Private, interactive workshop on Zoom with the Development Executive behind Emmy award-winning RUSSIAN DOLL!

Get personalized written feedback on your finished pitch!

Payment plans available at checkout or email edu@stage32.com for more info! 

In today’s industry, having a great script is just the beginning! The real opportunity comes from sharing your story with clarity, confidence, and impact. Every conversation is a chance to open doors, connect with the right people, and bring your vision to life. Mastering your pitch is one of the most empowering skills you can develop as a writer, giving you the tools to stand out and succeed as you head into 2026.

Even the most passionate creatives face challenges when pitching. Maybe you’re not sure which details to highlight, or you want to make your project’s unique strengths shine. Maybe you want to tailor your pitch so it resonates instantly with your audience. In this lab, you’ll tackle these challenges head-on. You’ll break down the fundamentals of structure, clarity, and visual support, come prepared with a 3–5 minute pitch draft, and across both sessions, you’ll learn how to engage your audience quickly, build a compelling verbal pitch, refine your visuals, and present with confidence. By the end, you’ll leave ready to pitch your story with poise and impact.

You’ll be learning directly from Colleen Labella, Vice President of Development and Production for Leslye Headland’s company, Shoot to Midnight—the team behind the Emmy award–winning RUSSIAN DOLL. Colleen has read hundreds of scripts, sold projects to FX, Hulu, Freeform, and Lucasfilm, and served as a development executive on STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE for Disney+. She also produced Single Drunk Female for Freeform and is actively developing multiple series and features under Headland’s overall deal with 20th Century Fox. With her deep experience shaping pitches, developing projects, and guiding creators, you’re learning from someone who knows exactly what makes industry professionals pay attention.

Across these two sessions, you’ll learn the building blocks of a powerful verbal pitch, explore strong visual pitch examples, present your work for in-class feedback, and receive personalized written notes from Colleen after your final presentation. By the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with a polished, confident, and industry-ready pitch you can take into real conversations and real opportunities.

This interactive Stage 32 lab is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

Praise for Colleen's Education:
“I just wanted to put in a great word for Colleen's Lab! It was really the best class I've ever taken (and I've taken classes at Sundance Collab, Roadmap, and Stage 32). Her notes are excellent and delivered perfectly and with kindness. I learned so much about tv writing, especially from the workshops of the script pages, both getting and giving notes, because the notes I gave to another student were really notes I needed to give to myself! The workshops are tremendously helpful. Thank you, Colleen! “ -Julia M

Week 1: How to Pitch
Being prepared with a clear and concise 3-5 minute verbal pitch for your screenplay or idea is essential for making an immediate impact in any creative conversation. This session focuses on the fundamental building blocks of a verbal pitch and how to effectively use visual pitch materials to support your story. You will learn how to engage your audience quickly, what key points to include and exclude, and how to adapt your pitch based on the room.

In Class:

• Discuss the building blocks of a verbal pitch

• Explore effective visual pitch materials and review examples

• Share your pitch for feedback based on class teachings

• Q&A with Colleen
  
  

Assignment:
Work on your verbal pitch to share in class.

Week 2: In-Class Pitches
This session provides the opportunity to present your fully developed pitch to Colleen and your classmates. Building on the skills from Week 1, you will focus on delivering a polished, engaging presentation that highlights your screenplay’s unique qualities and your strengths as a writer. Post-class, Colleen will offer individual written feedback, helping you refine your pitch for real-world opportunities.

In Class:

• Pitch your pilot to Colleen and the class

• Receive immediate feedback during the session

• Q&A with Colleen

After Class:
Receive personalized written feedback from Colleen via email.

• Screenwriters who want to confidently pitch their scripts in professional settings
• Filmmakers and creators preparing for meetings with producers, executives, or reps
• Writers developing pilots, features, or series ideas who need help shaping their verbal pitch
• Producers looking to strengthen how they present projects to partners or financiers
• Emerging creatives who want to stand out in a crowded marketplace
• Creatives seeking personalized, expert feedback from a top development executive

Praise for Colleen's Education:
“I just wanted to put in a great word for Colleen's Lab! It was really the best class I've ever taken (and I've taken classes at Sundance Collab, Roadmap, and Stage 32). Her notes are excellent and delivered perfectly and with kindness. I learned so much about tv writing, especially from the workshops of the script pages, both getting and giving notes, because the notes I gave to another student were really notes I needed to give to myself! The workshops are tremendously helpful. Thank you, Colleen! “ -Julia M