Learn from Anna Henry, veteran Producer & Development Executive with credits at Netflix, Starz, and CBS!

Get a Sample Opening Handout to help you master your TV cold open and start your show strong!

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.

Your opening scene is your calling card — the moment that tells your audience exactly who you are as a storyteller. In television, the teaser or “cold open” isn’t just a hook; it’s the heartbeat of your series. It sets the tone, defines the world, introduces your characters, and gives viewers a reason to keep watching. Whether you’re writing a sharp comedic open that lands a laugh before the title card or a pulse-pounding teaser that pulls viewers to the edge of their seats, your opening moments determine if an audience — or an executive — says yes. That’s why mastering the art of the teaser isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Yet even seasoned writers struggle with where to begin. Maybe your first pages feel too expositional, or maybe you’ve packed in too much action before grounding your audience in who and what they’re watching. You might wonder: how much worldbuilding is too much? Should your lead appear right away? Do you need a teaser at all? This webinar will unpack those challenges and more, helping you understand how professional writers balance emotion, tone, and pacing in their opening sequences. You’ll learn how to craft a scene that feels both effortless and inevitable — the kind that immediately pulls your reader or viewer into your story’s universe.

Guiding you through this exclusive Stage 32 webinar is Anna Henry, a veteran Producer and Development Executive who has shaped stories for networks and studios including Sony, 20th Television, EOne, Starz, Amazon, Netflix, and CBS. With over 15 years of experience working with writers across every major genre — from This Is Us and Vida to The Chi and Fear the Walking Dead — Anna knows exactly what makes a script stand out in a crowded marketplace. She’s helped countless creators develop powerful, emotionally resonant openings that capture the essence of their stories and hook decision-makers from the very first line.

In this Stage 32 webinar, Anna will take you inside the craft of writing unforgettable teasers and cold opens. You’ll learn how to introduce characters through action, establish tone and genre, convey exposition naturally, and set up your story with clarity and confidence. Through real examples, hands-on exercises, and a downloadable Sample Opening Sequences handout, you’ll leave knowing how to write beginnings that are bold, cinematic, and deeply human—the kind of openings that make viewers lean in and say, “I’m in.”

PLUS! You Will Receive:

• Sample Opening Handout

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS STAGE 32 WEBINAR FROM ANNA:

“What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity.” - Crispin L. 

"Anna's webinar was fantastic. I am writing my first one hour drama pilot so this webinar was packed with the exact information that I will be immediately putting to use in my rewrite. The slides were clear, concise and informative. The speaker was excellent at conveying the information I needed."

-Bobby C.

“This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods.” - John R. 

• • The function of an opening sequence: character, world, story, tone, and themes

  • The comedy “cold” open vs. the drama “hot” teaser

  • Are teasers optional?

  • Introducing main character(s) in an active, unique way

  • The art of eliciting emotion

  • Organic exposition and limiting backstory

  • Choosing priorities in conveying personality

  • Handling newcomers and “guided tours”

  • Creating description through action

  • Crafting compelling first lines

  • Setting characters in their world and establishing the series’ universe

  • Avoiding obvious exposition

  • Using montages effectively

  • Making the audience experience the world with all their senses

  • Evocative descriptions and point of view

  • Embracing chaos

  • Establishing the story engine, goal, and kicking off the story

  • Determining your character’s main goal

  • The power of suggesting the problem rather than stating it outright

  • Ways to hook the audience at the start

  • Trusting the audience

  • Crafting a strong final beat that launches into Act One

  • Establishing genre and setting tone

  • Opening image techniques

  • Writing scenes specifically to convey tone

  • Narrative devices, intercutting, and pacing

  • Setting up a main theme

  • Exploring alternative openings

  • Common teaser mistakes

  • Q&A with Anna

• TV and screenwriters who want to craft powerful teasers and cold opens that instantly hook readers and viewers

• Writers developing pilots or preparing for pitches, contests, or fellowship submissions

• Producers and executives who want a deeper understanding of how strong openings drive successful series

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS STAGE 32 WEBINAR FROM ANNA:

“What a thoughtful, thorough and inspiring webinar. It's clear that Anna Henry put an enormous amount of work into this presentation. Not only was the content there, but the structure was also superb. I feel educated and inspired to go back to my own work and do better than what I thought was my best. What could possibly be better than that! Thank you Anna for your genius and your generosity.” - Crispin L. 

"Anna's webinar was fantastic. I am writing my first one hour drama pilot so this webinar was packed with the exact information that I will be immediately putting to use in my rewrite. The slides were clear, concise and informative. The speaker was excellent at conveying the information I needed."

-Bobby C.

“This was my first Stage 32 webinar, and it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of quality (and quantity) of information and overall value. Anna was personable, knowledgeable, and organized. The slide deck was helpful, and her overall presentation hit all the key topics. Anna and Stage32 delivered the goods.” - John R.