Learn how you can have a successful general meeting with reps, executives, buyers and potential collaborators from a top manager in the business!

Whether you’re leading the creative charge as a screenwriter, in the trenches a director or cinematographer, behind the scenes as a crew member, or in front of the camera as an actor being great at what you do is only part of your job. We at Stage 32 preach that 50% of your job is excelling at your craft, the other 50% is networking and understanding how the industry works.

It's simply undeniable, those who commit to treating their networking and relationship building as their job and keep on top of what's happening in the industry land more meetings with decision makers who can make an impact on their career. But the goal is not just to get into the room, it's to stay in the room. And that means you need to know how to be good in the room. And with more and more meetings going virtual and online, you must know how to prepare and have the skills ready for those situations as well.

General meetings are the first line of offense and defense for decision makers. As you know, most people in this industry - whether working in film, television or digital - want to find creatives and professionals they can go to war with time and time again. Their tribe. To become part of someone's tribe (and eventually form one of your own), you have to know how to nail the general meeting. It is crucial that you understand how to prepare. You must know who you're meeting with, what to wear, proper etiquette, the story of your project, the story of your personal brand (such an overlooked art), and know your pitch inside and out. Ultimately, you want to turn this general meeting into something much greater or assure that you're receiving a callback meeting. Their are many tried and true tricks for getting this done and we're going to bring them to you.

Jeff Portnoy of Bellevue Management is one of the most revered managers working in the industry today. Jeff was recently named been named by Variety as one of Hollywood’s New Leaders in Management. Prior to joining Bellevue, Jeff worked at Creative Artists Agency, The Gotham Group, Resolution Talent Agency and Heretic Literary Management. Along the way he has sold and set up projects to New Line Cinema, Lionsgate, FOX, Screen Gems, Warner Bros. and more. Jeff has been on both sides of the table for hundreds of general meetings and has learned exactly what makes a meeting successful and where many go south – and he’s here to share the do's and don'ts with you, the Stage 32 community

Jeff will teach you how to assure that you perform in your general meeting in a manner that makes you memorable. He will discuss everything from attire to how to carry yourself to how to make eye contact. He'll teach you how to prepare your pitch and convey it with the right amount of passion, charisma and energy. He’ll give you important guidelines on how and when you should talk in the conversation and help you understand if you’re talking too much or sending the wrong message. You’ll learn how to get notes from the other side of the table and how you should receive and respond to them. You will know the best way to pitch “you” and your brand so you stand out from other people taking general meetings with the same party. Jeff will teach you how to do research on the people and the company you are meeting with and how to use that information to your advantage (and not be creepy about it!) He will make you understand why the assistant and support staff can ultimately be your best ally. Finally, Jeff will go over the various types of meetings you’ll encounter in your career – from studios, production companies, managers, agents and networks and explain the differences so you’ll be fully prepared.

PRAISE FOR JEFF'S TEACHINGS:

"A wealth of information. Gave me a lot of things to think about - especially with the tips on reading the room. Your description of how to pitch myself and my story were game-changers. Off to practice now."

- Sonia H.

"What fabulous advice, Jeff, thank you!" 

- Greg M.

"Yep, now I know why I haven't been securing a second meeting. I have seen the light and the err of my ways."

- Veronica G

"The dress code discussion was very helpful, I never knew what I should wear and now I do!"

- John S.

• Eye Contact
  • Understand how this works, when it's important to have eye contact and when you should look away
• Dress Code and Physical Appearance
  • What to wear to a meeting, why it matters, what it says about you
• How to Prepare to Pitch Your Story/Script
  • 5 essential tips for making the pitch successful and how to incorporate them seamlessly
• Passion, Charisma and Energy
  • Why is this important? Can it ever be too much?
• How and When to Talk
  • Discussing dominating conversations
  • How do you know if you're talking too much
  • How to know if you're losing the room
• Getting Notes in the Room
  • How to consider other people’s ideas
  • How to address feedback
  • How to address criticism
• Humor and Likeability
• How to Pitch "You" - Your Biography
  • What you can do to stand out from the pack
  • What are managers looking to know about you? 
• Research You Need to Do for the Meeting
  • Understanding the types of research you should do on the person you're meeting with
• Support Staff
  • Understanding their role.
• Meeting Types
• We will discuss the differences between these meetings and how to prepare for each
  • Studio / Network / Production Company
    • General Meeting
    • Specific Meetings
  • Management Company / Talent Agency
    • Signing Meeting
  • All Entertainment Industry Companies
    • Job Interview
• Q&A with Jeff

• Anyone who looking for a job in the entertainment industry and who is starting to go on interviews.
• Creatives of all talent levels (novice or pro) who struggle in meetings, interviews and other one-on-one settings.
• Filmmakers who are producing or developing a project and going on meetings to help push it forward.
• All talent (writers, directors, actors, filmmakers) who are seeking representation.
• Writers who already have representation but who are starting to take general and specific meetings at productions companies, networks and studios.
• Writers who regularly attend online and in-person pitch meetings/conferences.