Summary
Learn how to develop and produce your hit true crime series with Zig Gauthier, a veteran TV executive who has become one of the most prolific producers in the true crime genre!
Plus! You'll receive a true crime series pitch deck template and one sheet example
Do you have an idea for a true crime series that would resonate with audiences across the globe?
It’s no secret that there has been a proliferation of true crime content across major streamers and networks in recent years. More streamers and networks than ever before now air original true crime content, making true crime the hottest genre in America and increasingly popular internationally. Netflix, Max, Oxygen, ID/Investigation Discovery, Peacock, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Paramount+ and countless other distribution outlets now have jumped on board the true crime content train. And the demand for these types of series is only increasing, as audiences can’t seem to get enough of true crime content!
There has never been a better time to develop and produce your true crime show. However, where do you even start to get your true crime series into production? How do you get the rights to tell the story and, once you do, how do you pick which elements of the story to focus on to create the most compelling series possible? Not to mention, how do you go about producing the series with archival footage and interviews? We’re here to help.
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to develop, pitch, and produce your true crime series that will resonate with mass audiences. Guiding you through the world of true crime series is veteran television producer and development executive Zig Guathier. Zig produced such true crime series hits as KILLER SIBLING, THE REAL MURDERS OF ATLANTA, SIN CITY MURDERS, ACCIDENT, SUICIDE OR MURDER, EXECUTED WITH DEBORAH NORVILLE, EXPOSED WITH DEBORAH NORVILLE and PINK COLLAR CRIMES. He oversaw the development of Oxygen's SIN CITY MURDERS. Prior to focusing on true crime, Zig was a producer on such shows as DANCING WITH THE STARS, BIG BROTHER, TOP SHOT, AUCTION HUNTERS, GHOST HUNTERS, HOLLYWOOD MEDIUM WITH TYLER HENRY, MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP, CATCH A CONTRACTOR, TATTOO RESCUE, R&B DIVAS and more. Zig is now working with the Stage 32 community to teach you basics and secrets for success in developing and producing true crime content.
You will learn everything from how to secure the IP rights to the story, how to identify the most jaw-dropping drama within your story, how to pitch your series to buyers, and how to maximize your time during production between filming content and utilizing archival footage to tell your story, and so much more.
Plus! You'll receive:
- A true crime series pitch deck template (you can edit)
- A true crime series one sheet example
You will walk away from this webinar with the knowledge and skills to effectively develop and produce your own hit true crime series.
What You'll Learn
- How to develop your true crime series
- What is Intellectual Property and how does it come into play when developing your series?
- How to best identify the main beats of your story
- How to best prepare your materials, including treatments, decks, bibles, sizzle reels and more
- Development of pitch strategy, including identifying which production companies to pitch
- Deal and participation expectations - what you can expect and what you should look out for in your deal
- How to take your true crime series from pre-production through to post-production
- Pre-production
- How to best research & identify cases/stories for your series
- Writing one-sheets of potential stories - how this helps hone your story
- Writing of extended pitches/story outlines of approved stories and episodic booking of interviewees
- Production
- Fundamentals of capturing interviews that serve your story
- Recreations
- How to make the most out of archival materials
- Post-production
- How to work efficiently with your post-production team
- What is the delivery schedule for your series
- Pop the champagne!
- Pre-production
- Q&A With Zig
Who Should Attend
All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn how to develop and produce their true crime series.
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to develop and create a true crime series.
Producers who want to learn the best way to develop and execute a true crime series to maximize audience size and commercial success.
Producers who want to learn the development and production pipeline of a true crime series.
Executive
Zig Gauthier has been working in Hollywood as a producer, network executive, studio executive and entrepreneur for several decades. He received an undergraduate degree from UCLA in Political Science and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. Gauthier started his career as a development executive, working at Fox TV Studios, before moving on to the network side as Co-head of Alternative Programming/VP at NBC Universal’s Syfy Channel. Later, he held original programming Vice President roles at Fox Cable Networks/Fox Sports Net and the Game Show Network.
Gauthier later transitioned to work as a freelance producer on such shows as Dancing With The Stars, Big Brother, Top Shot, Auction Hunters, Ghost Hunters, Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, Marriage Boot Camp, Catch A Contractor, Tattoo Rescue, R&B Divas and more. More recently, he has focused more on documentaries for television, with an expertise in true crime and sports content. He has produced such true crime series as Killer Siblings, The Real Murders of Atlanta, Sin City Murders, Accident, Suicide or Murder, Executed With Deborah Norville, Exposed With Deborah Norville and Pink Collar Crimes. He oversaw the development of Oxygen's Sin City Murders. On the sports front, he was second in command of the west coast office of digital sports behemoth Overtime, where he Created, Directed and Executive Produced the hit digital documentary franchise Superteam, launching the original hit Superteam: Prolific Prep, among other sports series. Gauthier's debut documentary film Hood River aired successfully on HBO.
In addition to his work experience, Gauthier has also been a champion of diversity issues and mentor to hundreds, whom he takes pride in challenging and motivating to achieve their personal and professional dreams. He is a former Board Member of the Newscorp Diversity Advisory Board and a Diversity Committee Member of the TV Academy. Gauthier has been committed for years helping individuals advance professionally in entertainment. He has supervised and managed directly approximately 700 interns from more than 15 different countries. He has been a featured speaker at NATPE, the WGA Non-Fiction Entertainment Panel, the South Korean International Animation Festival, Media Xchange, UCLA Extension’s Entertainment Studies Program, and numerous colleges.
Gauthier was raised in a small town (1980 US Census population of 100) in the mountains of true northern California, just south of Oregon. He graduated second in his high school class and received a partial academic scholarship to UCLA. Gauthier has been living on his own since he was 16 years old, self-funded both his undergrad and graduate educations, and started working in 3rd grade cleaning bathrooms/toilets at the town bar. He has held a steady job since grade school.
Credits
