Private, interactive class on Zoom with the producer behind TO LESLIE'S Oscar-nominated journey and a filmmaker who learned from working alongside David Fincher!

Get 7+ Downloadable Handouts Including a Producer’s Script Checklist, 6-Minute Pitch Framework, First Ten Pages Guide, Development Roadmap, Rewrite Strategy Worksheet, and Packaging & Submission Checklist!

Only 4 Spots Remain!

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

Learn what makes a producer say yes to a script — and how to position your project to stand out in a competitive marketplace.

In this exclusive two-part Stage 32 class, you’ll go behind the scenes with Henry Hereford, the producer behind the Oscar-nominated performance in TO LESLIE and a filmmaker who has worked alongside acclaimed director David Fincher. You’ll learn how producers evaluate scripts, pitches, and creative potential — and how you can use that insight to strengthen your screenplay, sharpen your pitch, and approach industry conversations with more confidence!

Every writer wants their script to get noticed. But what separates a project that sparks interest from one that gets passed over? Producers are constantly deciding which stories, voices, and filmmakers have the potential to move forward. Understanding that process can change the way you develop and present your work.

Henry brings a rare perspective from both sides of the industry. As an actor, producer, and executive, he understands what makes a story emotionally connect while also recognizing what gives a project the potential to attract partners, talent, and momentum. Through his work on TO LESLIE, Henry helped champion a story that went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Andrea Riseborough’s lead performance. Now, you’ll learn the same principles that guide producers when identifying powerful stories and deciding which projects they want to support!

Across two interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to deliver a compelling 6-minute pitch that captures attention, identify the emotional hook that makes your screenplay stand out, strengthen your opening moments, create intrigue without giving away your entire story, and understand what happens after a producer says yes — from notes and rewrites to packaging, attaching talent, securing financing, and moving your project toward production.

Walk away with practical tools you can immediately apply to your screenplay and pitch, including a stronger understanding of how to position your project, communicate your vision, and become a more confident creative partner!

You’ll receive access to recordings of both sessions available in your Stage 32 Library within 48 hours, along with a private Stage 32 Lounge where you can connect with fellow writers, exchange feedback, grow your network, and continue learning long after the class ends.

This is your opportunity to learn from a working producer who has evaluated projects, developed stories, and helped bring acclaimed films to life — and apply that knowledge directly to your own work!

PLUS! You’ll receive these downloadable resources to help you strengthen your project and navigate the development process:

• Producer’s Script Checklist
• 6-Minute Pitch Framework
• First Ten Pages Guide
• Development Roadmap
• Rewrite Strategy Worksheet
• Packaging & Submission Checklist

Session 1: How Your Script Stands Out to a Producer

• What makes a producer lean forward instead of switching off
• How to make the most of your 6-minute verbal pitch
• What producers are listening for in the first minute
• Why confidence isn't about performing, it's about clarity
• The common mistakes that make pitches blend
• The art of creating intrigue without giving away the whole story
• Finding the emotional hook in your screenplay
• Why voice will almost always beat perfection
• Thinking commercially without losing what makes your script unique
• The story of listening to 20 pitches in one evening and why the last two became projects Henry chose to produce
• What makes a producer ask to read the script
• Q&A with the instructor

Handouts: 6-Minute Pitch Framework, Producer's Script Checklist, The First Ten Pages Guide

Assignment: Refine your 6-minute pitch and deliver it aloud. Then read the first ten pages of your screenplay and ask yourself one question: Would this make someone who's already heard 19 other pitches want to keep reading?

Session 2: What the Development Process Is Really Like

• What happens after a producer says "yes"
• Why development is about collaboration, not compromise
• Giving and receiving notes without losing your voice
• Understanding the difference between a creative note and a commercial note
• Why some rewrites strengthen a project and others don't
• Building a package: attaching directors, cast and financiers
• Knowing when a script is genuinely ready to take to market
• Why development often takes years, not months
• Lessons learned developing projects from first draft to production, including To Leslie and current feature films
• Understanding the producer's role at every stage of the journey
• Q&A with the instructor

Handouts: Development Roadmap, Rewrite Strategy Worksheet, Packaging & Submission Checklist

Assignment: Create a realistic development roadmap for your own project. Identify where it currently sits, what's missing before it's market-ready, and the next three practical steps you'll take over the next 6 months.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with 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 class is designed for screenwriters of all levels who want to understand what actually makes a producer say yes to a project

• This is an intimate, in-depth, practical, and detailed class held on Zoom where you will be interacting with your instructor.

• This class consists of 2 sessions roughly two hours in duration and offers significantly more in-depth content than a standard Stage 32 webinar.

• ***Your instructor will be available on email during the entire duration of the class to answer any questions you have about your project.***

• To stay motivated and inspired you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge post where you can meet, connect and communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the class and beyond. Let Stage 32 help you find your tribe!

• Can't make it live? Don't worry, each session will be recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience. 

• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.

• Payment plans are available at checkout through Shop Pay

• Screenwriters of all levels who want to understand what actually makes a producer say yes to a project
• Writers preparing to pitch who want to make the most of a short window, whether that's 6 minutes or 6 lines in an email
• Filmmakers and creators who have a completed script and want to know what realistically happens next
• Writers who've had scripts pass without notes and want insight into what producers are really responding to
• Producers and industry professionals who want a behind-the-scenes look at how development actually unfolds, from notes to packaging
• Writers who feel stuck in development or unsure how to move a project from draft to production-ready