On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
Nina Fiore is an Emmy-nominated writer and producer on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale where she collaborates with writing partner, John Herrera. After The Handmaid’s Tale, Nina and John wrote on Bloom, a new show for Netflix that will be coming soon. She and John have also worked on USA’s The Purge, Syfy’s Nightflyers, Blood Drive, Alphas, and Eureka. Additionally, Nina and John have sold their pilots Players and Dante’s Inferno (the latter co-written with Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris) to CW and Freeform, respectively, and an adaptation of Melissa Lenhardt’s genre-bending, feminist western novel, Heresy, with MGM. Nina also co-wrote the movie Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase for Warner Brothers and is currently adapting a true-life feature story about the latter days of the Bosnian-Serb conflict of the 1990’s. Before becoming a TV writer, Nina was a script coordinator and writer’s assistant on Eureka, Sleeper Cell, The L Word. Born in the Bronx to a Puerto Rican mother and a Sicilian father, Nina spent most of her formative years surrounded by an excess of personality. John Herrera is an Emmy-nominated writer and producer on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale where he collaborates with writing partner, Nina Fiore. After The Handmaid’s Tale, John and Nina wrote on Bloom, a new show for Netflix that will be coming soon, and they have also worked together on USA’s The Purge, Syfy’s Nightflyers, Blood Drive, Alphas, and Eureka. Additionally, they have sold their pilots Players and Dante’s Inferno (the latter co-written with Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris) to CW and Freeform, respectively, and an adaptation of Melissa Lenhardt’s genre-bending, feminist western novel, Heresy, with MGM. John also co-wrote the movie Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase for Warner Brothers and is currently adapting a true-life feature story about the latter days of the Bosnian-Serb conflict of the 1990’s. Before becoming a TV writer, John was a script coordinator on Eureka, Californication, and Sleeper Cell. Full Bio »
An Exclusive On-Demand Webinar!
Learn directly from the Emmy-nominated writers of THE HANDMAID'S TALE
PLUS! Get a free download of the series pilot script
Your project is only as good as the characters in it.
Character drives everything in television. They’re the reason shows can last for dozens and sometimes hundreds of episodes, as audiences fall in love with these compelling lead characters and crave seeing their evolution. A gripping character’s most memorable moments will be felt by the audience as if they’re living it themselves.
Now it's time for you to learn how to craft compelling characters that will leap off the page and into your audience's hearts.
In our continued commitment to bringing you world-class education, we're bringing in the Emmy-nominated writers of THE HANDMAID'S TALE, Nina Fiore and John Herrara. In this exclusive webinar, they will take you behind the scenes of how professionals develop characters at the highest level, as well as go over case studies of hit shows and give you tools you can use when crafting your own characters.
PLUS! Everyone who registers will get a copy of the THE HANDMAID'S TALE pilot script!
This is a webinar you do NOT want to miss.
Praise for Nina and John's Stage 32 Teaching:
"Nina and John are fantastic. Not only as writers on one of my favorite shows ever, but as educators. I really learned so much from them. Thank you." -- Martina M.
"It's easy to see why these two are Emmy-nominated!" -- Morgan L.
"Wow. I'm blown away by the quality of teaching with this one. Some of the best educators on Stage 32." -- Rishi L.
Nina Fiore & John Herrera
Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.
If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.
Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.
YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN
If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:
Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.
Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.
Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.
Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.
Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.
Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.
Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.
If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.
Learn how you can keep the stakes high at all times in your screenplays from the Emmy-nominated writers of the critically acclaimed series THE HANDMAID'S TALE PLUS! You'll receive a downloadable copy of the pilot script for THE HANDMAID'S TALE! Do you ever wonder why you are so drawn to your favorite series and films? What is it about the story that hooks you and keeps you glued to the screen? What makes you fear for your favorite characters while hoping they accomplish their goals and defeat their foes? While there are a number of facets that make a story compelling - nuanced characters, solid world building, and sound story structure to name a few - there is one fundamental aspect of storytelling that keeps audiences engaged: maintaining high stakes. If you’ve ever heard the term “raise the stakes” you’re familiar with the notion of putting your characters in situations that provide the greatest risk if they do not accomplish their goal. While obvious examples of high stakes can be seen in most action films (i.e. defusing the bomb, saving the planet, winning the war), high stakes don’t need to be existential or life threatening; rather, the stakes are as big as their meaning to the characters. While the stakes can vary from story to story, it is critical that you, the writer, maintain high stakes for your characters no matter what you are writing. However, how can you create high stakes and maintain them throughout the course of your story? How can your characters face their stakes in a way that is meaningful and doesn’t feel cheap to the audience? How can you milk the conflict for as long as possible to draw out the tension? Here to answer all these questions and teach how to keep the stakes high in your writing are John Herrera and Nina Fiore, Emmy-nominated writers and producers on Hulu’s critically acclaimed series THE HANDMAID’S TALE. John and Nina are instrumental in keeping audiences engaged in the show and are excited to share their screenwriting knowledge with the Stage 32 community. John and Nina have also written on BLOOM, a new show for Netflix that will be coming soon - and on USA’s THE PURGE, Syfy’s NIGHTFLYERS, BLOOD DRIVE, ALPHAS, and EUREKA. PLUS! You will receive a copy of the pilot script for THE HANDMAID'S TALE. If you’re a screenwriter looking to tell an engaging story that will keep your audience begging for more, this webinar is a must!
***Only 2 Spots Left - Grab Your Spot Now*** Write your feature film screenplay in 12 weeks while being mentored by a world-renowned development executive! ***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 Thomas on email to ask him any questions about your craft or career so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.*** Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details Are you ready to write your feature film screenplay while being mentored by a world class executive? If so, this exclusive interactive Stage 32 writing lab is for you! Guiding you on your writing journey to a finished screenplay is one of Stage 32's most sought after educators, Thomas Pemberton. Thomas is the Development Executive at the global production company Mind's Eye Entertainment, which has produced over 60 feature film and television projects. Thomas has a keen eye for great material and is quick to champion material he believes in. He's discovered three writers through Stage 32 who now have their projects under option with Mind’s Eye Entertainment! Over 12 intensive weeks, Thomas will work closely with you to outline, write, and actually complete your feature film screenplay. Thomas will lead intimate group sessions where he will offer notes and guidance on specific portions of each writer’s screenplay or vision documents, incrementally and methodically working towards a completed and polished product. You will also work one-on-one over Zoom with Thomas and will have direct access to Thomas over email for the duration of the lab. You will additionally have the benefit of getting support, feedback, and perspective from the other members of the lab, as well as the opportunity to offer your own for their projects. This is a perfect time to take control of your creative career and give yourself the accountability and guidance you need to take this leap and write a screenplay that you can be proud of... and that will get you noticed. You will walk away from this 12 week lab with a completed feature film screenplay in-hand that has been vetted by a top executive that you can share with studios, financiers, agents and managers! "What I most like about working with Stage 32 is finding new writers. We have optioned three projects that have come through Stage32. The range and variety of material is amazing, so whatever you are looking for they have got something for you." -- Thomas Pemberton Praise For Thomas' Stage 32 Teaching: "Thomas was instrumental in helping me get to that glorious 'Fade Out' at the end of my screenplay. After working with Thomas I feel confident that my script is ready to be read by executives and reps!" -- Sabrina S. "I didn't realize how much I didn't know about story structure and dialogue before working with Thomas. He opened my eyes to all the nuances in writing that I apply to all my work now." -- Sam B. "Felt so good to get to the end of my script! Thank you, Thomas, for your expert guidance. This course has truly been invaluable!" -- Liam R.
As actors, we're living in a whole new world. Self-audition tapes, online auditions, virtual acting classes...Things have changed tremendously over the last few years and those ahead of the curve are doing everything possible online to win more champions of their work and land more jobs. Many actors have embraced a "control what you can control" mindset. This includes creating short form content as a way to control and film their own material, build up a library of acting samples, and showcase their versatility and talents. The idea of creating and filming your own content, especially for actors accustomed to only being in front of the camera, can be daunting. But seriously, it doesn't have to be. In fact, if you can knock down the mental walls associated with taking the step toward controlling your own content, and thereby your brand and the course of your career, you will find yourself with more freedom and creative inspiration than ever before. And we're here to help you take a sledgehammer to those mental walls and get you moving. Elisha has guest starred on the Emmy nominated/winning shows Better Call Saul, The Newsroom, Mad Men, Southland, Up All Night, The New Normal and CSI:NY and voiced the character of Jimmy Olsen and B'dg on DC Nation Shorts's Tales of Metropolis and Super-Pets. He was also in the highly acclaimed Sundance feature Frank & Lola starring Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots. Elisha is no stranger to creating content to help accelerate his acting career. He got his start writing web-series with his friends from Emerson College, including Downers Grove, which was picked up by Warner Brothers Studio 2.0. Aside from all the roles mentioned above, Elisha's content creation strategy helped him land commercials for Mike's Hard Lemonade, Time Warner Cable, Samsung, Wendy's, McDonald's, Nintendo 3DS and Hanes. In this comprehensive and detail filled webinar, Elisha will teach you how to create short form content to launch, accelerate, and expand your acting career. He will teach you how to identify your career blueprint by asking 2 simple, but important questions. From there, he'll ask you to get real and talk through your true goals so that you know exactly what kind of short form content you'll need to make. He will show you 7 examples of short form content to open your mind, spark your creativity and help you identify the direction you want to take with your content. He will teach you the 3 boxes you need to check to make sure your idea is a great one. He will then dive into how to make cost-efficient content and how not to overthink the process. He'll tell you how to build your team - again, on the quick and cheap. And of great importance, Elisha will teach you where to release your content, assuring that you get not only the biggest audience, but the most concentrated one based on your overall goals. PRAISE FOR ELISHA'S TEACHINGS: "Brilliant. In every way, brilliant." - Kim G. "So f****** inspiring." - Laura P. "Yes, yes, yes. So tired of giving away my power. Elisha, you're my hero" Samantha K. "This is a step I've always wanted to take. I've seen my acting friends create content to great success. I just didn't know if I could create content that mattered. Now I do." - Joshua W. "I'm inspired and ready to rock." - Montell S.
Isn't it ironic? In this Breakdown Webcast we discuss Dramatic Irony - when the audience knows more information about the circumstances the characters find themselves in than the characters do themselves. There are actually several different types of "irony" in storytelling and we will be looking at most of them during this packed hour. We will pay special attention to Dramatic Irony which can be used for dramatic, comedic, suspenseful or tragic effect. During this webcast we'll discuss different ways of utilizing dramatic irony and how it effects the emotional connection we have with our characters and the heightened tension and stakes it creates.
As independent creatives, most of us have probably accepted our fates as “struggling artists” until we “get our break.” Still, even getting our break isn’t a guarantee for success and financial stability. There’s so much hustle and wait in this industry, but what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could take control of opening the golden door to success? This is an industry full of opportunities for those who are willing to engage in the entrepreneurial grind of building a profitable entity within the film industry. If you’re willing to bet on yourself, you can no doubt lead a fulfilling life as an independent artist. The two greatest challenges preventing people from fulfilling their dreams though, are often undervaluing themselves and quitting early. It’s important to learn and own your value and what you bring to the table if you want to set yourself up for success. There are strategic steps you can take towards monetizing your skills and creative ways to find revenue (trust us, it is out there!), but you have to be honest with yourself, be willing to put in the work and stand by your worth. Through iteration, practice, and time, you can even scale your skill(s) into your own business. With the right tools, resources, and motivation, you too can set yourself up for success as an independent artist. Jacob Matthew is the producer of the hit Netflix film LESS IS NOW. He is also the co-owner of the global production company and film agency Booklight. At Booklight he has expanded the agency's global reach in international film production by working with creatives and brands such as Netflix, Open Table, Comedy Central and Twilio. Jacob believes that when creatives are given permission to work in an environment that is as healthy and encouraging as it is disciplined and detailed, their creative ceiling can have no bounds. Booklight’s explosive growth is due, not only, to its co-founder Chris Newhard’s obsession for quality, but also to Jacob's own unwavering pursuit of organizational health and clarity. In this unique webinar, Jacob will share his story of success as an independent producer, and teach you how to find your value while accepting some brutal truths. He’ll also give you a realistic look at the industry today, and guide you on establishing your brand, what and how to charge clients based on your value, and train you on how to build your wealth while managing risk and growing your client list. This course will give you the basic, high level tools to propel you on your journey to leaving your day job and carving out a space for yourself in this industry. PRAISE FOR JACOB'S TEACHINGS: "We all make the mistake of thinking that the term “filmmaker” is a noun, a title to be achieved. We are wrong. A filmmaker is a verb. We film-make everyday that we wake up and decide to do something that moves our film forward. We film-make everyday we look in the mirror and tell ourselves we are on the right path. We film-make every time we encounter an obstacle in our way and choose to get creative. I look forward to teaching you how you can get creative and make a profitable career for yourself." - Jacob Matthew
Learn the craft of writing for television and how to build and navigate a successful career as a television writer from a veteran showrunner who has worked with Disney, The CW, ABC, and more! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts including series pitch documents, outlines screenplays, and screenplays from real television series including MELROSE PLACE, HE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, SHADOWHUNTERS, ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, and the pitch document for Fox's SOAR! Millions of people dream of becoming a television writer in Hollywood. You want to write the next hit television show and have high hopes of seeing your stories come to life on the screen. Sharing your creative vision with the world is one of the most rewarding experiences there is. However, becoming a Hollywood television writer is hard. Very hard. There is a craft and technique to writing a dramatic television series and working in writer's room that take time and hard work to acquire. Not to mention, navigating a career as a writer. How can you sustain your life as a writer when you don't know what you'll be working on next? How can you stay creative over years of writing and hard work? And during all of this, how can you consistently create good material that studios and networks want to buy? Stage 32 is here to help you answer all of this and more. In this exclusive Stage 32 4-part class, you will learn the craft and process of writing for scripted drama television and how to navigate a career as a television writer. Taught by veteran television/film writer and showrunner Todd Slavkin, you will learn the creative and practical aspects of writing and producing a television pilot, writing and producing on the staff of a television show where most of the work happens in the writers room, and navigating a long, illustrious career. Todd's experiences showrunning series for Disney, The CW, ABC, and more have provided him with an arsenal of showrunning tools that he will share with you to prepare you for your own career as a showrunner. Todd has worked in all different kinds of genres and has been involved with many popular television shows, including SMALLVILLE, SHADOWHUNTERS and most recently THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, for which he was nominated for two Emmys. He has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, FREEFORM and The CW, where he developed and was the showrunner of MELROSE PLACE 2.0. Other television credits include NO ORDINARY FAMILY, ALPHAS, DEFIANCE, DOMINION and GUILT. He began his career in features, penning DARK REFLECTION and CONTROL, starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez. Each session of this 4-part class will include industry guests, mainly successful writers with high levels of experience, all sharing their own stories and tips for success. You will have the rare opportunity to learn from a handful of industry experts how to navigate a television writing career in Hollywood so that you can make the best decisions for yourself and your career. Trust us, you don't want to miss this! PLUS! Todd will provide you with exclusive handouts to help you with the craft and business of television writing in Hollywood. Downloads include: Pitch document for SOAR Fox Pilot & Series Document for MELROSE PLACE Pilot Outline and Teleplay for ADJUSTMENT BUREAU Pilot, Outline and Teleplay for SOAR FoxPilot, Teleplay for MELROSE PLACE Pilot Outline and Teleplay for an episode of SHADOWHUNTERS & Story Area, Outline andTeleplay for an episode of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY You will walk away from this class with a treasure trove of knowledge about the art and craft of writing professionally for television, and the insight into how you can build a sustainable career for yourself as a successful television writer. Praise For Todd's Teaching "Todd's experience and expertise shine through. If you've ever wanted to be a showrunner on a TV series then learn all you can from him." -- Rahime B. "I never realized how much fell on the showrunner before working with Todd. He's a fantastic educator!" -- Meg L. "You brought to the zoom screen the qualities I’m sure you excel at as a showrunner – humour, vulnerability, candidness, insight, patience, wisdom, respect, humility, confidence, inclusion. Each of these words have been selected specifically!" -- Jan R. "I just wanted to send a quick note to say THANK YOU for the wonderful showrunner class! The amount of information given in the 4 classes was incredible and you can tell by the stellar guest speakers that Todd you are truly admired for not only your work, but also for being a kind, thoughtful human :)" -- Sage P "Todd is an absolute angel! This was the most wonderful class I’ve ever taken! If we ever does another class, I’d love to join." -- Lauren M. "I loved Todd's class. Todd is so enthusiastic and informative, he has a true love of teaching. I would take future classes with him, no question. I really came away with an understanding of how showrunning works and the responsibilities and career paths." -- Allyson M.