Work one-on-one with a development producer who has set up shows at Netflix, Amazon/MGM and Disney+

What does every network and streamer ultimately want? Fresh, unique, authentic voices with never-been-told stories. While the door will be open to new writers, the competition is fierce. Of course, you need a very strong finished script, but before that will be read, you need to be able to communicate what makes your show stand out from the crowd, what will make people want to watch it, and why you are passionate about writing it. You need a blueprint of what the series will be beyond one episode.

That's where a pitch deck comes in.

Whether you are selling your show verbally, sending the pitch to a potential producer, or applying for a fellowship, a pitch deck carries the weight of your imagined world with all its inhabitants and stories.

That's a tall order! So, where do you begin?

In this exclusive Stage 32 interactive 8-part lab, you'll delve deep into writing an effective pitch deck for your scripted television idea - one that will clearly communicate your intentions, excite the reader, and convey your voice and your passion.

Guiding you through your pitch deck creation is world-class development producer Ewan Dunbar from Red Stag Entertainment. Ewan has developed scripts and pitch decks with writers and creators that have gone on to secure development deals and meetings at various broadcast partners, distributors, and streamers, including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon. Over 8 interactive sessions, you will be working directly with Ewan in a virtual class setting and in one-on-one online sessions to put together a great TV pitch deck to help you communicate your show and get execs and buyers interested. You will work with Ewan to create your pitch deck that demonstrates to executives what about your show, its characters, and the world will stand out from the crowd and keep audiences entertained, as well as ways in which writing your deck will help to improve your pilot episode and project overall.

Whether you have a comedy or drama series, 30 minutes or 60 minutes, Ewan is here to help. Ewan will walk you through communicating your show's world, creating your characters, and how best to convey your story within the bounds of a TV pitch deck. After two months of intense work on your pitch deck, you’ll have the vital pitch materials you need to take your project to the next level and the skills to market any new project you put your passion behind with a pitch deck.

Throughout the course of this exclusive online lab, you will have direct access to Ewan as a mentor by email and via Zoom as you develop your pitch deck.

You will walk away from this lab with a completed pitch deck for your series that has been vetted by an industry expert!

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 Ewan and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to her. You will have access to him for the duration of your class by email to ask him 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 Ewan's Work and Teaching

“ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Ewan delivered more in 20 minutes than other presenters do in an hour, and it NEVER felt rushed and he was always easily understandable. I cannot wait to get the handouts!” --Bob S.

“Ewan’s presentation was excellent! I learned so much from him and now feel 100% confident in creating a pitch deck. He is truly an expert.” --Margaret M.

"Very good, very knowledgeable and very organized. Great presentation and webinar. I walked away with lots of ideas about polishing my pitch decks to make sure they stand out." --James B.

"I've taken many years of webinars, gone to many conferences, and taken many courses on feature script writing. I've won a Grand Prize in a major festival for a screenplay. And I'm old enough to be an honest critic. Ewan Dunbar's webinar was one of the best I have ever taken! Organized, filled with useful information, he sounded like he really cared about helping the audience be better at what they want to do, and wasn't making an obvious pitch for himself as a consultant --although I'd call on him anytime." --Roberta P.

WEEK 1 – Introduction & Pitch Deck Fundamentals 

This session will introduce you to the course and pitch deck fundamentals. 

• What is a pitch deck, and what is its purpose?
• Knowing who your reader is and why that's important
• Learn about how a reader at a company uses your pitch deck
• What they are looking for from it?
• How to get them on your side
• Overview of a pitch deck structure
• What to include - and what not to include - in your deck
• Q&A with Ewan

Assignment – Review the Pitch Deck Structure and see how it applies to your work so far.

WEEK 2 – Nailing Your Deck’s First Impression

This week we will be looking at the first crucial pages of the deck that will form the reader’s first impressions of your show. 

• The layout of the information
• Crafting and re-crafting your logline
• About your show (why should the reader care and invest in your show)
• What makes your show stand out?
• Making your show similar but different to what readers have already seen
• Building and conveying the world of your show
• Nailing your tone and themes
• Q&A with Ewan

Assignment – Craft your logline and start outlining the sections discussed during the session.

WEEK 3 – Who? How to Make Your Characters Stand Out

Now the reader understands the premise and wants to find out more, this week we will be discussing how to showcase what will make your characters stand out to a reader and how to condense this into your deck.

• Making the most of the space allowed in the deck
• Finding what will make your characters stand out
  • Visually
  • Contextually 
• What will keep audiences coming back for more and how to show that on the page
• Discuss unique story elements and how to convey this in your deck
• Q&A with Ewan

Assignment – Now you’ve started working on your deck, see how you can “re-frame the question” from “what” your show is about to “who” and apply this to your work so far.

WEEK 4 – Story Overview

This week we will discuss how to tell your season’s story. This section can either make or break your pitch, so we will go over how to most effectively tell your story to the reader.

• How to build on what you have done so far to take the reader on a journey and show them what makes your show compelling
• How to use your characters and themes to entertain the reader and keep them hooked
• 4 different structures to use and consider
  • Which is right for your story? 
• How writing your pitch deck will improve your project
• Q&A with Ewan

Assignment – Map out your narrative/character arcs using the frameworks discussed during the session

WEEK 5 – How To Make Your Deck Entertaining 

Now that the big questions about your show have been asked, we will discuss how these can be refined so that your deck isn’t just informative, but also entertaining to read.

• Finding your creative voice and how to make your deck an extension of your creative voice
• Visuals - how to make your deck pop
• Writing in the tone of your story
• How to make your deck flow well
• Q&A with Ewan 

Assignment – Prepare a first draft of the text of your Pitch Deck to discuss for your first one-on-one session

WEEK 6 – One-on-One Consultations with Ewan – No Group Class

Now you have the key pillars for telling your story in the deck, we will go over your deck’s copy and discuss your work so far.

WEEK 7 – Presentation Tips and Tricks

You don’t have to be a photoshop wizard to make your deck look great! This week we’ll discuss some simple ways you can use your layout and visuals to enhance your pitching materials. We’ll cover:

• Good tricks you can use to visually enhance your deck
• What to avoid
• Writing additional material (about yourself, writers, producers, and other key crew members)
• Looking forward - how to effectively tease where your show can go after season one
• Q&A with Ewan

Assignment - Prepare a draft of your Pitch Deck using the formatting tools covered in this week’s session and notes covered in your first one-on-one session, to discuss for your second one-on-one session

WEEK 8 – One-on-One Consultations with Ewan – No Group Class

In our final session, Ewan will review your final pitch deck with you and go over any further work you should do on it and next steps in how to present your deck to the right people.

What To Expect

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 15 writers and will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an executive and 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 lab is designed for beginner, intermediate, or advanced writers interested in create a pitch deck for their comedy or drama television series.
• **Ewan will be available on email during the 8 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft or career.**
• By the end of this 8-week lab, you will have a completed television series pitch deck that has been vetted by an industry executive.
• This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with one-on-one time with the instructor and significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.
• Plus, to stay motivated and inspired, you will have access to a private, dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the lab.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to create a pitch deck for their comedy or drama television series.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of creating an engaging pitch deck for their television series.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn what producers and executives are looking for when they read a television series pitch deck. 

Producers looking to create a pitch deck for their television series.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by creating a pitch deck to sell their television series.

“Ewan’s presentation was excellent! I learned so much from him and now feel 100% confident in creating a pitch deck. He is truly an expert.” --Margaret M.

"Very good, very knowledgeable and very organized. Great presentation and webinar. I walked away with lots of ideas about polishing my pitch decks to make sure they stand out." --James B.

"I've taken many years of webinars, gone to many conferences, and taken many courses on feature script writing. I've won a Grand Prize in a major festival for a screenplay. And I'm old enough to be an honest critic. Ewan Dunbar's webinar was one of the best I have ever taken! Organized, filled with useful information, he sounded like he really cared about helping the audience be better at what they want to do, and wasn't making an obvious pitch for himself as a consultant --although I'd call on him anytime." --Roberta P.