Private, interactive class on Zoom with a producer who's worked with major studios and production companies for over a decade

Get a Producer's Script Checklist, Six-Minute Pitch Framework, and 4 More Downloadable Handouts

Limited spots available - don't miss out!

Payment plans available at checkout or email edu@stage32.com for more info!

Every screenwriter wants their script to land, but what gives your project a "yes" while another gets passed over? You can spend months polishing your screenplay, only to have it read in minutes. What happens during that short window can determine whether your project moves forward or ends up forgotten. When you understand what producers are actually looking for—and what happens after someone says yes—you'll have an advantage most writers never get.

You may think your goal is to deliver a flawless pitch or a technically perfect script. But that belief can quietly hold you back. You can perfect every scene and every beat, yet still lose a producer's attention, while another script with imperfections keeps them hooked from beginning to end. Producers aren't searching for perfection. They're searching for the project they can't stop thinking about. Once you understand why certain scripts stay with producers, you'll approach your writing and pitching in a completely different way.

You'll learn directly from Henry Hereford, the producer and executive behind the Oscar-nominated feature To Leslie. Henry was the second person to read the screenplay and immediately recognized it was something special. Over the past decade, he's developed projects across major studios and production companies, including A Rush of Blood and For the Love of George. Before producing, he built his career as an actor working with acclaimed directors like David Fincher, giving you a rare opportunity to learn from someone who understands both the creative and business sides of filmmaking. You'll gain firsthand insight into what makes producers lean in, champion a project, and ultimately say yes.

Across two interactive sessions, you'll learn how to deliver a compelling six-minute pitch, capture a producer's attention in the very first minute, and create intrigue without giving away your entire story. You'll also go behind the scenes of development to understand what really happens after your script gets a "yes," from navigating notes and rewrites to attaching talent, securing financing, and moving your project toward production.

You'll walk away with practical tools you can immediately apply to your own projects, including the Six-Minute Pitch Framework, the Producer's Script Checklist, and the Development Roadmap. Most importantly, you'll leave with a clear understanding of how producers think, how you can make your screenplay impossible to put down, and how you can navigate development with confidence as a collaborative partner.

This exclusive Stage 32 class is held live on Zoom, giving you the opportunity to interact directly with Henry, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance throughout the program. As soon as you enroll, you'll be connected with Henry by email and receive a questionnaire so he can better understand your goals before class begins. Throughout the class, you'll have direct email access to ask questions about your project, your craft, or your career—giving you the support of an experienced industry mentor.

If you can't attend a live session, don't worry. You'll receive recordings of every class within 48 hours, so you can watch them anytime in your Stage 32 Library. You'll also join a private Stage 32 Lounge where you can connect with fellow writers, exchange feedback, grow your network, and continue learning long after the class ends.

PLUS! You will receive the following handouts to help you:

• Producer's Script Checklist
• Six-Minute Pitch Framework
• And 4 More Downloadable Handouts

Session 1: How Your Script Stands Out to a Producer

• What makes a producer lean forward instead of switching off
• How to make the most of your six-minute verbal pitch
• What producers are listening for in the first minute
• Why confidence isn't about performing, it's about clarity
• The common mistakes that make pitches blend
• The art of creating intrigue without giving away the whole story
• Finding the emotional hook in your screenplay
• Why voice will almost always beat perfection
• Thinking commercially without losing what makes your script unique
• The story of listening to 20 pitches in one evening and why the last two became projects Henry chose to produce
• What makes a producer ask to read the script
• Q&A with the instructor

Handouts: Six-Minute Pitch Framework, Producer's Script Checklist, The First Ten Pages Guide

Assignment: Refine your six-minute pitch and deliver it aloud. Then read the first ten pages of your screenplay and ask yourself one question: Would this make someone who's already heard 19 other pitches want to keep reading?

Session 2: What the Development Process Is Really Like

• What happens after a producer says "yes"
• Why development is about collaboration, not compromise
• Giving and receiving notes without losing your voice
• Understanding the difference between a creative note and a commercial note
• Why some rewrites strengthen a project and others don't
• Building a package: attaching directors, cast and financiers
• Knowing when a script is genuinely ready to take to market
• Why development often takes years, not months
• Lessons learned developing projects from first draft to production, including To Leslie and current feature films
• Understanding the producer's role at every stage of the journey
• Q&A with the instructor

Handouts: Development Roadmap, Rewrite Strategy Worksheet, Packaging & Submission Checklist

Assignment: Create a realistic development roadmap for your own project. Identify where it currently sits, what's missing before it's market-ready, and the next three practical steps you'll take over the next six months.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good.

• This class is designed for screenwriters of all levels who want to understand what actually makes a producer say yes to a project

• This is an intimate, in-depth, practical, and detailed class held on Zoom where you will be interacting with your instructor.

• This class consists of 2 sessions roughly two hours in duration and offers significantly more in-depth content than a standard Stage 32 webinar.

• ***Your instructor will be available on email during the entire duration of the class to answer any questions you have about your project.***

• To stay motivated and inspired you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge post where you can meet, connect and communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the class and beyond. Let Stage 32 help you find your tribe!

• Can't make it live? Don't worry, each session will be recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience. 

• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.

• Payment plans are available at checkout through Shop Pay

• Screenwriters of all levels who want to understand what actually makes a producer say yes to a project
• Writers preparing to pitch who want to make the most of a short window, whether that's six minutes or six lines in an email
• Filmmakers and creators who have a completed script and want to know what realistically happens next
• Writers who've had scripts pass without notes and want insight into what producers are really responding to
• Producers and industry professionals who want a behind-the-scenes look at how development actually unfolds, from notes to packaging
• Writers who feel stuck in development or unsure how to move a project from draft to production-ready