Summary
Are you unsure how to navigate comedy audiences in a world where tastes and platforms are rapidly changing?
No matter what your style or skill set, there's an audience out there for you. But you won't find them until you put yourself out there with the right tools to get staffed or sell your brilliant comedy.
Every day there's a new streamer with its own brand and audience to cater to. From TED LASSO to PEN15 to SPACE FORCE, there have never been so many opportunities available. But while making someone laugh gets you a career, it takes more to get you in the door, and these digital players aren't following the rules of traditional networks.
In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you'll learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay.
You'll understand how to write stories that will thrill a showrunner and get you staffed in a room. You'll have the chance to analyze your pilot to consider where it fits in the marketplace, how to view it as though you're the executive, and determine how to strengthen your concept so that it's ready to sell. You'll discover the differences between platforms, budgets, schedules, audiences, and development needs, and more.
Most importantly, you'll learn how to get your work into the right hands and snag that comedy gig at a top streaming platform.
Taking you through the state of streamer staffing season and pilot selling is literary and talent manager Spencer Robinson of Art/Work Entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, Spencer has had clients in films from directors Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski, and more. His clients have worked on projects from Netflix, The CW, Cinemax, CBS, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and TBS, to name a few.
Using his extensive experience helping writers get staffed and sell their pilots, Spencer teaches you the do's and don't of writing for streamers vs. network and how to tailor your script to make the best impression on executives at the biggest streamers in town. He lays out how streamers differ from the formatting to structure and specifically analyzes what you should consider before tackling your pilot.
Spencer also dives into staffing and sales, and what approach is best for you. He'll also debunk common misconceptions about selling a comedy series in today's market and how you can use IP to sell your show.
Whether you have the next great comedy series are ready to land a spot in a streaming room, this webinar ensures you walk away prepared for success.
PRAISE FOR SPENCERS TEACHINGS:
Spencer was awesome! Super informative and detail-driven - providing great insights. Packed so much into a short amount of time which I'm super grateful for!
-Eric C.
Spencer Robinson has high energy and packs a ton of information in his lecture. Most importantly Spencer gives realistic advice while encouraging writers to move forward fully informed of the terrain.
-Oweeda N.
Spencer opened my eyes to how the TV world works with broadcast and streaming. What a great crash course!
-Ricki L.
"Very enlightening. Gave a realistic view of how difficult it is to get a pilot made but was just inspiring enough to give hope. :)"
-Clive M.
What You'll Learn
Different Streaming Platforms
- How do the streaming platforms differ from one another?
Script Structure and Format
- Before you write your pilot
- What should your pilot be about?
- Characters
- What structure should your pilot script follow?
- How do comedy scripts for streaming platforms differ from broadcast pilots?
Staffing on a Streaming Show
- How does staffing work?
- What materials do you need to get staffed?
- Diversity hire
- Personal Connection to the show
- Getting your material to the right people
- Showrunner meetings
Selling A Streaming Show
- When is the right time to sell a streaming show?
- What materials do you need to sell a pilot?
- Importance of IP
- What are some common misconceptions about selling a TV series?
Streaming Writers Rooms vs. Broadcast Writers Rooms
- Writers Room schedules
- Taking episode budgets into consideration
- What happens when the show goes into production?
- Time between streaming seasons
Q&A with Spencer
Who Should Attend
All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay.
All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay.
Producers looking to learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay.
Actors looking to learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay.
Executive
Spencer Robinson is a literary and talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment who's been in the industry for over twenty years.
His clients have been in films with directors Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski and more. In the TV world, his clients have been regular cast members on shows for Netflix, The CW, Cinemax, CBS, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, TBS and more. Spencer’s clients have also recurred on series for Freeform, TNT, AMC, Showtime and many more. He currently has a client writing on 2 Netflix series, and another client who just sold a show to Amazon. He also reps a writer who currently has a project at Aggregate Films, which has a deal at Netflix. One of Spencer’s clients had her first film shot for Netflix last year.
Art/Work's writing clients work in both features and television on broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.
Testimonials
Spencer was awesome! Super informative and detail-driven - providing great insights. Packed so much into a short amount of time which I'm super grateful for!
-Eric C.
Spencer Robinson has high energy and packs a ton of information in his lecture. Most importantly Spencer gives realistic advice while encouraging writers to move forward fully informed of the terrain.
-Oweeda N.
Spencer opened my eyes to how the TV world works with broadcast and streaming. What a great crash course!
-Ricki L.
"Very enlightening. Gave a realistic view of how difficult it is to get a pilot made but was just inspiring enough to give hope. :)"
-Clive M.
Incredibly insightful. Appreciate the affordable cost for this webinar. Would have paid double.
-Jacqueline S.
A lot of great insights. Learned a lot.
-Eric M.
I thought Spencer was very informative and obviously knows the industry and what is happening. What he shared was sobering but I appreciated that he gave us a REALISTIC viewpoint of what is going on in the industry and HOW to get to where I want to be.
-Stephanie B.
Spencer gave very detailed and informative notes. He was very open and honest in answering questions, similar to RB! :)
-Rashika R.
Spencer was really insightful and open. The topics and advice was exactly what I needed to hear!
-Gabrielle H.
Credits
