Summary
Learn from a top studio executive and producer who’s worked with Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, and Warner Bros!
Receive a sample rom-com pitches and a full case study you can apply to your own film!
Romantic comedies have a timeless appeal, captivating audiences with their blend of humor, heart, and hope. But today’s market requires more than just charming characters and a predictable plot. To truly succeed, your rom-com must connect deeply with audiences while standing out in a crowded space. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you'll gain valuable insights into creating a rom-com that not only resonates with viewers but also has commercial potential. Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, you’ll learn how to craft stories that feel fresh, fun, and ready to captivate a wide audience—making this webinar your go-to guide for navigating the rom-com genre with confidence.
Many assume rom-coms are “easy,” leading to surface-level stories filled with clichés, hollow characters, or uneven tones. Others miss the mark when pitching—failing to showcase commercial appeal, casting potential, or the emotional hook that sells. In this interactive Stage 32 webinar, we’ll tackle the most common rom-com pitfalls and arm you with real-world tools to make your concept pop off the page and into production. Whether you’re struggling with structure, tone, or marketability, this session gives you a roadmap you need!
Your Stage 32 Educator is Matt Bierman, a studio executive and producer whose credits include Christmas With the Darlings, Love at First Bark, Love Under the Stars, and Memories of Christmas. Matt has held executive roles at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., and Village Roadshow, and knows exactly what makes a romantic comedy stand out—from concept to casting to pitch. He’ll bring you behind the scenes of one of his own rom-coms as a case study, so you can see how these principles are put into action.
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll discover how to create a romantic comedy that feels fresh and original while staying true to the genre’s beloved elements. You’ll learn how to build characters and storylines that truly connect with audiences, structure your rom-com for maximum emotional impact, and pitch it like a pro. Plus, you’ll gain key insights into what makes a rom-com commercially viable in today’s market. With a real-world case study of Christmas With the Darlings, you’ll walk away with the tools to create a rom-com that stands out and gets noticed.
PLUS! You will receive the following handout:
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Sample Rom-Com Pitches
Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge:
“Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, Director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2
"This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M.
"Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.
What You'll Learn
The Rise Of Rom Coms
- What is a Rom Com
- The main elements of a rom-com?
- General rom-com structure
- What works and what doesn't
- Meeting the audiences expectations
Writing And Developing A Commercial Rom-Com
- The different kinds of Rom Coms
- What are the subgenres?
- The Rom Com structure
- Locations, professions and other choices
- Inherent conflict
- Balancing humor and heart
Pitching Your Romantic Comedy
- Who to pitch- Who is buying and making Rom Coms
- When to pitch- The best timing
- The key elements a Rom Com pitch should include
- Finding and using source material
- Keeping it familiar but fresh
Packaging For Success
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Attaching the "right" cast and director
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The importance of packaging for this genre
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What gets execs attention.
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Case Study:
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Matt will use Christmas With The Darlings as a case study to explore all that is shared in this webinar
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Q&A With Matt
Who Should Attend
- Writers and directors at all levels looking to develop or pitch a romantic comedy
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Producers and creatives wanting to understand rom-com marketability
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Anyone interested in learning how to balance originality with genre expectations
Executive
Matt Bierman has been a studio executive and producer for over 25 years. He started in the feature film business working as an executive for Jon Peters. He has worked directly as an executive at Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and DC Comics. Additionally, he has been an executive at Village Roadshow Pictures and Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures (SONY). He has also developed and produced movies for Hallmark and Nickelodeon.
He produced the holiday films A LOUD HOUSE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE DARLINGS, and MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS, and the romcom LOVE AT FIRST BARK and LOVE UNDER THE STARS, among others.
He has expertise in low-budget mainstream films as he ran the creative at Paramount DVD Premiere and Warner Premiere, those two respective studios' lower-budget made-for-DVD divisions. He has overseen and supervised several dozen movies in the $3-8 million range including BROKEN BRIDGES, SAVE THE LAST DANCE 2, ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY, SCOOBY DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS, LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, FREE WILLY PIRATES COVE ADVENTURE, SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE’S ROYAL ADVENTURE, CINDERELLA STORY IF THE SHOE FITS, MAX 2 and over two dozen others. In addition, he was involved in the creation of the DC UNIVERSE series of animated films and helped put together a WB Anime business for the Japanese market.
In his capacity as an executive, he developed and oversaw such theatrical movies as: ROSEWOOD, MYSTERY ALASKA, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, TAKING LIVES, SAVING SILVERMAN, and HOLES to name a few.
He also co-wrote and produced a comedy about poker called THE GRAND, directed by Zak Penn.
Most recently, he ran the tv department at DC Comics, overseeing the pilots for SANDMAN and DMZ among others.
Testimonials
Praise for Matt's Talent & Knowledge:
“Matt Bierman is one of the best movie execs and producers that I have worked with” – Brian Levant, Director of Jingle All The Way, A Christmas Story 2
"This lab was one of the best educational experiences I have ever experienced. I feel so confident in my work after getting guidance from Matt. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rebecca M.
"Matt Bierman knows his stuff! I highly recommend taking any course he is teaching." -- Marcus E.