Private, interactive lab on Zoom focused on writing a feature film treatment from start to finish!

Work closely with a TOP literary agent who actively represents writers across film and television!

15 Spots Available! 3 Spots Remain!

 With payment plans offered at checkout or by emailing edu@stage32.com

Writing a feature film treatment isn’t just a step in the process. It’s one of the most powerful tools you have as a screenwriter. When your treatment works, everything changes. Your story becomes clearer, your characters land with more impact, and you have something you can confidently share with agents, managers, and producers.

But this is also where many writers get stuck. You might find yourself overthinking the plot and losing the emotional core, getting buried in details without a clear structure, or questioning whether what you’ve written truly feels like a movie. It can be frustrating, especially when you know the idea itself is strong.

This lab is designed to move you through that. In this interactive Stage 32 experience, you will be guided step by step to shape your idea into a compelling, professional treatment. One that not only tells your story clearly, but proves it can sustain a full-length feature. You will learn how to balance structure with character, emotion with pacing, and creativity with what the market is actually looking for.

You will be working directly with Davina Hefflin, a literary agent most recently at Verve Talent and Literary Agency, whose clients have worked across Netflix, Amazon MGM, Apple TV+, Max, Hulu, Paramount+, and NBC, with credits including The Chi, Doom Patrol, and Selma. She understands what makes industry professionals lean in and what turns a treatment into something that gets real attention.

By the end of the lab, you will have a fully polished feature film treatment, along with a clear, repeatable process you can use on every project moving forward. You will walk away with stronger storytelling instincts, a sharper sense of structure, and the confidence to present your work with clarity and authority.

Before you ever type “FADE IN,” this is the step that proves your story is ready. Once you have that, you are no longer guessing. You are moving forward.

This interactive Stage 32 lab is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

Praise for Davina's Education:

Davina did an amazing job! No matter how random the question, she was able to give a clear, helpful, and thoughtful answer that managed to be both realistic and encouraging. She is extremely knowledgeable about the business, and had clearly put in the work to prepare for these classes, which were well-structured and interactive. She gave actionable and timely feedback on our assignments, which will serve as key tools for us going forward. Plus, Davina is engaging on a personal level, so it was a fun experience.

-David D.

Session #1 – Foundations of a Strong Feature Story

• Course overview and expectations
• Understanding feature film story structure (three acts, beats, emotional arcs)
• Identifying your protagonist, antagonist, central conflict, and theme
• Expanding logline into a beat sheet: major plot points (inciting incident, act breaks, midpoint, climax)

Assignment: Write a logline for your film and a 1–2 page beat sheet covering the beginning, middle, and end.

Session #2 – From Logline to Outline

• Building on your logline: the difference between concept and story
• Developing character arcs in parallel with structure
• The importance of stakes, obstacles, and conflict escalation
• Balancing story beats with emotional rhythm

Assignment: Turn your beat sheet into a detailed outline (3–5 pages), including key turning points and character beats.

Session #3 – Writing the Treatment (Act I & Act II, Part 1)

• What makes a professional treatment (purpose, length, format, examples)
• Treatment style: prose vs. script tone (what execs expect)
• How much detail to include: balancing summary with vivid storytelling
• Writing Act I: establishing the world, tone, and central conflict
• Writing the first half of Act II: rising tension, midpoint setup
• Common pitfalls: overexplaining, being too vague, or writing a 'mini-script'

Assignment: Draft the first half of your treatment (5–6 pages), covering Act I through the midpoint.

Session #4 – Writing the Treatment (Act II, Part 2 & Act III)

• Continuing the treatment: escalating tension, darkest moment, climax, resolution
• How to weave in supporting characters and subplots without overwhelming the story
• Ensuring emotional payoffs match the setup
• How to 'sell' your ending while still leaving room for discovery in the script draft
• Peer review and workshop session on Act II–III treatment pages

Assignment: Draft the second half of your treatment (5–6 pages), bringing the total to a complete 10–12 page treatment.

Session #5 – NO CLASS: 1-1 Consultations

Each writer will meet one-on-one with Davina to discuss their full treatment and hear specific feedback.

Assignment: Make any final changes to the treatment draft based on Davina’s one-on-one consultation notes.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab 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 all level writers, directors, producers and actors who want to write a feature film treatment.

• 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 5 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 four sessions 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 at checkout or you can email edu@stage32.com for more details.

• Screenwriters with a feature film idea who want to clarify their story before writing the script

• Creatives who want to learn how to write a professional treatment agents and producers expect to read

• Writers preparing to pitch their project to reps, producers, or financiers

• Writers who want personalized feedback and accountability in a small, workshop-style setting

Praise for Davina's Education:

Davina did an amazing job! No matter how random the question, she was able to give a clear, helpful, and thoughtful answer that managed to be both realistic and encouraging. She is extremely knowledgeable about the business, and had clearly put in the work to prepare for these classes, which were well-structured and interactive. She gave actionable and timely feedback on our assignments, which will serve as key tools for us going forward. Plus, Davina is engaging on a personal level, so it was a fun experience.

-David D.