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Stage 32 5-Part Screenwriting Lab: Write Your Feature Film Treatment Lab in 5 weeks
Stage 32 5-Part Screenwriting Lab: Write Your Feature Film Treatment Lab in 5 weeks
Taught by Davina Hefflin
Literary Agent
Oct 11th, 11:00 AM PDT
$499.00
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Summary

Only 10 Spots Seat - 1 Spot Remains!

Work one on one with a top literary agent from VERVE

Payment plans available - email edu@stage32.com for more details!

 
You’ve got a killer idea for a feature film, but how do you turn that spark into a story that grabs producers, agents, and managers? Writing a professional feature film treatment is the key. It’s your chance to shape your story, clarify your vision, and create a powerful pitching tool that opens doors in the industry. A well-crafted treatment doesn’t just outline your plot—it captures the heart of your story, hooks the reader, and proves you’re ready to play in the big leagues. In this 5-week virtual screenwriting lab, you’ll learn how to build a treatment that stands out and moves your project forward.
 
But let’s be real—writing a treatment isn’t always smooth sailing. Many creatives stumble because they either get lost in endless plot details without fleshing out their characters’ emotional arcs or write vague summaries that fail to convey the story’s stakes. Some overexplain every beat, turning their treatment into a mini-script, while others struggle to balance vivid storytelling with a clear, concise structure. These common pitfalls—like overcomplicating Act II or neglecting the emotional rhythm—can make your treatment feel flat or unfocused. This lab will help you navigate those obstacles, giving you the tools to craft a treatment that’s both narratively compelling and emotionally resonant.
 
Your guide for this journey is Davina Hefflin, a Literary Agent at Verve Talent and Literary Agency, whose expertise is unmatched. With clients working on major hits like Selma, The Chi, Doom Patrol, and Dead Boy Detectives for platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon MGM, Davina knows what makes a story sing. Her passion for discovering and nurturing new voices, especially diverse and LGBTQ+ writers, has shaped her reputation as a sharp, dedicated agent who blends storytelling love with business savvy. She’s uniquely qualified to teach you how to craft a treatment that execs will notice, drawing on her experience representing some of the brightest talents in film and TV.
 
Over five weeks, you’ll dive into the essentials: building a strong story foundation, crafting a logline and beat sheet, expanding into a detailed outline, and writing a 10–12 page treatment that covers all three acts with vivid prose and emotional depth. You’ll learn to balance plot and character, avoid common pitfalls like overexplaining or being too vague, and ensure your ending sells the story while leaving room for discovery. With assignments like drafting a logline, outlining key turning points, and refining your treatment through peer reviews and a one-on-one consultation with Davina, you’ll walk away with a polished, professional treatment—and the confidence to pitch your feature film to the industry.

 

Previous Testimonials from Davina's Students:

Davina did an amazing job! No matter how random the question, she was able to give a clear, helpful, and thoughtful answer that managed to be both realistic and encouraging. She is extremely knowledgeable about the business, and had clearly put in the work to prepare for these classes, which were well-structured and interactive. She gave actionable and timely feedback on our assignments, which will serve as key tools for us going forward. Plus, Davina is engaging on a personal level, so it was a fun experience.

-David D.

What You'll Learn

WEEK 1 – Foundations of a Strong Feature Story

  • Course overview and expectations
  • What makes a professional treatment (purpose, length, format, examples)
  • Understanding feature film story structure (three acts, beats, emotional arcs)
  • Identifying your protagonist, antagonist, central conflict, and theme

Assignment: Write a logline for your film and a 1–2 page beat sheet covering the beginning, middle, and end.

WEEK 2 – From Logline to Outline

  • Building on your logline: the difference between concept and story
  • Expanding into a beat sheet: major plot points (inciting incident, act breaks, midpoint, climax)
  • Developing character arcs in parallel with structure
  • The importance of stakes, obstacles, and conflict escalation
  • Balancing story beats with emotional rhythm

Assignment: Turn your beat sheet into a detailed outline (3–5 pages), including key turning points and character beats.

WEEK 3 – Writing the Treatment (Act I & Act II, Part 1)

  • Treatment style: prose vs. script tone (what execs expect)
  • How much detail to include: balancing summary with vivid storytelling
  • Writing Act I: establishing the world, tone, and central conflict
  • Writing the first half of Act II: rising tension, midpoint setup
  • Common pitfalls: overexplaining, being too vague, or writing a 'mini-script'

 

Assignment: Draft the first half of your treatment (5–6 pages), covering Act I through the midpoint.

WEEK 4 – Writing the Treatment (Act II, Part 2 & Act III)

  • Continuing the treatment: escalating tension, darkest moment, climax, resolution
  • How to weave in supporting characters and subplots without overwhelming the story
  • Ensuring emotional payoffs match the setup
  • How to 'sell' your ending while still leaving room for discovery in the script draft
  • Peer review and workshop session on Act II–III treatment pages

Assignment: Draft the second half of your treatment (5–6 pages), bringing the total to a complete 10–12 page treatment.

WEEK 5 – NO CLASS: 1-1 Consultations

  • Each writer will meet one-on-one with Davina to discuss their full treatment and hear specific feedback.
  • Assignment: Make any final changes to the treatment draft based on Davina’s one-on-one consultation notes. 

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab 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 all level writers, directors, producers and actors who want to write a feature film treatment.

  • 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 5 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 four sessions 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 at checkout or you can email edu@stage32.com for more details.

 

Who Should Attend

  • This class is designed for all level writers, directors, producers and actors who want to write a feature film treatment.

Executive

Davina Hefflin
Davina Hefflin
Literary Agent at
Davina Hefflin is a Literary Agent at Verve Talent and Literary Agency which was announced in Variety. Davina represents some of the best and brightest writers, directors and actors in film and television today. 
 
Her clients work on television hits such EXTENDED FAMILY and THE CARMICHAEL SHOW for NBC, MERRY HAPPY WHATEVER and DEAD BOY DETECTIVES for Netflix, CRUEL INTENTIONS and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER for Amazon MGM, the animated series CURSES! for Apple TV+, DOOM PATROL for MAX, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS on Hulu, DYNASTY on the CW, THE CHI on Paramount+, THE CLARK SISTERS on Lifetime and films such as as SELMA, BROKEN CITY, K-POPS!, THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDERVERSE STORY, THE BOOK OF TRUTH, SPIES IN DISGUISE, TRUE MEMOIRS OF AN INTERNATIONAL ASSASSIN and more. 
 
She has dedicated herself to identifying and protecting upcoming, new voices and diverse and LGBTQ+ voices, building them up, and guiding them as they tell new stories that she hopes will have a positive and lasting impact on the industry.
 
Davina has a deep love for writing and storytelling, combined with sharp business acumen, making her a great agent in literary representation. She loves discovering talented writers and giving them a platform to work in film and television. 

Schedule

Saturday October 11, 11am - 1pm PT

Saturday October 18, 11am - 1pm PT

Saturday October 25, 11am - 1pm PT

Saturday November 1, 11am - 1pm PT

Saturday November 8 - no online class - one-on-ones with Davina

Testimonials

Davina did an amazing job! No matter how random the question, she was able to give a clear, helpful, and thoughtful answer that managed to be both realistic and encouraging. She is extremely knowledgeable about the business, and had clearly put in the work to prepare for these classes, which were well-structured and interactive. She gave actionable and timely feedback on our assignments, which will serve as key tools for us going forward. Plus, Davina is engaging on a personal level, so it was a fun experience.

-David D.

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