Most filmmakers are told to “stay open”: to write anything, direct anything, be everything. But in today’s industry, that approach often leads to a pile of scripts with nowhere to go.
In this Pipeline Symposium, writer/director Zach Bandler challenges the myth of the generalist filmmaker and makes the case for something far more effective: finding your niche. Drawing from his own shift into storytelling at the intersection of healthcare, empathy, and neuroscience, Zach will share how this evolution led to partnerships with medical institutions, an artist residency, and new pathways for funding and distribution outside traditional industry channels.
Zach will offer a practical framework for identifying the thematic lane you’re uniquely positioned to explore, and connecting that work to communities, institutions, and ecosystems that are actively seeking those stories.
Attendees will learn how to move beyond chasing traditional industry pathways and instead build a personal storytelling identity that attracts collaborators, funding, and audiences. Because the goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to do something that only you can do, and build a career around it.
The Foundation: Crafting Brilliant Loglines & Outlines
Loglines and outlines are the foundation of every screenplay—yet they can feel tougher to write than the script itself! Sure, they may be summaries of a more complex story, but they’re often what stand between your idea and the executives, producers, and decision makers that could jumpstart your career.
In "The Foundation: Crafting Brilliant Loglines & Outlines,” Timothy Michael Cooper dives into the vital craft of creating a logline and outline that give your screenplay a powerful foundation. He’ll help you create loglines that capture the full potential of your concept, followed by an outline that sets your script up for success by maximizing your story’s character arcs, unique attractors, and emotional impact.
You’ll learn:
- Why loglines matter, and who actually reads them
- How pitching to reps, executives, and stars in Hollywood nearly always starts with the logline
- Conveying an idea that feels “big enough” for a feature or TV series
- Identifying and exploiting your unique hook
- Developing solid external AND parallel internal conflicts
- Brainstorming exercises that amplify your concept’s impact
- Why all storytelling follows one single template (and why that’s a good thing!)
- Timothy’s comprehensive method to expand your idea from a logline to outline, synopsis, treatment, and ultimately script form
After taking this class, you’ll have all the templates you need to write a logline and outline that capture the full potential of your idea, get executives excited about your hook, and convey your genuine passion and voice.
It begins with a knock at the door.
A body discovered.
A startling crime.
But how do you keep readers turning pages long after that inciting incident? How do you build tension that tightens chapter by chapter, plant red herrings without losing track of them, and deliver twists that surprise and satisfy?
In this session, thriller-award-winning author Lauren Nossett will break down the architecture of a gripping story. She’ll discuss how to raise the stakes, design layered characters, and craft suspense.
You’ll learn how to:
- Craft a compelling inciting incident and a can’t-look-away opening scene
- Create imperfect heroes and complex villains
- Layer in escalating obstacles and conflicting motivations
- Build suspense using pacing and the ticking clock
- Write plot twists, turning points, and cliffhangers
- Deliver a satisfying ending while resolving red herrings
You’ll leave with practical tools you can immediately apply to your manuscript and a clearer roadmap for keeping readers up all night.
Beyond the Happy Ending: The Psychology of the Rom Com
You already know they’ll kiss in the rain. You know she’ll overcome that self doubt with a moment of empowerment (and maybe a new outfit). You know he'll realize he was wrong all along. And you'll feel it every single time.
This course digs into the psychology behind why romantic comedies work so well on us—the attachment science behind the slow burn, the dopamine hit of the first kiss, and what our favorite on-screen relationships say about what we actually want in real life. This journey through the tropes and the psychology of the genre will aid the way you write and cause you to think twice about the lessons we have taken away about love.
The Said and the Unsaid: Writing Your Characters Through Dialogue
Great dialogue works on two levels: what’s said on the surface and what’s happening underneath.
A smile that doesn’t reach the eyes. A pause that stretches too long. A joke that hides a wound. Dialogue isn’t just conversation, it’s character, conflict, and subtext on the page.
In this session, we’ll explore how great dialogue reveals motive, deepens relationships, and drives plot. You’ll study memorable exchanges, analyze what makes iconic lines unforgettable, and learn how to translate body language and subtext into compelling prose.
Perfect for writers who want sharper, more dynamic dialogue, this session will give attendees practical tools to strengthen both verbal and nonverbal communication in their work.
You’ll learn how to:
- Write dialogue that sounds natural
- Use dialogue tags effectively (and avoid common mistakes)
- Reveal character through subtext and contradiction
- Craft dialogue that creates tension and moves the plot forward
- Layer action and body language into conversation
- Put wisdom into the mouths of your characters
- Shape your characters’ distinct voices
You’ll leave with stronger dialogue instincts and techniques you can apply to your current and future projects.
The Anatomy of Representation: Everything You Need to Know
For most writers, getting repped represents a critical career step aimed at building that all important bridge into the industry that will lead to becoming a bonafide working industry professional.
To pursue representation effectively and get your work the exposure and advocacy it deserves, it’s important to understand the industry landscape, what reps are looking for, and how to get their attention in order to land meaningful representation that will help push your career to the next level.
In this symposium, we will explore the representation landscape, determine what type of representation is right for you, and identify the requirements and all-important next steps you should take to build a lasting career-spanning relationship with the right rep that will help make the difference in your career.
REGISTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:
One lucky attendee will be chosen at this live event to win an original Sinners caricature by artist Jeff York. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the session.
Note: To be eligible you must attend the live event on June 3rd.
Proven Framework for Successful Collaboration
Writing can be lonely. You brainstorm alone, draft alone, revise alone. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a beta reader or editor at the end. But what if you could build the story with someone from the beginning?
We know what you’re asking:
Will I lose creative control?
What if our styles clash?
What if one of us writes faster?
How do we even start?
In this candid, craft-focused session, authors Lauren Nossett and Rea Frey share what they have learned from co-writing together, from early brainstorming sessions to managing deadlines and dividing responsibilities.
Attendees will walk away with a practical, step-by-step framework for successful collaboration.
You will learn how to:
- Find the right creative partner and build a strong author community
- Brainstorm collaboratively without sacrificing your voice
- Establish a writing schedule and clear expectations
- Divide tasks strategically based on individual strengths
- Navigate creative disagreements productively
- Give and receive constructive feedback in service of the storyUse collaboration to expand reach and strengthen promotion
By the end of the session, you will have the tools and confidence to decide whether co-writing is right for you and, if so, how to do it successfully.
Resources:
Slideshow Presentation
Rea’s Website
Rea on IG: @reafreyauthor
Rea’s Book Coaching
Lauren’s Website
Lauren on IG: @laurennossett
Lauren on Substack
Lauren’s Developmental Editing Services
Nashville Authors
Rea’s Symposium Host Page
Lauren’s Symposium Host Page
Relevant On-Demand Symposiums:
“How to Approach Editing Without Losing Your Sh*t” by Rea Frey
"The Book Skeleton Workshop: How to Structure Your Story Before Writing a Single Word" by Rea Frey
Better Your Chances of Getting an Agent, Manager or Mentor
We all know the struggle. It feels harder than ever before to find an agent, or even a mentor to help with a little advice or guidance. On top of that, we send out a million polite emails hoping for a nibble. Ghosting's getting worse. And 9 out of 10 of our emails aren't even read or responded to.
It's frustrating and exhausting. But something can be done about it. You just need the right insight and tools to find someone who is a great fit for you.
This session will give you that insight and those tools. It'll be equal parts irreverent, fun, and really useful. Packed with practical things you can do to differentiate yourself from the masses, and make yourself more of an undeniable catch.
We'll be covering things like:
- Biggest mistakes people make during the quest - the biggest problem with their early decisions about reaching out, why not doing a little secret research on them works against you, the things writers and artists do that makes them an instant "no"
- Why the expectations between agents/managers/mentors and us have changed - how the industry works now versus a few years ago, why the opportunity squeeze is not all it seems and how you can get around it, what their day-to-day lives are like now, and the things they think make an attractive client/mentee
- Figuring out exactly what you need to do - Understanding where you are in your career, what you have to offer, your past attempts to get an agent/mentor, and your challenges.
- The biggest question - What's in it for them? - How to flip the "I need you to help me get what I want" to "I am here to help you meet your goals and here's why." How to learn what motivates an agent/mentor and give yourself a huge advantage.
- How to write that first email that will get their attention and get an actual flippin' response - Learning how to structure an email from the subject line to the sign-off so that your email will get read and responded to. And how to follow-up once that happens.
You'll leave the session with the tools you need and stronger confidence in finding an agent or mentor. You'll also leave with multi-level insight that most people don't have.
What attendees have said ...
Amanda’s session was really informative, actionable and funny, too. There was plenty of practical advice I can put into practice straight away.
I'm a playwright, trying to go to the next level and this symposium gave me some steps toward getting an agent.
Ms. Graham did a fantastic job and offered a LOT of very helpful insights.
Directing Actors: Practical Tools for Writers and Emerging Directors
Improve your writing with deeper insights into the filmmaking process.
Directing actors is often viewed as something that happens only after a script is finished and production begins—but understanding the actor process can dramatically improve storytelling long before cameras roll.
In this educational session, writer and director Anthony DiBlasi breaks down the fundamentals of working with actors in a way that is accessible to writers, emerging directors, and storytellers at any stage of their career.
The session focuses on practical tools that help translate intention on the page into authentic, playable performance. Using real-world examples from rehearsals and set experience, this session explores how directors communicate with actors, how actors interpret scripts, why certain types of direction unlock stronger performances, and how writers can shape scenes that invite behavior rather than simply describe emotion.
By the end of this presentation, attendees will gain actionable techniques for writing and directing, and leave with a stronger understanding of how story is translated from the page into human behavior.
The session will cover:
- The director’s primary responsibility: shaping story through performance.
- How actors interpret scripts and translate text into behavior.
- Why emotion-based or “result” direction often fails—and what to use instead.
- Rehearsal, blocking, and finding playable beats within a scene.
- Letting go of rigid ideas and allowing actors to become collaborators.
- How writing with performance in mind leads to stronger, more producible scripts.
- Q&A with practical, real-world advice.
What attendees have said ...
"I liked the concrete examples he gave from his own experience. I also enjoyed him going though his scripts line by line and sharing the prompts he'd shared with the actors to get them to approach their performance in a certain way."
Surveillance: What is It, How to Write It
This symposium explores the reality of physical and technical surveillance so authors can write more compelling mysteries and thrillers. Additionally, as an indirect benefit, attendees will also learn how they can better protect themselves against cyber criminals and identity theft, and ensure safety and security for all the tech in our daily lives.
Adam Sikes is a former paramilitary officer with the CIA and an expert in physical and technical surveillance, and he will examine the following topics:
- What is surveillance and what is the point
- The different kinds of surveillance
- Surveillance methods and techniques
- What makes us vulnerable
- How to protect against surveillance
- Q&A
At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how to follow someone, detect if someone is following them, monitor phone and social media activity, the vulnerabilities of location sharing and GPS, password and identity security, commercially available technical and surveillance tools, and a host of skills and methods. These insights will make your writing more compelling and authentic to readers, helping hold them to the page.
What attendees have said ...
"Truly could have talked about all of this for hours."
"Adam's presentation was amazing! It's invaluable to get insights from an actual former spy!"
"Far exceeded my expectations, not only for authenticity in my writing, but also for protecting myself from cybercrime."
