Summary
Learn from a prolific film and television writer and producer who has worked with HBO, NBC, CBS, Universal Television, FOX!
You will also receive sample synopsis!
PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.
From film festivals to studio executives, the synopsis is often the first impression your screenplay will make. It’s the gateway to generating interest in your script and ultimately securing a deal. A well-crafted synopsis can make or break your chances of getting your dream project into production. This exclusive Stage 32 webinar will equips you with the tools to create a compelling synopsis that grabs attention, conveys the essence of your story, and opens doors for opportunities!
Creating a synopsis is more than just summarizing your story—it’s about distilling its core essence in a way that excites and engages your audience. Many writers struggle with identifying what to include, where to begin, and how to structure their synopsis. How do you capture the depth of your story in just a page or two? Should you highlight every character or focus on key relationships? This webinar tackles these challenges head-on, providing clear answers and actionable advice to ensure your synopsis is polished, professional, and irresistible.
Your Stage 32 educator Brian Herskowitz is an accomplished writer and producer whose career spans decades in both film and television. With credits on projects for FOX, HBO, NBC, CBS, and Universal Television, Brian has worked alongside top talent, including Jason Alexander and Michael Welch. Brian’s insights are drawn from real-world experience and a passion for helping writers succeed.
By the end of this webinar, you’ll have the tools and confidence to craft a synopsis that truly stands out. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the essential elements of your story and learn how to finesse the nuances of style and structure to create a synopsis that resonates. Whether you're gearing up for pitch meetings, film festivals, or studio executives, you’ll leave equipped to elevate your story and make a lasting impression!
PLUS! You will receive:
- Sample Synopsis
Praise for Brian’s previous work with Stage 32:
"As a collaborator with Brian and a guest in his class, I am hugely impressed with his screenwriting knowledge. I heartily recommend him and his course."
- Jason Alexander(Seinfeld, Shallow Hal, Listen Up)
"The course was everything I needed and then some. An excellent course."
"Mr. Herskowitz is very knowledgeable, patient, and superb at discerning problems and helping us solve them."
"A solid course in which I felt I had learned a LOT by the time it was over."
What You'll Learn
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What’s Your Core Story?
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Nailing down your actual premise
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Using your premise as base for your synopsis
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Deciding where to begin your synopsis
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Identifying your screenplay and synopsis structure
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The Essential Elements
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The importance of knowing the full story.
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Identifying salient points of the script
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Determining what’s important and why
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The difference between your synopsis and how you pitch the story
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Dealing With Characters
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Is everyone in the script in the synopsis?
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How detailed should your descriptions be?
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Tips and shorthand for defining characters and relationships.
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Determining Your Synopsis Length- Expansion And Contraction
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Finding the sweet spot (spots) in length
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Why shorter really can be better
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How do you know if your synopsis is working or not?
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What do you leave in? What do you take out?
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Why Your Synopsis Is CRUCIAL
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Pitch decks – how the synopsis fits in
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Using the 1 page as a template for verbal pitches
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Using the synopsis for financier connections
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The reason to have synopsis of varying length
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A Matter Of Style
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Keeping the tone of the film in your synopsis
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The role of style in telling your story
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Matching the synopsis with the screenplay and visa versa
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Final thoughts, tips, and suggestions to make your synopsis sing
Q&A With Brian
PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.
Who Should Attend
- Writers and filmmakers preparing to pitch their projects to producers, studios, or festivals.
- Creatives looking to sharpen their storytelling and synopsis-writing skills.
Executive
Brian is a veteran film and television writer and producer who has worked on over 2 dozen films and television shows.
Some of his film credits include the feature film BUCKY AND THE SQUIRRELS, which starred Jason Alexander from SEINFELD, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, which starred Michael Welch from TWILIGHT, MUSICAL CHAIRS, which was directed by Susan Seidelman from SEX IN THE CITY and TIO PAPI, which was directed by Fro Rojas. As director/writer/producer, he is slated to begin production on a new film BEFORE MOONRISE.
In television, his writing credits include working with HBO, NBC, CBS, Universal Television, FOX on shows such asHERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, DREAM ON, BLOSSOM, RENEGADE and more. He was on the producing team for the critically acclaimed TOUR OF DUTY where he was recognized by the TV academy for his contribution to the show by the Emmy winning post-production sound department. Brian co-wrote the FOX pilot MANTIC with Jason Alexander. Also, he worked as a punch-up writer on BOB PATTERSON and LISTEN UP.
As a director Brian wrote and directed the award-winning short film ODESSA OR BUST starring SEINFELD’S Jason Alexander and RUSHMORE’S Jason Schwartzman. His new short content series MURRAY GHOST which he directed, produced, wrote, and edited is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit.
He currently has a nine-episode podcast, IDENTITY THEFT, running on Spotify. This is the first offering from the THRILLING STORIES podcast series.
Testimonials
Praise for Brian’s previous work with Stage 32:
"As a collaborator with Brian and a guest in his class, I am hugely impressed with his screenwriting knowledge. I heartily recommend him and his course."
- Jason Alexander(Seinfeld, Shallow Hal, Listen Up)
"The course was everything I needed and then some. An excellent course."
"Mr. Herskowitz is very knowledgeable, patient, and superb at discerning problems and helping us solve them."
"A solid course in which I felt I had learned a LOT by the time it was over."