Work with a top literary manager to write your comedy TV pilot!

Television comedies are in the middle of a HUGE resurgence with iconic shows like ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, HACKS, ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BAD MONKEY and more accruing critical and audience praise. Thanks to streamers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, MAX and others, over 600 shows were greenlit last year and some industry experts are predicting we may see as many as 1,000 television shows greenlit per year by 2025. But not only is the quantity increasing, so is the quality, as companies are funneling an unprecedented amount of money, resources, marketing and talent into their shows. In short, there has never been a better time to write a comedy for TV. Now it’s just a matter of writing a world-class pilot script that wows executives and talent. 

Your pilot script is your calling card, your way in, and the piece of material that will start leveling-up your career as a professional writer.

In this exclusive Stage 32 6-part lab, you will write a TV comedy pilot script that stands out, that can get you representation, that can lead to meetings with decision-makers and/or help you land a coveted seat in a comedy writer’s room.

Guiding you through writing your comedy TV pilot is Spencer Robinson. Spencer is a literary and talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment who's been in the industry for over twenty years. Spencer's writing clients work in both features and television on broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. He currently has a client writing on two Netflix series and another client who just sold a show to Amazon. He also reps a writer who currently has a project at Jason Bateman's Aggregate Films, which has a deal at Netflix. His on-camera 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, and TBS, to name a few. Spencer has taught numerous webinars, classes, and writing labs for Stage 32 and remains one of our most popular and sought-after educators.

Spencer will be working directly with you in a virtual class setting and in one-on-one sessions to mentor you as you write your market-ready comedy pilot script. Spencer will guide you through picking a concept, creating engaging characters, perfecting your structure, constructing an outline, and, writing your pilot. Over 6 interactive sessions, you will put pen to paper and write the comedy TV pilot that until now has only been bouncing around in your head.

If you have a concept you are ready to write or even a completed pilot that needs a professional polish, Spencer will help you craft, hone, and sharpen your material.

You will leave this lab with a completed television comedy pilot script vetted by an industry professional that you can share with the marketplace to help move your career forward!

Whether you want to write a single-cam or multi-cam comedy pilot to sell or you are looking to create a sample script to help get you into a writers' room, Spencer is here to help you write your comedy pilot that can help break you into the industry!

TESTIMONIALS FROM SPENCER'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"I cannot speak highly enough of Spencer Robinson. His lab was absolutely life-changing for me. Spencer's knowledge of the scriptwriting process and his first-hand insights into the industry were invaluable. Spencer has an uncanny ability to pinpoint issues with your script, and his notes really helped to elevate the story and characters of my TV Pilot. He is thoughtful, empathetic and understands the challenge of being a writer." --Emma S.

"Spencer will get those who are ready on their way to a kickass first draft that you can send for coverage, which is what I did. 2 Considers, and I'm in rewrites now to move that needle. This was my first ever TV pilot!" -- Erika N.

"Had a great time learning and progressing my knowledge of the craft of writing and working directly with a mentor who is a professional in the industry. Spencer was fantastic to be taught by! Thank you!" -- Natalie A.

"Spencer's teaching style is the best! His patience and easygoing approach is ideal and unique to him. Kudos to Stage 32 and to Spencer!" -- Armando O.

PRE-CLASS PREP

Read your syllabus and decide on an idea for the comedy pilot you want to write. Do appropriate research about the world of your show.

WEEK 1 – Introduction, Character, World

This week we will cover the syllabus, your instructor's background and experience, your goals for this six-week lab and launch into a discussion on creating strong characters for your pilot.

• The types of comedy pilots and how they differ from network to network
  • Single Camera and Multi-Camera comedies
• Character - what makes for strong characters and weaker ones
• Story engine - what is it and how to create it for your pilot
• How setting, tone, and character point-of-view affect your story
• How to build complex relationships and use them to propel a series
• Ensemble comedies vs star driven vehicles
• Q&A with Spencer

Assignment: Create a document with a detailed description on each of your series regular characters and an explanation of the world.

WEEK 2 – Pilot Outline

This week we will break down pilot structure, plot and subplots.

• Different types of pilot structure
  • Varies depending on the type of comedy pilot (single-camera or multi-camera) and the network (broadcast, cable, streaming, digital, streamer  etc.)
• What kind of network or steamer should you target for your specific story idea?
  • And how to structure your pilot accordingly
• How to craft an effective storyline for your pilot
• Pacing
• Building and maintaining high stakes
• Creating jokes
• Act breaks
• Q&A with Spencer

Assignment: Complete an outline of your pilot episode. Spencer will read and provide you detailed notes.

WEEK 3 – Act 1

This week we will focus on both the Single-Camera and Multi-Camera act structures.

• What are the qualities of effective (and ineffective) scenes, dialogue, and jokes?
  • Emphasis on teasers and Act 1
• The necessary story beats that exist in a comedy pilot
  • Traditional page count
  • Act breaks
• Q&A with Spencer

Assignment: Complete Act 1 of your pilot. Spencer will read and provide you detailed notes.

WEEK 4– Act 2

We will continue the discussion on both Single-Camera and Multi Camera act structures. We will talk about what makes up Act 2 of a pilot.

• Why most writers struggle in Act 2 and how you can overcome Act 2 issues
• Why it is important to maintain high stakes in Act 2 and how to do it
• Balancing B & C stories in Act 2
• Q&A with Spencer

Assignment: Complete Act 2 of your pilot. Spencer will read and provide you detailed notes.

WEEK 5– Act 3

We will continue the discussion on both Single-Camera and Multi Camera act structures. We will talk about what makes up Act 3 of a pilot. 

• What is a "tag" and what constitutes a good one? 
• Bringing your A, B & C stories to a close 
• How to wrap up your pilot to point forward to the rest of the season
• How to hook the viewer by the end of the pilot
• What are the next steps to take when your pilot is complete?
• Q&A with Spencer

Assignment: Complete a full draft of your pilot. Spencer will read your full pilot and you will have a one-on-one call with him the following week.

WEEK 6– Finished Pilot Consultation (one-on-one consultations - no online class)

You will have an in depth call or Zoom meeting with Spencer to go over notes on your entire pilot script.

What To Expect

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 15 writers and will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an executive and an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good.

• This lab is designed for beginner, intermediate, or advanced writers interested in writing a comedy television pilot script.
• Limited spots 
• **Spencer will be available on email during the 6 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft or career.**
• By the end of this 6-week lab, you will have a completed comedy television pilot script that has been vetted by an industry executive.
• This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with one-on-one time with the instructor and significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.
• Plus, to stay motivated and inspired, you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the lab.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to write their comedy TV pilot for a series.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to add a marketable comedy TV pilot script to their portfolio.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the craft of comedy TV pilot writing from an experienced literary manager who has sold projects in the marketplace.

Producers who want to better understand the comedy TV genre and what represents a marketable comedy TV pilot script.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by writing a comedy TV pilot script.

Saturday May 24th, 10am-12pm PT

Saturday May 31st, 10am-12pm PT

Saturday June 7th, 10am-12pm PT

Saturday June 14th, 10am-12pm PT

Saturday June 21st, 10am-12pm PT

Saturday June 28th, 10am-12pm PT

TESTIMONIALS FROM SPENCER'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"I cannot speak highly enough of Spencer Robinson. His lab was absolutely life-changing for me. Spencer's knowledge of the scriptwriting process and his first-hand insights into the industry were invaluable. Spencer has an uncanny ability to pinpoint issues with your script, and his notes really helped to elevate the story and characters of my TV Pilot. He is thoughtful, empathetic and understands the challenge of being a writer." --Emma S.

"Spencer will get those who are ready on their way to a kickass first draft that you can send for coverage, which is what I did. 2 Considers, and I'm in rewrites now to move that needle. This was my first ever TV pilot!" -- Erika N.

"Had a great time learning and progressing my knowledge of the craft of writing and working directly with a mentor who is a professional in the industry. Spencer was fantastic to be taught by! Thank you!" -- Natalie A.

"Spencer's teaching style is the best! His patience and easygoing approach is ideal and unique to him. Kudos to Stage 32 and to Spencer!" -- Armando O.