Masters of Craft: Advanced-Level Television Production
Hosted by Courtney Conte
$49
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
Start Learning
Hosted by Courtney Conte
$49
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
Webinar hosted by: Courtney Conte
Former Head of Production for eOne Studios and Carsey Warner Television
Award-winning television executive, Courtney Conte is one of the industry’s most sought-after executives in both scripted and unscripted programming. He has developed and produced television series for Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, UPN, The WB, BBC, HBO, Showtime, Nickelodeon and Lifetime. Conte has been honored for his excellence with a Cable Ace Award, Golden Globe and several Emmy nominations. In Conte’s 40+ year career, he’s produced in every state across the USA and in over 25 countries. Beginning as a page at NBC for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, he then went on to work with legendary producer George Schlatter on the hit NBC series Real People, arguably television’s first reality show. Conte quickly rose through the production ranks under Schlatter, serving as a production manager, producer and segment director on a multitude of specials and with a multitude of entertainment’s most famous – among them, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas and Robin Williams. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
A New Exclusive Webinar Only On Stage 32!
Learn from a legendary executive producer with over 40 years of experience in major scripted, unscripted and late night television while working with every major network and studio.
When you’re watching television, do you ever say to yourself, this is what I would do if this were my show…?
We all dream of making the next major hit series millions of people around the world tune into. And we might watch every behind-the-scenes video of its creation to get inspired. But the only the people who have made these types of franchise television shows know every step of how its done.
That’s why we’re bringing you one of the industry’s most sought-after television executives, Courtney Conte, to teach you every step of the process to deliver a hit series in this exclusive webinar.
Courtney is an award-winning television executive with over 40 years of experience working in every state in the U.S. and over 25 countries. Just a few of his credits include DA VINCI’S DEMONS (Starz), THE NIGHT OF (HBO), DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC), TOP GEAR (History), US AND THEM (FOX), THAT 70’S SHOW (Fox) and ROSEANNE (ABC).
He’s developed and produced series for Universal, Disney, Warner Bros, Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, HBO, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, and more.
If you want to learn the process of how shows get made at the highest level, you don’t want to miss a moment of Courtney’s webinar.
You’ll cover the different formats, network expectations, production deals, hiring the right people for your project, managing physical production, paying for your series, and more.
People attending live will also have a chance to ask Courtney about their project, getting input from one of the most prolific executives in the industry. Don’t miss your chance to learn from Courtney and gain his invaluable knowledge today!
What You'll Learn
THE KINDS OF SERIES
- One-Hour Drama
- Limited Series or Miniseries
- Half-Hour Single Cam
- Half Hour Multi-Cam
THE SCRIPT
- Procedural or serialized
- Formatting Act Breaks
- The Page count expectations
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION ELEMENTS:
- Starting with the Script
- Series Bible / Episodic breakdown
- Creative overview / Tone
- Assessing the budget
- The 3 types of production deals
BUILDING THE PLAN
- The 5 elements that attract a network
- Location, Stage, or both?
- Finding a Location within the needs of the script
- Understanding the timeline of a series
- Hiring the directors
- The role of the unions
- The role of tax incentives
PRODUCTION ELEMENTS
- A series budget overview
- How is a series financed?
- The 2 ways to schedule a series
- Block shooting vs. Episodic
- Locking in the key team once a season is ordered
- Keeping on schedule and budget
- Working with the “buyers” creative and Production executives
DELIVERY AND WRAP
- Understanding the delivery schedule
- The Production deliverables
- The Camera deliverables
- Network specific deliverables
Q&A with Courtney
About Your Instructor
Courtney Conte
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:
Stage 32 State of the Industry: Virtual Film Finance Summit
9 Film Finance Experts. 3 FREE Panels. 1 Spectacular Day. Discuss the State of The Film Finance Industry Exclusively Through Stage 32 One of the biggest pieces needed to put together your film always comes down to the financing. When the pandemic disrupted our industry, this piece became even more of a challenge…and a big question mark. Understanding how studios have found ways to shift the risk, the changes in budgets made to cover COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and how film funds have changed is important if you want to know how to finance your next project. While our industry took a big hit, it’s not dead—there are still lots of movies and series being made, and demand is high. So where does everything currently sit? How can you get your next film financed? No need to speculate any longer! We're bringing in filmmakers and bona fide experts in the world of film finance to give you the lowdown as part of our FREE Film Finance Forum. Over one jam-packed morning, we're hosting three unique panels and Q&As where YOU can ask experts the questions you have on film finance and what directions the industry is taking right now. And when we say experts, we mean experts. Our panelists have collectively put together countless high profile films including MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, GOOD WILL HUNTING, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, THE CATCHER WAS A SPY, LOVING VINCENT, and CHICK FIGHT and continue to actively produce and finance new films as we move into this new era of our industry. If you're feeling stuck, if your film project has been on hold for too long, if you want to find the way forward to get your film MADE, spend a few hours with us on Saturday the 28th. Hear directly from the source and learn the state of the industry so you can best navigate your own projects.
How The Pros Rewrite & Polish: Essential Rewriting Tools and Techniques
Writing is rewriting. All writers know this, but unfortunately too many writers waste valuable time and energy rewriting their scripts over and over without really making them better. Or they make some parts of their script better while weakening other parts -it's almost like an endless whack-a-mole game. The reason this happens is that often writers don't know the most effective ways to evaluate and rewrite their material. They rewrite without a clear focus or understanding of the fundamentals. Knowing how to effectively rewrite your script will lead to a dramatic improvement in your final product for both feature and TV scripts, and will be a game changer in your writing career! There's an art to the rewriting process that many successful writers embrace. It begins with letting go, relaxing, embracing, and, eventually, enjoying the process. Great writers know how to save time by quickly identifying issues with their scripts and how to fix the problems quickly and efficiently. They know how to receive notes, how to discuss those notes, and which notes are worth pushing back against and which are worth taking. They know a great script doesn't evolve all at once. It takes time, patience, awareness and constant molding. Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Julia Roberts, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures. Corey is also a distinguished instructor at UCLA, where he earned his MFA. His students have gone on to sell or option scripts to Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Disney, Fox, Fox 2000, MGM, Universal, Warner Brothers, Showtime, FX, USA Network, AMC and HBO. Others have been staffed on such shows as Community, Justifed, Bones, The Mentalist, The Fosters, Young and Hungry, Playing House, and Treme. Corey knows what it takes to write and rewrite a great script, and he has proven it time and time again. Corey will walk you through the entire rewrite process for feature and TV screenplays from first understanding how your story reads in other people's heads (and why that is important!) all the way to correcting structural weaknesses in your script. He will break down rewrite memos, notes, and narrative cohesion, leaving you with a comprehensive overview of how to do an effective rewrite and how to immediately apply it to your own work. He will teach you how to receive notes and how to find the note within the note, an overlooked and misunderstood practice that can save you major rewriting time and win you points with executives, producers and financiers. Corey will show you all the pitfalls and common mistakes writers make during the rewriting process so you can move forward with not only confidence in your writing, but confidence you can carry into any room. PRAISE FOR COREY'S TEACHINGS: "Pure magic." - Alonzo G. "I always loved pumping out the first draft, but hated the rewrite. Now I know why. I had no idea what I was doing. I have 4 scripts that I can't wait to tear down and build back up bigger and stronger than ever." - Mark R. "This was so comprehensive and helpful. The entire webinar I was recognizing faults in my latest script. So happy I took this webinar!" - Mariana W. "I feel like I was just let into a secret club. The Rewrite Club. I know things other writers don't. Excited to put all this information into practice." - Jules P.
How To Develop Your 30-Minute Multi-Cam Television Series
Learn the fundamentals of how to create a successful multi-cam television series from a seasoned television writer who has worked on FX's IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, Freeform's BABY DADDY, Disney's SYDNEY TO THE MAX, and more! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you on your multi-cam comedy writing journey, including the script for the pilot episodes of FRIENDS, NEW GIRL, CHEERS, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, BABY DADDY, and SYDNEY TO THE MAX! Multi-cam comedies are half-hour shows filmed in a studio in front of a live audience with multiple cameras directed toward standing sets, like a living room, that we get used to seeing in every episode. The multi-cam sitcom has been the mainstay of TV comedy since I LOVE LUCY first invented it in 1951. From CHEERS, SEINFELD, and FRIENDS to EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, BIG BANG THEORY, FULL HOUSE and FULLER HOUSE, so many of the mega-hit TV shows that we all know and love are multi-camera series. Even in 2023, multi-cam sitcoms are everywhere, with shows like LOPEZ VS LOPEZ, THE CONNERS, NIGHT COURT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, and THAT 90'S SHOW garnering huge ratings and anchoring program schedules for their respective networks/streamers. There will always be a robust market for multi-cam comedy writers who can deliver laugh-out-loud scripts, which means writing your own multi-cam pilot will greatly increase your staffing and development opportunities. In fact, most kids and family sitcoms are multi-cams, which in many cases represent the easiest path to getting that ever elusive first writing job or sale. In a world where writing staffs and episode orders are shrinking and opportunities for writers to go to set and gain valuable producing experience are becoming less and less the norm, multi-cam television is one of the few genres where the traditional job of a TV writer/producer still exists. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, veteran TV writer Eric Zimmerman will teach you the essential elements that comprise a successful multi-cam television series - characters, tone, dialogue, and set ups, to name a few - so you can create your multi-cam series that sets you up for a successful career. Eric has been a working TV writer for 14 years, including writing on all 100 episodes of Freeform’s multi-cam hit BABY DADDY. Most recently, he served as a Co-Executive Producer on Disney’s multi-cam series SYDNEY TO THE MAX. He has also sold several multi-cam projects to Disney and Netflix, as well as worked on multi-cam network pilots. Eric wasn’t always a multi-cam writer. He got his start writing on single camera and animated series, including the Emmy-nominated DAN VS. But once he started writing multi-cams, he quickly fell in love with the genre. In this information-packed webinar, Eric will go in depth on the differences between writing a multi-cam versus single camera or animated sitcoms. He will give you the necessary tools to determine if your pilot idea works best as a multi-cam, single-cam, or perhaps the often hard to purely define “hybrid” series. Eric will also break down all the essentials of writing your own successful multi-cam pilot script, with an eye toward the goal of it serving as an effective writing sample or to be sold as a spec. PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you understand multi-cam character and structure so you can write your own. Downloads include the PILOT SCRIPTS for: FRIENDS NEW GIRL CHEERS IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA BABY DADDY SYDNEY TO THE MAX If you want to explore the key elements of writing a successful multi-cam series and learn the process of writing your very own multi-cam pilot, this webinar is a must! "I am thrilled to be part of this vibrant stage 32 community! I have every confidence that my Multi-cam 101 class will prove more valuable to your life than food, water, and perhaps even air." - Eric Zimmerman
Produce Your Horror Movie From Concept To Final Delivery
Learn from an Academy Award-nominated director who's worked with Sydney Pollack, the Coen Brothers, George Clooney, and more. Do you want to know how to produce a horror movie from scratch? There is an art to the craft of making a great horror movie and if you understand all the tricks or the trade it will allow you turn your nightmares on the page into a career launching dream of a movie. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand class, you’ll learn what it takes to make a horror film from the script through post-production and delivery. Whether you’re a writer, director, or producer, understanding the scope of the process in this detailed four-session class will help you see the way to make your dream film into a reality that audiences can watch. Walking you through the making of your frightening feature is Jonathan Heap. He’s an Academy Award-nominated director, writer, and producer with a dozen feature, television, and short credits, including an award-winning horror film now playing on Amazon and Tubi. He’s also worked with major studios like Warner Bros., where he developed a project for Sydney Pollack that became the Coen Brothers’ SUBURBICON, directed by George Clooney. First, you’ll develop your script. By analyzing successful scary movies to see what works, you’ll strengthen your concept and your approach to producing it. You’ll then dive into pre-production, one of the most crucial steps in filmmaking, as you set up your crew and schedule. In production, the fun really begins. You’ll learn to look for creative opportunities on set to heighten every frame through design, lighting, camera movement, costumes, makeup, and special effects, as they all work in tandem to tell a thrilling story. You have your last chance to raise the stakes and scares as you enter post-production. You’ll look at a variety of examples to see different techniques that you can use with music, effects, coloring, and more to create a fearsome film. Jonathan will use his vast experience to teach you how to develop and produce a great horror movie from scratch. By the end of this class, you’ll have what you need to make your horror film and thrill audiences all around the world. Praise for John's Teaching: I liked Jonathan and his presentation. He offered very practical and sound advice, which is always appreciated. - John G. Very meticulous & methodical. Great instructor! - Jefferson Covered all aspects of production. I found his homemade film very suspenseful. Horror with dread and a supernatural disappearing figure plus the music and lighting. - Arthur B.
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.
How to Start a Career in Line Producing
Learn the essential skills to enter the lucrative career of line producing from an accomplished line producer with over 25 years experience producing blockbuster films. The job of a line producer certainly involves its fair share of number crunching and pre-planning, but it doesn’t end there. A large part of the job is to understand the ‘path of compromise’, which is especially necessary in the independent film and indie streaming worlds. The director will often have may have a vision or demands that exceed the resources and funding available, and it’s up to the line producer to find the middle line and retain the artistic vision without going outside of the project’s financial means. This is no easy task, and excelling in this area is what separates the great line producers from the rest. But how do you develop this skill? And how can you break into the field of line producing in the first place? For over 25 years, Michael Mandaville has worked as a line producer on countless projects, ranging from shorts and independent features to large blockbusters like the TAKEN, TAKEN 2 and TAKEN 3 starring Liam Neeson. His other producing credits include HAVOC with Anne Hathaway, THE KISS with Terence Stamp and Billy Zane and AMERICAN HISTORY X with Edward Norton. In addition to producing, Michael has directed commercials, shorts, a documentary and industrial films. He has also worked on MANAHI, an Arabic language comedy which was the first film shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years. Michael’s long history in the world of line production makes him the perfect person to speak to this industry, and he’s keen to share what he knows with the Stage 32 community. Michael will walk you through the role of line producer, how to find opportunities and how to best to succeed in this position. He will begin by explaining the reason for the line producer position and how it differs from the role of unit production manager. He’ll go through common challenges of the line producer and how best to overcome, including mastering the “Line Producer Mindset”. Next Michael will explain what the career pathway looks like for aspiring producers and how you can find opportunities in the microbudget, independent and studio worlds. Michael will dive deep into the line producing process, going into scheduling, budgeting, and dealing with rates. Finally he’ll provide tips on how to find work as a line producer. Through Michael’s rundown, you’ll leave with a much clearer idea not only to how to find work as a line producer, but how to succeed and build a career for yourself once you do.
Register / Log In
