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February 11, 2025

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Christmas for Cable: Writing Cable Network Films

Recorded

November 19, 2024

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Screenwriting

Topic

Craft

Writing for cable networks such as Hallmark, Lifetime, or UpTV is specialty writing. Same with any of the streaming services looking for a “Hallmark” type of Christmas film—and they all are.

They each have their specific brand. For their specific audiences. They have guidelines you have to write to. This class will lay those out and help you navigate the choppy waters that can be writing for one of these networks.

Topics include:

  • The 9-act break requirements
  • Writing within network guidelines creatively
  • How to market yourself after you have a script ready to be seen
  • Q&A

What Attendees Have Said ...

"Bob was fantastic. Helpful, informative and his willingness to not only answer questions, but encourage was wonderful! This definitely will have me going back to make some edits on my screenplay."

"I appreciated the frank and enthusiastic information. I'm now re-energized to begin my next Christmas script, especially since I now know everything I did wrong with my last one. Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your expertise so openly."

"Sometimes you just get lucky and find the right seminar and the right speaker. This was one of those times.  The  personality of the host and the speaker were right on mark. Both of them wanted to lay out insight into the industry that is hard to come by. Loved it. Well worth it. Professional. I actually was left with the feeling I found a seminar that offered advice from exceptional and experienced industry professionals willing to help.   A+++.   Thank you so much."

"This was so informative, I no longer feel in the dark feeling my way. Now, I have a clear vision and am encouraged to get back to creating."

"I loved his honest answers—and the 'business perspective' that he brought—i.e. this is what you need, this is what you can't have, that's not your job, it's for the producers to figure out. Real world perspective about how to write TOWARDS this goal."

Host

Bob Saenz
Bob Saenz is a screenwriter living in Nashville, with 21 credited produced films. Works include the comedy, Extracurricular Activities, Help for the Holidays, Rescuing Madison, A Christmas Star, The Right Girl, Sound of Christmas, Church People, The Christmas Yule Blog and The Farmer and the Belle. He regularly does rewrites and polishes on film and TV projects for Producers […]

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February 11, 2025

A Crash Course in Novel Writing

Your story matters, and "someday" is not the time to write it. If something has been holding you back from writing your novel—whether it be lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of knowing how to write it, or just plain fear—then Grant Faulkner, former Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, can help you get your creative juices flowing and take the first steps to planning your novel.
February 19, 2025

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Symposium, presented by Pipeline Artists, is a year-round virtual conference empowering creatives with honest, no-nonsense guidance across the arts. Through seminars, industry panels, and Town Hall discussions on screenwriting, filmmaking, publishing, and career-building, Symposium offers grounded advice from working professionals to help you forge your own unique path.

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