Summary
Plus! You'll receive a 9-Act Lifetime Movie Breakdown, The Screenplay and Shooting Schedule for the made-forTV movie THE PREACHER'S SIN and more!
Many filmmakers think the only pathway to a career as a writer or director is to get their indie film into Sundance or become a TV episodic director. But there’s another pathway into the industry that filmmakers often overlook– Made for TV Movies.
Stalking. Kidnapping. Murder. These are just some of the ingredients of the Made for TV recipe.
But what sets a great TV thriller apart from not-so great ones? What’s the difference between writing movies for television vs. big screen? What budgets should you consider when writing a Made for TV movie?
All of these questions and more will be answered in this exclusive Stage 32 webinar hosted by Michelle Mower. Michelle is the acclaimed writer, producer and director whose work includes Lifetime's highly rated movie THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER, starring Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives”), A WOMAN BETRAYED, THE PREACHER’S SIN, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER?, and the dark teen comedy THE NEVER LIST, starring Fivel Stewart, Jonathan Bennett and Booboo Stewart.
You'll learn the types of stories and/or genres that television networks are buying and how to pitch your TV movie or screenplay to a network and to streamers like Netflix, HULU or Tubi. You'll cover business models including selling to a U.S. broadcast network to retain international rights? How casting plays a hand in getting these movies sold. And so much more.
The market is hot for TV movies, but developing these movies can be challenging because you want to ensure your story includes all the elements that make a TV movie successful without being too paint-by-numbers formulaic.
This course will take you through the process of developing, writing and producing Made for TV movie that will sell.
Plus! Michelle will give out exclusive handouts to help you in developing and writing your made for TV Movie! Downloads include:
- Screenplay for "THE PREACHER'S SIN"
- Shooting Schedule for "THE PREACHER'S SIN"
- One Sheet for "THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER"
- 9 Act Lifetime Movie Breakdown
- Official Synopsis for "A SISTER'S DEADLY PLEDGE"
Praise For Michelle's Teaching
“Michelle’s screenwriting workshop offered insights and techniques that helped me write better screenplays. Her class changed my life and gave me courage to go for my dream.” Stacy N.
"This was wonderfully detailed and thorough. The presenter (Michelle Mower) was well organized, and easy to follow. It was rather thrilling to listen to someone who is not only knowledgeable but also wears so many hats! Once again, Stage 32, you've delivered a winner." -Crispin L.
What You'll Learn
How To Develop and Write A Made For TV movie That Sells
- Researching a network’s brand and demographics
- How to know if your story is a good fit for a network’s programming
- Story Structure/Format for TV Movies vs. Theatrical Movies
- Writing for a TV Movie Budget
- Originals vs. Acquisitions
- Creating A Franchise
Pitching Your Made For TV Movie
- Talent Agents
- Production Companies
- Distribution/Sales Companies
- Competitions
Production Requirements for Broadcast TV Movies
- Starting an LLC for your Production
- Budgeting and Scheduling
- Casting Your Made For TV Movie
- Navigating Network Needs
- Music, Copyright and Trademark Licensing
- Deliverables/Marketing Requirements
Beyond Broadcast TV
- Selling to Premium Streamers (Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV, Amazon, etc.)
- Selling International Rights
- TVOD, SVOD and AVOD Platforms
Q&A with Michelle
Who Should Attend
All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to understand made to TV movies.
All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to understand made to TV movies.
Producers with an interest in made to TV movies.
Actors interested in made to TV movies.
Executive
Michelle Mower is an acclaimed writer, producer and director whose work has been featured on Lifetime, Apple TV, Amazon and many other platforms. Mower’s debut feature film THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER, starring Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives”), was picked up by Lifetime in 2012 and garnered the highest ratings for the network that year. This success lead Mower to write and direct three more telefilms for the network – A WOMAN BETRAYED (2013), THE PREACHER’S SIN (2015) and WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER? (Fall, 2022).
In 2018, Mower produced and co-directed the political docu-series DAYNA STEELE: ROCK THE 36TH that followed a former radio DJ running for Congress as a Democrat in the “Reddest District in Texas”. The docu-series gave Mower a chance to interview her idol Joan Jett. This lead to her producing and directing political ads for the PAC Mothers Against Greg Abbott that were tweeted by some of her heroes, including Mark Hamill, Mark Ruffalo and George Takei.
Mower more recently directed the dark teen comedy THE NEVER LIST, starring Fivel Stewart, Jonathan Bennett and Booboo Stewart, that was released theatrically in the U.S. in December, 2020. Mower is currently in development on the independent feature film RUNNING FROM HORSES, a coming-of-age drama about a horse racing jockey and her tempestuous relationship with her alcoholic father/trainer.
In 2016, Mower acquired Imagination Worldwide, an international sales and distribution company based in Los Angeles. For 6 years, the company provided opportunities for talented female filmmakers to get their first feature films distributed both domestically and in dozens of territories worldwide. Some of the films distributed by Imagination Worldwide include Amber Tamblyn’s directorial debut “Paint It Black”, starring Alia Shawkat and Janet McTeer, and the 2018 SXSW Audience Award-Winning drama “The Light of the Moon”, directed by Jessica M. Thompson (“The Invitation”) and starring Stephanie Beatriz (“Encanto”, “Brooklyn 99”).
Michelle received her B.A. degree in Radio/Television from the University in Houston in 2000. In 2003, Michelle went to work for Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), a non-profit media arts organization based in Houston, where she organized monthly professional development workshops for filmmakers, after-school programs for at risk youth, independent film screenings at Rice University, monthly networking mixers and other special film-related events. Through her work with SWAMP, Michelle started Lights! Camera! Action! Summer Moviemaking Camp for teens and the annual Business of Film Conference at Rice University. She currently sits on the board of 4th Wall Theatre Company and on the advisory boards for University of Houston’s Valenti School of Communication, Texas Southern University’s School of Communication and Houston Community College Film & TV Department. Mower formerly served on the boards of Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA), Women In Film and Television Houston (WiFT-H) and Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP).
Credits
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