Stage 32 Screenwriting Lab: Write Your 1-Hour Drama TV Pilot In 10 Weeks

Last 2 Spots Left - Grab Your Spot Now

Write your 1-hour drama television pilot in 10 weeks while being mentored one-on-one by TV drama writer Cole Quirk from FX's hit series JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL

***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 Cole on email to ask her any questions about your craft or career so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.***

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

Drama series like WHITE LOTUS, SUCCESSION, THE LAST OF US, LOVE & DEATH and countless others are dominating pop culture, receiving both audience and critical acclaim. Audiences are hungry for fresh quality drama ideas and all of these series need writers in their rooms.

Do you have an idea for a great drama television series? Then now is the time for you to commit, be held accountable and actually write your pilot script and this exclusive Stage 32 screenwriting lab is here to help you do just that. 

Writing a world-class drama pilot script of your original idea is one of the most important things you can do to move your career forward. However, writing that pilot episode for your drama series is no easy achievement. 

In this exclusive Stage 32 screenwriting lab, you will actually write the script for your pilot episode under expert guidance from a TV writer with vast experience. Guiding you through your writing process is accomplished television writer Cole Quirk, who most recently wrote on the hit series JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL (FX). Before that, Cole worked in the writers's rooms of ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST (NBC), SCREAM (MTV), RESURRECTION (ABC), THE 100 (CW), and CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS). She also sold a murder mystery feature pitch to THE HALLMARK CHANNEL. Between shows Cole worked for a writer/producer under a development deal at SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT.

Over 10 interactive sessions, including one-on-one Zoom sessions with Cole, Cole will teach you everything you need to know to develop a marketable drama series and guide you through the writing process so you complete a draft of your pilot episode!

You will gain practical experience developing your story for television. Emphasis will be placed on studying dramatic structure, learning techniques that strengthen character development, and understanding the importance of collaboration with other writers when you land that coveted job in a writers' room. You will also learn how to assess the marketplace by determining what network and studio executives are looking for, as well as the best way to quickly and effectively pitch your idea, starting with crafting your logline.

Over the course of this highly interactive lab, you will be called upon to give feedback, receive notes, and actively participate in online class discussions. You will submit written works in progress for critiques as you go so you can hone your script throughout the process to completion. 

You will walk away from this lab with a completed draft of your pilot script for your drama series in-hand and the knowledge of how to best shop it to prospective buyers.

"Writers need deadlines, without them we tend to put things off, so I'm thrilled to be able to guide Stage 32 students to finishing their pilot. I'm an active working writer in the entertainment industry and I'm going to share exactly how the business works, right now, and how to find your place in it. Let's get your story told." - Cole Quirk

What You’ll Learn

**Please note: Assignments are DUE WEDNESDAY by midnight PST. Any assignments received after this will not be discussed in class and feedback will be significantly delayed. To get the most out of class, adhere to the hard deadlines. Once we get into writing scenes and story documents, you will be required to read each other’s assignments, providing encouraging and constructive feedback.

**PRE- CLASS: PREPARE 3 LOGLINES FOR PROJECTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO DEVELOP IN CLASS. One should be personal to you. Your loglines should be one sentence each and include your PROTAGONIST, their GOAL, and their OBSTACLE**

SESSION 1: Story, Structure & Docs - Saturday 10/14

• Introductions and Syllabus Review.
• Story Genres and Generating Ideas.
• Review loglines - Why this Story? Why Now?
• Crafting Active, Memorable Characters
• Writing Natural Dialog and Subtext
• Writing Scenes: Script Formatting and Structure
• What goes in a Slugline?
• Structure - Discovering Your Beginning, Middle and End
• What is a Story Document?
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit a 1 Page Story Doc, written in essay form in a Word Document or
PDF, with a TITLE and LOGLINE of your story at the top. Be prepared to give feedback
to another student on their Story Doc.

SESSION 2: World Building - Saturday 10/21

• Discuss Story Docs that were turned in
• Adding unique details to your story
• Using specifics in Character, Voice, Tone, and Location
• Notes - How to give and accept productive feedback.
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit a 2 Page Story Doc, which builds onto your one-page story doc.
Be prepared to give feedback to another student on their 2 Page Story Doc.

SESSION 3: Outlines - Saturday 10/28

• Writing the Outline: Act Structure of Drama TV Pilots
• Escalating Conflict - What is an Act Out or an Act Break?
• Story Doc feedback
• Entertainment news outlets (Deadline, Variety) to be reading daily and why
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit your Act One and Act Two Outline. Be prepared to give feedback
to another student on their Act One and Act Two Outline.

SESSION 4: One-on-One Consultations (no online class)

Individual check-ins during a scheduled Zoom time.

SESSION 5: Continuing Outlines - Saturday 11/11

• Writing and workshopping outlines
• The Importance of Networking: Using social media as a networking platform in the
  entertainment industry
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit your Act Three and Act Four Outline. Be prepared to give
feedback to another student on their Act Three and Act Four Outline.

SESSION 6: Continuing Outlines - Saturday 11/18

• Writing and workshopping outlines
• Film Festivals, submitting scripts to contests, and other places to get beneficial
  recognition for your work
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit your Act Five Outline. Be prepared to give feedback to another
student on their Act Five Outline.

*NO CLASS THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, SATURDAY 11/25*

SESSION 7: Writing the Script - Saturday 12/2

• Writing The Script
• When to include a Teaser
• The Business of Screenwriting
  • You have a finished script, what are the next steps?
• How do agents and managers work, ways to get them, and do you need them?
  
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit your Act One and Act Two Script. Be prepared to give feedback to
another student on their Act One and Act Two Script.

SESSION 8: Writing the Script - Saturday 12/9

• Writing The Script
• Working in Entertainment: How to find and secure internships (why internships are
  important) and entry level jobs
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Submit your Act Three and Four Script. Be prepared to give feedback to
another student on their Act Three and Four Script.

SESSION 9: Writing the Script Continued - Saturday 12/16

• Writing your script.
• Working on a TV Show – What’s it like? What are the roles of the support staff, and the
  writers, in a writer’s room? How do you get a job on a TV show?
• Q&A with Cole

Assignment: Write your Act Five script AND submit your completed revised drama pilot
script including that Act Five in one document labeled TITLE.FirstNameLastName.pdf

SESSION 10: One-on-One Consultations (no online class)

Individual feedback on your completed pilot during a scheduled Zoom time.

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 1-hour drama television pilot.
• By the end of this 10-week lab, you will have a 1-hour drama television 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.
• **Cole will be available to you on email during the 10 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

Saturday October 14th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday October 21st 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday October 28th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday November 4th 10:30am-12:30pm PT (**One on One Consultations**)

Saturday November 11th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday November 18th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

*NO CLASS THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, SATURDAY 11/25*

Saturday December 2nd 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday December 9th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday December 16th 10:30am-12:30pm PT

Saturday December 23rd 10:30am-12:30pm PT (**One on One Consultations**)

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!