Private, interactive lab on Zoom with Emmy-Winning TV Development Executive Colleen Labella

Get personalized one-on-one Zoom consultations plus expert feedback on your pilot script

Only 10 spots available

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

We are living in a genuine revolution in female-centric storytelling. Television has moved far beyond the "I can do anything a man can do" narrative and is now diving deep into the complexities, nuances, and raw realities specific to the female experience. From the "messy woman" era that dominated the last decade to today's exploration of healing, power, corruption, and psychopathy through a female lens — shows like Beef, The Dropout, Fleabag, and Inventing Anna are proof that audiences are hungry for these stories. If you've been sitting on a female-driven TV pilot idea, there has never been a better moment to write it.

That said, knowing the landscape is one thing — actually writing the pilot is another. Many writers struggle with the same core challenges: How do you move past a logline and build a world? How do you structure a beat sheet that actually holds together? How do you infuse your script with your unique voice rather than writing something that feels generic? Throughout this eight-week lab, you'll tackle all of it — from crafting your one-pager and building your beat sheet, to developing your opening image, workshopping your dialogue, and even navigating the business side of the industry with lookbooks and pitch decks.

Your guide through this entire process is Colleen Labella, Vice President of Development and Production for Leslye Headland's company, Shoot to Midnight — the production company behind the Emmy Award-winning Russian Doll for Netflix. Colleen has spent her career reading hundreds of scripts, selling projects to major players including FX, Hulu, Freeform, and Lucasfilm, and producing the Freeform series Single Drunk Female. Most recently, she served as development executive on Star Wars: The Acolyte for Disney+, with Leslye Headland as Showrunner. She knows exactly what executives are looking for — because she is one.

Over eight weeks, you'll move from initial idea to completed first draft, with built-in one-on-one consultations with Colleen along the way. You'll develop your logline, write your one-pager, build your beat sheet, and draft your pilot act by act — all while studying some of the most celebrated female-driven pilots of the last decade. By the time you're done, you'll walk away with a polished, submission-ready TV pilot that showcases your unique voice and tells the female-centric story only you can tell.

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!

Plus, you will receive exclusive handouts of successful female-driven scripts including:

• Russian Dolls
• Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W.

"Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" - Maeve T. 

"Colleen was a fantastic instructor. The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." - David B.

Week One: Introductions, This Moment in Female Centric Storytelling & Getting Started 

Preparation:

• Bring in 2-3 basic ideas/loglines 
• Watch the pilot of Beef 

In Class 

• Introductions 
• Review syllabus and discuss goals 
• Group discussion of The Female Centric Pilot 
• Loglines 
• Writing exercise 
• The one pager

Assignment 

• Write a one pager for your show 
• Watch the Russian Doll pilot and be prepared to discuss in detail 
  
  

Week Two: Pilot Structure and the Beat Sheet 

In Class 

• Review the building blocks of a pilot: length, A/B/C stories, act breakdowns of comedy and drama pilots 
• Work one pagers with partners 
• Writing exercise 
• Beat sheets 
• Group exercise: Make a beat sheet for the pilot of Russian Doll 

Assignment 

• Make a beat sheet for your pilot 
• Watch the pilot of The Dropout 
  
  

Week Three: One-On-One Consultations 

(No online class) 

Individual consultations to review and work your pilot beat sheets 

Assignment 

• Write a detailed outline (6-12 pages) 
• Make a tone board 
• Be prepared to talk about ideas for your opening image 
• Watch the pilot of Yellowjackets 
  
  

Week Four: Going Deeper & the Visual World of Your Pilot 

In Class 

• Continue what makes a good pilot: world building, characters, theme Discuss the “Opening Image” 
• Group exercise: Review individual opening images 
• The teaser/cold open (watch examples and discuss) 

Assignment 

• Write act 1 of your comedy pilot or acts 1 and 2 of your drama pilot 
• Watch the pilot of I May Destroy You 
  
  

Week Five: One-On-One Consultations 

(No online class)

Individual consultations to review act 1 of comedy/acts 1 and 2 of drama 

Assignment 

• Make adjustments based on consultation 
• Continue writing 
• Watch the pilot of Fleabag 
• Choose 2-3 pages to workshop in class next week 
  
  

Week Six: Where To End Your Pilot & “The Business” 

• The tag 
• Infusing your pilot with personality 
• Lookbooks and pitch decks 
• The Business Q & A: Ask me anything! 
• Group exercise: Workshop 2-3 pages of your pilot 

Assignment 

• Finish first draft 
• Watch the pilot of Euphoria 
• Choose 4-5 pages to workshop in class next week 
  
  

Week Seven: Workshopping Your Pilot 

• Writers group style workshop (focusing on dialogue) 

Assignment 

• Rewrites 
• Watch the pilot of Inventing Anna 
  
  

Week Eight: One-On-One Consultations 

(No online class) 

Individual consultations to review completed screenplay

• Screenwriters who have a female-driven TV pilot idea but don't know where to start
• Writers who have started a pilot but are stuck on structure, voice, or story
• Playwrights and theater writers looking to transition into the world of television
• Emerging writers who want to understand what development executives are actually looking for in a script
• Writers who are ready to tell a female-centric story but want guidance on how to make it relevant and distinctive in today's market
• Any writer who wants personalized, one-on-one feedback from an industry insider with real credits at major networks and studios

TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W.

"Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" - Maeve T. 

"Colleen was a fantastic instructor. The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." - David B.