Private Interactive 8-Part Virtual Lab!

Work with and experienced Development Executive and Producer who worked for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine

Limited Class Size -Only 10 Spots Available - 4 Spots Remain!

Romantic comedies are experiencing a resurgence in Hollywood, reclaiming their place as a commercially viable and beloved genre. This resurgence highlights the timeless appeal of love stories with a comedic twist and underscores the importance of mastering the art of writing them. Crafting a successful romantic comedy requires more than just a good premise; it demands a deep understanding of character development, story arcs, and the unique nuances of the genre.

Many aspiring screenwriters face pitfalls when tackling romantic comedies. These can include relying too heavily on clichés, failing to develop memorable characters, or overlooking the importance of a strong, coherent story arc. Additionally, without a clear understanding of what producers and studio executives are looking for, scripts can easily fall flat. This course addresses these common missteps by providing insights into the genre’s possibilities and pitfalls, teaching you how to make your romantic comedy stand out organically, and preparing you for the industry’s expectations.

This lab is led by Matthew Chen, an experienced Development Executive/Producer who most recently served as Senior Director of Development for Film & Television at Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, where he worked on numerous television and film projects, ranging from pitch to release and every stage of development/production/post in between. As an executive and producer for Hello Sunshine, Matthew worked on the Octavia Spencer-starring series TRUTH BE TOLD for Apple and Fifth Season/Chernin Entertainment, as well as the upcoming second season of the Gugu Mbatha-Raw starring series SURFACE for Apple.

Throughout this eight-week virtual online lab, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the romantic comedy genre and the essential elements that make a screenplay stand out. You will learn what executives look for in a good story and romantic comedy as well as delve into themes, character creation, and conflict. You will leave this lab with a strong understanding of story and character arcs, and how rom-coms fit into the three-act structure. By the end of this lab, you will have a well-structured outline that sets you up for success in writing your romantic comedy screenplay.

In addition to private Zoom classes in a small writers' room setting you will also have one on one Zooms with Matthew and direct access to him on email to help you with your outline! 

"I have had the pleasure of working with the great team at Stage 32's Script Services Department and I am very excited to now bring my knowledge and experience to their education platform."

-Matthew Chen, your Stage 32 Educator

WEEK #1 – The Story of Me / Romantic Comedy as a Genre / Your Questions / Your Stories

• Class overview and your instructors experience

• What execs look for in a good story/screenplay

• What execs look for in a Romantic comedy

• Romantic Comedy as a genre- What is it

Week #1 Assignment: Prepare a logline for your story idea.

WEEK #2 – Theme / Character / Conflict

• The importance of theme in making your Rom Com stand out

• Your POV as a writer to help your script stand out

• Your viewers take away

• Creating strong, unique, memorable characters that best serve your story and the genre

• Creating dialogue and voice

• The importance of conflict in rom coms

Week #2 Assignment: Revise loglines as necessary and prepare character bios.

WEEK #3 – Act I + Story & Character Arcs

• The importance of knowing and tracking your story and character arcs

• The transition from basic premise to full-blooded sotry

• Where to start and what to include in Act 1

• Crating the world, setting, tone, etc.

• Case studies of strong and weak beginnings

Week #3 Assignment: Complete a one-page document of logline, story/character arcs, and character bios for review in advance of consultation. Begin outlining Act I.

WEEK #4 – Logline, Story & Character Arcs, Character Bios (Consultation #1)

No on-line class this week. Instead, you will submit your material for review; Instructor  will discuss the materials in your mini group in a 1-hour session.

Week #4 Assignment: Make any adjustments based on our consultation, complete outlining Act I, and begin thinking about Act II.

WEEK #5 – Act II + Commerciality

• Plotting and developing your story across Act II

• Examples of Act II Structure

• What makes a script commercial and it’s implications in the industry

Week #5 Assignment: Complete outline of Acts I & II for review in advance of consultation.

WEEK #6 – Outline of Acts I & II (Consultation #2) 

No on-line class this week. Instead, you will submit your outline of Acts I & II for review; Instructor will discuss the outlines in your mini group in a 1-hour session.

Week #6 Assignment: Revise outline of Acts I & II per our discussion. Begin thinking about Act III.

WEEK #7 – Act III / Sticking the Landing + Questions

• What is included in Act III

• Examples of script with strong and weak final Acts

• A wrap up of the class and answering any new or lingering questions.

Final Assignment: Complete outlines (Acts I-III) for review in advance of final consultation.

WEEK #8 – The Completed Outline (Consultation #3) 

No on-line class this week. Instead, you will turn in your completed outline for review; Instructor will then discuss with you in your mini group over a 1-hour session.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class 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 class is designed for screenwriters, producers and filmmakers and directors interested in getting their Rom-Com outline completed

• This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed class roughly 2 hours in duration for each session with significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.

• If you can't make a Zoom session live, don't worry! It will be recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience. 
• **Matthew will be available to you on email during the 8 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft, career or project.**

• 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.

Directors (Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner) interested in delving into the Rom-Com genre.

Writers (Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner) interested in delving into the Rom-Com genre.

Producers interested in delving into the Rom-Com genre.

Actors interested in delving into the Rom-Com genre.

Saturday, September 14th, 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, September 21st, 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, September 28th, 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, October 5th, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AMPST

Saturday, October 12th, 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, October 19th, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, October 26th, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, November 2nd, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

"I have had the pleasure of working with the great team at Stage 32's Script Services Department and I am very excited to now bring my knowledge and experience to their education platform."

-Matthew Chen, your Stage 32 Educator