Write A TV Christmas Movie You Can Sell
Webinar hosted by: John Burd
Writer/Producer at Evenow Productions
John Burd is a writer, director, and producer. After six years with MarVista Entertainment in Los Angeles, he left in 2017 to form Evenow Productions and pursue filmmaking independently. John has worked on projects for networks including Hallmark, Lifetime, GAC Family, Syfy, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, UpTV, Ion, and BYUtv. In 2019, he produced a slate of six Christmas movies for Gaumont Television US, and made his directorial debut in 2021 with his script Love at the Christmas Contest. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
John Burd, the producer of six Christmas movies including LOVE AT THE CHRISTMAS CONTEST, shares what it takes to write a producible holiday film that thrills execs exclusively through Stage 32.
Holiday movies have always been popular with audiences, but in the past decade, the Christmas television marketplace has exploded with multiple networks and platforms building their winter programming around these made-for-TV movies. The demand is huge, making this the best time for you to write and sell your best Christmas movie idea.
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn what separates the holiday TV movie scripts that get produced from the ones that get passed over. Even with the marketplace growing, buyers look for a few key ingredients that you need to know. You’ll cover:
- How to write a big holiday production with a manageable budget
- How to write for a broad audience while standing out from the other scripts
- How to get your project in front of someone who can say “Yes!”
Showing you exactly how to stand out to television executives is writer, director, and producer John Burd. John is the founder of Evenow Productions and has produced six Christmas movies for Gaumont Television US, including making his directorial debut in 2021 with his script LOVE AT THE CHRISTMAS CONTEST. He’s also worked with networks including Hallmark, Lifetime, Disney Channel, UpTV, and more.
John knows what executives greenlight because he’s worked with them on those very projects. He’ll show you what your script needs to excite executives, how to write the perfect Christmas pitch, how much you can get paid for your work, who the buyers are, and so much more.
This is a fantastic chance to hear from a successful Christmas movie filmmaker and get an insider view of making holiday favorites. Join us and learn how you can make your own script the next Christmas classic.
PRAISE FROM PREVIOUS EDUCATION FROM ANNA:
"John Burd is one of my favorite writers, and a Christmas connoisseur."
- Crystal Holt, Vice President Series, 20th Television
What You'll Learn
A Christmas Story: What Makes My Movie A Christmas Movie?
- Who is the audience for my movie?
- What are buyers looking for in a Christmas movie?
- The three key story ingredients for a sellable Christmas script
- Dealbreakers: Topics and subgenres that don't work for Christmas
The Cost Of Christmas: Why Budget Is Key To Selling A Christmas Script
- How much do networks spend to produce a Christmas movie?
- Why Christmas movies cost more than other movies
- Ten tips and tricks to keep your budget down, without sacrificing Christmas magic
- How to turn your expensive script into a shootable story
My Script Is Done... Now What?
- Who are the buyers?
- What do they pay for scripts?
- How can I get my script to them?
- Writing the perfect Christmas pitch
What If I Just Have An Idea?
- How can I get paid to write my script?
- What makes a producer want to work with a writer?
- What are the pros and cons of selling a pitch vs. selling a script?
- Logline to paragraph to full-blown pitch: What you need to know every step of the way
Q&A with John Burd
About Your Instructor
John Burd
FAQs
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