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Michael is currently the Story Analyst for Amazon Studios where he covers all submissions for development that come through to Amazon. Prior to Amazon, Michael Schulman was the story analyst/script consultant for Netflix in the Original Independent Film (OIF) division. Prior to his work with Netflix and Amazon, Michael worked at Barry Mendel Productions on the Disney lot where he was involved with the acquisition, development and production of Wes Anderson's RUSHMORE, Oscar Nominated THE SIXTH SENSE, and Spielberg's Oscar Nominated MUNICH. Michael spent two years as head of development for 4 time Oscar Nominated Michael Mann’s company where he worked on Oscar nominated ALI starring Will Smith, 5 time Oscar Winning THE AVIATOR, and TEXAS KILLING FIELDS starring Jessica Chastain. Michael also spent years on the buyer side of film as VP of Development for Alec Baldwin’s company at Orion Pictures and subsequently for Dennis Quaid’s company at TriStar. Michael’s consultations are designed for advanced screenwriters who are ready to take their career to the next level and start seeking professional representation. He also wants to work with writers who have their first draft, and need help brainstorming what the key elements are to keep and edit to quickly get your project market ready. You will receive an in-depth analysis of your project’s strengths and weaknesses and an accurate preview of how agents, managers, and studios would respond to the submission. Michael has presented several well-received webinars on the screenplay development and acquisition process, and he has been interviewed and frequently quoted in the industry media. More importantly, you will get the experience of being in a producer’s meeting where the goal is to dissect the draft and get the project ready to submit to the studio. This is a deep creative scrub of your project that will provide a specific game plan for a rewrite that will help position your project in the sweet-spot of what the studios and streamers are looking for. Michael is happy to discuss strategies to effectively find the right professional representation, and—when it’s appropriate—facilitate introductions to agents, managers, and producers to help get the right eyes on your material. Michael began his career at the William Morris Agency as an agent trainee and assistant to the worldwide head-of-talent where he worked with top actors including Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Nicolas Cage, Denzel Washington, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman. After a move to ICM, and upon promotion to agent in the motion picture literary department, Michael began representing emerging screenwriters, directors, and producers, brokering the deal for Danny Rubin’s screenplay GROUNDHOG DAY to director Harold Ramis. Full Bio »
Writers' Room Members! Much more than a Breakdown Webcast, our special guest, Story Analyst for AMAZON Studios, Michael Schulman, will be going to discuss how Spec Scripts get shopped by Agents & considered by studios using examples he worked on: GROUNDHOG DAY, THE SIXTH SENSE, REGARDING HENRY, and MUNICH. Our LIVE audience will get the experience of being in a producer’s meeting where the goal is to dissect the draft and get the project ready to submit to the studio. This is a deep, creative scrub that will provide a specific game plan for a rewrite that will help position your project in the sweet spot of what the studios and streamers are looking for. Michael began his career at the William Morris Agency as an agent trainee, then at ICM, as an agent in the motion picture literary department, Michael began representing emerging screenwriters, directors, and producers, brokering the deal for Danny Rubin’s screenplay GROUNDHOG DAY to director Harold Ramis. Michael also spent years on the buyer side of film as VP of Development for Alec Baldwin’s company at Orion Pictures and subsequently for Dennis Quaid’s company at TriStar, and worked at Barry Mendel Productions, where he was involved with the acquisition, development, and production of Oscar-nominated THE SIXTH SENSE and Spielberg's Oscar-nominated MUNICH. Michael spent two years as head of development for Michael Mann’s company, where he worked on Oscar-nominated ALI, 5-time Oscar-winning THE AVIATOR, and was a former story analyst/script consultant for Netflix in the Original Independent Film (OIF) division. Invaluable knowledge is being shared with our Writers' Room Members, right here on Stage 32!
Writers' Room Members! Much more than a Breakdown Webcast, our special guest, Story Analyst for AMAZON Studios, Michael Schulman, will be going to discuss how Spec Scripts get shopped by Agents & considered by studios using examples he worked on: GROUNDHOG DAY, THE SIXTH SENSE, REGARDING HENRY, and MUNICH. Our LIVE audience will get the experience of being in a producer’s meeting where the goal is to dissect the draft and get the project ready to submit to the studio. This is a deep, creative scrub that will provide a specific game plan for a rewrite that will help position your project in the sweet spot of what the studios and streamers are looking for. Michael began his career at the William Morris Agency as an agent trainee, then at ICM, as an agent in the motion picture literary department, Michael began representing emerging screenwriters, directors, and producers, brokering the deal for Danny Rubin’s screenplay GROUNDHOG DAY to director Harold Ramis. Michael also spent years on the buyer side of film as VP of Development for Alec Baldwin’s company at Orion Pictures and subsequently for Dennis Quaid’s company at TriStar, and worked at Barry Mendel Productions, where he was involved with the acquisition, development, and production of Oscar-nominated THE SIXTH SENSE and Spielberg's Oscar-nominated MUNICH. Michael spent two years as head of development for Michael Mann’s company, where he worked on Oscar-nominated ALI, 5-time Oscar-winning THE AVIATOR, and was a former story analyst/script consultant for Netflix in the Original Independent Film (OIF) division. Invaluable knowledge is being shared with our Writers' Room Members, right here on Stage 32!
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We're back in the Writers Room this afternoon for a special The Breakdown Webcast with Industry Veteran Producer and Writer, Laurie Ashbourne!Laurie Ashbourne is a writer-producer, artist, and script doctor with over 25 produced credits to her name and many in various stages of production right now, including a sitcom with Kenan Thompson, an animated feature with the director of MULAN, and an original story she wrote (10-31) was recently purchased and fast-tracked to production with acclaimed producers Eli Roth and Roger Birnbaum.
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We're back in the Writers' Room for the first Breakdown Webcast of 2021! At some point we have heard a note that “your story feels flat" or "your second act is weak" or "this won’t sustain for 100 minutes." If that is the case, there is a good chance that you have an underdeveloped (or perhaps no) B-Stories or Subplots. That is why we will be breaking down story structure to find out exactly what B-Stories and a Subplots are, and how we can incorporate them into our writing. Using clips from INCEPTION, BACK TO THE FUTURE, and DIE HARD, we'll examine how the B-Stories and Subplots of these narratives help drive the second act and create a more impactful story. After the webcast, make sure to head on over to the Private Lounge to discuss your thoughts on the best B-Stories and Subplots.
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