Stage 32 8-Part Screenwriting Lab: Write a Historical Fiction TV Pilot Script in 8 Weeks (August 2026)

Private, interactive lab on Zoom with Top Development Executive Anna Henry, who's set up projects at AMC, HBO, Starz, and Amazon Prime

8 live sessions. 3 private one-on-one consultations. One completed pilot or outline you can continue developing!

Only 10 spots available - ONLY 1 SPOT REMAINS!

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

If you've been waiting for the right time to write your historical television pilot, that time is now! Historical storytelling is having a major moment. DEATH BY LIGHTNING launched as Netflix's #1 show globally and landed among the platform's top 10 most-binged titles in the U.S., while THE GILDED AGE continues to be one of HBO's flagship series, drawing 5 million U.S. viewers for its season three finale. Audiences are hungry for bold, character-driven period dramas that make the past feel as gripping as today's biggest thrillers, creating more opportunity than ever for you to bring your historical story to market. Instead of wondering whether your idea could work, you'll learn how to turn it into a compelling television pilot buyers want to read.

You could be the next Stage 32 writer developing a historical series for the marketplace. Anna is currently working with two Stage 32 writers to develop and pitch their historical fiction projects, including one project that is set up with a major production company. In this lab, you'll learn from someone who is actively helping writers move historical stories from idea to the marketplace right now.

Writing a historical television pilot takes more than choosing a fascinating time period or doing extensive research. You need to know how to build a story engine that keeps modern audiences hooked, weave historical facts into compelling drama without slowing your pacing, create authentic worlds that never feel like a history lesson, and make real historical figures feel emotionally complex without losing what made their stories worth telling. These are the challenges that often keep talented writers from finishing a pilot that's truly market-ready. In this lab, you'll learn how to overcome every one of them while building a pilot you can feel confident pitching to the industry.

You'll learn from Anna Henry, a producer and development executive who is actively developing and selling television today. Anna has developed and set up projects at AMC, Amazon Prime, Starz, HBO, Sony, FOX, EOne, ITV America, and OddLot Entertainment. Her experience also includes CBS, ABC, and Nickelodeon, as well as managing writers at Andrea Simon Entertainment, where she helped shape material for today's marketplace. Anna currently teaches as part of the Netflix & Stage 32 Creating Content for a Global Marketplace Program, giving you direct insight into what buyers, producers, and executives are looking for right now.

Over eight sessions, you'll build your pilot step by step while learning how to choose the strongest historical approach for your concept, create immersive worlds, write authentic period dialogue, avoid common historical writing mistakes, and craft compelling characters that resonate with today's audiences. Every assignment you complete will receive personalized feedback from Anna, so you'll always know what's working, what needs improvement, and how to strengthen your script before sending it into the marketplace. You'll also receive private one-on-one consultations tailored specifically to your project.

By the end of the lab, you'll walk away with a completed historical television pilot, professional feedback on your work, and the confidence to start sharing your script with managers, producers, executives, fellowships, competitions, and other career-building opportunities.

This private, interactive Stage 32 lab is held live on Zoom and goes substantially deeper than a Stage 32 webinar, giving you the opportunity to receive direct feedback, ask questions, and make meaningful progress every week. As soon as you enroll, you'll be introduced to Anna by email and receive a questionnaire so she can begin learning about your project before class even starts. Throughout the lab, you'll have direct email access to Anna for guidance on your craft and career—it's like having an experienced television development executive in your corner. If you can't attend a live session, every class is recorded and uploaded to your Stage 32 Library within 48 hours, so you can learn on your own schedule. You'll also join a community of ambitious, like-minded writers who can become your collaborators, accountability partners, and industry network long after the lab ends.

Praise for Anna's Education:

"Anna's webinar was fantastic. I am writing my first one hour drama pilot so this webinar was packed with the exact information that I will be immediately putting to use in my rewrite. The slides were clear, concise and informative. The speaker was excellent at conveying the information I needed." -Bobby C.

"It was really great information. Anna was a terrific host, very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information and tips." -Marla H.