Stage 32 8-Part Lab: Create All The Tools You Need To Sell Your Holiday Romantic Comedy
Other education that may be of interest to you:
How You Can Write And Produce A Successful Holiday Romantic Comedy
Learn from an executive and producer with over 25 years of experience behind holiday and rom-com films such as A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, LOVE AT FIRST BARK, LOVE UNDER THE STARS, and more. Holiday-themed romantic comedies have become a year-round staple for television viewers. It goes beyond Christmas. There’s a holiday event every month and a “rom-com” on countless networks and platforms to celebrate it. So are you ready to write or produce your feel-good holiday-themed rom-com for audiences worldwide? In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how to write, develop, and produce a holiday rom-com. These films aren’t the same as straight Christmas movies or other romantic comedies. The holiday rom-com is its own genre, and you’ll find out the rules and norms that audiences require and how to break those rules effectively. You won’t just learn how to write these stories but also who the buyers are how and how to produce them. You will cover the budget ranges, how to generate the budget, how to monetize your film, and what you need to sell your film. It’s no longer just Hallmark telling these audience-favorite stories. Now, they’re being shown on networks and streaming platforms across the spectrum, giving you more opportunities than ever to get your project made. Your teacher is Matt Bierman, a studio executive and producer with over 25 years of experience. Matt has previously worked as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more. He has also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon. Matt has vast experience making low-budget holiday films and romantic comedies, including A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, LOVE AT FIRST BARK, LOVE UNDER THE STARS, and more. You’ll learn all about this hugely popular genre as Matt shares his vast knowledge and experience with you so you can discover how to jump into this in-demand genre by writing and producing your own movie today. Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge: “Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2 "This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M. "Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.
How You Can Write and Produce a Romantic Comedy Movie That Sells
Learn the most effective strategies on how to write and produce a romantic comedy feature from Matt Bierman, a producer and executive who has worked at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more! In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you'll learn the fundamentals of creating a successful romantic comedy. This is your chance to learn how to craft a winning story, identify target buyers, and explore budgeting and monetization strategies to make your film a success. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this webinar is a must-attend for anyone looking to make their mark in the world of romantic comedies. Your Stage 32 Educator is Matt Bierman, a studio executive and producer who has previously worked as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and more. Matt is an expert in the field of romantic comedies having produced Christmas With the Darlings, Love at First Bark, Love Under the Stars, Memories of Christmas, and more. Under Matt's guidance, you will learn how to map out your unique idea using his proven tactics and techniques. Matt will cover how to develop, write and produce a successful rom-com you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the key elements that make for a successful film. You will cover the complete gambit of what makes a successful romantic comedy: understanding your audience, exploring the various sub-genres of this feature type and discussing rom-com script structure. You will also get key tips on current market trends and needs, valuable insight into who the buyers of such features are and what they are looking for and Matt will also walk you through the economics of romantic comedies including physical production considerations. Don't miss out on your chance to learn how to create and produce your romantic comedy feature! Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge: “Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, Director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2 "This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M. "Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.
How to Make a “YES” in an Ever-Shifting Marketplace
The SVP of TV at Amasia Entertainment shows you how to score a YES from any buyer for your film or television project. This industry is changing rapidly with companies ramping up productions worldwide, theaters working hard to get people back to the multiplex, and streamers in a never-ending battle to stay on top of the perpetually growing competition. It’s clear that there are more opportunities, outlets, and platforms than ever to get your work in front of audiences. So, why are buyers still telling you no? The key to successfully selling your project requires work, research, and a targeted plan of attack, and in this Stage 32 exclusive webinar, you'll find out what plan works best for you and your project. You’ll discover why buyers pass on projects and provide you with industry insight to know how to turn a “no” into a “yes.” You will examine industry trends, discuss how to make your passion project stand out in a crowded field, and get real about how best to pitch your project, all to enhance your chances of locking strategic creative and financial partnerships. You’ll cover how to market your creative brand, understand different buyers, how to get a meeting, what makes a successful meeting, and most importantly, you’ll learn the art of not taking “no” for an answer. And who better to share with you their insider knowledge and vast experience selling film and television than Tracy Mercer, the Senior Vice President of Television at Amasia Entertainment. Tracy and Amasia are currently developing a sequel series to Dan Curtis’s classic DARK SHADOWS and the series BECAUSE THE NIGHT, based on the James Ellory book. Previously, she’s worked on projects including THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, HBO’s WINCHELL, TNT’s WITCHBLADE, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INVICTUS, Marvel’s THE PUNISHER, AEON FLUX, and Tracy was instrumental to the development of the CBS hit series, MADAM SECRETARY. She’s also worked with top-tier talent, including Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Ang Lee, and Karyn Kusama. By the end of this webinar, you’ll have a new understanding and current insight into this ever-shifting marketplace from an expert with years of experience and the keys to earning that “yes” from the right buyer.
They Said "No" - Why Did They Pass On My Material?
Stage 32 is extremely excited to exclusively present They Said "No" - Why Did They Pass on My Material taught by Dan Wiedenhaupt, former Creative Executive of Atlas Entertainment (WONDER WOMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE, SUICIDE SQUAD, AMERICAN HUSTLE, THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY) Many filmmakers and writers look forward to that exciting moment when they get their work in front of executives. Once in front of an executive, it's exhilarating waiting for the decision makers to view a reel, hear a pitch, or read a script. Then, when the call comes and the decision has been made, sometimes it's a "pass" or "no" and the only question left on a filmmaker or writer's mind is "Why?" Why did they pass on my material? Says Dan, "After reading thousands of scripts and hearing hundreds of pitches, I found that there are many common problems and red flags in scripts and presentations that nearly everyone makes - problems which will immediately make me, or another executive, pass on the script or idea. This is something that affects every single director or writer at any stage of the process - whether you're a first-time filmmaker or a Hollywood veteran. I have spent several years working in all aspects of film, television, and commercials - from both a physical production and development angle. I've seen the best of the best and I've seen some of the worst. After this time of cultivating my taste and my thick skin, I'm ready to pay the wisdom forward. I will be brutal, direct and to the point, and hopefully a little funny, pulling back the curtain of the development process." Dan will teach you why you are not receiving the response you are looking for from your film or screenplay pitch and how to fix those issues immediately. He will show you the do's and don'ts related to introductions and openings of a pitch or submission. He will teach you the red flags within your pitch including your story, presentation and personality. He will dive into what execs are looking for, how to assure you're tailoring your pitch to who you're pitching and navigating the "Culture of No" (and giving them a reason to say "Yes".) Dan will even show you examples of pitches he's passed on and pitches that had him begging for more. That's just some of what Dan will tackle, and rest assured, he'll leave you not only with a wealth of actionable information, but a ton of inspiration as well! Please note Dan elected to not to not be on camera, but you will see his full presentation. Dan will explain to you exactly what it looks (and sounds) like from an executive's side of the table. He'll give you the tips and tricks to assure that your film or screenplay pitch is on point and attractive to representation, buyers, producers, financiers and development execs. PRAISE FOR DAN'S TEACHINGS: "There's nothing like learning at the feet of an expert in their field. I was inspired from the beginning to the end!" -Marla O. "There's nothing worse than being rejected. Except now understanding WHY I've been rejected. Thank you, Dan, for making me see the error of my ways and helping me course correct." - Terry G. "Worth 10 times the price. Gold." - Thom P. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks to Dan, I can't wait to pitch. What was pure horror in my mind has now turned to an abundance of hope."- Tasha P.
Script Clearance 101
Learn from an entertainment and intellectual property lawyer who's worked with HBO, NBCUniversal and Lionsgate how to protect your film or television project's future. PLUS! Receive Handouts Including A Production Rights Cheat Sheet and Sample Location Agreement In today’s marketing world, your project’s title and content is its brand. You’ll use your film or television project’s title for social media handles and the website URL. It’s one of the most vital tools for getting the word out about your project. It can also be something that grows much bigger. For example, HARRY POTTER started as a book series, but the franchise includes movies, spin-offs, toys, clothing, theme parks, and so much more. When determining the title for your project, you need to think of the bigger picture and how best to protect you title, and brand, to ensure it doesn’t conflict with other brands so that you can capitalize on your project from all angles. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll learn everything you need to know about title clearances and how to protect your project’s title and brand. You’ll also cover script clearances to ensure that you’re safe to include the people, places, real events, and existing material and brands you want to use without fear of reshooting your project from legal issues. Without the necessary title and script clearances, your project could receive legal notices to halt marketing because of a conflict with another project. You might have to reshoot valuable footage if the script isn’t cleared. But you can avoid these stressful legal and financial setbacks by doing the work correctly now. Walking you through these legal processes step by step is Kennington Groff, an attorney who launched her own firm, Lilenfield PC, to focus on entertainment and intellectual property. Kennington has extensive experience with clearances and has worked with top entertainment executives at HBO, NBCUniversal, and Lionsgate. Kennington will show you how to protect your title and the differences with the process in the US versus internationally. You’ll cover error and omission insurance (E&O), the differences between copyright and trademark protection, finding out if your title isn’t available, and more. Save yourself the time and frustration later by joining Kennington for this invaluable webinar, and protect your project’s future.
The Key to Attracting Film Investors
One of the biggest challenges that you face as a filmmaker is finding real financiers and actually raising the funds to produce your movie. Team building and your presentation is key to attracting both creative and finance partners to your film. Since you are the biggest cheerleader for your project, you need to have the answers to the key questions and steps before you engage. What makes your project attractive? What partners do you need and how do you find them? What exact steps do you take to get your film financed? In order to produce a film that actually gets made requires work, research, and a targeted plan of attack. It requires a full understanding of the financial prospects of your project, the marketplace, and potential distribution and recoupment strategies. You also need to present yourself as the kind of partner others are looking for. How you show up is also a key to attracting investors and could be the difference between a successful pitch and one that fails. You have to come with the willingness to listen, learn and collaborate and be nimble enough to pivot when needed. Teaching you how its done is Aimee Schoof, the co-founder of Intrinsic Value Films. Aimee has produced more than 35 feature films. Of those, nine have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, four at the Tribeca Film Festival, three at SXSW, and one each at LA Film Festival, Toronto, Venice, New York FF, New Directors/New Films, and Berlinale, to name a few. Aimee’s extensive experience has made her intimately familiar with successfully getting a project off the ground and building a team to get a script made. Let’s dive in together and tackle the strategy and art of successfully attracting investors to get your movie financed and made. We will set you up for success.
Register / Log In
