Netflix + Stage 32 Present: How to Write Sci-Fi Scripts for Streaming Television
Start Learning
Satisfaction Rate:
Projects:
Webinar hosted by: Mickey Fisher
TV Creator and Showrunner (CBS's EXTANT, NBC's REVERIE, National Geographic's MARS)
Mickey Fisher was an unknown writer from Ironton, Ohio when his contest-winning TV script EXTANT caught the attention of Steven Spielberg and later became the science fiction series on CBS starring Halle Berry. Mickey has since firmly implanted himself in the world of science fiction television, creating the NBC series REVERIE and National Geographic’s MARS. He has also served as a consulting producer on Amazon’s JACK RYAN and a writer and co-executive producer on Guillermo Del Toro’s acclaimed FX horror series THE STRAIN. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
SEE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BELOW
Netflix and Stage 32 have partnered on an exclusive global education series in an effort to democratize the worldwide entertainment industry. Together, over the course of 5 webcasts Stage 32's world class educators will bring their knowledge of what it takes to write, develop and produce today's television for the Stage 32 and Netflix creator community. These global webcasts have been seen by hundreds of thousands of creatives worldwide with a 100% satisfaction rate!
In our fourth webinar in this exclusive "Creating Television Content for a Global Marketplace" series, we are going to give you the ins and outs on how you can effectively write science fiction scripts for streaming television.
Do you have a great sci-fi idea that deserves to be seen?
Television is exploding right now with sci-fi shows that infiltrate our minds like Dark, Squid Game, Yellow Jackets and Stranger Things. Writers with fantastical minds are drawing us into some of the most creative worlds we have ever seen right now, as well as producing some of the most memorable characters. Great shows like Game of Thrones, Extant and Reverie paved the way for the hits we see today and streaming platforms are looking for the next great sci-fi scripts to bring to the world.
In order to tap into this incredible sci-fi landscape you have to be armed with the tools to write a solid pilot and be able to sustain your idea for multiple seasons. It takes a refined approach to understand the nuances of science fiction writing. Stage 32 and Netflix are going to give you the tools to make sure your script is in top shape.
To guide you on your way is producer and writer Mickey Fisher. Mickey broke out onto the scene when his contest-winning TV script Extant caught the attention of Steven Spielberg and later became the science fiction series on CBS starring Halle Berry. Mickey has since firmly implanted himself in the world of science fiction television, creating the NBC series Reverie and National Geographic’s Mars. He has also served as a consulting producer on Amazon’s Jack Ryan and a writer and co-executive producer on Guillermo Del Toro’s acclaimed FX horror series The Strain.
In an exciting FREE webcast Mickey will go into more detail on choosing a sci-fi series concept, core elements of your sci-fi series, planning character journeys, your pilot, season one and beyond, thinking international and believing in your project for the marketplace.
To see the full webinar overview, see below. Some of the case studies Mickey is going to go over in the webinar are:
- Extant
- Reverie
- Stranger Things
- Dark
- Game of Thrones
- Squid Game
- Money Heist
- Yellow Jackets
- The Mandalorian
- Peacemaker
Note: You will receive the Zoom link to login by the morning of the webinar.
If you are not yet a member of the Stage 32 community, we encourage you to join the community today at www.stage32.com, it is FREE! You will instantly connect with over 800,000 creatives and professionals in the entertainment industry from all over the world who use Stage 32 to network, find work, learn and develop their projects. YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO.
What You'll Learn
Case Studies: EXTANT, REVERIE, STRANGER THINGS, DARK, GAME OF THRONES, SQUID GAME, MONEY HEIST (not sci-fi but there are some relevant points), YELLOW JACKETS, THE MANDALORIAN, PEACEMAKER
1) Choosing a Sci-Fi Series Concept
- Story Darwinism - 5 questions to ask about your series idea
- Starting with a concept / hook
- Starting With character
- Serialized vs episodic
- Finding your voice
- Fuel and friction - maximizing your chances for a success (scope, budget)
2) Core Elements of Your Sci-Fi Series
- Worldbuilding
- Characters (great characters are subconsciously at war with themselves) C) Setting up A,B & C stories
- Importance of relationships
- Story engine - powering your series through multiple seasons
- Tone
- Theme / premise
- Series logline — your north star
3) “On the Axis” - Planning Character Journeys (pilot, season, series)
- External goals and internal obstacles
- Setting the stakes - the basic questions of drama
4) The Pilot
- The pilot is a contract with the audience
- Hooking the audience early
- Landing your premise by the end
5) Season One and Beyond
- The curse of the “10 hour movie”
- Episodic structure, or “the episode where”
- Tentpole moments of your season and series
- Plot twists
- Common pitfalls (such as unearned character turns, tonal shifts)
6) Thinking Globally - common elements of worldwide success stories
7) Owning Every Word
8) Q&A with Mickey
Want to see the other webcasts in this exclusive Stage 32 + Netflix Creating Television Content for a Global Marketplace series?
Click here: TV Pitch Documents with Chris Mack
Click here: TV Pitch Documents with Chris Mack - Closed Caption
Click here: TV Story Structure with Anna Henry
Click here: Writing Scripts to Budget with Jeanette B. Milio
Click here: Writing Hit Sci-Fi Scripts for Streaming Television with Mickey Fisher
Click here: Writing Hit Comedy Scripts for Streaming Television with Vijal Pital
Click here: Writing Hit Drama for Streaming Television with Leila Cohan
About Your Instructor
Mickey Fisher
FAQs
Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.
If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.
Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.
YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN
If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:
- Log into your Stage 32 profile
- Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
- Go to www.stage32.com
- Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
- Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.
Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.
Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.
Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.
Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.
Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.
Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.
If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Reviews Average Rating: 5 out of 5
-
Victor Ramon Mojica Mickey was Great! Gave me a lot of inspiration and motivation! Thank you, Mr. Fisher from the bottom of my heart - see you in the movies! -
Ruben Varela Excellent Webinar. Mickey really knows his stuff and what the streamers want. -
Eunhye Necee Beautifully explained. Thank you for this! -
Zita Grant Great information. Well structured webinar and packed with tips and inspiring examples of awesome produced work.
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Stage 32 4-Part Writing Class: A Showrunner’s Guide To A Writing Career In Television
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.
The Making of HBO's "The Survivor" - A Premiere Spotlight with Producer Scott Pardo
What is a "Premiere Spotlight" Webcast?In order to shine a light on our talented Stage 32 members we are announcing a new series called the "Premiere Spotlight" to take you behind the scenes on how some of the top feature films and television shows have come together on the day they premiere! What Premiere is Being Featured on April 27? Get behind-the-scenes access to HBO’s THE SURVIVOR, directed by Academy Award Winner Barry Levinson and starring SAG-Award nominee Ben Foster. In this intimate conversation between Stage 32 member and producer Scott Pardo and Stage 32’s Education Director Sam Sokolow before the film premieres as they discuss the process of bringing this real-life story to the screen. About "The Survivor"Based on the book HARRY HAFT: SURVIVOR OF AUSCHWITZ, CHALLENGER OF ROCK MARCIANO, by Alan Haft, the story follows Harry Haft, a boxer who survived Auschwitz by winning bare-knuckle bouts for the perverse entertainment of SS officers. Determined to find freedom and his first love, Haft traveled to America and began a career as a professional boxer, quickly finding success using his sharp instincts and fierce confidence. The film is directed by Barry Levinson, the Academy Award-winning director of RAIN MAN, with a script by Justine Juel Gillmer (THE 100). It also features an all-star cast, including Ben Foster (HELL OR HIGH WATER) as Haft, Vicky Krieps (PHANTOM THREAD), Billy Magnussen (NO TIME TO DIE), Peter Sarsgaard (JACKIE), Saro Emirze (WILSBERG), Dar Zuzovsky (HOSTAGES), Danny DeVito (IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA), and John Leguizamo (LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS). A team at USC Shoah Foundation aided the film’s production, providing detailed historical consulting in addition to access to the testimony of Haft, filmed in 2007 and preserved within USC Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive. About the Webcast Join Scott and Sam for Stage 32’s Premiere Spotlight Webcast to see how the team brought the epic journey to HBO, plus, you have the chance to ask Scott any questions that you have!Come support your fellow Stage 32 member on his premiere! Join Scott and Stage 32’s Premiere Spotlight Webcast to see how the team brought the epic journey of Harry Haft to HBO on April 27 at 11AM PST. "The Survivor" premieres on Wednesday April 27 on HBO, be sure to support your fellow Stage 32er and tune in to the premiere!
The Four Steps To A TV Series Order: From Concept To Green Light
4-PART IN-DEPTH CLASS (OVER 8 HOURS OF EDUCATION) Learn from John Lehr, a top showrunner who's worked with Hulu, Sony, TBS, Norman Lear, the creators of FRIENDS, and more! Plus! John leads a mock network executive meeting! When you have an idea for a TV show, the goal is always to have it "ordered to series" so you can see it on air and have a large audience experience it. However, in order to actually get your show onto air and see it on TV, you need to be prepared and know everything that goes into not only developing and selling a series but how to navigate it all the way to an actual series order. Whether you’re a brand new writer, an experienced producer, or someone working their way up the ladder, the big question is always: How do I develop my show and make it stand out so that it can sell and get a series order? In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand class, television series creator and showrunner John Lehr will teach you the entire journey from crafting a stand-out idea to selling your show to developing it with a streamer or network and, ultimately, getting the green light for a first season production order. Over four intensive sessions, John will take you through the steps of developing and producing a marketable show. You'll start by nurturing your concept into a well rounded show idea and then learning the best way to package it, pitch it, sell it and navigate the development steps with your distributor to get a first season order. John will teach you how to work with network executives to achieve your goals in a way that they also achieve theirs. John has successfully created, pitched, sold, and executive produced shows for TBS, Hulu, and Sony/Crackle. He has also created and produced pilots for Fox and Comedy Central and has pitched, sold and developed shows for HBO, NBC, MTV, and Sony/BBC. Along the way, he's worked with legendary television creators, including Norman Lear (ALL IN THE FAMILY) and FRIENDS' creators Kevin Bright, David Crane, and Marta Kauffman. Plus, John will lead a mock network meeting so you can be best prepared to work with executives and take the best advantage of your opportunities. John is sharing his 25 years of entertainment business experience with you exclusively through Stage 32. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a top showrunner to see how professional television series creators take their ideas all the way to your television screen. Testimonials from John's Previous Stage 32 Education: "John was energetic and very positive and encouraging. I appreciated his perspective and advice." "John is great - emphasizing the sizzle reel was very helpful to hear." "[John's] information about the pitch deck, sizzle, and experiences were incredibly helpful."
A Step-By-Step Guide To Making A Made For TV Movie
Plus! You'll receive a 9-Act Lifetime Movie Breakdown, The Screenplay and Shooting Schedule for the made-forTV movie THE PREACHER'S SIN and more! Many filmmakers think the only pathway to a career as a writer or director is to get their indie film into Sundance or become a TV episodic director. But there’s another pathway into the industry that filmmakers often overlook– Made for TV Movies. Stalking. Kidnapping. Murder. These are just some of the ingredients of the Made for TV recipe. But what sets a great TV thriller apart from not-so great ones? What’s the difference between writing movies for television vs. big screen? What budgets should you consider when writing a Made for TV movie? All of these questions and more will be answered in this exclusive Stage 32 webinar hosted by Michelle Mower. Michelle is the acclaimed writer, producer and director whose work includes Lifetime's highly rated movie THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER, starring Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives”), A WOMAN BETRAYED, THE PREACHER’S SIN, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER?, and the dark teen comedy THE NEVER LIST, starring Fivel Stewart, Jonathan Bennett and Booboo Stewart. You'll learn the types of stories and/or genres that television networks are buying and how to pitch your TV movie or screenplay to a network and to streamers like Netflix, HULU or Tubi. You'll cover business models including selling to a U.S. broadcast network to retain international rights? How casting plays a hand in getting these movies sold. And so much more. The market is hot for TV movies, but developing these movies can be challenging because you want to ensure your story includes all the elements that make a TV movie successful without being too paint-by-numbers formulaic. This course will take you through the process of developing, writing and producing Made for TV movie that will sell. Plus! Michelle will give out exclusive handouts to help you in developing and writing your made for TV Movie! Downloads include: Screenplay for "THE PREACHER'S SIN" Shooting Schedule for "THE PREACHER'S SIN" One Sheet for "THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER" 9 Act Lifetime Movie Breakdown Official Synopsis for "A SISTER'S DEADLY PLEDGE" Praise For Michelle's Teaching “Michelle’s screenwriting workshop offered insights and techniques that helped me write better screenplays. Her class changed my life and gave me courage to go for my dream.” Stacy N. "This was wonderfully detailed and thorough. The presenter (Michelle Mower) was well organized, and easy to follow. It was rather thrilling to listen to someone who is not only knowledgeable but also wears so many hats! Once again, Stage 32, you've delivered a winner." -Crispin L.
How to Start a Career in Screenwriting
Learn how you can begin your career as a screenwriter from the founder of Leigh Hill Management, a top literary management company with clients who have worked at AppleTV, Showtime, and more. It’s the dream of many to have a career as a writer for TV or film, to be able to make a living creating worlds and telling stories. However finding success as a writer is rarely easy, no matter how talented you are. Once you’re able to get your script into the hands of someone who can do something real with it, your script can speak for itself. But until then, you have to strive to get your work read and make sure it stands out from the others. This can be very tough. Without a professional, targeted approach, you could have the talent and the drive for a successful and sustained career as a writer but never get the opportunity. Once you’ve worked on your craft and put the finishing touches on a script you’re proud of, it’s important to remember your job as a writer is not yet done. You still need to get your script into the right hands and make sure you stand out from the crowd. There’s no singular blueprint to get discovered and find success as a writer. Every writer’s story is different and often involves a bit of luck and happenstance. That said, there are many paths available that working writers can take advantage of. Making use of opportunities like notes services, coverage and scores, competitions, script hosting services, festivals, networking, queries, and more, can help get you on the right track as a writer and help attract the attention of busy managers, agents, and producers. Ashley Berns is a long-time literary manager who worked at respected management company Circle of Confusion for 15 years before opening his own company, Leigh Hill Management. Ashley also serves as executive producer for the Showtime comedy series WORK IN PROGRESS. Over his career, Ashley has worked with a slew of talented writer and helped them find success and build their creative career, and will share what he knows exclusively with the Stage 32 community. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, Ashley will go through the nuts and bolts and provide you with an introduction of how to build your own career in screenwriting. He will discuss what you should always have in your screenwriting “tool kit” including script formatting and other materials to have at your disposal. He’ll explain literary representation and the difference between a manager, an agent, and a lawyer and how they work together. He’ll also delve into whether you need representation in the first place. Next Ashley will talk about networking and how to come across professional when speaking with others. Finally Ashley will teach you how best to get noticed, including writing cold queries and using opportunities like festivals, competitions, script hosting, and script coverage to advance your career. Expect to leave with a much clearer idea of paths to take to better approach your writing career and strategies to better find clear success and get noticed. Praise for Ashley's Stage 32 Teaching “I've always dreamed of becoming a screenwriter but never really knew how to start until this webinar. Big, big thanks to Ashley for sharing his experience and wisdom." - Phil D. "As someone who has been at screenwriting for a couple of years, I found this webinar to be immensely rewarding and useful." - Chris B. "Everyone from professional screenwriters to anyone remotely interested in screenwriting should take this. Ashley is so full of information and knowledge, he's really a fantastic resource." - Patrick H.
Sebastian Twardosz - Partner, Circus Road Films
Sebastian is currently a partner in Circus Road Films after working in development at Paramount, and at Touchstone, the TV division of Disney and ABC.We'll discuss the business + a live Q&A!
Register / Log In
