll also have TWO one-on-one consultations with Matt during the lab to go through the revisions you’ve made and receive feedback on your work, with notes on how to make it even better and where you should consider pitching it.

You’ll walk away from this lab with all the materials you will need to successfully pitch your holiday romantic comedy feature film - including your logline, one-sheet, and pitch - which have been developed with the mentorship of an industry vet and you'll know who to pitch and how to approach them.

If you’re passionate about bringing your holiday romcoms to television, don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to work with and learn from Matt, and take your ideas to the next level.


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.

What You'll Learn

Preparation: Watch a holiday romcom. (Christmas With The Darlings or Memories of Christmas are two that I produced, and might reference.) Check out press releases for upcoming holiday films.

SESSION One: Thinking About A Holiday Movie Conceptually

In order to write a great film, it is important to know what makes films stand out in the genre so you can craft something that executives will pick up and audiences will love. Our first class will cover all the elements that make a great holiday film and some keys to writing in this genre.

In class:

  • The key elements of a holiday movie are
  • The different holidays that work for this form, and what the audience is looking for in each
  • Writing Christmas scripts- The Pros and Cons
  • Looking at the other holiday possibilities
  • Looking at non-holiday romcoms- The Pros and Cons
  • The advantage of having multiple project ideas for the space
  • Group discussion. What makes a good concept. As an exercise, we will pitch concepts on the spot.

Q&A with Matt

Assignment: write 3 concepts.

 

SESSION Two: Loglines

Our focus will be creating a logline that gets your script noticed

  • What makes a good concept?
  • Exercise:we will pitch concepts on the spot.
  • What makes an effective logline?
  • What concepts work best?
  • How to make your logline standout?

Q&A with Matt

Assignment: Pick your best concept and work your logline.

 

SESSION Three: Filling Out Your Story To Create A Full One-Pager

This week we will talk about filling out your story. The elements and beats that are needed for a marketable holiday film. Learning how films are monetized, the budgets you should be writing to and how, ways to bring fresh ideas to popular holiday themes and more. All of these things help build the elements that will allow us to begin writing your one page summary.

  • The key elements you need to include in the summary
  • Conceiving your story for budget
  • How to bring something new to the table

Assignment: Write a one-page summary of your story

 

SESSION Four: One-On-Ones To Discuss Your Loglines And Summaries (no group session)

You will meet with Matt virtually as an individual to receive feedback on your work/progress so far.

Assignment: Revise your summary based on the feedback you receive.

 

SESSION Five: Turning Your Summary Into A Treatment

Most writers have a sense of how their story is set-up and how it ends, but here, we are going to fill out the middle. We will discuss the 3 Act structure and why second acts can be tricky in a holiday rom com. We will also begin discuss how to use this information to being writing your full outline/treatment.

  • Defining the 3 act structure.
  • What makes a good second Act for your story.
  • What is the bottom of the second act? How do I make an effective 2nd act complication to bring us into Act III?
  • Turning the one-pager into an outline or treatment.
  • How much and what to include.
  • Writing your treatment for both the seller and writer.

Q&A with Matt

Assignment: Watch at least one classic romcom or two. Note the middle and end of the 2nd act; Watch at least one classic romcom or two. Note the middle and end of the 2nd act; Begin your 5-page outline. It is here that you will refine your act structure.

 

SESSION Six: Workshopping The Treatment

This class will be dedicated to workshoping your outlines and working through places you are getting stuck, figuring out what works and what doesn’t and how to fix those things. We will look at a few volunteers outlines and discuss, critique and use as example.

Q&A with Matt

Assignment: Rewrite outlines

 

SESSION Seven: Pitching Treatments

In today’s class, we are going to pitch our stories to the group. The act of pitching itself will reveal a lot about your story, allow you to further polish and craft your outline. Moreover, it is good to get practice, as professional writers have to pitch.

  • Have you hit all the beats?
  • Is your hook strong enough?
  • Is this a movie you would want to see? Who is the audience?
  • In wrap up, we will learn how holiday movies get bought and how they are monetized.

Q&A with Matt

Assignment: Continue to refine your outline/treatment. Turn it in ahead of the last meeting.

 

SESSION Eight: Final One-On-One Consultations (no group session)

You will meet with Matt virtually as individuals to go over your final treatment or outline. Matt will give you notes on how to improve it and tips on how and where you might pitch it.


WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 12 writers and 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 and intermediate writers interested in developing and writing a romantic holiday movie story for television.

  • By the end of this 8-session lab, you will have a professional treatment or outline for a holiday romantic holiday feature script.

  • 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.

  • **Matt Bierman will be available directly to you on email during the 8 sessions to answer any questions you have about your project.**

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

 

About Your Instructor

Matt Bierman has been a studio executive and producer for over 25 years. He started in the feature film business working as an executive for Jon Peters. He has worked directly as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and DC Comics. Additionally, he has been an executive at Village Roadshow Pictures and Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures (SONY). He has also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon.

He produced the holiday films A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, and MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS, and the romcom LOVE AT FIRST BARK and LOVE UNDER THE STARS, among others.

He has expertise in low-budget mainstream films as he ran the creative at Paramount DVD Premiere and Warner Premiere, those two respective studios' lower-budget made-for-DVD divisions. He has overseen and supervised several dozen movies in the $3-8 million range including BROKEN BRIDGES, SAVE THE LAST DANCE 2, ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY, SCOOBY DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS, LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, FREE WILLY PIRATES COVE ADVENTURE, SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE’S ROYAL ADVENTURE, CINDERELLA STORY IF THE SHOE FITS, MAX 2 and over two dozen others. In addition, he was involved in the creation of the DC UNIVERSE series of animated films and helped put together a WB Anime business for the Japanese market.

In his capacity as an executive, he developed and oversaw such theatrical movies as: ROSEWOOD, MYSTERY ALASKA, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, TAKING LIVES, SAVING SILVERMAN, and HOLES to name a few.

He also co-wrote and produced a comedy about poker called THE GRAND, directed by Zak Penn.

Most recently, he ran the tv department at DC Comics, overseeing the pilots for SANDMAN and DMZ among others.

Schedule

Saturday December 2nd – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday December 9th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday December 16th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday December 30th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday January 6th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday January 13th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday January 20th – 10am-12pm PST

Saturday January 27th – 10am-12pm PST

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.

Other education that may be of interest to you:

How You Can Write and Produce a Romantic Comedy Movie That Sells

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.  

How You Can Write And Produce A Successful Holiday Romantic Comedy

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.  

Producing Class: How to Budget & Manage a Production

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!

Stage 32 4-Session Class: How You Can Develop Memorable Characters and World-Class Dialogue

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.

Deconstructing the Oscar-Winning Script: Manchester by The Sea

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. 

Corey Trent Ackerman, Manager at the Cartel

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.

register for stage 32 Register / Log In