Learning how to write compelling stories and characters is the foundation of every writer’s career, but a successful career is built on a series of business decisions over a long period of time. This session will go over the basics of the business side of the film and television industry, with practical tips to help writers make more informed business decisions at every stage of their careers.

Learn strategies for developing, executing and releasing successful projects when you don’t have access to money or resources. Producer Sharri Hefner will not only guide you through best practices for taking your projects from idea inception through archival processing, but she will also discuss strategies for developing a sustainable creative career.

The skills for writing dialogue in plays can be applied to many other forms of creative writing. So, how can you start honing those skills?

Symposium presents a robust one-on-one dialogue between Pipeline Exec Jeanne Veillette Bowerman and screenwriter and author Kevin Jones, whose debut novel, Black Tide, started as a screenplay. Join us as we explore the challenges and benefits of writing in multiple mediums.

A special Town Hall event in which two top reps peel the curtain back and give you an insider look into the attributes they look for in a potential client. Take out your notepads and get ready for some nuggets of gold. Pipeline Moderators Matt Misetich and Ruth Sabin will be joined by John Zaozirny (Zero Gravity) and Halle Mariner (IAG).

A candid conversation on TV & film animation between two professionals who come from that imaginative world. Pipeline Exec Roni Brown will host a one-on-one discussion with Emmy Award Winner, Joshua Pruett.

Multi-hyphenate director/producer/screenwriter/Chapman professor Kay Tuxford (The MisEducation of Bindu) will walk you through step-by-step how to choose a good first short script to write, produce it, and get it in front of an audience. By the end of this presentation, you'll have a toolbox filled with information on the dos and don’ts of short filmmaking

Just for the emerging TV writers ... a panel peeling back the curtain of a writer's room. What you should expect, how to prepare, and tips on breaking in and staying in. Part Q&A, and, of course, part therapy session.

What exactly is branding? Leah Lewis streamlines this topic so you can get a jump on branding strategies that fit your own creative trajectory. She is an independent content creator, documentary filmmaker, tech startup founder, and non-profit executive, and has a lot to say about developing a brand that can elevate your artistic career.

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman speaks with NY Times best-selling author L. M. Elliott to unpack the layered process involved in creating accurate and riveting historical fiction. This candid discussion dives into the challenges of forging back into history, sometimes where no original documents exist, including how to handle both the accuracy of little period details as well as larger historical facts, and where the appropriate line between fact and fiction lies.