Write Your Female-Driven One-Hour TV Pilot With The Exec Behind "Russian Doll" (Feb 2023)

Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details
Taught by Colleen Labella

$799

On Demand Class - For immediate download. Unlimited access for 1 year.

Sorry. This lab is fully sold out.

Stage 32 Next Level Education has a 97% user satisfaction rate.

Projects:

Class hosted by: Colleen Labella

Director of Development at Shoot to Midnight (Emmy-winning RUSSIAN DOLL)

Colleen Labella is a producer and the Director of Development for Leslye Headland’s company, Shoot to Midnight. She has read hundreds of pilots and met with countless writers. She has sold numerous television series to various networks, and she is currently in development with projects at FX, Hulu, Freeform, and Lucasfilm. Her television credits include SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, ALMOST FAMILY, and the upcoming Star Wars series, THE ACOLYTE. She also has a number of films in development, including Catya McMullen’s GEORGIA MERTCHING IS DEAD. Full Bio »

Summary

Back by Popular Demand - A Stage 32 Exclusive Lab!

SOLD OUT!

Payment plans are available - please contact Sam at edu@stage32.com for more information

Write your one-hour pilot and work one-on-one with the Director of Development behind Netflix's "Russian Doll" and receive exclusive pilot scripts from successful female-driven TV series.

Are you a writer with a great idea for a female-driven television series?

Then it's time to write the pilot and bring your unique voice to the industry. Executives, agents, and managers are hungry for pilots that center on complicated and diverse women. But for your script to stand out, you need to know how to write complex women and understand the current style, pacing, and structure of television.

In this exclusive Stage 32 lab, you will take your female-driven one-hour television pilot from concept to script. Along the way, you'll be guided by a successful executive and work one-on-one with them, receiving direct and personalized feedback throughout the eight weeks.

Taking you through this professional-level training is Director of Development Colleen Labella of Shoot to Midnight, the company behind the Emmy-nominated series RUSSIAN DOLL on Netflix, the Freeform series SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE.

Colleen has centered her career around womxn stories and the LGBTQIA+ community, which can be seen across these varied projects.

Three of your eight sessions include one-on-one meetings with Colleen to get personal feedback on your work so that you leave this lab with a fully drafted script vetted by an industry executive.

This hands-on experience goes much further than other classes and webinars. You'll study successful television pilots alongside a small group of passionate writers in an interactive setting. You'll also workshop your script and your classmates' work as a group in sessions and have take-home assignments, so your script is always progressing and getting stronger.

PLUS! You'll receive exclusive female-driven scripts, including:

  • RUSSIAN DOLL
  • MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
  • KILLING EVE

Spots to work with Colleen are limited. Once they're filled, they are gone. Don't miss out on your chance to write your script and work one-on-one with an industry pro today.


TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" -- Maeve T.

"Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W.

"This was (by far) the best webinar I've attended. Colleen was a fantastic instructor (I wish she taught workshops). The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." -- David B.

 

What You'll Learn

Week One: Introductions, Female-Centric Storytelling & Getting Started

Preparation

  • Bring in 2-3 basic ideas/loglines
  • Watch the pilot of The Dropout

In Class

  • Introductions
  • Review the syllabus and discuss the class goals
  • Group discussion: The Female-Centric Pilot
  • The Key Elements of a strong Logline
  • Writing exercise
  • Creating a one-pager that gets noticed

Assignment

  • Write a one-pager for your show
  • Watch the Russian Doll pilot and be prepared to discuss in detail

Week Two: Pilot Structure and the Beat Sheet

In Class

  • Understanding the building blocks of a pilot:
    • Length,
    • A/B/C stories
    • act breakdowns of comedy and drama pilots
  • Work one-pagers with partners
  • Writing exercise
  • Creating an Effective Beat sheet
    Group exercise: Make a beat sheet for the pilot of Russian Doll

Assignment

  • Make a beat sheet for your pilot
  • Watch the pilot of Insecure

Week Three: Virtual One-On-One Consultations (No online class)

Individual Consultations

  • Review and work your pilot beat sheets.
  • We will also discuss turning your beat sheet into an outline and assembling a tone board for your show.

Assignment

  • Create a detailed outline FOR YOUR FILM (6-12 pages)
  • Assemble a tone board
  • Watch the pilot of Yellowjackets

Week Four: Going Deeper & the Visual World of Your Pilot

In Class

  • What makes a good pilot:
    • world building
    • Characters
    • theme
  • Discuss the “Opening Image”
  • Group exercise: Pitch ideas for your opening images
  • What makes a teaser impactful

Assignment

  • Write act 1 of your comedy pilot or acts 1 and 2 of your drama pilot
  • Watch the pilot of I May Destroy You

Week Five: Virtual One-On-One Consultations (No online class)

Individual Consultations

  • Review act 1 of comedy/acts 1 and 2 of drama

Assignment

  • Make adjustments based on consultation
  • Continue writing
  • Watch the pilot of Fleabag
  • Choose 2-3 pages to workshop in class next week

Week Six: Where To End Your Pilot & “The Business”

  • Creating a tag that works
  • Infusing your pilot with personality
  • The importance of lookbooks and pitch decks
  • The Business Q & A: Ask me anything!
  • Group exercise: Workshop 2-3 pages of your pilot

Assignment

  • Finish your first draft
  • Watch the pilot of Single Drunk Female
  • Choose 4-5 pages of your script to workshop in class next week

Week Seven: Workshopping Your Pilot

Writers will participate in a group-style workshop of your script? (focusing on dialogue)

Assignment

  • Rewrites
  • Watch the pilot of Inventing Anna

Week Eight: Virtual One-On-One Consultations (No online class)

Individual Consultations

  • Review completed screenplay

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 12 writers and 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 lab is designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced writers interested in writing a female-driven, one-hour pilot and developing it with guidance of a professional executive.

  • By the end of this 8-week lab, you will have a vetted draft of your female-driven, one-hour pilot script.

  • This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with one-on-one time with the instructor and significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.

  • ***Only 12 Spots Available For This Lab***

  • 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 private, dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the lab.

  • **Colleen will be available on email during the 8 sessions to answer any questions you have about your project.**

Payment plans are available - please contact Amanda at edu@stage32.com for more information

 

About Your Instructor

Colleen Labella is a producer and the Director of Development for Leslye Headland’s company, Shoot to Midnight. She has read hundreds of pilots and met with countless writers. She has sold numerous television series to various networks, and she is currently in development with projects at FX, Hulu, Freeform, and Lucasfilm. Her television credits include SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, ALMOST FAMILY, and the upcoming Star Wars series, THE ACOLYTE. She also has a number of films in development, including Catya McMullen’s GEORGIA MERTCHING IS DEAD.

Schedule

Saturday February 25, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST

Saturday March 4, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST

Saturday March 11, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST [ONE- ON- ONE]

Saturday March 18, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST

Saturday March 25, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST [ONE- ON- ONE]

Saturday April 1, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST

Saturday April 8, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST

Saturday April 15, 2023 – 9:30am-11:30am PST [ONE- ON- ONE]

FAQs

Q: What is the format of a lab?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Classes are typically 90-minute broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32.

Q: Do I have to be located in a specific location?
A: No, you can participate from the comfort of your own home using your personal computer! If you attend a live online webinar, you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the class.

Q: What are the system requirements?
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 10.8 (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 class. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer

Q: What if I cannot attend the live lab class?
A: If you attend a live online class, you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the class. If you cannot attend a live class, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A. Plus, your instructor will be available via email throughout the lab.

Q: Will I have access to the lab afterward to rewatch?
A: Yes! After the purchase of the lab, you will have on-demand access to the video recording, which you can view as many times as you'd like!

Questions?

If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have.

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How to Write a Female-Driven Pilot + 4 Script Downloads

"This was honestly one of the best webinars I have ever seen!" - Brianna C.   Includes Downloads Of The Pilot Scripts For RUSSIAN DOLL, FLEABAG, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL & KILLING EVE   When it comes to today's streaming and television landscape you can easily paraphrase Beyonce... Who runs the world? Badass female characters do! From laugh-out-loud comedies like HACKS to dark stories of corruption like THE DROPOUT, its never been a better time to write female-driven stories.  In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn how to create a female-driven story that only you can tell. Guiding you is Colleen Labella, the producer and Director of Development at Leslye Headland’s Shoot to Midnight. She has sold numerous television series, including Netflix’s RUSSIAN DOLL, Freeform’s SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE for Disney+. Colleen is dedicated to telling stories about womxn and the LGBTQIA+ community, and she’s bringing that passion and her years of experience to teach you: How and why the industry’s interest in womxn has changed Current patterns in popular female-led series What’s working and not working in today’s female-driven stories Current themes in these shows What is the future of female representation on television Common traps to avoid when writing these pilots  How to develop new and interesting characters we haven’t seen yet Most importantly, Colleen will show you how combining your unique voice with different television formats and utilizing multiple storylines can enhance your work, creating a better script and series overall. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to hear from a fantastic expert working at one of the most in-demand production companies around. You’ll walk away with a stronger understanding of both female-driven series and where your voice fits into this growing market.   Praise for Colleen's Stage 32 Education " I strongly suggest Colleen Labella. She is amazing and so detailed.." - Susan W.    

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Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details Write your one-hour female driven pilot with the Director of Development behind Netflix's "Russian Doll"  PLUS! Receive exclusive pilot scripts from successful female-driven TV series! 12 spots available - grab your spot before it's too late!   Are you a writer with a great idea for a female-driven television series? Then it's time to write your pilot script and bring your unique voice to the industry! Executives, agents, and managers are hungry for pilots that center on complicated and diverse women. But for your script to stand out, you need to know how to write complex women and understand the current style, pacing, and structure of television. In this exclusive interactive Stage 32 lab, you will work one-on-one with an accomplished executive to take your female-driven one-hour television pilot from concept to completed script. You will receive direct and personalized feedback on your work throughout the eight weeks so you walk away from this course with a vetted pilot script that you can shop to producers, executives, and production companies! Taking you through this professional-level training is Colleen Labella, Director of Development at Shoot to Midnight, the company behind the Emmy-nominated series RUSSIAN DOLL on Netflix, the Freeform series SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE. Colleen has centered her career around female stories - which can be seen across her varied projects - and has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to create long lasting, compelling female-led stories that resonate with large audiences. This hands-on experience goes much further than other classes and webinars. You will study successful television pilots alongside a small group of passionate writers in an interactive setting. You'll also workshop your script and your classmates' work as a group in sessions and have take-home assignments, so your script is always progressing and getting stronger. PLUS! Colleen will provide you with a series of successful female driven pilot scripts. Downloads include the completed pilot scripts for: RUSSIAN DOLL MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL KILLING EVE Spots to work with Colleen are limited. Once they're filled, they are gone. Don't miss out on your chance to write your script and work one-on-one with an industry pro today!   TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION: "Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" -- Maeve T. "Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W. "Colleen was a fantastic instructor (I wish she taught workshops). The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." -- David B.  

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Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details Limited Class Size - Only 2 Spots Left Write your one-hour pilot and work one-on-one with the Director of Development behind Netflix's "Russian Doll" and receive exclusive pilot scripts from successful female-driven TV series.  Are you a writer with a great idea for a female-driven television series? Then it's time to wrote the pilot and bring your unique voice to the industry. Executives, agents, and managers are hungry for pilots that center on complicated and diverse women. But for your script to stand out, you need to know how to write complex women and understand the current style, pacing, and structure of television. In this exclusive Stage 32 lab, you will take your female-driven one-hour television pilot from concept to script. Along the way, you'll be guided by a successful executive and work one-on-one with them, receiving direct and personalized feedback throughout the eight weeks. Taking you through this professional-level training is Director of Development Colleen Labella of Shoot to Midnight, the company behind the Emmy-nominated series RUSSIAN DOLL on Netflix, the Freeform series SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE. Colleen has centered her career around womxn stories and the LGBTQIA+ community, which can be seen across these varied projects. Three of your eight sessions include one-on-one meetings with Colleen to get personal feedback on your work so that you leave this lab with a fully drafted script vetted by an industry executive. This hands-on experience goes much further than other classes and webinars. You'll study successful television pilots alongside a small group of passionate writers in an interactive setting. You'll also workshop your script and your classmates' work as a group in sessions and have take-home assignments, so your script is always progressing and getting stronger.  You'll receive exclusive female-driven scripts, including: RUSSIAN DOLL MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL KILLING EVE Spots to work with Colleen are limited. Once they're filled, they are gone. Don't miss out on your chance to write your script and work one-on-one with an industry pro today. TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION: "Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" -- Maeve T.  "Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W. "This was (by far) the best webinar I've attended. Colleen was a fantastic instructor (I wish she taught workshops). The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." -- David B.  

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