TV Drama Pilot & Bible Writing Lab - 8 Weeks from Concept to Script
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Actors: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Representation
A top talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment, with clients on Netflix, AMC, Showtime, and Starz, and working with top-tier directors like Quentin Tarantino, teaches you how to make 2023 the year you land representation. Are you ready to finally take your acting career to the next level and find that agent or manager whose passionate about you to represent you? The industry is rapidly changing, and there are many paths to finding representation as a performer. To put the odds in your favor, you need to be aware of, and prepared for, all of them. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand 2-session lab, talent manager Spencer Robinson will take you through everything you need to prepare and to find representation, as well as what to do once you have representation to maximize your opportunities. You’ll cover the role of representation, what to look for when choosing a rep, how you can stand out from other performers, how to continue building your team, and more. Spencer has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years and is a talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment, where his clients have worked with directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Client Eastwood, Gore Verbinski, and more. What better way to learn what talent managers look for in new clients than to learn directly from a talent manager? Here's your chance! PRAISE FOR SPENCER'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION: "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.
How To Write Descriptions In Your Screenplays For Maximum Effect
Hosted by Spencer Robinson, a Literary & Talent Manager with over 20 Years of Experience PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts & tips on crafting your A & B Stories! In this essential Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you will examine the important parts of the script that exist between the dialogue: the descriptions. Comprising everything from location headings, character briefs, action lines, transitions, and act breaks, your descriptions should be formatted properly and written succinctly and with your personal flair that convey your message in a tone that is consistent with your story. How much detail should you include when describing your characters? Is a transition needed between every scene? How much direction and camera work should you include in your writing? All these questions and more will be answered by your host, Spencer Robinson. Spencer is a literary and talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment whose clients have worked with top directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski and with major networks and streamers such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon, The CW, Cinemax, CBS, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and TBS. Spencer will discuss how to properly use descriptions to really make your script come alive. He will cover details that will help make your pieces stand out to agents, managers, and producers. This webinar will leave you with a new understanding of how to use several important tools of storytelling, and ultimately make your script a more smooth and exciting read. Many screenwriters only focus on dialogue when they think of writing their screenplay. While dialogue is certainly a critical component of your script, it’s not the only part of your work that you need to deliver at the highest level. Be great at description writing and level up your screenwriting. Praise For Spencer's Webinar "Spencer Robinson's "Writing Descriptions" webinar filled in a whole lot of blanks for me and shone a light on most of the newbie mistakes I have been making when writing/formatting my screenplays. A valuable lesson! Thank you Spencer, and Stage 32." -Margaret A. "This webinar was very informative! Spencer Robinson presented the material clearly. He was also very generous with his knowledge about the business." -Carmen R.
How To Bring Your Film Or TV Pitch To The Current Market
Learn the best way to organize, prepare and pitch your film or television project to buyers in today's market with top literary manager Spencer Robinson of Art/Work Entertainment! PLUS! You'll receive an exclusive FEATURE DEALS list to help you navigate buyers in today’s market. We all have that film or television series that we know needs to be on the screen. Your project is fresh, exciting, and will resonate with millions of people. But how do you get your project out there? What do you even present to decision makers to move the needle forward on your project? Apart from actually getting the meeting with buyers, producers, and investors, you need to know what to pitch and when is the best time to do it. Sometimes your entire script should be written, whereas other times you should only come into a meeting with a concept. How do you know what the best way to move forward is? We’re here to help. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to best prepare and plan your film or television series pitch to maximize your chances of getting it through to production. You will learn everything from how and when to pitch your film and/or television series, what materials you need to pitch your project, how to get your pitch meeting, and how to use your pitching materials effectively to entice your audience. Teaching you everything you need to know to successfully take your project out to the market is Spencer Robinson, a literary and talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment who's been in the industry for over 20 years. He represents writers, actors, producers, and also a full book publishing company. Spencer’s writer clients have been on the writing staff of shows for Netflix, Amazon, Max, HBO, Comedy Central, and many more. He’s also sold clients’ features to studios as well as brought in financing for independent projects. Spencer’s actor clients have been in films with directors Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski, Jeff Nichols, and more. In the TV world, his clients have been regular cast members on shows for Netflix, HBO MAX, Amazon, Disney+, HULU, The CW, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and more. Spencer’s clients have also recurred on series for Peacock, Netflix, Freeform, TNT, AMC, Showtime and many more. Successfully bringing your project to market to get a deal requires a great deal of finesse and industry knowledge. You have to understand how the system works and what decision makers are looking for in a pitch. You will walk away from this webinar with the knowledge and skills to do just that, and put yourself in the best position possible to get your project made! PLUS! You’ll receive an exclusive FEATURE DEALS list to help you navigate buyers in today’s market. Praise For Spencer's Stage 32 Teaching "I thoroughly enjoyed Spencer's teaching style. Not only is he conscientious and thorough, but he really cares about all his students. I recommend taking any course he is offering, you won't regret it!" -- Nathan M. "Spencer Robinson's "Writing Descriptions" webinar filled in a whole lot of blanks for me and shone a light on most of the newbie mistakes I have been making when writing/formatting my screenplays. A valuable lesson! Thank you Spencer, and Stage 32." -- Margaret A. "This webinar was very informative! Spencer Robinson presented the material clearly. He was also very generous with his knowledge about the business." --Carmen R.
How to Get Staffed as a Comedy TV Writer for a Streamer like Netflix, Amazon or Hulu
Are you unsure how to navigate comedy audiences in a world where tastes and platforms are rapidly changing? No matter what your style or skill set, there's an audience out there for you. But you won't find them until you put yourself out there with the right tools to get staffed or sell your brilliant comedy. Every day there's a new streamer with its own brand and audience to cater to. From TED LASSO to PEN15 to SPACE FORCE, there have never been so many opportunities available. But while making someone laugh gets you a career, it takes more to get you in the door, and these digital players aren't following the rules of traditional networks. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you'll learn the ins and outs of streaming writers' room styles and how to be effective within them so that your jokes get airplay. You'll understand how to write stories that will thrill a showrunner and get you staffed in a room. You'll have the chance to analyze your pilot to consider where it fits in the marketplace, how to view it as though you're the executive, and determine how to strengthen your concept so that it's ready to sell. You'll discover the differences between platforms, budgets, schedules, audiences, and development needs, and more. Most importantly, you'll learn how to get your work into the right hands and snag that comedy gig at a top streaming platform. Taking you through the state of streamer staffing season and pilot selling is literary and talent manager Spencer Robinson of Art/Work Entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, Spencer has had clients in films from directors Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski, and more. His clients have worked on projects from Netflix, The CW, Cinemax, CBS, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and TBS, to name a few. Using his extensive experience helping writers get staffed and sell their pilots, Spencer teaches you the do's and don't of writing for streamers vs. network and how to tailor your script to make the best impression on executives at the biggest streamers in town. He lays out how streamers differ from the formatting to structure and specifically analyzes what you should consider before tackling your pilot. Spencer also dives into staffing and sales, and what approach is best for you. He'll also debunk common misconceptions about selling a comedy series in today's market and how you can use IP to sell your show. Whether you have the next great comedy series are ready to land a spot in a streaming room, this webinar ensures you walk away prepared for success. PRAISE FOR SPENCERS TEACHINGS: Spencer was awesome! Super informative and detail-driven - providing great insights. Packed so much into a short amount of time which I'm super grateful for! -Eric C. Spencer Robinson has high energy and packs a ton of information in his lecture. Most importantly Spencer gives realistic advice while encouraging writers to move forward fully informed of the terrain. -Oweeda N. Spencer opened my eyes to how the TV world works with broadcast and streaming. What a great crash course! -Ricki L. "Very enlightening. Gave a realistic view of how difficult it is to get a pilot made but was just inspiring enough to give hope. :)" -Clive M.
How to Capture the Attention of a Showrunner or Manager with your TV Writing Samples
The global television industry is poised to create more opportunity in writers' rooms for more writers than currently exist. And literary managers will be looking for new talent and voices to sign. But to take a seat at the table, you need a solid portfolio brimming with strong writing samples. Showrunners and managers are looking for a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to tell a story in a specific voice. There’s no time like the present to prep a portfolio with hot samples, cool writing, and even cooler storylines. Showrunners need examples from you to make decisions on who to bring in the room. As an unrepresented writer, you have to demonstrate to them that you’re the one. And to do this, a series of writing samples, known as a portfolio, is a surefire way to show off your ability. You need to convince showrunners to bring you on board. If your writing samples lack luster or you don’t know where your story is headed in future seasons, conversations with managers or showrunners could be short lived. You could miss out on opportunities because your script wasn’t up to par, or your original idea wasn’t original at all. Let's make sure that never happens. Spencer Robinson is a literary and talent manager at Art/Work Entertainment who's been in the industry for over twenty years. His 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. His 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 Aggregate Films, which has a deal at Netflix. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, Spencer will dive deep into the kinds of TV samples writer’s should have ready, as well as exactly what managers and showrunners are looking for as they read through them. He will talk about the kinds of scripts your portfolio needs so that you shine like the crazy diamond you are. Certain elements of your script should stand out. Take useful notes as Spencer talks about these elements and helps attendees better understand the importance of solid and saleable characters. And then sit back and take in the golden nuggets he delivers on what managers and showrunners look for in a writer. If you dream of being in a writer’s room, this webinar was made for you. Praise for Spencer's Previous Stage 32 Webinar "Spencer was awesome! Super informative and detail driven - providing great insights. Packed so much into a short amount of time which I'm super grateful for!" -Eric C. "Spencer Robinson has high energy and packs a ton of information in his lecture. Most importantly Spencer gives realistic advice while encouraging writers to move forward fully informed of the terrain." -Oweeda N. "Spencer opened my eyes to how the TV world works with broadcast and streaming. What a great crash course!" -Ricki L.
Working Writers Lab: Write a TV Drama Pilot - 8-Week Intensive (January 2017)
PRE-CLASS PREP - Read your syllabus and plan out your writing ideas. Begin to think about 1-2 ideas that might be a good idea for your drama pilot. Start to prepare for your pilot pitch. WEEK #1 – Introduction, Pitch Docs, Character This week we will cover the syllabus, your instructor's background and experience, your goals for this eight-week lab and launch into a discussion on creating strong characters for your pilot. We will discuss the types of drama pilots and how they differ from network to network. We will go over how to create effective loglines and pitch documents. Then we will delve into character – what makes for strong characters and weak ones. The assignment for this week will be to create a pitch document and write a detailed description (around half a page) on each of your series regular characters. WEEK #2 – Pilot Outline and Series Bible This week we will break down pilot structure, plot and subplots. Pilot structure varies depending on the type of drama pilot (procedural or serial) and the network (broadcast, cable, streaming, digital, etc.) We will identify what kind of network to target for your story idea and structure the pilot accordingly. We will also discuss the function of your series bible and what it needs to include to support your pilot. The assignment for the week is to complete a pilot outline and start work on your bible. WEEK #3 – Pilot Outline (One on One Consultations – No Online Class) This week will consist of one-on-one consultations regarding pilot structure. Each writer will send in their pilot outline in advance and will have a 10-minute call to discuss what works and what doesn’t. The assignment for the week is to address any notes given on the outline before proceeding with next week’s class and to continue working on your series bible. WEEK #4– Scenes, Beats, Dialogue, This week we will address the qualities of effective (and ineffective) scenes, story beats, and dialogue. The assignment for the week will be to write three complete scenes from your outline: the teaser/opening scene, a scene with heavy dialogue, and a strong character scene. WEEK #5– Acts 1 and 2 We will discuss both the four-act and five-act structure. You will decide which works best for the pilot that you are developing. This week we will go over all the necessary story beats that exist in acts 1 and 2 of a drama pilot, including exposition, number of scenes per act, traditional page count, inciting incidents, acts 1 and 2 breaks, etc. The assignment this week will be to complete Acts 1 and 2 of your pilot. WEEK #6– Acts 3, 4 and 5 Similarly to last week, we will cover the necessary story beats that traditionally exist in acts 3 and 4 of a drama pilot. If your pilot structure has five or more, as some broadcast network shows do, there will be time allotted for further instruction on how to proceed. The assignment this week is to complete the first draft of the entire pilot and to turn in your series bible. WEEK #7–Consultation for Revision (No Online Class) This week will consist of one-on-one consultations. Please turn in your pilot at least 24 hours before your scheduled call, and each writer will have a 10-minute call to go over notes. Your assignment this week is to address any notes. WEEK #8– One-on-one Feedback and Polish (No Online Class) This week will consist of 10-minute one-on-one phone calls as well. Please submit your revised pilot at least 24 hours before your scheduled call. Final notes and next steps for your pilot will be given. Payment plans are available - please contact edu@stage32.com for more information.
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