The 5 Elements Of A Commercial Script That Will Attract A-List Talent

Hosted by Christopher Lockhart

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Christopher Lockhart

Webinar hosted by: Christopher Lockhart

Story Editor at WME

Christopher Lockhart is Hollywood’s foremost story professional. As Story Editor at WME, the world's largest diversified talent agency, Chris curates projects for A-list actors such as Denzel Washington, reading and exploring through piles of screenplays, magazines, books, old movies, TV shows, and pitches in search of potential film projects. Chris began his career at International Creative Management (ICM), where he worked as script consultant to legendary talent agent Ed Limato, who represented industry giants such as Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, and Robert Downey, Jr. Chris later moved to the venerable William Morris Agency, which eventually merged with Endeavor to form WME. As an educator and consultant, Chris has lectured around the world on the craft and business of screenwriting, and he has advised on countless feature films. His writing workshop The Inside Pitch, was filmed for Los Angeles television, earning him an Emmy Award nomination. Chris's creative counsel has been used on many hit films, such as the 2016 Sundance Film Festival sensation THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Chris has also produced the cult horror hit THE COLLECTOR and its sequel THE COLLECTION, which opened in the top ten box office. He also wrote and produced the award-winning documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which was acquired by OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Chris has set up several other projects, including A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount, and CROOKED CREEK, a modern noir thriller. Full Bio »

Webinar Summary

A New Exclusive Webinar!

Learn the key components for your script that will attract top talent from a WME executive who's worked with Denzel Washington, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Robert Downey Jr., and more.

Do you want to see your script on the big screen?

Do you want to write the kind of script that makes A-list actors wants to attach themselves to? A script that agents and managers fight to represent and sell?

Then you need a commercial script.

WME executive Chris Lockhart has read thousands of scripts and has been tasked with finding the next hit project for talent like Denzel Washington, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, Robert Downey Jr., and many more.

In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, he’ll show you the key elements he believes need to be in a script to know if it will grab the attention of executives and talent and how to utilize these elements correctly.

You’ll cover what a commercial script is, the concepts that sell, how to write this type of script, and how to bring your voice into the script so that it reads like an exciting and fresh piece of material that only you could have written. Chris will be using the script from Top Gun: Maverick as his main example to further dissect these critical elements. Plus! You will receive a download of the Top Gun: Maverick script. 

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from one of Hollywood’s top talent influencers and story editors as you develop your next hit commercial script.

 

Praise for Chris's previous webinar with Stage 32

"Amazing seminar loved it. It was the best I have ever watched or ordered!"

- Robert M.

 

"Chris was clear, concise, helpful, and focused. Loved his enthusiasm and humor."

- Lori H.

 

"Oh my god, I was laughing all the way through. In between writing about 10 pages of notes. SO much fun and a wealth of knowledge."

- Denise G.

What You'll Learn

 

Exclusive to Stage 32, Chris Lockhart, one of the most legendary and revered agency story editors in the business teaches for the community. Chris has read over 60,000 scripts in his career for WME and has the database to prove it!

 

In this exclusive Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Chris will go over the 5 elements of a commercial script that will attract A-listers, plus he will use case studies of scripts to showcase what stands out and why!

1. Concept

  • We will discuss a commercial concept - dramatically & cinematically

2. Character

  • We will dive into the commercial elements of characters 
  • How to make the protagonist likeable
  • How to create a good introduction with conflict 
  • We will discuss the different kinds of antagonist (Villain, Nemesis & Opponent)
  • Romance as an important integer 
  • Transformation arcs

3. Goal

  • The different types of goal (Conflict, Urgency & Jeopardy) 
  • Goals that are: external, specific and physical components 
  • How the strength of the goal will add propulsion to your story

4. Structure 

  • The three act structure 
  • Plot points
  • Story

5. Voice

  • Your unique perspective
  • Using tone and/ or humor to set yourself apart
  • Diversity 

Q & A  with Chris

About Your Instructor

Christopher Lockhart is Hollywood’s foremost story professional. As Story Editor at WME, the world's largest diversified talent agency, Chris curates projects for A-list actors such as Denzel Washington, reading and exploring through piles of screenplays, magazines, books, old movies, TV shows, and pitches in search of potential film projects.

Chris began his career at International Creative Management (ICM), where he worked as script consultant to legendary talent agent Ed Limato, who represented industry giants such as Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, and Robert Downey, Jr. Chris later moved to the venerable William Morris Agency, which eventually merged with Endeavor to form WME.

As an educator and consultant, Chris has lectured around the world on the craft and business of screenwriting, and he has advised on countless feature films. His writing workshop The Inside Pitch, was filmed for Los Angeles television, earning him an Emmy Award nomination. Chris's creative counsel has been used on many hit films, such as the 2016 Sundance Film Festival sensation THE BIRTH OF A NATION.

Chris has also produced the cult horror hit THE COLLECTOR and its sequel THE COLLECTION, which opened in the top ten box office. He also wrote and produced the award-winning documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, which was acquired by OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Chris has set up several other projects, including A RHINESTONE ALIBI at Paramount, and CROOKED CREEK, a modern noir thriller.

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