Learn directly from Eric Zimmerman, a 15 year veteran of TV writing and co-writer of the 2023 Blacklist dark comedy, The Great Pretender. 

All attendees will get a copy of the BEEF pilot script. 

Stage 32's "Deconstructing the Script" series has emerged as one of the most helpful ways to learn and improve your own screenwriting skills. By breaking down some of the top scripts in the marketplace, this exclusive series shows you choices screenwriters make in character development, story structure, tone, and exploration of themes that will help inform your own writing. In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Deconstructing The Script: Emmy-Winning Beef, we have brought in long time TV writer Eric Zimmerman (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Baby Daddy, Sydney To The Max), who also wrote the 2023 Blacklist dark comedy The Great Pretender, as your host to break down this head-turning script. 

In his 90-minute online webinar, Eric will guide you through the pilot script of Beef, examining why everyone loves this cautionary tale about two horrible people. He will explore the ingenious character development, break down the story’s unique and compelling structure, and highlight several of the script’s thematic moments and how they elicit emotional responses from the audience. He will also discuss one of his favorite tones to work in – dark comedy - and point out specific examples in Beef as guidelines for how to write it effectively. 

• Impeccable Character Development

• Why do we care so much about these two extremely unlikeable people? 

• What makes their flaws so captivating?

• Exploring the criteria for effective character goals

• Compelling Story Structure

• Breakdown of the basic structure of the pilot

• Why is the inciting incident so effective, but also atypical?

• What choices make Danny and Amy’s act 2 drives powerful storytelling? 

• How does Act 3 keep us on the edge of our seat the entire time? 

• How does the final image escalate the story to a whole new level that makes us want to stay up all night binging the series? 

• Thematic Moments That Stir Something Deep Inside Us

• The importance of thematic storytelling

• A discussion of the themes present in the script

• What techniques did the writer employ to make the story’s themes resonate with the audience so profoundly? 

• Tone – A Master Class In Dark Comedy

• How this script finds the comedy in tragedy

• The high risk/high reward gamble of blending genres, and how Beef  demonstrates how to best navigate the pursuit

• Q & A with Eric - bring your questions about this incredible script!