Staffing season is a high-intensity, high-stakes time. With more shows than ever looking for writers, the opportunities have never been greater, but that also means the competition has never been higher. To be considered to be part of a writing staff, you need to not only show your chops as a screenwriter, but display what you'll be like in the room. So how can you stand out to the executives and producers hiring and prove that you're going to be a team player, while bringing an original, independent voice to the table?

To be staffed in the competitive world of TV writing, you must first understand what opens the door and what keeps you in the room. Your writing must not only be on point, but you have to also be able to display a comprehension of the art of the meeting. Executives and producers are going to meet dozens if not hundreds of writers. You have to learn how to connect with them, fill their needs, and make their jobs easy! In short, you and your writing need to be sharp, interesting and memorable.

Over her very decorated and successful career as a development executive, Marla White has sat across more writers than she can remember. Marla was not only the development executive for Emmy-Award Winner Peter Tolan's Fedora Entertainment, but she's also worked with hundreds of writers who have sold pitches and shows to, and/or been staffed by, Fox, TNT, CBS, NBC and ABC and just about every premium cable channel and streaming platform you can name.

Marla will discuss what executives are looking for in your writing. Whether "good" is good enough to get you in the room. Whether it's better for your work to be more memorable or sellable. She will take you through the thought process of what executives are looking for when you walk in the room. She'll discuss all aspects of a general meeting and a staffing meeting and arm you with all the tools necessary to be "good in the room" in all situations, each and every time. Plus, she'll also talk about "do's and don'ts" and how you can get invited back for the all important pitch meeting.

This webinar provides pertinent and actionable information for every level of writer. If you're just starting out in your career, what you'll learn will not only prepare you for everything mentioned above, but for preparation when speaking with managers and agents. If you're a working writer on a show looking to move to a new show and need tips on playing the networking game and how to navigate the politics, this one is for you as well!

PRAISE FOR MARLA'S TEACHINGS:

This is some straight shooting, no B.S. information. I'm grateful that Marla pulled no punches and told it like it is. Next meeting I get, I'm owning it!

- Samantha W.

• Why getting comfortable in meetings is key for every writer

• General Meetings
  • The purpose of a general meeting from a producer’s POV
  • How to not tank your own meeting
  • Best ways to get in the door
  • What writing samples you’ll need
    • Is “good” good enough to get you in the door?
  • Research the company – what have they done?
  • Discover information about the person you’re meeting with
    • How making a personal connection makes a difference
    • Why should they want to work with you
  • Be ready to tell the story of you!
  • Ask questions, especially what they’re working on/looking for
  • The pitch you need to have in your pocket that leaves them wanting more
    • Short pitch being a 3 – 5-minute version of your pitch
    • Don’t tell everything – the goal is to get them to say ‘tell me more’
    • Have a backup idea in case
    • Following up vs. stalking

• Staffing Meeting
  • What a producer is looking to learn
  • How to’s of getting a meeting on the show you want/need
  • The perfect staffing sample – why you need more than one
    • Being memorable vs. sellable
    • Original pilot vs. spec of existing show
    • The tone is key
  • A strong meeting vs ‘meh’
    • Preparation is key
  • Get to know them – and let producers know you
  • Read the pilot script
    • Read the competition as well
  • Be ready to talk about characters & future story ideas
  • Show your passion for project, don’t just tell
  • Your personal connection to the series
  • Be interesting!
  • Being positive goes a long way
  • Most effective follow-up tools
  • Tales from the Darkside – good meetings gone wrong

• Staying Connected
  • Keeping the door open to come back

Q&A with Marla!

• New writers looking to get staffed on their first TV series
• Seasoned writers looking to further their career in TV
• Writers looking to give themselves a competitive edge when pursuing a career in TV
• Aspiring Showrunners
• Producers
• Development Executives
• 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