Publishing

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Screenwriting

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

Filmmaking

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Professional Screenplay Formatting and Structure

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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.

Signing Smart! What Authors Should Know About Contracts

Recorded

October 15, 2025

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Filmmaking, Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Business

From publishing deals to agent agreements, film/TV deals, merchandise licenses, and even cover art commissions—contracts can shape your author career.

In this webinar, we’ll break down what rights and obligations you’re taking on, how to spot risks, what key terms really mean, and how to protect yourself when the other side doesn’t deliver.

Together we’ll demystify tricky topics like representation and warranties, indemnification, reserved rights, reversion, naked licensing and implied licenses.

Whether you’re signing your first deal or renegotiating, this session will help you approach contracts with clarity and confidence.

What Attendees Have Said ...

"Lauren Emerson is extremely knowledgeable, and she brought to light contract and IP considerations that I didn’t even realize I might have to think about! She presented information in a way that was very approachable (even to someone like me, who has no background in law) … and she packed A LOT of information into a 90-minute webinar. I’m so happy I had the chance to be part of this Symposium course."

"Amazing!"

"Super insightful in what to look for when looking over a contract!"

Host

Lauren Emerson
Lauren Emerson is a lover of stories and the people who tell them. As co-chair of the Trademark and Copyright Practice Group at Leason Ellis, Lauren weaves her passion for intellectual property with her deep appreciation for the written word. A lifelong reader with a degree in Japanese Language and Literature from Dartmouth College, she […]

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Upcoming Events

Professional Screenplay Formatting and Structure

August 26, 2026
Timothy Cooper walks you through everything he wishes he’d known when he started: the principles behind why formatting matters, his tried-and-true steps to building your story from logline to outline to script, and exactly what differentiates professional pages from amateur ones.

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September 2, 2026
Substack has evolved from a simple newsletter platform into one of the most powerful tools available to writers. It can help you connect with readers, expand your network, promote your work, test ideas, generate new revenue streams, and build a sustainable creative career—all while maintaining direct ownership of your audience.

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September 16, 2026
You write for a few days or even weeks but can’t keep it consistent. You’ve written in the past, fell off the writing-train, and can’t figure out why it’s so darn hard to get back on track. In this symposium, Script Pipeline winning filmmaker and meditation teacher, Erin Cantelo, will guide you through a variety of habit-forming tools to find your own personal ritual to get writing consistently.

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Symposium Community Writing Sprint Night

August 5, 2026
Join us for two hours of writing on Zoom (free), with breaks to discuss our progress and struggles. We'll be using the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of writing, with a 5-minute break). You can choose to have your camera on or off. No judgment! Just a community of writers to support each other. You don't need to participate for a full two hours. Pop in and out, as needed.

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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