How to Write Female Driven Film & TV Comedies That Pop
Hosted by David Shecter
$49
On Demand Webinar - For immediate download. Unlimited access for 1 year.
Start Learning
Projects:
Hosted by David Shecter
$49
On Demand Webinar - For immediate download. Unlimited access for 1 year.
Webinar hosted by: David Shecter
Writer (2 BROKE GIRLS, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA)
David Shecter has has been in the industry for over a decade. David was first acclimated into TV production when he worked on season 5 of “IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA". Eventually David landed on the pilot of the CBS show 2 BROKE GIRLS where he worked his way up as a staff writer on the 6th and final season of the show. He has written and produced two episodes of 2 BROKE GIRLS. From his early years in the industry he has cultivated strong relationships with Emmy winners Michael Patrick King (SEX AND THE CITY, THE COME BACK, 2 BROKE GIRLS) Max Mutchnick & Dave Kohan (WILL AND GRACE), Greg Malins (WILL AND GRACE), and John Riggi (30 ROCK, THE COMEBACK). He is currently developing a female driven action comedy cop show with New Form and STX Entertainment. Most recently David was named one of the WGA TV Writer access honorees for his script FOR WORSE. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
It's an undeniable fact, we are living in a gold rush of comedy content featuring lead female characters. Just think about the major box office and streaming successes we've seen over the last few years. On the feature film side, you have movies such as Late Night, Girls Trip, What Men Want, Rough Night, Bad Moms, and Trainwreck to name a few. On the networks, premium cable channels, and streamers Fleabag, 2 Broke Girls, Mom, Glow, Russian Doll, Insecure, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt have drawn huge audiences and many have won major awards. Is it any wonder why development executives, managers, agents, producers and financiers are looking for writers who have the ability to write screenplays and teleplays featuring memorable and iconic female characters?
There are many inroads to breaking and staying in the industry as a writer, but one of the most important factors is understanding what's hot in the marketplace. And right now, thanks to the massive buying power of the streaming platforms along with other major feature film and television production companies looking for comedies, it's never been a better time to understand how to write female driven comedies that pop.
David Shecter has has been working in the industry in production, development, and as a writer for over a decade. David has written on many shows, including season 5 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His experience and success on that show landed David on the pilot of the CBS show. 2 Broke Girls where he worked his way up as a staff writer on the 6th and final season of the show. David is currently developing a female driven action comedy cop show, Lady Copped, with New Form and STX Entertainment. Most recently David was named one of the WGA TV Writer access honorees for his script For Worse.
David will teach you everything he's learned about writing female driven comedies throughout his career. He will show you how to avoid the all to common cliches that seemingly find their way into every female driven script. He will show you why sex sells, but how to properly write sex and sexuality into your screenplay to make it unique. He will teach you the practice of gender flipping and role reversals. He will show you how you can bring a personal connection to your female characters no matter whether you're a male or female. He will show you how to examine your plot and your characters before you begin writing to make the process flow more smoothly. He will show you the difference between one dimensional vs multi-dimensional characters and how easy it is to fall into the former, but how important it is that you learn the latter. Finally, David will present a case study of his latest screenplay Lady Copped which is now in development with New Form and STX.
Whether you're a feature or TV writer, you will learn all the important factors in writing a female driven comedy that will get you reads and attention.
"Another incredible and insightful webinar presented by Stage 32. I have received notes on my screenplays in the past that my female characters fell into cliche. As a female, that pissed me off! But now I understand why and I'm already on the path to changing things for the better. Thank you, David, and bravo, Stage 32!
-Melissa J.
"Can men write female driven comedies? I often asked myself that question. I'm not any longer. Loved this presentation.
- Kyle P.
What You'll Learn
Who the H*ll is this GUY and What is He Doing Teaching About Writing Female Characters?
- Writer for 2 BROKE GIRLS, working on IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and developing a new female comedy show with STX and New Form.
The Difference Between Men and Women When Writing Comedy
- Expectation vs. reality
- Anything he can do she can do (better)
- We’ll go over a list of great female comedy actors and what makes them so funny
How to Identify Your Female Driven Concept and Make the Comedy POP
- Sample script vs. development script
- Working through your concept
How to Write Multidimensional Characters:
- 4 pro writer tips
Don’t be Cliché:
- What is a cliché?
- How much sex appeal is too much sex appeal?
- Pro writer tips
Case Study: David's comedy pilot LADY COPPED in Development with STX Entertainment & New Form
- What is Lady Copped?
- Why make a female driven comedy?
- What does my dream cast look like? Spoiler alert. It’s not what the network wants.
Pitching Your Female-Driven Comedy Project
- General meeting tips
- Pitch meeting tips
- What to wear
Q&A with David
About Your Instructor
David Shecter
FAQs
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:
- Log into your Stage 32 profile
- Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
- Go to www.stage32.com
- Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
- Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
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.
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Other education that may be of interest to you:
How to Write a Great Sitcom Pilot Script with a Case Study of HBO's BARRY pilot
The television landscape is constantly changing, with new technology, new networks, new trends, and new players. Yet a constant throughout the years has been the popularity of the situational comedy. From I LOVE LUCY all the way to MODERN FAMILY and THE GOOD PLACE, there has always been an appetite for new sitcoms, funny stories and beloved characters to come back to week after week (or binge all at once). As a result, if you have great idea for a sitcom and a great pilot script to go with it, networks are always going to be interested. But first you have to write that pilot. But you can't build a house without a blueprint. That's why it's so important to understand the sitcom pilot script on a fundamental level. A written TV pilot is not something physically tangible. You're selling the network an idea, an episode, and, really, an entire series without ever shooting a single frame. That alone is an overwhelmingly huge task. This is why people often struggle writing a pilot script. Putting too much into the script, or not enough. Properly setting up the world. Getting your audience attached to your characters. Including enough jokes and still having a prominent story. All of these elements make crafting your sitcom pilot difficult and the overall process intimidating. Yet shining a light on the pilot process can help reduce the fear and better equip you when writing. David Shecter has has been working in the television industry in production, development, and as a writer for over a decade. He has written on many shows, including season 5 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His experience and success on that show landed David on the pilot of the CBS smash hit 2 Broke Girls, where he worked his way up as a staff writer on the 6th and final season of the show. Since 2 BROKE GIRLS, David has served on the FOX sitcom OUTMATCHED starring Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson and was named a WGA TV Writer Access Honoree for his script For Worse. David’s continued work in the sitcom TV world has lent him a keen understanding of what makes these shows successful and how to make the most of your sitcom pilot. David will break down how to write a great sitcom pilot that can build your world, show your style, and appeal to both executives and audiences. He’ll give you tips on how to find your sitcom’s tone and decide where it lies on the comedy spectrum between comedy and drama. He’ll discuss the differences between premise-based and character-based sitcoms and teach you how to find the balance between jokes and story. Next David will delve into the proper structure of a sitcom pilot, looking at length, episodic vs. serialized and if commercial breaks are still a thing. He’ll give you tips on how to start writing your sitcom pilot and break down the anatomy of a sitcom scene. He’ll share tips on how to build effective sitcom characters and will finally teach you how to best establish your world through the pilot and how to pack everything neatly into your script. David will even offer a deep dive of the pilot script for HBO's Emmy-nominated sitcom BARRY, analyzing why this script works. Everyone who signs up will receive a free download of this script. David is excited to show you the proper tools so you can start building the world of your sitcom from the ground up with complete confidence and create a product that can help you find the success you’re looking for.
Stage 32 Budgeting Class: How to Create & Maintain a Successful Television Show Budget
Exclusive Television Producing Class As a television maker, one of the most difficult aspects of your job is creating and managing the budget for your project. Budgeting a feature or a short can be complicated enough, but at least you have all of the information at your fingertips. You have a script, schedule, rates—all of these things are at your disposal. However what happens when you need to budget a TV show? You don’t have all the scripts, there’s seemingly no way to create a schedule and, on the surface, no way to generate a budget. And once that budget is established, how do you handle decision making and cost tracking over a many, many months long process? These seemingly unsolved issues do have answers, and ones that may be simpler than you think. Successfully producing a TV show to get on screen requires that you understand not just how to build a TV budget, but also how to operate it. Knowing the ins and outs of Movie Magic and the various tools within as it relates to television is key. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed and drown in the details of creating and managing the budget of a series. Through thorough research of the software, what it does and how it affects your project, you will be able to create TV budgets with ease. Presenting a solid TV budget will help you gain the confidence of those who can ultimately invite you into the inner circle of TV producing and allow you to advance your career to new heights. To help you on your path is Rami Rank who has produced on Amazon's GOLIATH, DEXTER for Showtime, SWINGTOWN for CBS, HELP ME and HELP YOU for ABC, as well as features such as the remake of APRIL FOOL'S DAY. Through his storied career, Rami has produced and budgeted for all types of television shows, including some of the biggest ones out there. He knows intimately what goes into the vital aspect of creating a budget for these projects and is ready to share all he’s learned exclusively with the Stage 32 community. In this 3-session class, Rami will offer detailed, practical, and exhaustive guide to creating and managing a successful TV budget. In session one he will review the basic starting point of a TV budget: where the information comes from and how to utilize it. He will review some basic concepts like Budgeting and Scheduling Software, Rate Guides and the two types of budgets you’ll be creating – Patterns and Amorts. Session 2 will be a deep dive into the Amort budget. Students will receive a copy of an Amort budget to use as reference as we walk through all of the departments, positions and costs to consider in preparing the Amort. In the final session you will receive copies of a pattern budget to use as reference as he teaches how this budget is transformed into an episodic budget and then tracked using hot costs and cost reports. You will leave these three classes with the knowledge base and confidence to tackle any TV budget. Plus this class comes with exclusive handouts that you can use for your own projects including: PDF copies of real Pattern and Amort budgets. "As a long time producer, I know how important a solid budget is for any television show, and I know just how challenging it is to create one successfully—much harder than for features and shorts. I’m excited to empower producers and creatives in the Stage 32 community to do the same. Get ready to learn more about TV budgets than you ever have before!" -Rami Rank
The Executive Hour Webcast with Special Guest Pixar Writer Meg LeFauve
In this big, bonus episode of the Executive Hour we are joined by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-nominated screenwriter, Meg LeFauve! Meg is the brilliant screenwriting mind behind critically acclaimed films including INSIDE OUT (which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film in 2016), THE GOOD DINOSAUR, and CAPTAIN MARVEL. She has also contributed to Pixar films including FINDING DORY and INCREDIBLES 2, as well as the 20th Century Fox animated film SPIES IN DISGUISE! Prior to her career as a screenwriter, Meg ran development for actress and filmmaker Jodi Foster. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, Emmy Award (as a producer), NAACP Image Award, and BAFTA Award, with a total of 24 award nominations and 8 wins! During the webcast, Meg's discusses her career at Pixar, how she is adapting and working in the current quarantine situation, what writers can be doing during this time, what types of scripts and projects she thinks will be in demand once this quarantine is over, and so much more!
Stage 32 Lab: How to Adapt a Book, Short Story, Graphic Novel for the Screen
This is a private, virtual group for only 15 people - This will fill up so get your spot now! Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for more info! From DUNE, THE HANDMAID'S TALE and NOMADLAND, book adaptation projects continue to be a Hollywood staple bringing some of the best film and TV we are watching today. Studios, streamers, and networks are always looking to bring great IP to the screen and they are a great way for you to break in and get noticed. Is there a book, short story or graphic you have your eye on adapting that you know will make a great film or TV show? What if you can work on your project step-by-step alongside someone who's adapted almost a half a dozen produced projects? We're bringing you an incredible opportunity... Micky Levy caught the eye of Alison Eastwood and Warner Bros. with a script she wrote entitled RAILS & TIES. Directed by Eastwood, the film starred Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, Micky has completed almost a half a dozen book adaptations, including AMISH GRACE for which she received a Humanitas Prize nomination. Other adaptations include: NOBODY from the award-winning book by Caryl Phillips, Dancing in the Dark, THE COINCIDENCE MAKERS from a best-selling novel by Israeli author Yuav Blum, and STOLEN WATERS from the Romanian short story collection by Ada Shauluv. Micky knows exactly what it takes to adapt IP since she has done it time and time again and she's bringing her extensive knowledge to the Stage 32 community. Micky will walk you through every step of the process for adapting IP to the screen in a private virtual class, plus work one-on-one with you on your own project. In this exclusive 8-week private, virtual lab you will: Have a private virtual group that you will interact with over the course of 8 weeks under the guidance of your Stage 32 Educator Have your Stage 32 Educator available on email in between classes to help you with any questions you have about your own projects. Learn the overview of the adaptation process Learn why it's important for you to get the exclusive rights to the IP you want to turn into a screenplay Learn how to secure the rights to IP Learn what to to do once you have the rights - to pitch it or spec it Learn how to break it down into a relevant screenplay, package it and market it. By the end of this 8 week virtual lab, you are going to be ready to secure the rights to the next big Hollywood adaptation of a book, short story, or graphic novel. PLUS! As an added bonus, you will receive: Sample Option Agreement Sample Shopping Agreement Sample Adaptation: Script and Long Form Treatment. You will be given the option to purchase the book on which the Sample Adaptation is based. Short Form Treatment Adaptation Pitch
How To Write Your TV Pitch Bible To Sell Your Show
Find out what buyers and executives need to see in your pitch bible from a producer who's set up projects at HBO, Amazon Prime, AMC, Starz, Sony, Fox, and more. You’ve received plenty of tips on penning your pilot, but how do you actually put together the companion pitch bible that helps sell your show? The opportunities to pitch your project are everywhere, from broadcast networks to streamers. Even here on Stage 32, you can find countless execs looking for new ideas to develop. And you need to be prepared with a pitch bible when those opportunities arise. A pitch bible is a written document that briefly tells an executive everything they need to know about your series in an efficient and engaging way. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, one of our most popular hosts, Anna Henry, will show you exactly what executives want to see in your pitch bible. Anna will walk you through every aspect of what you need to include in your pitch bible, how much time to spend on each element, and how to organize it all in a way that’s easy to follow. Most importantly, she will show you how to include all of this information in a way that shows just how entertaining and exciting your show is and why an executive needs to buy your show today. Anna is an accomplished producer, development executive, and television instructor who teaches writers like you exclusively through Stage 32, including the Netflix & Stage 32 Creating Content for a Global Marketplace Program. Over her lengthy entertainment career, she has pitched and 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 of all experience levels. This webinar with Anna ensures that you know everything that’s needed in your pitch bible so that you’re prepared to sell your project the moment an opportunity arises. Join Anna - and the countless other writers who have benefited from her guidance - to take your project pitch to the next level today. 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.
How to Develop, Pitch and Sell Your Limited Series to a Network or Streamer - Includes a Pitch Document Case Study
The producer of NatGeo's limited series GENIUS will teach you how you can get your own limited series off the ground. Includes a case study of a pitch document that helped sell a limited series. Over the last several years, the limited series has become one of the most exciting, competitive, and acclaimed formats in the entertainment industry. Series like THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT, CHERNOBYL, and MARE OF EASTOWN have become global phenomena and greatly boosted the careers of the creatives behind them. It’s no surprise that buyers and big names on all sides of the camera are hungry for binge-worthy event programming like these limited series and are looking for the next hit to make. If you have your own idea for a limited series, there’s no better time than now to get it in front of executives and decisionmakers looking for this content. But how does one develop the material and package it together to increase the probability of a sale or production order? Sam Sokolow is a two-time Emmy-nominated producer, perhaps best known for his work in developing and producing the Emmy nominated limited series GENIUS for National Geographic Channel, one of the first prestige limited series to find a wide audience. Over his career, Sam has executive produced 18 original TV series and set up dozens of television and film projects at major studio and distributors in Hollywood and is well-versed at finding success developing, pitching, and selling his projects. Exclusively for Stage 32, Sam will teach you how to develop, pitch, and sell limited series to a streamer or network by first learning how to identify source material, packaging talent into your project, and identifying the buyers. He’ll also show you how to build the pitch, approach the buyers, and even share what the deals look like. Sam will even share examples of the emails and finders fees he used to package his projects. Plus! Sam will walk you through a real pitch deck he used for a limited series he worked on, so you can see how he put all the pieces together to ultimately pitch and sell the project. You won’t want to miss out on this detailed webinar!
Register / Log In
