Stage 32 5-Part Private Pitching Lab: How to Master Your 5 Minute Pitch (February 2024)
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Breaking Down the Pilot Script: Emmy-Winner Succession
This script breakdown has a 100% satisfaction rating! The hit HBO show SUCCESSION has shattered Emmy history with a record-breaking 27 nominations for the 2023 Emmy Awards alone! Add that to the 13 Primetime Emmy Awards they've already won, as well as the dozens more nominations over its 4 seasons, it is safe to say that SUCCESSION is one of the greatest shows of all time. As a creative, it's important for you to understand WHY it's so successful. In an exclusive Stage 32 Script Breakdown Webcast the Vice President of Production for Ian Bryce, Will McCance, will break down the first episode of the Emmy award-winning series SUCCESSION using excerpts from the pilot episode. Will McCance is currently 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. Will has worked on hit television shows including THE BOYS and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER for Amazon, PREACHER for AMC SWAT for CBS and MAX TILT for HBO Max. During this FREE Stage 32 Next Level Webcast Will will take you through the SUCCESSION pilot as he examines the main story engine introduction and themes, how character arc intros and drama is teed-up for the season, managing the script's pacing in an ensemble cast and exploring it's tonal elements, and much more! Plus, everyone who registers for the webinar will receive a copy of the pilot script of SUCCESSION to study after the webinar is over!
Learn How to Better Pitch Your Ideas: Go from Storyteller to Storyseller
Learn how to pitch your work so you can build a profitable career in film and television with the Vice President of the company behind Finding Ohana (Netflix), Saving Private Ryan, Transformers: The Last Knight, Almost Famous, The Boys (Amazon), Preacher (AMC), and more! Do you ever feel like your great ideas go unnoticed by producers, directors, agents, and managers alike, and that you don’t get the shot you're looking for as a result? This isn’t because these decision makers don’t care; it’s because you may not have pitched or sold your ideas the right way. The reality is, successful screenwriters are as much storysellers as they are storytellers. Whether you like it or not, your primary goal as a writer must be to stand out in a sea of competing projects. The bottom line: Whether you're a screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, or any creative or industry professional looking to gain representation, sell their material, attract talent, raise financing, or simply looking to find work, you will have to pitch. Further, you will be in competition with others pitching as well. You've put so much time and effort into your work and building your reputation, you don't want to have it all undermined with a terrible pitch. And the truth of the matter is that most people that pitch make the same fatal mistakes over and over. They don't know how to tell a concise, riveting story. They don't know what to put in, what to leave out, and what elements really and truly sell someone on their story. This webinar will give you insight and tools to pitch better and get ahead of the pack. 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 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). Independently, Will has produced films such as the upcoming LOLA JAMES, starring Nicola Peltz and Oscar-Nominee Virginia Madsen, BERNARD AND HUEY, starring Jim Rash, David Koechner, and Mae Whitman, as well as Belarus's 2018 Oscar selection for Best Foreign Film, CRYSTAL SWAN, along with Vice. 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, and is prepared to share what he’s learned with the Stage 32 community. In this exclusive on-demand Stage 32 webinar, Will will equip you with all the tools you'll need to elevate your next script to the top of the reading stack. He will discuss the various techniques of pitching, from finding the right words and unique style, to understanding which type of pitch to use and when. He will also analyze sample TV and feature film pitches and break down the hidden power of the perfectly-worded logline. He will teach you tactics, strategies, and even books that will make you a stronger storyseller, and in turn, a stronger storyteller. Will will even deliver a pitch of his own to use as an example and will share other film and TV pitches to analyze what works and what doesn’t. Through Will’s presentation, you will not only learn how to better understand and explain your story, but to also instill a newfound sense of confidence that you can take with you to your next meeting or pitch session. PRAISE FROM WILL'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 TEACHING: "I would not have been able to advance in my writing career without Will McCance and the pitching lab. I highly recommend Will as an instructor and the pitching lab itself for Stage 32 writers. Thank you." -- Sean M. "Will's credentials speak for themself. He is an incredibly knowledgable executive with the passion to help writers get their projects moving forward. Thank you for all your help on my pitching for my feature!" -- Morgan M. "Will has been hands down the best teacher for pitching I've ever had!" -- Chase R.
How to Secure a Long and Successful Career in Today's Entertainment Industry
Chris Moore has done and seen it all. During a career spanning over 30 years, Chris has produced films that have had multiple Oscar nominations and wins such as Good Will Hunting and Manchester by the Sea, to studio blockbusters like American Pie and The Adjustment Bureau, to independent darlings such as Waiting, to creating and starring in the critically acclaimed industry television shows Project Greenlight alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and The Chair. One of the secrets of Chris' longevity in the business is a full understanding of the business. He's as plugged in as they come and he knows how to adjust quickly, swiftly, and successfully as the landscape changes - which seems to happen on a daily basis these days. Most importantly, Chris is known in the industry as a take-no-prisoners, no bullshit guy. He tells it like it is and pulls no punches, which, in this business, is welcome and refreshing. And now he's here exclusively for Stage 32 to teach you how to build a lasting career in today's entertainment industry. With the evolution of the industry causing dramatic shifts in the way you create and consume content (film, television, digital) and more content being created, bought, sold, screened, broadcast and streamed than ever before, there are more and more opportunities are being presented for a creative career. But you have to know where to look, how to position yourself, how to best present yourself and show that you have a complete understanding of where the industry is headed and how you can add significant value. Chris will discuss the current state and the shifts in the market to help you make educated decisions on the path you should take with your career in the industry to not only assure success, but satisfy the lifestyle you desire. He will also discuss where he believes the future is headed so you can be ahead of the curve in making the right decisions for you and your career. Then, Chris will make the proceedings interactive, workshopping with select attendees and discussing primary and alternative paths for their wants and goals. Some examples: For filmmakers having trouble gaining traction, Chris will go over alternative ways you can break in and gain your footing. For screenwriters who have been at it a long time and haven’t gotten their break, Chris will discuss alternatives and lifestyle choices for the current industry. For cinematographers (or other creatives) looking to move from digital shorts to streaming TV, Chris will present a path and strategies to make it happen? This is a no nonsense, detailed filled, strategy packed session designed to help ALL creatives and professionals! PRAISE FOR CHRIS'S TEACHINGS: "Undoubtably, my favorite Stage 32 webinar yet, and that's saying something. Wow, was this a welcome kick in the ass. I love Chris' style, passion, and energy. Obviously, his experience and success speaks for itself, but as a teacher, he's a master. This was a huge land for Stage 32. I hope you bring him back again!" - Ronnie W. "I like the way Chris organized all the changes in entertainment so it was easy to understand. It's overwhelming trying to figure it out and I appreciated Chris taking the time to explain it. I also appreciated the workshopping advice. Thank you Chris." - Marisa S. "The brutal truth how Hollywood operates was eye opening, but it's best that I'm aware as I try to find my place." - Wolf O. "Chris Moore is a hero. He saved me from my doubts." - Julia C.
Special Global Edition of the Stage 32 Writers' Room Pitch Tank
In Stage 32's commitment to bringing you free educational virtual events we are excited to bring you a special global edition of the Stage 32 Writers' Room Pitch Tank. We brought in the President of Production at Zero Gravity Management, and 3 industry leading literary managers from Circle of Confusion, The Cartel, and Art/Work Entertainment to hear pitches directly from writers across the globe! In this exciting 90 minute webcast four different screenwriters from the US, UK and Scotland step into the Stage 32 Pitch Tank to pitch their script to a panel of some of Hollywood's power players. The hopeful end result? That their script is requested! And...as an exciting surprise, we have brought in a special industry pro to come in and pitch to the panelists! Pete Goldfinger, who is the scribe behind the SAW franchise's JIGSAW, Piranha 3D and Sorority Row steps into the tank to pitch his new screenplay idea. You'll be able to see up close and personal on what different types of pitches and learn how the decision makers on the other side of the table feel about the process. And...best of all there were several requests in the tank. Want to find out which ones they were and why? You have to watch to find out!
Writing Action - Hell or High Water, The Nice Guys, John Wick
Writing action isn't easy! It takes nuance and skill. We’ll break down the action on the page for the heavy-hitting JOHN WICK, the action-comedy THE NICE GUYS, and the slow-building action of HELL OR HIGH WATER.
Masters of Craft: Writing Feature Films with Oscar Nominated Alec Sokolow (Toy Story)
Bonus! You will receive a download of the TOY STORY script, written by your host, Alec! The biggest global streaming services and movie studios are actively looking for family-friendly blockbusters to fill out their upcoming slates. Why? Because G and PG-rated projects are among some of the highest-grossing films in theaters and these films attract this profitable family demographic to their streaming services. So what are the key points a writer needs to know to craft a blockbuster family film? In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, acclaimed screenwriter and Academy Award-nominee for TOY STORY, Alec Sokolow, will give writers and filmmakers an overview of what a family-friendly blockbuster script needs to sell. Using his screenplay for the first TOY STORY movie as a hands-on guide, Alec will walk attendees through the writing process with a look at the project’s background, plot points, character development, and tone. Next, he’ll delve into what choices he made when writing the original film and most importantly why these creative decisions were made. Writing a family-friendly blockbuster with global appeal is more difficult than it seems but Alec will break down the structure and setting to help any writer feel more confident working in this extremely popular genre. A writer must be able to create imaginative, relatable, and specific characters set in a vibrant world but now, more than ever, must make their scripts feel universal with a global appeal. Writers often get caught up in thinking about the success of their script or of their big plot idea but they really need to focus on the dynamics and success of their characters. Everything is character-driven. If you get the characters and their dynamics right then all of the action falls into place and the characters, themselves, drive the plot. Once you have that concept mastered, your scripts will all feel bigger and more universal, leading to the success you want.
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