Masters of Craft: Writing & Producing Compelling Television for Today's Market with David Weddle
Webinar hosted by: David Weddle
Producer & Writer for Apple TV's For All Mankind and Guillermo Del Toro & Carlton Cuse at Apple TV
David Weddle is a prime time Producer and Writer with an impressive career spanning over two decades on award winning shows. David is currently a Co-Executive Producer and Writer for the Apple TV hit For All Mankind. Prior to this new Apple show, David was a Co-Executive Producer and writer on The Strain – a primetime television series created by the acclaimed writer/director Guillermo del Toro, based on his series of best selling novels, co-written with Chuck Hogan and showrunner Carlton Cuse (Lost) who served at the helm. He was also co-executive producer and writer on USA's Falling Water. David began his career working on shows such Falling Skies, CSI, and Peabody Award-winning Battlestar Galactica. He has also written and produced for such series as Alphas, Defiance, The Fearing Mind, The Twilight Zone, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is the author of two books: the critically acclaimed "If They Move... Kill 'Em!" The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah, and the best seller, Among the Mansions of Eden. As a journalist, he has written for such publications as:Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, L.A. Weekly, Sight & Sound, Film Comment, and Variety. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
It's an undeniable fact, there is no hotter market right now than television. Over the last year, over 600 shows were broadcast on TV networks, basic cable, premium cable, and the streaming platforms. And this isn't even counting limited series, docu-series and other short form content. And with new platforms like Disney+, Apple, Facebook TV and others diving into original content, there is no peak in sight or end to this gold rush on the horizon. If anything, we may just be getting started. In fact, most streaming platforms like Netflix have made a pledge to have their entire libraries consist of over 50% original content in just a few years. Think about that! So how can you take advantage of this incredible buying and producing spree, get in a writers room, work your way up to an executive producing/showrunning position and run your own show? We're glad you asked.
David Weddle has been at the television game for over 20 years. Over a prolific and well documented career, David has worked on some of the most highly acclaimed and longest running shows of all time including Battlestar Galactica, CSI, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Guillermo del Toro's award winning and ground-breaking series, The Strain. David has worked side-by-side with some of the top showrunners in the business including Cartlon Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel, Jack Ryan). Currently, David is a co-executive producer/showrunner and writer for the Apple TV hit For All Mankind.
In this exclusive special event Stage 32 Masters of Craft Webinar, David will take you to what it takes to build a career from writer to showrunner. He will explain the entire landscape and give you a full understanding of who does what and why. He will explain how to get into a writer's room and what to do (and not to do) once you get in. He will show you how to play the political game, climb the ladder, and earn respect. He will teach you how to think and work like an EP until you become one.
As if that wasn't enough, David will then take you through the world of showrunning. He will explain how writer's rooms are staffed. How seasons are laid out, how arcs are created and how episodes are broken down. He will explain budgets and scheduling, using real world examples from The Strain, Battlestar Galactica and CSI. He will talk hiring directors, getting your cast and making sure your show runs like a Swiss watch. And he will take you through the days and nights of being an EP and showrunner, so you know exactly what to expect and how to navigate the playing field.
Joining David to moderate this exclusive Stage 32 Masters of Craft webinar is our very own CEO, Richard Botto, a writer and producer himself with a television pilot in development.
The world of breaking in and staying in television doesn't need to be complicated.
David will show you the tricks, tips and, most importantly, the facts you need to shorten your path to success.
"I was in a writer's room for 9 weeks and then our show got cancelled. I learned more today than I did being in that room for those 9 weeks."
Anthony P.
What You'll Learn
David will begin by discussing the evolution of the television industry over the last 2 decades and how he’s seen it change and evolve.
The Hierarchy of the Roles in the TV Landscape:
- Staff Writer, Script Coordinator, Writers Assistant, Writers PA
- Progressing to the next level: Showrunner, Executive Producer, Supervising Producers, Executive Story Editor/Story Editor
- How the chain of command works and who does what
How To Ascend To The Top Spot - Paths to Becoming A Writer/Executive Producer For Television
- What was David’s path to EP?
- Why the writer is the king in television (as opposed to the director)
- How to work your way up through the writer’s room
- What are some other paths to make it?
- Upon being hired what are EPs concerned with first and foremost? What are David’s first priorities?
Overview Of Expected Responsibilities Of An Executive Producer On Primetime Television:
1) Staffing and Running The Writers Room:
- Not every room is organized the same.
- Learn what is most important to Executive Producers and Showrunners when staffing their writer’s room. Is what’s on the page most important? Or, is it all about who you know and what you’ve done?
- Learn how an Executive Producer/Showrunner will guide their writers room through setting out the season arcs, outlining episodes and breaking them down by theme as well as assigning episodes to writers.
- David will lead you through the experiences he has had on both sides of the table as a writer and as the man doing the hiring. Learn how to impress and what you can do as a writer to establish a positive relationship with your EP or Showrunner.
2) Scheduling:
- Gain an in-depth look at how TV shows are run day in and day out. David will walk through how a TV show gets organized and provide examples from his time on FX’s The Strain created by Guillermo del Toro, Battlestar Galactica, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
3) Budgets:
- Learn how budgets are put together, who oversees them, and what happens when you go over budget. David will give a thorough look at how Executive Producers manage their budget, wrangle for more and deliver everything on time.
4) Getting The Directors And Crew Set For The Show:
- David will speak to the priorities and challenges Executive Producers and Showrunners face when building the team. He’ll give an overview of working with directors, the art department and everything else vital to producing the TV show. He’ll talk about building the team and deciding on how to delegate responsibilities
5) Casting:
- Gain insight on how some of the most iconic shows make their casting decisions. How much importance is placed on finding the right guy/gal? Who’s in charge of casting main parts? Does an EP decide before or after other departments?
7) Bringing It All Together: The Life Of An Executive Producer:
- Daily operational tasks and how to accomplish them
- Handling the Network: How to interact with the network executives, build beneficial relationships, taking notes for episodes
- Planning for the long-term needs of a project
- Dealing with the unforeseen and any hidden responsibilities
Plus, exclusively for Stage 32 David will open the floor to answer any questions you have!
About Your Instructor
David Weddle
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.
Testimonials
"This truly was a masterclass. I learned so much."
- Rebecca C.
"I was in a writer's room for 9 weeks and then our show got cancelled. I learned more today than I did being in that room for those 9 weeks."
Anthony P.
"David, you're a rock star."
- Pam J.
"Rewatching. Rewatching. Rewatching. Thank you, David and Stage 32."
- Annette F.
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Budgeting Lab: Build a Budget for Your Low Budget Feature in 8 Weeks
Payment plans available - contact edu@stage32.com for details Limited to 10 People - 2 Spots Remain With so many platforms and distributors looking for new projects to fill their libraries, now is the perfect time to make your low-budget feature. But before you can take a single shot, you need to know what it costs. A bad budget can break a production before it even starts, but an expertly made budget can lead to investors and opportunities. Before you go out to investors to finance your low-budget feature, you must know how much money you need and, more importantly, how you’re spending that money. This ensures you don’t undervalue your project, which sets up production to run out of money before you finish. To get the right sum for your project, you either have to spend money you don’t have yet to hire a line producer and schedule or build one yourself without any experience. But, what if you could not only have a budget and schedule ready for everything investors expect to see but also have an expert look it through to make sure you’ve got everything you need? What if a professional line producer who’s worked on hundreds of budgets could show you the ins and outs of budgets so that you know how to do it yourself for all of your projects? In this Stage 32 exclusive lab, you’ll go directly through your low-budget feature script with Chris Smith, a line producer, producer, and production manager with over a decade of experience. He’s also built over a hundred budgets for projects of every level and format. Over eight weeks, you’ll learn how to comb through your script to determine every line item you’ll need from pre-production through post. Chris has made over ten indie features, been an Executive in Charge of Production, created content for MTV, Cartoon Network, NatGeo, and NatGeo, and has overseen countless commercials, music videos, shorts, and more. Having worked his way up through production, Chris knows every crew role, rental and item in budget, as well as how important they each are. Over the course of his career, Chris has built over a hundred budgets for projects of every level and format. Chris will show you how to budget for: The schedule Above-the-line talent Every crewmember needed Rentals Locations Contingencies Production and accounting fees And so much more Using a limited class size, you’ll have the ability to work on your own budget and receive Chris’s invaluable experience, plus, see how these lessons adapt to each of your classmates’ projects. After every session, you’ll have an assignment to build on the information you’ve just learned and to practice while setting you up for the next session. You’ll also have access to handouts from Chris, featuring the budgets and schedules from professional productions to see exactly how the pros get it done. You’ll walk away with a budget, schedule, and the knowledge behind the choices you’ve made so that investors see you as a credible filmmaker and producer that they want to work with.
Stage 32 TV Animation Lab: Build an Outline and Pitch Deck for Your Animated Television Show
**Only 15 Spots Available-3 Spots Remain** Work one on one with a director and producer of animated shows on Netflix, FOX, Disney and more as he helps you prepare and develop your own animated TV pilot. Animated television is currently experiencing a boom like we’ve never seen before. Since it’s possible for the bulk of the work to be completed from home or while socially distanced, animation has been flourishing as more players are turning to this format. New shows like SOLAR OPPOSITES on Hulu, CLOSE ENOUGH on HBO Max, FINAL SPACE on TBS and BLOOD OF ZEUS on Netflix are hugely popular, and this is just the beginning. Scores of upcoming animated shows are in the pipeline and just around the corner. Considering this appetite, it doesn’t look like this trend is fading any time soon. And more interest in animation means there are more opportunities for your own project to get noticed and get picked up. The opportunities may be extra plentiful right now, but you still need to have a dynamite show to present if you want to be noticed. This means a great concept, a fantastic pitch deck, and a knockout pilot script. And all of these elements don’t need to just be good; they all need to lend themselves to the format and industry that is animated TV. But if you can ace all of these elements, you may have just found your way in and the piece of material that will fire you off the launch pad. Let us give you the guidance to make your animated pilot as good as it can be and help you springboard your writing career. Mike Disa is an accomplished director, producer, writer, and artist who directed on shows like the hit Netflix series PARADISE PD and has been in the animation industry for over twenty-five years. Mike found success working with studios such as Dreamworks, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and many others. Over a fascinating career, Mike has worked with some of the greatest and most infamous people in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Eric Goldberg, Ralph Bakshi, Glenn Close, Steve Oedekerk, David Tennant, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler, Jeffery Katzenberg and Roy Disney. A favorite and fixture among the Stage 32 community, Mike is deeply entrenched in the world of animated TV and knows better than most what it takes to get an animated show off the ground. In this lab, you will be working directly with Mike in a virtual class setting and also during one-on-one online sessions to hone your concept and build your pilot outline and pitch deck for a fantastic, market-ready animated pilot. Whether you are interested in creating a “prime time” adult comedy series, action, dramedy, or children’s animation, Mike is here to help you. He will guide you through creating engaging characters, building your world, perfecting your structure, constructing an outline and building your bible or pitch deck to sell your show. If you already have a concept, or even a completed pilot, Mike will use the same tools to help you hone and sharpen your material. Throughout the course of this exclusive online lab, you will have direct access to Mike as a mentor by email and via video conferencing as you develop your animated series. Students who sign up for this lab with Mike will be eligible to participate in a Level 2 Lab where Mike will continue to mentor you in writing your pilot!
Voice Acting: 5 Steps to Making Money with Your Voice
“Hey! You should be a voice actor!” Has anyone told you that you have a voice that would be perfect for commercials, animated films, or radio? With the new content explosion, especially in animation and documentary filmmaking, the need and market for voice over actors has never been higher. That also means the competition is more intense! So how do you stand out? Don't be intimidated. We've got you covered! Voice over is a fascinating and fun industry that gives you the flexibility to be your own boss and, thanks to the affordability of recording equipment, can allow you to work from home. When you think “voice acting” you may think cartoons, commercials, or video games, and while that is part of the industry, there’s also documentaries, IVR (phone systems), corporate and medical training, e-learning, presentations, mobile games and apps, etc. What used to be a world closed to those who weren’t “in the know” has opened up to everyone who has the talent and drive to do it. But many people who think they have the talent feel that the path to getting started is too overwhelming. That's simply not the case. Tara Tyler has been working in the voice over industry for 10+ years and was the Head of Communications for one of the largest V.O. sites on the web. Exclusively for Stage 32, Tara will teach you everything you need to know to turn your fantastic voice into monetary success. From building an affordable home studio to finding and training your voice to making a demo to submitting your demo on and offline and much more, Tara will demystify the myths, tell you the real truths and get you up, running, and working in no time! "I went from "this is impossible" to "I need to do this" in 90 minutes. I've already ordered some equipment and have begun training. I need more Tara in my life!" - Rashida H.
Stage 32 Private Pitching Lab: How to Master Your 5 Minute Pitch
**Only 15 Spots Available - 10 Spots Remain** Payment plans available - email edu@stage32.com Join a private, small virtual writers group, lead by VP of Production for Ian Bryce Productions, Will McCance -Finding 'Ohana (Netflix), Saving Private Ryan, Transformers: The Last Knight, Almost Famous, The Boys (Amazon), Preacher (AMC) Will will teach you how to form an outstanding five minute pitch for your own project & you will work one on one with him to perfect your pitch! If you've taken Pete Goldfinger's pitching workshop (writer of JIGSAW and SPIRAL - which was #1 at the box office) now you have the opportunity to work on perfecting your own pitch under the guidance of a top executive. Will McCance will show you how to pitch remotely and give you that mentorship you crave! Best of all, it's LIVE & INTERACTIVE! This is an amazing opportunity to fine tune and get advice on nailing your pitch from someone who knows how to do just that. The problem is, writing and pitching are two very distinct skillsets. Just because you’re a great writer doesn’t mean you’re also great at pitching. At least not initially. But like any skill, it’s something that can be honed, practiced, and improved upon. You may be missing out on opportunities right now because you struggle to get decision makers excited about your story, but this can be remedied, especially with the right one-on-one support and mentorship. Speaking of which… Will McCance is the Vice President of Production for Ian Bryce, producer of blockbusters like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, ALMOST FAMOUS, the TRANSFORMERS franchise, and most recently Michael Bay's SIX UNDERGROUND and FINDING 'OHANA for Netflix. At Ian Bryce Productions, Will oversees the company's entire development slate. Before working with Ian Bryce, Will worked in development at Original Film's TV department, working on hit shows such as THE BOYS (Amazon) and PREACHER (AMC), as well as on SWAT (CBS) and HAPPY! (Syfy). Through his years working as an executive, Will has deep experience with working with writers and choosing to work with them or not based on their pitch. He knows exactly what needs to go into a successful pitch. In this exclusive 5-week lab you will: Be guided through the fundamentals of pitching, including a deep dive of the five minute pitch, how to distill your script into your pitch, and how to ultimately deliver it with aplomb. Work one-on-one with Will in understanding the intricacies and art of your pitch. Build your own five minute pitch for your specific project under Will’s guidance. Whether you’re working on a feature, a series, and no matter the genre, Will is here to help. Throughout the course of this exclusive online lab, you will have direct access to Will as a mentor by email and via Zoom as you develop your pitch document.
Breaking in and Building a Career in Premium Unscripted TV
As you are aware, unscripted television is BOOMING. All the streamers have jumped into the mix and now more and more networks, premium cable channels and even short form platforms like Quibi are diving in with both feet. Creating compelling non-fiction TV requires more than just vision. It involves a gameplan. And it can't hurt to have multiple ideas in reserve or even multiple paths for the same show. This will allow you to not only launch one show, but perhaps lay the groundwork for many shows, essentially building brand recognition for you and for your production company. There is a path to building a scalable business in reality and unscripted and that path is wider than ever. And there's no better person to send you on that path than a guy who has built an empire with his company through producing such shows as Netflix's CHEER and CHEF'S TABLE and many others for streamers and networks around the world. We all have a desire to tell stories. In an era when technology is rapidly developing and there are increasingly lower barriers to actually creating unscripted content. But an idea is just the start. Often times what we fail to do is understand how to get from an idea, or a series of ideas, to having viable content that a more commercial marketplace is actually looking for. By doing a deep dive into the history, shows and business of the prolific reality production company Boardwalk Pictures, we can better understand how to establish our creative voice and brand in a crowded landscape and determine how best to bring our value to a variety of projects and partners. Andrew Fried is the Founder and President of Boardwalk Pictures, producers of premium non-fiction content for multiple networks and distributors including Netflix, Showtime, Quibi, YouTube and many others. A recipient of multiple awards and 3 Emmy nominations, Fried and Boardwalk strive to elevate and expand the idea of documentary television across an ever-growing unscripted landscape. Boardwalk has been responsible for some of the most prestigious unscripted series of the last few years. CHEF'S TABLE, now entering its 7th season, has received 8 Emmy nominations, has won 3 James Beard Awards and the IDA Award for Best Documentary Series. CHEER, also on Netflix, has proven to be one of the platform's biggest successes. Other huge commercial hits include Gwyneth Paltrow's THE GOOP LAB, 7 DAYS OUT, STREET FOOD and LAST CHANCE U (now in it’s 4th season), the Showtime series ACTION and YouTube’s BEST SHOT. Andrew will teach you how to stake your claim in the unscripted marketplace and also how to build an empire in the space. By diving into his journey and the paths Boardwalk Picture shows have taken from concept to screen, Andrew will show you the do's and don'ts of unscripted from the creative and business sides to assure you shorten your path to success. He will speak to the companies origin stories and how Chef's Table became Netflix's first unscripted original series. He will explain how to judge quantity vs. quality, explain the "8th Grade Assembly" test, describe what it means to be storyteller led, and how to identify a void that needs to be filled. He will dive into how to develop your creative brand, define what stories it is you want to tell, and how to approach meetings and networking opportunities to help get your vision to air. He will describe how to add value to just about every situation - so important in unscripted where you're likely to have partners and how to best position yourself to where people not only want to work with you, but will be anxious to hear your next idea and the one after that. Praise for Andrew's Stage 32 Webinar "Fabulous, authentic insights into what makes a successful producer of premium unscripted content!" -John P. "Loved it! I especially appreciated his positivity! I’m feeling inspired and I know I’m on the “write” track to creating something wonderful!" -Edie F. "Andrew was really great - a total professional who gave a lot of insight into "the business" and what attracts the green light." -Pooky A. "Excellent. Honest. Thoughtful. Insightful." -Tim O.
David Harris, Producer (Security, Antonio Banderas)
Stage 32’s Director Script Services, Jason Mirch and Guest Panelist David Harris (producer on dozens of films, including SECURITY with Antonio Banderas) ago over writer’s pitches, both live and written, to help improve each pitch.
Register / Log In
