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Jason Mirch is Stage 32's Director of Script Services and host of the Writers' Room. Outside of this role, he is a feature film, television, branded entertainment, and digital content producer and executive with over 15 years experience. Most recently, he produced a 3D animated feature film starring Jacob Tremblay, Christopher Lloyd, Mel Brooks, and Carol Kane. Joseph Ferrante joined Verité Entertainment in 2019 as the in-house Development Producer. Known to everyone simply as “Joe,” he is in charge of ushering projects through Verite’s Creative Development Process so they will be ready for packaging and financing. Joe has worked for Comcast, Viacom, Warner Bothers, NBCUniversal and the Writers Guild of America. An accomplished screenwriter, he’s won numerous awards for his screenplays, including a pitch competition that sent him to the Swiss Alps to stay in a well-known haunted castle where he wrote a horror feature. Joe has pitched and sold shows as well as several options. Full Bio »
Joe Ferrante - Writer & Development Producer with Verite Entertainment
The Pitch Tank
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With the help of producer Jason Piette, we'll be taking a look at a few different Writers' Room pitches and giving live feedback to help improve each pitch while simultaneously guiding each of you in your craft.
Jason Mirch welcomes Courtney Miller Jr., of television's "Saints and Sinners" for Bounce TV. and A Stone Cold Christmas for Bounce TV, into the Writers' Room Pitch Tank! Courtney is a 5-time award winning director who has worked with the biggest names in entertainment including Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Usher, andBritney Spears. His award winning short film REPAIRations! - The Musical, received the Director's Choice Diversity in Cannes Best Musical.He has development deals with has development deals with TBS, Lionsgate, MGM, Legendary, Weed Road, Viola Davis' company Juvee, Bounce TV, and Will Packer.
This week the Writers' Room welcomes in Development Executive Anna Henry into the Pitch Tank! Anna began her 20-year career as a development executive at Nickelodeon, working on the development and production of animated television series, pilots and features. Anna has been a script consultant and screenwriting instructor, as well as building her own slate as an independent producer. Her clients have worked on hit television series on all major networks, such as "THE DEUCE", "POWER", "IN CONTEMPT", "TOMMY", "HUNG", "CHICAGO FIRE", "FEAR THE WALKING DEAD", "THIS IS US", and "THE FLASH". Her clients have worked on shows at virtually every broadcast, cable and streaming television network, and have set up projects at Amazon, Starz, HBO, Sony, Fox, EOne, ITV America, OddLot Entertainment, Corus, and others. Anna enjoys having a close collaboration with writers in refining scripts, expanding their range of material, and finding the best home for each project, which is why she was an incredible guest!
We're diving into the Writers' Room Pitch Tank with special guest, Sophia Kalin, Creative Executive at BOLD Films. There she actively participated in the development and production of a feature film with Netflix, as well as the packaging and selling of several television series to studios. Bold Films has produced the Oscar-winning film WHIPLASH, as well as NIGHTCRAWLER, VOX LUX with Oscar-winner Natalie Portman. Their latest film THE GUILTY stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, and Riley Keough, and will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. Sophia helps both writers and directors tailor project pitches to look for financing. Prior to Bold Films, Sophia worked in representation at Paradigm and Gersh in the Feature/TV Lit Department. Outside of Bold Films, Sophia produces low-budget independent films.
During the December Pitch Tank, Director of Script Services Jason Mirch welcomes Literary Manager Jon Hersh of Housefire Management, a company that represents writers and directors in film, television, and digital content. They specialize in deep development, strong client relationships, and incendiary material that stands out like a house on fire. Jon's client list includes writers and filmmakers for film and TV including emerging writers with projects at Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate, Atlas Entertainment, and Gidden Media! Prior to forming Housefire, Jon was at CAA and Broad Green Pictures. He is a graduate of USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Jon and Jason listen to pitches from 4 members and offer their thoughts and feedback!
We're back in the Writers' Room for the Pitch Tank Webcast with Producer, Samantha Schifrien. Samantha Schifrien is a Producer at 93 Cedar - a production company that seeks to create content for Feature and Television distribution. The company will focus on telling inclusive stories from creative with diverse backgrounds. Prior to her role at 93 Cedar, Samantha was a Development Executive at Untitled Entertainment with Michael Rosenberg the executive behind prolific series, including "Hell on Wheels," "Rogue," and "Klondike." Samantha works directly with Michael to find and develop projects for sale to cable networks. Untitled brought in Michael and Samantha to help further build out the management/production company’s television business. They are looking for television projects to find for Untitled's massive roster of on-screen talent. Rosenberg has worked on features including Sundance Jury Prize-winner TREASURE ISLAND, and is best known for executive producing highly successful television series. Rosenberg previously served as EVP U.S. Scripted Television and SVP Original Scripted Series Programming for Entertainment One. He oversaw eOne’s TV Development, Current Programming and Production department. Previously, Samantha worked in International Television Production at NBCUniversal, on the series "Resurrection" for ABC, and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.