Limited spots available - only 15 writers accepted

Work one-on-one with a top executive to take your historical pilot from concept to completed script

Payment plans available at checkout

Historical shows are more popular than ever. From THE CROWN to BRIDGERTON, OUTLANDER to BABYLON BERLIN and WORLD OF FIRE, these stories from yesterday are winning raves today from fans and critics alike. It’s never been a better time to write your own historical television pilot, and this exclusive Stage 32 lab will help you do just that.

Over eight interactive virtual Zoom sessions, you’ll study how to write a historical television pilot under the guidance of accomplished producer and Netflix educator, Anna Henry. Throughout the class, you’ll study successful period shows depicting both real and fictional characters in historical settings, and cover crucial writing topics, such as:

• How to find the right story engine for your show
• Different approaches to historical subjects
• How to use source materials
• How to generate current appeal with yesterday’s stories
• Adding, altering, and conflating real people
• World-building
• Budget and production considerations
• Striving for authenticity over accuracy
• Challenges of writing exposition
• Avoiding anachronisms
• Common pilot problems
• And so much more

Best of all, you’ll have time scheduled throughout the course to work one-on-one with Anna and ensure that your pilot has everything it needs and you walk away with an industry-vetted script to add to your portfolio.

Anna is a producer and development executive who has set up projects at AMC, Amazon Prime, Starz, HBO, Sony, Fox, EOne, ITV America, and OddLot Entertainment, among others. She’s worked at CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, and multiple production companies, as well as in management at Andrea Simon Entertainment where she worked with writers. Anna is also an instructor for Netflix & Stage 32 Creating Content for a Global Marketplace Program.

Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to develop your pilot with an industry veteran and leave with a fantastic historical pilot script.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION FROM ANNA:

"Anna's webinar was fantastic. I am writing my first one hour drama pilot so this webinar was packed with the exact information that I will be immediately putting to use in my rewrite. The slides were clear, concise and informative. The speaker was excellent at conveying the information I needed."

-Bobby C.

"It was really great information. Anna was a terrific host, very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information and tips."

-Marla H.

***Flexible Learning: if you cannot attend any of the sessions live don't worry - you will be sent the links to the recordings of each session within 48 hours of the live session and you will have direct access to Anna on email to ask her any questions so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.***

PRE-CLASS PREP – Select the show idea for which you will write your pilot and review your research.

WEEK 1 – Introduction, Elements of a TV Series, Approaches to Historical Subjects, Managing Research and Budget

Topics: types and formats of television series, finding the story engine for your show, how setting, tone, themes and point-of-view affect your story, various approaches to historical / period subjects, setting philosophical guidelines, scope and levels of research, uses of source materials, generating contemporary appeal, and managing budget requirements.

Q&A with Anna

The assignments for this week will be:

• Review your research for key elements you will utilize in your pilot story.
• Write a description of the concept of the pilot you intend to write.
• Find a template for your pilot.

WEEK 2 – Pilot Structure and Story Mapping

Topics: essential pilot format and structure, differences between pilots for episodic vs. serialized shows, A / B / C stories, pacing, building stakes, “and so” vs. “and then” construction, creating mystery/suspense/anticipation, act breaks, devices (flashbacks, narration, dream sequences, etc.), breaking up episodes/seasons, using true events and historical context. Guidance on the process of outlining.

Q&A with Anna

• The assignment for this week will be to continue working on your series elements and begin writing a beat outline for your pilot.

WEEK 3 – NO CLASS - Consultations: Series Elements (virtual one-on-one sessions)

This week will consist of one-on-one consultations on your series elements written so far. Each writer will send in their written materials 48 hours in advance and will have a phone consultation for feedback.

WEEK 4 - Authenticity vs. Accuracy, Altering / Creating Characters and Story, World Building

Topics: striving for authenticity over accuracy, choosing historical and fictional characters, adding, altering and conflating characters, realism and relatability of characters, relationships between the characters and the world, multiple perspectives and complex relationships, revealing the interior truth of characters, and techniques of world-building.

Q&A with Anna

The assignments for this week will be:

• Write a detailed description (around half of a page) on each of your series' regular characters.
• Review how your character elements will be communicated in your pilot.

WEEK 5 – Pilot Writing Act by Act

Topics: effective teasers, establishing and introducing characters, types of character moments, challenges of writing exposition, setting up the “rules” of your world, setting tone and incorporating themes, creating an effective launch point for your pilot, focusing on conflict and stakes, increasing layers and complexity with subplots, scene order and causation, types of plot points, creating a series launch, and common pilot problems.

Q&A with Anna

• The assignment this week will be to complete the beat outline for your pilot OR write Acts One & Two of your pilot.

WEEK 6 – NO CLASS - Consultations: Pilot Outline or Pilot Acts One & Two (virtual one-on-one sessions)

This week will consist of one-on-one consultations on your outline or acts one & two. Each writer will send in their written materials 48 hours in advance and will have a phone consultation for feedback.

WEEK 7 – Writing Effective Scenes, Period Dialogue, and Conjuring a World

Topics: structure of a scene, building stakes, multi-function scenes that move the plot forward & reveal character & build the world, avoiding “dead” scenes, how to enter and leave scenes, moving from scene to scene using character motivations, writing visually, authentic & nuanced dialogue and the value of subtext, avoiding anachronisms, emotional scenes, and common scene problems.

Q&A with Anna

• The assignment this week will be to watch a list of sample scenes and to continue writing.

WEEK 8 – NO CLASS - Consultations: Finished Pilot or Revised Series Elements & Outline (virtual one-on-one sessions)

This week will consist of one-on-one consultations on your finished pilot script or your revised outline and other written materials. Each writer will send in their written materials 48 hours in advance and will have a phone consultation for feedback.

What To Expect

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 15 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, or advanced writers interested in writing a historical fiction television pilot script.
• **Anna will be available on email during the 8 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft or career.**
• By the end of this 8-week lab, you will have a completed pilot script or outline that has been vetted by an industry executive.
• 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.
• 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.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to write their historical fiction TV pilot for a series or limited series.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to add a marketable historical fiction pilot script to their portfolio.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the craft of TV pilot writing from an experienced literary manager who has sold projects in the marketplace.

Producers who want to better understand the one-hour television drama genre and what represents a marketable one-hour television drama script.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by writing a one-hour television drama TV pilot script.