Stage 32 8-Part Screenwriting Lab: Learn How to Write a Female Driven TV Pilot (May 2026)

Private, interactive lab on Zoom with Emmy-Winning TV Development Executive Colleen Labella

Get personalized one-on-one Zoom consultations plus expert feedback on your pilot script

10 spots available - ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAIN!

Payment plans available at checkout or email edu@stage32.com for more info!

We are living in a genuine revolution in female-centric storytelling. Television has moved far beyond the "I can do anything a man can do" narrative and is now diving deep into the complexities, nuances, and raw realities specific to the female experience. From the "messy woman" era that dominated the last decade to today's exploration of healing, power, corruption, and psychopathy through a female lens — shows like Beef, The Dropout, Fleabag, and Inventing Anna are proof that audiences are hungry for these stories. If you've been sitting on a female-driven TV pilot idea, there has never been a better moment to write it.

That said, knowing the landscape is one thing — actually writing the pilot is another. Many writers struggle with the same core challenges: How do you move past a logline and build a world? How do you structure a beat sheet that actually holds together? How do you infuse your script with your unique voice rather than writing something that feels generic? Throughout this eight-week lab, you'll tackle all of it — from crafting your one-pager and building your beat sheet, to developing your opening image, workshopping your dialogue, and even navigating the business side of the industry with lookbooks and pitch decks.

Your guide through this entire process is Colleen Labella, Vice President of Development and Production for Leslye Headland's company, Shoot to Midnight — the production company behind the Emmy Award-winning Russian Doll for Netflix. Colleen has spent her career reading hundreds of scripts, selling projects to major players including FX, Hulu, Freeform, and Lucasfilm, and producing the Freeform series Single Drunk Female. Most recently, she served as development executive on Star Wars: The Acolyte for Disney+, with Leslye Headland as Showrunner. She knows exactly what executives are looking for — because she is one.

Over eight weeks, you'll move from initial idea to completed first draft, with built-in one-on-one consultations with Colleen along the way. You'll develop your logline, write your one-pager, build your beat sheet, and draft your pilot act by act — all while studying some of the most celebrated female-driven pilots of the last decade. By the time you're done, you'll walk away with a polished, submission-ready TV pilot that showcases your unique voice and tells the female-centric story only you can tell.

This interactive Stage 32 lab is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

Plus, you will receive exclusive handouts of successful female-driven scripts including:

• Russian Dolls
• Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

TESTIMONIALS FROM COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:

"Being made aware of the shift in patterns of how women are being presented, learning about the popular themes and knowing I fit in, learning about the negative traps, seeing the five-act structure broken down gave me a clearer perspective to assess my development, learning what hooks her and different ways it can be done and what it includes (great)." -- Laurie W.

"Colleen Labella was fantastic! I cannot wait until she has pitch sessions available again!" - Maeve T. 

"Colleen was a fantastic instructor. The information she provided was practical, helpful, and encouraging." - David B.