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Corey Ackerman is a manager at The Cartel, a management and production company representing more than 150 clients who's feature credits include GONE GIRL, LOGAN'S RUN, ZOOLANDER, JIGSAW, SHERLOCK GNOMES and more. In TV, Cartel clients have worked on series including "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", "Falling Skies", "The Blackslist", "Psych", "Grey's Anatomy", "The Newsroom", "Rizzoli & Isles", "Claws", and "Alias". Allen James Roughton is the Stage 32 Script Services Coordinator, a screenwriter, reader and development researcher who has consulted on over 100 projects, scripts, books, comics and films and conducted research on life stories, exposés, professions and locations for development at major production companies. Nick Assunto is part of the Stage 32 script services team and a repped screenwriter himself. He was previously a reader for the Austin Film Festival, a writer for the 2017 CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, co-host of the Sunday show B.Y.O.T. at UCB, and dabbled in acting, having been featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, an eHarmony commercial directed by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst (for real), and is infamously known as Tony, the annoying party member from the 'Four Friends' Elder Scrolls spots. Full Bio »
The Cartel Manager Corey Ackerman joins our Panel as we listen and read your pitches live to help educate the Writers' Room screenwriters on what is and isn't working in their pitch.
We'll take a look at a live pitch for a Procedural TV Drama, a written pitch for a Sci-fi TV Series, and a live pitch for a True-story, Character Drama Feature.
The Pitch Tank
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We're diving into the Writers' Room Pitch Tank with special guest, Creative Executive Thomas Pettinelli at Branded Pictures Entertainment. Their previous credits include BOTTLE SHOCK, the Best Picture Oscar-nominated THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 from Aaron Sorkin, and THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT among others. Thomas has personally contributed to THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, WHEELMAN on Netflix.
We're back in the Writers' Room for The Pitch Tank with Elena Blekhter. Writers will have a precisely timed 5-minute window to present their pitches, while our seasoned experts meticulously dissect each presentation, providing constructive feedback. Step into a welcoming and supportive space where everyone is invited to participate and grow together. Elevate your pitching skills in an atmosphere dedicated to fostering growth and creativity!
We're diving into the Writers' Room Pitch Tank with special guest, Mike Blutstein, the Vice President of Film and Televsion for John Goldwyn Productions. Under the prolific producer, John Goldwyn, the company has been responsible for successes such as "DEXTER", THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, BABY MAMA and HOT ROD. Mike recently found a script from an Austin-based writer through Stage 32 which JohnGoldwyn Productions has optioned! Read more here. Presently, he is an executive on content such as Lionsgate’s "MANHUNT", Hulu’s "DOPESICK" and Peacock’s MACGRUBER. He is also currently adapting the story of Mandy Harvey, the world’s most famous fully-deaf musician. Mike enjoys championing stories with poignant themes and interesting characters, ranging in genre from Sci-Fi to Romance and Dramas. In his prior position, Mike worked on the production side at "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE", where he also continued to build a love for Comedies and Dramedies.
We're diving into the Writers' Room Pitch Tank with special guest, Literary Manager Tessa Shaffer of Corvisiero Literary Agency.Tessa is a Literary Manager with Corvisiero Literary Agency, a boutique agency in NYC that represents both authors and screenwriters. The clients of CLA include many New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon #1 Bestselling Authors. Tessa signed a writer after connecting through a Stage 32 pitch session! She says, "Thank you for adding such a valuable connection for writers and execs."Corvisiero Literary Agency has a growing relationship with networks and producers and has successfully negotiated book-to-film deals, most recently FOREVER MY GIRL to Roadside Attractions and Disney International with LD Entertainment producing.
We're diving into the first Writers' Room Pitch Tank of 2021 and welcoming special guest, Literary Manager Audrey Knox of The Cartel to critique members' pitches! Audrey worked her way up from receptionist in 2016 to Manager in 2018. Audrey has experience in both scripted and unscripted television, on set, in production, and in writers’ rooms. She has a BFA in Screenwriting from Chapman University. Prior to joining The Cartel Audrey worked in development at WME and Lighthearted Entertainment and in the literary department at Gersh. Last year, Untitled Entertainment and The Cartel - two huge management companies - joined forces to produce films for television and theatrical release. Both companies continue to look for new scripts from writers that offer "escapism to broad audiences." During the webcast, we hear pitches for Action-Adventure, Supernatural Rom Com, Supernatural Procedural Drama, and more!
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.