Introduction to Feature Film Screenwriting: Perfecting the Basics + 14 Script Downloads
Reviews Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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PK Hrezo Great intro and Mary knows her stuff. I maybe would've liked a little more content for the price, but a good starting place for the basics. -
Diana Budur Very good basic intro course. -
Jessica Rose Loved Mary's teaching process! Will definitely take other classes if she offers them in the future.
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Intro to Line Producing: A Line Producer's Guide from Prep to Wrap
More individuals are involved in film production beyond the director and the DP. One of the unsung heroes of any production is the line producer. Whether you’re putting together your own crew or are looking to work your way up the production ranks, it’s crucial to understand the role of this senior position. When you envision how your shoot will operate, do you see an easy flow or chaos? You don’t want chaos, but setbacks are inevitable. So, if the director is directing, and each crew member is busy providing their specific skill, who jumps in to handle the various issues that arise and impact multiple departments? The Line Producer. The line producer handles logistical issues on both the creative and business sides of filmmaking, making them crucial when the director and other producers are zeroed in on the shoot day. This is the job for someone who thrives under pressure, can think and plan ahead for the schedule, and be present in what’s needed on set today. They’re responsible for or involved with: Hiring the crew Keeping everyone safe on set Generating the budget and ensuring the film comes in on budget Supervising daily operations And countless other micro and macro logistics When the line producer isn’t on their game, the entire production can feel it since many of their tasks involve multiple departments and the budget. In this Stage 32 exclusive webinar, you’ll learn what it takes to make it as a line producer or look for when hiring one. Showing you the ropes is Tatiana Kelly, a producer whose first film premiered at Sundance before being released by Lionsgate, and nabbing two Independent Spirit Awards nominations, as well as being an eight-time Best Feature festival-winner. Tatiana has worked with A-listers, including Oscar winners Jeremy Irons and Cuba Gooding Jr., and Oscar nominees Ethan Hawke, Bradley Cooper, Robert Festinger, and Terrance Howard. And, she is currently in production on her next feature, THE PEOPLE VS. VEGAS DAVE. With her vast industry experience, Tatiana will show you how to determine your line producer’s fee and credit, set the budget, what the first and most important decisions you’ll have to make are, different options for handling COVID protocols, and how to prep for a shoot vs. post-production. You’ll also learn what a Wrap Binder is, its crucial role, and how to put one together. Whether you’re looking to grow your production career or are building your production team, by the end of this webinar, you’ll know the ins and outs of line producing and how to use this position to your advantage.
10 Important Lessons Low Budget Filmmakers Should Learn From Reality TV
Learn directly from Mike Stivala, 3 Time Emmy Award-winning Reality Show Producer, Director, and Editor (Friday Night Tykes, My Crazy Obsession, Best Week Ever, Ghost Stories)! In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, host Mike Stivala will reveal the strategies, techniques and workflows that reality/docu TV producers use every day that low/no budget / DIY filmmakers should be using to take their projects to higher levels of success. Filmmakers: stop complaining about reality TV and start learning from it! You will leave the webinar knowing: How to stretch your budget while making your film look and feel more professional. How to get a better cast on a small budget. How to generate buzz around your project. How to make the most of a small crew. How to make scenes look 'spontaneous'. How to use the reality TV shooting style to save you money. How to adopt a 'post-centric' workflow. Your host Mike Stivala is a three-time Emmy winning producer, director and editor. For the last ten years, much of Mike’s professional experience has been in reality/ docu television. Mike has produced, directed and edited reality projects for Esquire Network, Lifetime, Travel Channel, nuvoTV, VH1, HBO, History Channel, ABC, ESPN and many others. In addition, Mike is an award winning filmmaker, and his feature film, Rat Bastard, a film shot on 35mm for a budget of under $20,000, won several film festival awards and was picked up for distribution. Mike knows how reality TV producers create drama, comedy and narratives that are entertaining, at times compelling, while working with small budgets and tight time constraints, and is here exclusively for Stage 32 to pass on that knowledge to you
Ask Me Anything with Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto: F@#$ 2020 Edition
Hello Creative Army! Well, we did it. We made it to the end of 2020. I believe you will welcome me in saying, hasta la vista to this wild year. 2020 has been a challenge, to say the least, but it has not been without a silver lining or two (or twenty...if we're being optimistic). Over the last year, the entire Stage 32 team has been working tirelessly to help you stay connected, creative, motivated, and informed. As always, we are committed to bringing you networking opportunities, education and mentoring from top-level industry executives and professionals, and access to decision-makers around the globe all from the comfort of your own home. Every day, the Stage 32 team is on the phone and communicating with industry professionals. Our goal is to have our finger on the pulse of what's happening in the moment, so you have the tools you need to make moves in your careers. 2020 was not without its faults, but there has never been a better time to take stock of your career and get ready to step on the gas and dominate as we enter into what I am calling The Great Content Gold Rush of 2021. So I invite you to kick 2020 straight in the ass and enter 2021 on a high by joining me for my final AMA of the year. As part of our Holiday Jump Start, I was thrilled to be hosting the "Ask Me Anything" F@#$ 2020 Edition. ALL creatives and professionals were welcome. Looking to further your craft? Now's the time. Looking to learn more about the business? We got into that. Want to find out what I'm hearing from our roster of execs what's going to be happening industry wide in 2021? Let's F@#$'ing rock. As always, registering for my AMA is completely FREE and it's available for immediate viewing! And the more the merrier, so do invite any of your fellow creative friends and peers on your social media channels, your email lists, and through your online groups to join us as well. If you missed my last few AMA's, you can view them here! Now you can say F@#$ off to 2020 with me. Cheers! RB
Writing the Original One-Hour TV Series Pilot Based on IP
Hollywood studios will release less than 100 movies in 2019, most written by veteran writers. The Independent Film market is struggling. All the while TV is exploding. More than 90% of working WGA writers are in TV, which is the market for quality writing and entertainment. Why? TELEVISION IS RUN BY WRITERS. In 2019, Television will produce more than 500 original scripted shows – that’s more than 5,000 scripts – with Netflix, Hulu and Amazon alone spending a combined $20 to $25 BILLION on programming. What’s the secret to breaking in, finding a job on staff or selling a new show? A GREAT, ORIGINAL PILOT. James Dalessandro will work with aspiring Writers, Directors, Producers to focus them on what it takes to make the dream come true – a career in Television. Your host James was handpicked by Stan Lee to write the TV Pilot and Bible for THE RESTLESS for POW! Entertainment. In addition he also has Brad Bird (Incredibles, Incredibles 2, Ratatouille) attached to direct a feature film '1906' based on his own novel. He's also written and produced TV for FX, Eone, Televisa USA, Starlings Entertainment and Gross/Jacobson Entertainment. ***All attendees will receive a pdf of THE AMERICANS pilot!
Understanding the Distribution Deal - Breaking Down 2 Distribution Offers (With Downloadable Examples)
The ultimate goal for every filmmaker is to ensure that audiences see your film. You may want recognition, notoriety, or maybe as many “likes” as possible however, from a practical business perspective, you also want to make your investor's money back – or, even better, to make a profit. The path to reaching this sometimes-elusive-outcome is through the distribution process. And, in today's changing distribution landscape there are many different types of offers that can be presented to you as a filmmaker. Truthfully, understanding what you're signing up for with your film's distribution can be downright confusing. Getting a distribution deal for your film is exciting for you as a filmmaker. You've reached the holy grail and a distributor is interested in releasing your film so you can finally reach an audience. But, before you sign on the dotted line there are many factors you need to think of. Distribution contracts can show varying types of clauses that could potentially harm your film's chance at making a profit. And, let's face it, if you can show your investors a profit on their investment, they'll likely want to invest in more films with you at the healm. So, how do you know what clauses to look out for and what you can negotiate so you give yourself the best chance of not only gaining an audience, but also getting pad? For the last 15 years Bryce C. Campbell is one of the leading distribution and marketing executives in the industry who's overseen the distribution of several Oscar-winning films. Bryce got his start working at Miramax Films and Open Road Films and has worked on hundreds of independent films securing distribution and negotiating contracts. He especially excels in the digital distribution arena. Bryce is heavily involved in the post production aspect of filmmaking working collaboratively with the marketing team to provide data-driven insights on a wide range of marketing components such as one-sheets, trailers, and special events. One of his key interests is negotiating distribution deals with filmmakers and leveraging industry analytics to provide insight into box office potential for each project. And, he's bringing all these years of knowledge to Stage 32. Bryce will help you understand the different types of distribution options available to you in terms of theatrical, SVOD, Day and Date, Foreign and Digital. He'll help you manage realistic expectations when considering the potential for each of these with your film. You will learn how to design your budget and casting in harmony with distribution goals. Then will take you through the anatomy a distribution contract and analyze contract clauses for optimal benefit and to avoid pitfalls. You will learn how to apply this knowledge to negotiate the best possible distribution contract for your film. And, most importantly, Bryce will give you 2 real distribution deal contracts to review so you can understand what to look for and how to apply that to your own deal! "Mind blown. The examples are extremely helpful. I had no idea that recognizing some of the clever way things are written in the contract could potentially harm my chance to make money back on my film." - Mike S.
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