Summary
Learn from Brenda Lau, Award-Winning Producer & Creative Executive behind campaigns for Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and The Good Doctor!
Get a Sizzle Creation Worksheet: Build Your Story in Cinematic Terms!
Your visual pitch can make or break your project. Before anyone reads your script or hears your full idea, your sizzle reel is often the first—and sometimes only—thing decision-makers will watch. A strong two-minute sizzle can instantly capture attention, communicate your story, and make buyers, producers, or investors feel your project’s potential. Whether you’re pitching a feature, a pilot, or a docuseries, knowing how to craft a clear, cinematic, and emotionally charged sizzle is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your creative arsenal.
Yet, many filmmakers fall into the same traps—relying on words instead of visuals, or producing sizzles that confuse rather than compel. Too often, creators spend time on decks, treatments, and scripts, but forget that film and TV are visual mediums. Buyers and audiences respond to emotion, tone, and rhythm, not just dialogue or description. The most common mistakes? Sizzles that are too long, too vague, or that fail to capture the story’s heart. This exclusive Stage 32 webinar will break down exactly how to avoid those pitfalls and show you how to create a reel that says: “This is what my show or film is—start to finish.”
Your instructor, Brenda Lau, knows exactly how to make that happen. An award-winning producer, director, and creative executive, Brenda is known in the industry as “The Launcher”—and for good reason. Her visionary sizzle reels and marketing campaigns have sold projects, secured financing, and launched some of television’s most iconic shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and The Good Doctor. With Golden Trailer, Promax Gold, and Clio Awards under her belt, plus hands-on experience helping filmmakers bring their ideas to life through compelling visual storytelling, Brenda is the perfect guide to help you master the art and strategy of the sizzle reel.
In this interactive webinar, you’ll learn the anatomy of a great sizzle—from crafting the copy and selecting the right shots, to editing for emotion, building story flow, and using sound design to give your reel its pulse. You’ll explore Brenda’s proven “X Meets Y” method to define your project’s tone, genre, and market position, and you’ll receive a Sizzle Creation Worksheet to help you start building your own. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to write, edit, and produce a sizzle that sells your story from the first frame—and leaves your audience wanting more.
PLUS! You Will Receive:
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Sizzle Creation Worksheet: Build Your Story in Cinematic Terms!
What You'll Learn
The Anatomy of a Great Sizzle
A Sizzle Overview
- What is a sizzle
- Length, Tone and Goal
- What makes a sizzle great
- How and when to use a sizzle
The Skeleton – The Foundation Of Story
- Writing the Copy – What should be included.
- Choosing Sound Bites
- Selecting Shots
The Brain – Structure And Flow
- Editing for Emotion
- Establishing Story Progression
- Creating Visual Cohesion
The Heart – Tone, Emotion, And Connection
- The “X Meets Y” principle helps define your project’s identity
- Establish tone and genre immediately.
- Guide your visual and musical choices.
- Communicate your market position with clarity and confidence.
The Blood – Music and Sound Design
- Giving your sizzle its pulse.
- Picking Music
- Layering sound
- Balancing commercial, stock, and original sources effectively.
The X-Factors – The Spark Of Life
- Trusting your creative instincts and emotional reaction.
- The Goosebump Test: if it doesn’t move you, it won’t move the audience.
- Balancing art and marketing
Q&A With Brenda
Who Should Attend
• Writers who want to bring their scripts to life visually and craft compelling 2-minute story pitches.
• Directors looking to communicate tone, style, and emotional impact before cameras roll.
• Producers developing investor-ready materials or pitching projects at film markets.
• Independent filmmakers seeking to raise funds or attract distributors.
• Editors and content creators who shape visual storytelling for clients or their own projects.
Executive
Brenda Lau is an award-winning producer, director, and creative executive known in the entertainment industry as “The Launcher” for her ability to ignite projects and close deals through visionary campaigns and sizzle reels. Her work has earned Golden Trailer, Promax Gold, and Clio Awards, along with multiple Best Film, Director, and Writer honors on the festival circuit.
As President and Chief Creative Officer of A Bunch of Productions, Brenda develops original content across narrative film and television. Her feature Queer Church is currently streaming on Amazon and Google, and her award-winning short films have screened at festivals worldwide. She’s presently developing several projects with leading production companies—many sparked by her acclaimed concept reels that helped sell the vision and secure financing.
A veteran creative executive, Brenda has led high-profile promotional campaigns for Disney, ABC, NBC, and King World, helping to launch and define some of television’s most iconic series and specials including Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, The Good Doctor, The Oscars, American Music Awards, and The Little Mermaid Live!
A respected speaker and mentor, Brenda has lectured at the University of Wisconsin and Promax Pathways, and established a scholarship supporting emerging storytellers in writing and directing. She is passionate about collaborating with bold voices and helping creators bring powerful, commercially viable stories to screen.
Credits
