Learn how to develop iconic characters from history for the screen from Sam Sokolow, an executive producer of GENIUS: MLK/X, GENIUS: ARETHA, GENIUS: PICASSO & GENIUS: EINSTEIN on Nat Geo/Disney+!

PLUS! You'll receive a copy of the GENIUS: EINSTEIN television pilot script and the ALI feature film screenplay!

There have always been films and television shows about the great iconic figures in history - from movies such as SCHINDLER'S LIST and ALI to TV series like THE CROWN and GEORGE & TAMMY.

Do you have an idea to tell the story of an iconic person from history? Someone whose name has lived on through time or their accomplishments resonated and changed lives or, perhaps, both?

Telling the story of an icon from history can be more challenging than telling almost any contemporary story. Often times their accomplishments put them on a cultural pedestal. It’s more expensive to go back in time on-screen. Distributors crave younger audiences who may not care about a certain person from history. And creatively, how do you truly decipher if your character’s life story can effectively fill a 2-hour movie or a 10-hour series? And then, if everything points to a worthy endeavor, what specific legal rights might you need to tell the person’s story that you want to tell?

Stage 32 is here to answer all of these questions and more.

Taking you through this professional-level training is Sam Sokolow, a 2-time Emmy nominated executive producer with a focus on historical drama. Sam has put almost 20 original shows on television, including the 20-time Emmy-nominated limited series GENIUS for National Geographic Channel and Disney+. The fourth season of GENIUS – GENIUS: MLK/X – will premier in the Fall of 2023. He is currently in development on several films and television series based on real people or true events from history.

During this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to determine if an iconic person from history’s story has a high or low probability of becoming a film or TV series and why. You will discuss how to best develop a dynamic and engaging story for the screen based on an iconic character in history. You will delve into how to best create an on-screen version of your iconic person that an A-List actor would want to play, which is usually a key component of getting a green light for a historical film or TV show. And so much more.

Developing the story of an iconic person from history has the advantage of audience awareness in many cases but there are real challenges and creative questions that need to be answered and addressed early on for your project to have the best chance at success. You will be given the tools to make the most informed decisions on whose story to develop and why, how best to develop that person’s story and how to position your project for success.

PLUS! Sam will provide you with the pilot script from his series GENIUS: EINSTEIN and the feature film screenplay from Michael Mann's Muhammad Ali biopic ALI.

If you are considering telling the story of an iconic character from history for the screen, or if you are already in development on a project about an iconic character from history and need to figure out how best to tell their story for commercial success, then this webinar is a must!

Praise For Sam's Teaching on Stage 32

"I'm so glad I got to work with Sam. His knowledge is very evident in his teaching and I'm better for it! After taking this course, I feel much more confident in pitching." -- Carolyn R.

"There's a lot of info I learned here that I had no idea I didn't know. The pitch can really sink or swim your project, so I can't express the importance of learning this material enough!" -- Amanda H.

• Why are you inspired to tell this story
• What is your connection or interest in this icon?
• Why are you the one to tell their story?

• Is your iconic person or event worthy of a film or TV series?
• What is the central drama in their lives?
• Can their story properly fill 2-10 hours of screen time?
• Are the stakes in their story big enough? And, if so, for which format?
• Is their story as interesting as their achievements?

• How do you humanize an icon?
  • Who is the real person behind the name?
  • What were their strengths and flaws?
  • What were their relationships really like?
  • Did they pay a price for their greatness?

• How do you best approach telling their story?
  • Can you find the human drama in the historical achievement?
  • Tone
  • Theme

• What rights do you need?
  • Source material vs life rights
• What elements do you need to package into your project to give it the best chance of success?
• Q&A with Sam

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to write a film or television series based on an iconic person from history.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn how to assess a historical figure's commercial viability for a film or television series. 

Producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to develop a film or television series based on an iconic person from history.

Producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) who want to learn what qualities in a historical figure's life make for a compelling film or television series.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by writing a film or television series based on an iconic historical figure.