Summary
Learn from TV and film producer Tracy Mercer, SVP of Amasia Entertainment!
Get an industry insider's guidance with case studies including HULK, INVICTUS, MADAM SECRETARY, GREEN HORNET, DARK SHADOWS and more.
PLUS! You'll get the pilot script for MADAM SECRETARY and the screenplays for ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INVICTUS and BOONDOCK SAINTS
The global landscape for original content gets more interesting by the day. Whether it’s global expansion, Netflix continuing their dominance, the rise of Tubi and AVOD and SVOD platforms, and the resurgence of the specialty indie film distribution market, it’s sometimes tough to get a sense of how to package your project, where to pitch it and what kind of deal you should be making when there is interest.
In this exclusive Stage 32 4-part on-demand class, you’ll learn how the marketplace likes to see your material, the strategies involved to make your projects stand out, how strategic partnerships can help and how to add the most sizzle to your sales pitch, all under the mentorship of a world-class executive who currently works at the highest levels of the industry.
Guiding you through this process is Tracy Mercer, the Senior Vice President of Television at Amasia Entertainment. Tracy and Amasia are currently developing a sequel series to Dan Curtis’s classic DARK SHADOWS as well as the series BECAUSE THE NIGHT, based on the James Ellory book. Previously, Tracy worked on projects including THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, HBO’s WINCHELL, TNT’s WITCHBLADE, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INVICTUS, Marvel’s THE PUNISHER, and AEON FLUX. Tracy was instrumental in the development of the CBS hit series MADAM SECRETARY. She’s worked with top-tier talent, including Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Ang Lee, and Karyn Kusama.
In this advanced-level and intensive 4-session class, Tracy will comprehensively discuss the development process, targeting the right buyers, and the importance of forming strategic alliances. In Session 1 she will provide an overview of the current emerging landscape and talk about thoughtful steps a savvy producer must consider as they tailor and develop their projects with the marketplace and realistic budgets in mind. In Session 2 she will focus on how to create a brand as a producer, and how to build a slate of projects. Session 3 the realities of packaging and partnerships. Finally, in Session 4 she will include specific case studies of both TV and film projects with an inside track on how they got set up and greenlit. These will include HULK, INVICTUS, MADAM SECRETARY, and the upcoming DARK SHADOWS and GREEN HORNET AND KATO.
You will walk away from this class knowing how to get your projects noticed, bought, and greenlit.
PLUS! You'll get script downloads to study including:
- MADAM SECRETARY
- ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
- INVICTUS
- BOONDOCK SAINTS
Testimonials for Tracy's Class:
"Tracy is unparalleled with her knowledge of the tv and film market. Her experience on such HUGE hit shows is invaluable to learn from. Thank you for making this class possible, it was incredible access to such a top industry executive!" - Sam T.
"Just superb. I've produced films before and I took this course as a brush up and I learned so much more that I wasn't aware of. Solid presentation. Solid advice. Thank you Tracy!" - Paul L.
What You'll Learn
Session 1: Overview on Developing for the Marketplace
This class will discuss how to stand out in the crowded marketplace and how to shape your project in the best way to find a home and get a “YES”. This comes with truly understanding what you have and the best way to pitch it to the proper home. It comes with being honest with your content, understanding who is buying and what, and molding what you have to perfectly fit those homes.
- How do you get your project to stand out in a crowded field?
- Assessing your project and understanding the best format and home
- The IP conundrum
- Shifting the conventional POV of your story conversation
- Matching budget to the target audience and likely buyers
Q&A with Tracy
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 2: Creating a Brand
This class will focus on getting clear on ‘the Why’ of your project and ‘the Brand’ that makes you unique and that sets you apart from other filmmakers. That is the kind of content you create, your individual style and POV, your filmmaking model, and how you show up.
- Mastering your personal elevator pitch?
- Creating your brand as a producer
- Building a slate of compelling material
- How smart development leads to better packaging
- Networking, agents vs managers, becoming a content provider for buyers
Q&A with Tracy
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 3: Building Your Team & Package Through Strategic Partnerships
This class gets real about how it takes a village to make a project come to life. Seeking out, building, and locking in a team that adds marketplace ‘value’ is essential to your success. We will talk about different strategies to employ in the independent market, the established studio system, and streamer ecosystems.
- Wisely picking your director
- Talent “Needle Movers” and how to get to them?
- Clarity of credits (hint: PGA definitions) and embracing strategic partners
- Indie financiers and working the Film Markets vs. Working within the system
Q&A with Tracy
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 4: Case Studies - How We Got the "Yes"
This class will give real-world examples and do a deep dive into strategies that got the sale and the greenlight in both unscripted and scripted TV as well as big studio tentpoles and independent film productions. The class will be opened up to questions students may have with regard to current projects and approaches in our shifting marketplace.
- Tentpole filmmaking: Universal Pictures then and now:
- Endangered Species: The adult studio financed drama- vs indie financed Sundance -friendly drama
- TV: Original idea vs. IP-driven re-invention/”sequel series”
Q&A with Tracy
WHAT TO EXPECT
- This class is designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced students looking to bring their TV and Film projects to market to get the greenlight. This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed class with significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
- This class will consist of four sessions, each roughly two hours in duration. In addition to the presentation-style lessons where Mercer will be walking you through various elements of development, packaging, and targeting strategic partners you will also have the opportunity to ask her questions during each session.
- PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class is now available to watch on-demand but we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.
Who Should Attend
All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn how the marketplace likes to see your material, the strategies involved to make your projects stand out
All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn how the marketplace likes to see your material, the strategies involved to make your projects stand out
Producers looking to learn how the marketplace likes to see your material, the strategies involved to make your projects stand out
Actors looking to learn how the marketplace likes to see your material, the strategies involved to make your projects stand out
Executive
Tracy Mercer is Amasia Entertainment’s Senior VP of Television. Currently, Amasia is in development at The CW with a sequel series to Dan Curtis’ classic, DARK SHADOWS, to be showrun by Emmy-winner Mark B. Perry. Additional shows in development include BECAUSE THE NIGHT based on the James Ellory book.
Tracy began her film in production before working as a personal assistant to actress, Jennifer Aniston. After working as a script analyst for producers Jennifer and Suzanne Todd at Team Todd, Tracy took a story editor position with producer Rob Fried at Fried Films; there she worked on projects including THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, and HBO’S, WINCHELL. Tracy next joined producer Dan Halsted at Halsted Pictures, who was then partnered with Oliver Stone, where she worked in development on TNT’s WITCHBLADE and films including ANY GIVEN SUNDAY and THE ART OF WAR.
Tracy was next hired by Gale Anne Hurd at Valhalla Motion Pictures. Tracy was the executive in charge of production on the PBS award-winning documentary, TRUE WHISPERS: THE STORY OF THE NAVAJO CODETALKERS, and helped develop Ang Lee’s HULK, Marvel’s THE PUNISHER, and Karyn Kusama’s AEON FLUX.
After four years at Valhalla, she headed up development for Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment, where she was involved in the development of films including INVICTUS, directed by Clint Eastwood, and 10 ITEMS OR LESS, directed by Brad Silberling. Tracy was also instrumental in setting up, developing, and serving as an executive producer on the pilot of CBS’ hit series, MADAM SECRETARY.
Testimonials
"Tracy is unparalleled with her knowledge of the tv and film market. Her experience on such HUGE hit shows is invaluable to learn from. Thank you for making this class possible, it was incredible access to such a top industry executive!" - Sam T.
"Just superb. I've produced films before and I took this course as a brush up and I learned so much more that I wasn't aware of. Solid presentation. Solid advice. Thank you Tracy!" - Paul L.
Credits
