Learn how to make your unique voice shine in your writing from a Creative and Production Executive at a top production company!

We have found ourselves in an age of content overload. As audiences, everywhere we turn we are inundated with stories online, on screen, in podcasts and on the radio. And these are just the stories that make it to these platforms. Script readers and producers are going through much, much more, often reading hundreds of screenplays a month. And yet, with so much content out there, scripts still rise to the top. It’s not theme or content matter that achieves this; it’s authenticity. The industry is changing, but this simple truth never does. Executives, producers, studios, and audiences will always seek out authentic voices. The question, then, is what exactly is authenticity and how does it read on a page?

Adding authenticity to your work is a lot harder than adding, say, character headings. It’s not a switch to turn on and it’s not something that can be easily engineered. Cultivating an authentic voice is a challenge every writer faces and takes years of honing your craft. However, there are things you can do right now to better zero in on your own voice and show it off to executives and other gatekeepers. Better understanding what authenticity looks like on a page, how executives identify it, and the steps writers with strong authentic voices take before approaching a script will give you the best possible chance of your project standing out, continuing into production and ultimately premiering to the masses.

Sarah Cornelius serves as Creative and Production Executive at award-winning Whitewater Films, helmed by director-producer Rick Rosenthal (HALLOWEEN II, BAD BOYS, TRANSPARENT). This approach has resulted in Whitewater producing numerous notable films which have won Independent Spirit Awards, the Sundance Directing Award, a Primetime Emmy, as well as collecting nominations for an Oscar and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Whitewater has produced projects for Paramount Classics, Netflix, Showtime, IFC, Samual Goodwyn Films, The Orchard, CNN Films and more. Whitewater Films recently completed their feature STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN starring Billy Crystal & Ben Schwartz with first-time director Matt Ratner. Their film, THE LAST SHIFT premiered at Sundance 2020 with two time Oscar-nominee Richard Jenkins. In addition they produced FIRST GIRL I LOVED (Sundance winner), HALFWAY THERE (Sundance Episodic Showcase winner) and SMALL ENGINE REPAIR (SXSW premiere). Sarah has been involved with development on each of Whitewater's projects and has the ability to communicate conceptual notes in a direct and effective manner.

Sarah will use her extensive experience evaluating scripts and discovering talent to delve into what goes into finding your authentic voice and how to bring it into your script. She’ll begin by discussing the main questions you should ask yourself before writing a script, including how to prevent writer’s block, how to anchor your concept, and the three ‘whys’ you must address before getting started. Sarah will then approach the concept of authenticity from the point of view of an executive, and what specific things they look at to identify a writer’s voice. She’ll speak to format and clarity, imagery and action, dialogue, point of view, and creativity and risk-taking. Sarah will even teach you how to retain your authenticity past the writing phase. She’ll discuss how to ask for and incorporate feedback while still holding on to your voice and how to pitch what you wrote with authentic confidence. Finding your own authentic voice is never easy, but Sarah will give you the tools you need to better understand how to bring your voice forward and hone in on it with more confidence.

Plus, you will receive 10 downloads of notable screenplays that exhibit an authentic voice (and 2 downloads of scripts without an authentic voice) that Sarah will use to  demonstrate how authenticity reads on the page:

• Jordan Peele's US
• CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
• THE SHAPE OF WATER
• PARASITE
• AMERICAN BEAUTY
• RESERVOIR DOGS
• WHIPLASH
• HARRIET
• TRAINSPOTTING
• APOCALYPSE NOW
• SHOWGIRLS
• CATWOMAN

Praise for Sarah's Stage 32 Webinar:

"Sarah was incredible! Loved her teaching style and insight. Great webinar!"

-David P.

"Very informative, well worth it!"

-Caroline B.

"Great webinar - loved the use of scripts and clips. Wonderful speaker!"

-Ron H.

"Sarah Cornelius was wonderful. Time well spent today."

-Brian B.

• Finding Your Voice Before Writing
  • How to anchor your concept
  • The 3 ‘WHY’s’ you must address before beginning
• How An Executive Identifies Authenticity in the First 10 Pages (With Examples from Scripts)
  • Format and clarity
  • Imagery and action
  • Dialogue
  • Point of view
  • Creativity and risk-taking
• Case Studies: with Script Examples & Downloads:
  • Jordan Peele's US
  • CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
  • THE SHAPE OF WATER
  • PARASITE
  • AMERICAN BEAUTY
  • BOMBSHELL
  • LOUDEST VOICE
  • RESERVOIR DOGS
  • WHIPLASH
  • HARRIET
• What NOT to Do: with 2 Script Examples
  • SHOWGIRLS
  • CATWOMAN
• Authenticity During the Feedback and Pitch Process
  • Ask the “write” people
  • Applying notes and maintaining your why’s
  • Now to pitch what you write with authentic confidence
• Q&A with Sarah

***You will receive your 12 script downloads as pdf downloads underneath the recorded version of the webinar. 

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to delve into what goes into finding your authentic voice and how to bring it into your script.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to delve into what goes into finding your authentic voice and how to bring it into your script.

Producers looking to learn how to delve into what goes into finding your authentic voice and how to bring it into your script.

Actors looking to learn how to delve into what goes into finding your authentic voice and how to bring it into your script.