Learn the fundamentals of television series showrunning from a showrunner/writer/director who has worked on projects for ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW! You’ve heard the term “showrunner.” You know the showrunner is the most essential and complex role when making a television show. But what does a showrunner actually do? A television showrunner is like a writer/director/producer all rolled into one. All creative decisions for the show go through them. It’s exciting, exhilarating and creatively fulfilling in a deep, meaningful way - a job every television writer dreams of. It’s also frustrating, exhausting and totally overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before. Working as a first time showrunner is often a trial by fire - you’re thrown into the mix and have to figure out the job as you go. That’s why Stage 32 created this comprehensive exclusive webinar, now available immediately on-demand, to teach you all you need to know about the process and responsibilities of showrunning - what it entails from the creative, business, and logistical perspectives! This webinar will take you behind the scenes with veteran showrunner/writer/director Todd Slavkin, who will guide you through the step-by-step creative and practical process of being a showrunner, from getting your greenlight to production through the final delivery of your show, and all the essential steps in between. Todd will also share many of his personal anecdotes along the way. With over 35 years of experience in both television and film, Todd has been the showrunner on SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS, and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY. Todd has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW and has a wealth of knowledge to share with you on everything a showrunner does to make a TV series. This webinar is a must for any person who dreams of running their own TV show, who wants to work for a showrunner on a series or simply wants to know what the job of a showrunner really entails. PLUS! Todd will provide you with exclude downloads to help on your showrunning journey! Downloads include: Call Sheet Template Script from SHADOWHUNTERS This webinar will prepare you to work in television in ways only an experienced showrunner can and illuminate what you should and shouldn’t do in your career to become a showrunner yourself! PRAISE FOR TODD'S TEACHINGS: "Todd Slavkin was excellent to cover so much information in so little time. In fact, the Q&A was very informative too." --Sydney S "Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B.
Learn the craft of writing for television and how to build and navigate a successful career as a television writer from a veteran showrunner who has worked with Disney, The CW, ABC, and more! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts including series pitch documents, outlines screenplays, and screenplays from real television series including MELROSE PLACE, HE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, SHADOWHUNTERS, ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, and the pitch document for Fox's SOAR! Millions of people dream of becoming a television writer in Hollywood. You want to write the next hit television show and have high hopes of seeing your stories come to life on the screen. Sharing your creative vision with the world is one of the most rewarding experiences there is. However, becoming a Hollywood television writer is hard. Very hard. There is a craft and technique to writing a dramatic television series and working in writer's room that take time and hard work to acquire. Not to mention, navigating a career as a writer. How can you sustain your life as a writer when you don't know what you'll be working on next? How can you stay creative over years of writing and hard work? And during all of this, how can you consistently create good material that studios and networks want to buy? Stage 32 is here to help you answer all of this and more. In this exclusive Stage 32 4-part class, you will learn the craft and process of writing for scripted drama television and how to navigate a career as a television writer. Taught by veteran television/film writer and showrunner Todd Slavkin, you will learn the creative and practical aspects of writing and producing a television pilot, writing and producing on the staff of a television show where most of the work happens in the writers room, and navigating a long, illustrious career. Todd's experiences showrunning series for Disney, The CW, ABC, and more have provided him with an arsenal of showrunning tools that he will share with you to prepare you for your own career as a showrunner. Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he was nominated for two Emmys. He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was the showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez. Each session of this 4-part class will include industry guests, mainly successful writers with high levels of experience, all sharing their own stories and tips for success. You will have the rare opportunity to learn from a handful of industry experts how to navigate a television writing career in Hollywood so that you can make the best decisions for yourself and your career. Trust us, you don't want to miss this! PLUS! Todd will provide you with exclusive handouts to help you with the craft and business of television writing in Hollywood. Downloads include: Pitch document for SOAR Fox Pilot & Series Document for MELROSE PLACE Pilot Outline and Teleplay for ADJUSTMENT BUREAU Pilot, Outline and Teleplay for SOAR FoxPilot, Teleplay for MELROSE PLACE Pilot Outline and Teleplay for an episode of SHADOWHUNTERS & Story Area, Outline andTeleplay for an episode of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY You will walk away from this class with a treasure trove of knowledge about the art and craft of writing professionally for television, and the insight into how you can build a sustainable career for yourself as a successful television writer. Praise For Todd's Teaching "Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B. "I never realized how much fell on the showrunner before working with Todd. He's a fantastic educator!" -- Meg L. "You brought to the zoom screen the qualities I’m sure you excel at as a showrunner – humour, vulnerability, candidness, insight, patience, wisdom, respect, humility, confidence, inclusion. Each of these words have been selected specifically!" -- Jan R. "I just wanted to send a quick note to say THANK YOU for the wonderful showrunner class! The amount of information given in the 4 classes was incredible and you can tell by the stellar guest speakers that Todd you are truly admired for not only your work, but also for being a kind, thoughtful human :)" -- Sage P "Todd is an absolute angel! This was the most wonderful class I’ve ever taken! If we ever does another class, I’d love to join." -- Lauren M. "I loved Todd's class. Todd is so enthusiastic and informative, he has a true love of teaching. I would take future classes with him, no question. I really came away with an understanding of how showrunning works and the responsibilities and career paths." -- Allyson M.
Only 3 Spots Still Available To Work One-On-One With Todd Slavkin Write your television series pilot episode in 10 weeks while being mentored directly by multi Emmy nominated TV showrunner Todd Slavkin. ***Flexible Learning: if you cannot attend any of the sessions live don't worry - you will be sent the links to the recordings of each session within 48 hours of the live session and you will have direct access to Todd on email to ask him any questions about your project, craft or career so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.*** Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details If you are ready to write your TV series pilot episode under the mentorship of one of the best showrunners working in TV then this exclusive Stage 32 screenwriting lab is for you. Over the course of this 10 week writing lab, you will develop your series idea into a professional pilot episode outline and then you will actually write your pilot episode. Guiding you on your writing journey is multi Emmy nominated television writer and showrunner Todd Slavkin. Todd will teach you about about story structure, scene structure, scene description, dialogue and everything in between and you will walk away from his lab with the first draft of your completed teleplay for your pilot episode. Todd is a showrunner/writer/director with over 35 years of experience in both film and television. Working with his writing/producing partner Darren Swimmer, Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS (winner of 2017 GLAAD media award for outstanding drama series, 2018 People’s Choice Award for Best Show & Most Bingeworthy Show, 2019 People’s Choice Award Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Show) and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he has been nominated for four Emmys (2022 & 2023 Outstanding Young Teen Series and Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program). He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, SYFY, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was co-showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez. You will work with Todd and your fellow writers in a virtual class setting, with ample time for Q&A’s, and you will also have one-on-one sessions with Todd where he will give you constructive notes and share his thoughts on your story, outline and script pages. These sessions will mirror the experience you would have working with a showrunner on your pilot and allow you the opportunity to be mentored by a top professional to get your script written. This lab is a must experience for any level of writer looking to harness your talent into a strong TV pilot/writing sample that will help further your career. Praise For Todd's Teaching "Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B. "I never realized how much fell on the showrunner before working with Todd. He's a fantastic educator!" - Meg L.
Learn everything you need to know about television showrunning so you can become a successful showrunner from a veteran showrunner who has worked with Disney, The CW, ABC, and more! PLUS! Receive multiple production documents from the hit series SHADOWHUNTERS, which the host was the showrunner on, including an episode outline, script, shooting schedule, prep memos, casting memos, set drawings, location pictures, post-production schedule and more! A series showrunner is the most essential and complex role on a television show. The showrunner is responsible for all facets of the production - from pre-production, shooting, post-production, and even marketing. If you want to be a showrunner, you need to be able to handle both the creative and business sides of a television show. While the demands on a showrunner are quite high, there is little that first time showrunners can do to prepare themselves for the job. Until now... This intensive on-demand 4-session class will teach you how to showrun a scripted drama television show, from hiring the pilot director, casting the show, assembling your production and post-production team, hiring and managing the writing staff, managing pre-production and production, editing the show, delivering that final cut, marketing the show, doing press, and of course live tweeting the premiere. You will learn from veteran showrunner/writer/director Todd Slavkin, who will share his advice and personal anecdotes to help guide you through the process of showrunning. Todd's experiences showrunning series for Disney, The CW, ABC, and more have provided him with an arsenal of showrunning tools that he will share with you to prepare you for your own career as a showrunner. Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he was nominated for two Emmys. He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was the showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez. PLUS! Todd will provide you with exclusive handouts from an episode of his hit series SHADOWHUNTERS to help guide you as a showrunner. Downloads include: Episode Outline Episode Script Shooting Schedule Prep Memos Casting Memos Set Drawings Location Images Post-Production Schedule And More! This class will teach you the creative and practical aspects of the job of showrunning as well as the necessary psychology needed to manage both artists and executives while keeping yourself creatively anchored and inspired. It’s not an easy task, but through in depth learning and real-world examples you will walk away from this class with the knowledge to effectively showrun your own series. The best way to learn showrunning is from a showrunner and this is a rare opportunity for you to do just that. Praise For Todd's Teaching "Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B. "I never realized how much fell on the showrunner before working with Todd. He's a fantastic educator!" - Meg L.
"The workbook alone is worth 10 times what the webinar cost. I am in awe. Thank you, Gary." - Antonio T. There's nothing worse than having a screenplay bought or a project with financing get placed on hold because of legal issues that could have been handled at the start. Too many projects have been shelved permanently and will never see the light of day because of conflicts and misunderstandings that could easily have been avoided. Unfortunately, few screenwriters, filmmakers or producers know the right questions that need to be asked and answered in order to protect yourself and your project legally. It doesn't need to be this way, though. There are simple legal steps you can take from the beginning to assure a smooth and steady ride so your focus can be on making the best project possible. Especially for those in creative fields, navigating legal issues can feel overwhelming and confusing, maybe even unnecessary. Yet having a basic legal understanding of how to protect your work and property is incredibly crucial. You need to know how to legally incorporate everyone's input and notes into your script without worrying about losing authorship. You need to know how to set up a partnership for success and why so many people run into trouble when doing so. You need to know when it's okay to agree to work for free or 'on spec' and why it's still vital to have a written agreement. And you need to know when it's okay to talk business on your own behalf. The good news is you don't need to pass the bar in order to ensure you and your projects are in good legal shape. Instead, you just need a little guidance. Producer and attorney Gary W. Goldstein, star of Netflix's The Movies That Made Us, has produced some of the biggest box office hits in film history and has served as a mentor to dozens of prestigious writers, producers, and filmmakers. His credits include PRETTY WOMAN, UNDER SIEGE, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, and many more. He's also papered some of the biggest deals in film history. By working as both a producer and entertainment attorney, Gary's knowledge of deal memos and contracts is without peer. He knows all the do's and don'ts, the tips and tricks, and the side streets and alleyways toward making sure that you are not only protected, but getting the benefits and compensation you deserve for your efforts. Now, exclusively for Stage 32, Gary will teach you: A complete "how to" in order to assure that you use a proven and smart approach to protecting yourself legally His 3 rules that should never be broken when entering into deals Whether you should use an agent or an attorney (or both) to negotiate your compensation and benefits on your behalf How to deal with release forms and option agreements How to assure you get everything in writing so there are no surprises or disappointments down the road How to maintain a paper trail of all communication and why it's monumentally important to do so. The realities of maintaining creative control and how to handle the creative contributions of others as well as the pitfalls to avoid when receiving feedback. The qualities of finding a good creative or business partner and the essential questions to ask up front. As if all this wasn't enough, Gary will provide a 40-page interactive workbook exclusive for those who take this webinar. This is an invaluable resource! PRAISE FOR GARY'S TEACHINGS: "Here’s some practical advice for those seeking a career in Hollywood, from someone who really knows what the hell he's talking about." - J.F. Lawton, Screenwriter (PRETTY WOMAN, UNDER SIEGE) "When I met Gary, I had nothing but talent and a drive to succeed. Nine months later, I had my first script option, my first studio writing assignment, and a Writers Guild card. The advice here is worth its weight in gold" - Allison Burnett, Screenwriter & Director (AUTUMN IN NEW YORK, FEAST OF LOVE, GONE AND UNDISCOVERED GYRL) "Again, Stage 32 outdoes itself. What a score landing Gary. He's a legend." Jason R. "Gary, you had me from minute one. Amazing information. And delivered with class and style. -Angela P.
Learn how you can craft the perfect sitcom from a writer who has developed and produced content for VH1, Comedy Central, Funny or Die, Adult Swim, and more. You’ve done it! You’ve come up with the brilliant idea for the next juggernaut hit comedy. Now comes the hard part: Deliver a story with a fresh point of view and have every reader laughing on every page. It’s an overwhelming process but this Stage 32 exclusive on-demand class will walk you through, step-by-step, from concept to outline, with the guidance of a professional comedy writer. Many writers don’t invest in the world of their sitcoms. Through this class, you’ll learn to understand world-building in situation comedy, how to create memorable characters that fit in that world, and how the humor comes out of the premise of your show. You’ll examine successfully produced sitcoms and examine different structures to find out which fits your script best. Walking you through how professionals craft and develop their own scripts is Michael Sokol, a screenwriter and producer whose pilot, TACO TUESDAY, was optioned by PopTV (SCHITT’S CREEK) and Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films. His other credits include CAKE for FXX, MANDY for SpectreVision, and executive producing the feature film POSTAL. If you want to get into the TV comedy writing industry this class is for you. Testimonials from Michael's previous Stage 32 Education: "While incredibly knowledgeable in comedy and writing and structure in general, [Michael] is never trying to impose his own sensibilities on new writers. Instead, he has an innate sense for how to allow that writer to bring out their own sensibilities, even if they've never written a single page before" - Madison H. "Michael is an incredible comedy teacher. Not because he’s hilarious and a really experienced writer, but because he’s such a good listener and mentor. He encouraged me to better understand my point of view and then up the ante on the funny based on that. And my work got so much better with every pass because of his methodology." - Loretta C.