Publishing

Tune into live conversations with authors, editors, and literary agents sharing their journeys and expertise in the world of publishing.

Screenwriting

Watch live panels featuring screenwriters as they break down their techniques for crafting compelling scripts and navigating the entertainment industry.

Filmmaking

Discover live streaming events where directors, producers, and cinematographers discuss the creative and technical processes behind their films.

Logline Workshop

August 6, 2025
You may have been banging your head against the wall trying to construct a great logline, but you’re frustrated you can’t quite hit the mark. Merridith with teach the components execs want to see in a logline, and provide tons of insights. You’ll leave with the tools you need to whip them into shape.

Book Pipeline

Book Pipeline connects writers to publishers, agents, and the film industry through competitions and workshops, providing hands-on support to bridge the gap between emerging authors and the industry since 2014.

Script Pipeline

Script Pipeline connects writers with producers, agents, and managers, facilitating over $8 million in sales through competitions and ongoing industry support, helping launch major films and secure high-profile representation since 1999.

Film Pipeline

Film Pipeline connects filmmakers and writers with agencies and executives, focusing on diverse storytelling and playing an active role in developing and promoting projects, reviewing thousands of submissions annually since its launch in 2018.

Crowdfunding the Dream: How to Run a Successful Campaign

Recorded

February 7, 2023

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Filmmaking, Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Business

Crowdfunding provides a unique opportunity to bring your film to life. But the market is saturated, and it requires careful planning to connect with your audience. On Kickstarter alone, there have been over 80,000 film projects. The success rate of these projects is under 40%. So—how do you execute a successful campaign?  

Shawn Hainsworth has run three successful campaigns in the past year, and through these experiences has learned what to expect, what works, and what doesn’t. Shawn will walk you through the process, providing real-world advice to help manage a successful campaign. The primary focus will be on project-based campaigns, Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but he will also touch on creator-based campaigns such as Patreon. 

The presentation will cover:

  • Setting realistic expectations
  • Creating a good story
  • Creating and fulfilling rewards
  • Building an audience for your work
  • Managing the full lifecycle of a campaign

By the end of this presentation, you should feel confident knowing if a crowdfunding campaign is right for your project, and if so, how to run one successfully from start to finish.

Host

Shawn Hainsworth
Between 1992 and 2004, Shawn Hainsworth made five feature-length documentaries, as well numerous shorts and experimental films, which screened at film festivals around the world. He makes a living as a computer programmer working most recently in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, he has a passion for storytelling and wrote numerous […]

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Upcoming Events

Logline Workshop

August 6, 2025
You may have been banging your head against the wall trying to construct a great logline, but you’re frustrated you can’t quite hit the mark. Merridith with teach the components execs want to see in a logline, and provide tons of insights. You’ll leave with the tools you need to whip them into shape.

Book Marketing for People Who Hate Social Media

August 13, 2025
Bestselling author and book coach Rea Frey reveals a sustainable, soul-aligned approach to book marketing—without relying on social media at all. Whether you’re a debut author or a burned-out veteran, this workshop gives you a new way to grow your audience and launch your book on your terms.

Raising Emotional Impact by Maximizing Characters and Plot

August 20, 2025
Editor Karen Krumpak will discuss the ways plot affects character and vice versa, making the most of your opening scenes to set up later growth, and enhancing your story by adding a character arc at any stage of the writing process.

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Beyond the Query: The First 50 Pages

July 23, 2025
Chantelle Aimée Osman, senior editor at Simon & Schuster's newest imprint, Simon Maverick, will examine what agents and editors hope to see in the first 50 pages of your manuscript. Join us for an insider's advice for improving your odds of success.

From Draft to Deal: What REALLY Happens After You Finish Your Book

July 15, 2025
Finishing your book is huge—but what comes next is what separates a finished manuscript from a published one. In this real-talk symposium, bestselling author and book coach Rea Frey takes you behind the curtain of what actually happens after you finish your draft—and why the real work (and magic) starts after the final page.

Creative Strategies for the Changing Screenwriting Landscape

July 9, 2025
To adjust to ongoing changes in industry dynamics, our symposium with Screenwriting Coach Lee Jessup will seek to help you define your most effective next steps in order to work smart and move your screenwriting career forward.

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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