Step 2: Marketing Intensive

What to Expect

For writers who are committed to their craft and are ready to make screenwriting more than just a hobby, Roadmap Writers offers our Career Writer Program. These feedback-driven sessions put the Career Writer in immersive and interactive roundtables, making them competitive in the marketplace while helping them build relationships with as many industry professionals as possible.

The vast majority of our Success Stories come from writers in our Career Writer Program, many of whom have gone on to sign with companies such as CAA, Gotham Group, Gersh, Zero Gravity, Circle of Confusion, and more!

Step 1: Pitch Prep Program

Step 2: Marketing Intensive

Step 3: Portfolio Polishing

Step 4: Manager Track

Step 5: Top Tier

$449.00

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100% Paid In Full

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You will be sent an invoice for the remainder of your balance to the email address you use to pay the deposit. Balances must be paid in full prior to the end of the class unless prior arrangements are made. Failure to pay invoices in a timely manner will result in the forfeiture of your spot and you will not be permitted to complete the program. Questions? Email info@roadmapwriters.com.

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Description
Schedule
About / Testimonials
Guidelines

Marketing Intensive is Step 2 of the Career Writer Program. Writers must complete Step 1: Pitch Prep Program prior to diving in. Writers must complete Steps 1-4 to be considered for our Top Tier Program.

If you have completed the Pitch Prep Program, be sure to be signed in to your site account and you will be allowed to sign up. Any issues, contact Dorian.

You may petition to skip Pitch Prep and go directly into Intensive by sending an email to dorian@roadmapwriters.com explaining why you feel you do not need to do Pitch Prep, including a 2-pg. written pitch for one of your projects and an unedited 5-min. recorded verbal pitch of the same project.

Step 2: Marketing Intensive

Roadmap's Marketing Intensive is designed to guide your writing journey and prevent you from throwing spaghetti against the wall just hoping something sticks. At Roadmap, we believe in putting writers in real-world environments and showing them what the industry is really like.

This program helps you strategize and create a solid path to success. Each session is taught by different working industry professionals to ensure each writer gets in front of as many execs as possible and learn what executives really look for in their pages, pitches, and general meetings.

Full of immersive opportunities with executives and private general meetings, writers are put to the test in numerous rooms with more execs than ever! This is a fast-paced, fully immersive experience to push you from good in the room to owning the room.

Walk out of this program with confidence in your pitch & general meeting skills, and a personal brand & bio poised to position you ahead of the competition!

"One of the best things about Roadmap for us, beyond getting to meet a whole bunch of great people, is the confidence we're gaining while we learn the finer (and sometimes not so fine) points of the industry. Having a supportive place to ask these questions and get input is invaluable." - Graci & Mr. Lee, Writing Team

Researching Target Homes Demo + Don’t Be Weird On Email

Date / Time

Tue, 02/04/2025 @ 06:00PM - 7:30PM PT

Summary

Knowing how to pitch is just half the battle—now it's time for some tools & tricks for figuring out who to pitch your projects to! The art of researching target homes is luckily one that can be taught—in this session, we'll walk you through the process of researching target homes for your project on the internet.

Host:

Dorian Connelley - Co-Founder/COO, Roadmap Writers

Dorian was fresh off working for producer Mark Ciardi (THE ROOKIE, MIRACLE, CHAPPAQUIDDICK) when she co-founded Roadmap Writers as its COO where she has been teaching writers how to pitch (whether they like it or not) ever since. With years of experience in talent management, live events, and feature film producing, Dorian is also a proud Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guinea/Mali '08-'10). When she's not helping writers perfect their pitches, Dorian can be found at music festivals and karaoke bars.

Writer Bios Clinic

Date / Time

Tue, 02/04/2025 @ 07:30PM - 9:00PM PT

Summary

One of the most important pieces of marketing material any writer can have is an effective, informative bio that really captures who you are as a writer and as a human. During the session, your host will critique & edit your bio and help you identify the strongest elements about you to be sure to highlight at the beginning of your pitches.

Host:

Joey Tuccio - CEO & Co-Founder, Roadmap Writers

Joey started in the industry at Bold Films (DRIVE, NIGHTCRAWLER, WHIPLASH) and has read for Hugh Jackman's company, George Clooney's company, and Night and Day Pictures, to name a few. Experiencing how hard it was for writers to receive real tangible advice on how to break into the industry, Joey and Dorian created Roadmap Writers over 7 years ago. At Roadmap, Joey focuses on connecting vetted writers with execs in the industry. He has helped hundreds of writers connect to their representation, get staffed and get produced. He also mentors for Cinestory and The Writers Lab. When he's not helping writers, he spends his time rescuing animals in need.

The Writing Hour & Roadmap Writers Q&A

Date / Time

Mon, 02/10/2025 @ 06:00PM - 7:30PM PT

Summary

Ask any lingering questions you may have about Roadmap Writers, the Career Writer Program, how to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck, and then spend a luxurious session writing with your fellow writers, perhaps with prompts, perhaps with music, perhaps just with the company of other writers. Hop on and get those pages done!

Verbal Pitch “Scenarios” Prep

Date / Time

Tue, 02/11/2025 @ 06:00PM - 8:00PM PT

Summary

Mastering the art of small talk or "chit-chat" before & after your pitch delivery is a key aspect to help writers stand out from the pack and leave a memorable impression. Additionally, the ability to handle any exec personality in the room is a skill that sets successful screenwriters above the rest. In this session, your host will take on different exec "personalities" to help give you the skills to handle any type.

Host:

Megan Lee - Director of Access Programs, Roadmap Writers

Born and raised in sunny South Florida, Megan is a graduate from UCF with her BA in English Creative Writing and a minor in Mass Culture and Collective Behavior. A life spent sneaking books under her covers past bedtime made it clear to Megan that she would one day become a writer herself, but it wasn't until a college screenwriting workshop that she discovered her true love lies in screenwriting. Megan dove head first into this new medium, spending a summer with the RoadCrew as an intern and then as a reader. Being neurodivergent, Megan has developed an ardent fascination with human behavior as she studied the people around her, which is why she now writes character-driven comedies that ask what it means to be human—and how to forgive ourselves for it. Megan is passionate about bringing impactful stories to life and wants to help other writers do the same.

Real-World Read Roundtable - Group #1 (Drama)

Date / Time

Tue, 02/18/2025 @ 06:00PM - 8:30PM PT

Summary

Writers submit their script for review prior to the Roundtable. The exec will give your script the real-world treatment as though it were an official submission. And, just like in the real world, the exec will stop reading the script as soon as they're no longer engaged with the material. During the session, each writer will verbally pitch their brand as a writer followed by a discussion of where the exec stopped reading the script—and why. Learn from the feedback given to you and the feedback given to your peers.

Host:

Janet Jeffries - Production & Development Executive, Lawrence Bender Productions

Janet Jeffries is a Development and Production executive working in both features and television for Lawrence Bender Productions / Bender Brown TV Productions.

LBP is an independent feature film company in Los Angeles, working with several independent financiers and sales companies. Recent films include the animated short film COPS AND ROBBERS, live action short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, both streaming on Netflix the Netflix original feature THE HARDER THEY FALL directed by Jeymes Samuel. Lawrence Bender’s credits also include the films GRETA, HACKSAW RIDGE, GOOD WILL HUNTING, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, PULP FICTION and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS. We are currently developing and packaging films written by an academy award winning writer, and action movie with Jason Statham and a ROMANCING THE STONE type of movie written by the author of the book, CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

Bender/Brown is the company’s television arm. Credits include the Netflix limited series SEVEN SECONDS, Starz limited series FLESH AND BONE, and the current CW series ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO. We currently have projects in development with FX, EPIX, Peacock, Telemundo and Starz.

For the past nine years, Janet has also had the pleasure of being an adjunct professor for the MFA in Screenwriting program at National University. She also is an executive mentor working with Roadmap Writers.

Real-World Read Roundtable - Group #2 (Comedy)

Date / Time

Tue, 02/18/2025 @ 06:00PM - 8:30PM PT

Host:

Sam Schifrien - Content Development & Production, 93 Cedar

With nearly two decades of experience in entertainment, Sam Schifrien can trace her fascination for the magic of film & TV back to a moment in her Northern New Jersey kindergarten, when she learned to tie her shoes for a sketch on the MTV show The State. In the three decades since that moment, Sam has gone on to work for multiple representation companies in several capacities, networks & studios in international development and media relations, in a writers’ room and on sets (where her responsibilities grew beyond tying shoes).

Most recently before starting her own company, 93 Cedar, Sam developed a slate for Untitled Entertainment that included projects (mainly television) with Christina Ricci, Reggie Hudlin, Chris Diamantopoulos, Annie Chang, The Crown Princess of Greece, Vanessa Hudgens, Melanie Griffith, and Jack & Danny Huston. Before Untitled, Sam worked with producer Michael Rosenberg (Hung, The Riches) at roseyTV, originally under a deal with eOne. Most notably, roseyTV produced PopTV’s Let Get Physical from Workaholics’ Connor Pritchard and starring Matt Jones & Jane Seymour, for which Sam received a Development Associate credit. Prior to that, Sam worked with JoAnn Alfano, first on ABC’s Resurrection starring Omar Epps & Frances Fisher, with a writing staff that included Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas, Aaron Zelman, Tom Schnauz, and the late, great Nathan Louis Jackson, as well as producing-directors Dan Attias & Chris Misiano. Sam followed JoAnn to NBCUniversal International where the slate of projects originated from companies within the UK, Australia and Canada, and included Carnival’s Downton Abbey, Australia’s Glitch which streamed on Netflix, & You, Me, and the Apocalypse which aired in the US on NBC.

Sam started her career (really at ABC Media Relations in NYC in high school, but in Los Angeles) at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, captaining their flag football team and working for literary manager Margaret Riley, whose rosters includes Charles Randolph (The Big Short), Susanna Fogel (A Small Light), Alex Tse (Wu-Tang Saga), Mark Ruffalo (Sympathy for Delicious), Margaret Nagle (Warm Springs), Ann Cherkis (Better Call Saul) and Anthony Zuiker (CSI). Sam proudly graduated from the USC Business-Cinematic Arts Joint Degree Program started by industry legend and former WMA agent Larry Auerbach, with Order of Troy Honors for service.

In addition to working to build 93 Cedar, recently Sam has worked in story analysis and IP evaluation for companies with major studio deals, and judged screenplay competitions for various festivals, institutions and organizations. Currently, she is looking for like-minded partners and is building a slate that includes female-created genre, comedy with a purpose/has a personal connection to the creator & builds up opposed to tearing down, and any non-fiction or docu-series projects which could be partnered with advocacy groups.

Understanding Coverage Clinic

Date / Time

Tue, 02/25/2025 @ 06:00PM - 9:00PM PT

Summary

Learn how executives analyze scripts with this interactive Coverage assignment. Prior to the session, all writers will turn in Coverage on a script assigned by your host. During the session, your host will discuss the basics of writing Coverage and what elements should be assessed, followed by a critique of each writer's Coverage highlighting the differences between writers' Coverage and the host's own Coverage of the same script. Your host will lecture on coverage, how executives use it, and how you can begin thinking about your own projects like an executive does.

Host:

Chris Deckard - Manager / Co-Founder, Fictional Entity

Prior to co-founding the management/production company Fictional Entity in early 2017, Chris Deckard spent over seven years working with and representing talent at the major agencies ICM Partners and WME. While at WME, Chris worked in the media rights department, selling books for series and film adaptations before moving into the talent department, where he worked closely with high level actors in film, television, and the then-emerging digital space. While at ICM Partners, he again worked with high level actors and worked closely with the packaging and sales department and the digital media group. For over a decade, Chris has worked closely with traditional and new media buyers to find and develop content for domestic and international audiences. In addition to helping cast and package numerous features and series, he has evaluated thousands of scripts for actors and directors. Chris graduated from Cornell University and earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School.

Chris helps his clients navigate the evolving entertainment landscape in the United States and abroad. He has negotiated deals for features, series, and podcasts in several international territories. His clients have been named to The Black List, The Hit List, The Young & Hungry List, The Blood List and been lauded by the PAGE Awards, the International Emmys, and The GLAAD Awards. Clients have also earned nominations and placements from The Heath Ledger Scholarship, The Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Awards, the AWG, ADG, SPA, and AACTA. Clients have written, directed, starred, and produced in numerous formats, including features, TV, virtual reality, and podcasts, independently and for companies like Netflix, Lucasfilm, NBCUniversal, Legendary, Marvel, Fremantle, SyFy, the CW, Warner Bros., Amazon, Blumhouse, Hulu, XYZ, The BBC, Comedy Central, the ABC Australia, Foxtel, TruTV, Super Deluxe, Hallmark, Lifetime, CBS, Facebook, E!, and MSNBC.

Several of Chris’ clients had films shoot in 2021, including one for Netflix, and another which sold to XYZ Films, both of which are slated for 2022 release. Within the past year, clients have sold series to Amazon, Netflix, eOne, and Hulu. Chris, along with his business partner, is also an Executive Producer on a scripted series project alongside two writing EPs from New Amsterdam which sold to Universal Television in 2021.

Opening Pages Analysis

Date / Time

Wed, 02/26/2025 @ 06:30PM - 8:30PM PT

Summary

Your host will give several volunteer writers from the Marketing Intensive (Step 2 of the Career Writer Program) specific feedback on their opening 3 pages. The pages will be shared on-screen with the rest of the group so everybody can learn from the feedback. The Opening Pages Analysis will start with a lecture on some of the immediate reasons an executive might pass on your work—and you might not even know you're doing one of these things! Remember, most execs won't read past page 5 if they aren't hooked from the start.

Host:

Joey Tuccio - CEO & Co-Founder, Roadmap Writers

Interpreting Your Coverage Clinic

Date / Time

Fri, 02/28/2025 @ 05:00PM - 8:00PM PT

Summary

Your host will read the Coverage returned on your script and help you interpret the notes, how to apply them, and how to formulate goals moving into Step 3: Portfolio Polishing.

Host:

Alexandra Davies - Director of Education, Roadmap Writers

Alexandra holds a degree in English Literature from UCLA, which she earned while pursuing acting. As an actress for many years, she learned the ins and outs of character, story and entertainment first hand, both on stage and in front of the camera. As the Director of Education at Roadmap, Alex strives to identify the most common hurdles writers face in developing their work and design classes, clinics, and webinars to address these issues. In addition, Alex is a writer with several scripts, a novel, a short film (produced during the AT&T Shape Create-A-Thon), and a webseries (coming soon!) under her belt. Prior to Roadmap, Alex worked in live events, law, and education.

Interpreting Open Pitch Feedback & Taking Notes Clinic

Date / Time

Mon, 03/03/2025 @ 06:00PM - 10:00PM PT

Summary

Interpreting and implementing the notes given to you by execs on your pitch can be confusing and sometimes even seem contradictory. We'll help you analyze the feedback reports you received from execs following your Open Pitch Sessions for the month to help you cut through the noise and get to the "note behind the note"!

Host:

Dorian Connelley - Co-Founder/COO, Roadmap Writers

Testimonials

I can’t even tell you how much value I am getting from Roadmap and I just think all the time I’m so glad this exists!! 20 years ago (the last time I was writing screenplays) there was NOTHING like this. Execs didn’t know if a script was from some nutcase writer and writers didn’t know if the notes they were getting were from an exec with any kind of experience or value. But with Roadmap, there is just so much opportunity to not just get your brand out there, but to connect with really great execs who are on the front lines and know what they’re talking about. Without Roadmap, I would just be reading Syd Field and Robert McKee and throwing spaghetti at the wall just hoping I got it right. Thank you for all the RoadCrew do!!

~ April Capil, Screenwriter

I honestly am so grateful for everything I learned during any of my sessions with Roadmap, it definitely opened my eyes to a new side of the business, and it's especially helped with all of my pitches (I still refer to your pitch tips)!

~ Ashlei Hardenburg-Cartagena, Screenwriter (2021-22 Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop Fellow)

I can't believe how much I'm getting out of my journey down the 'road'. Working with Roadmap is the single smartest decision I've made since I started writing.

~ Tom Holowach, Screenwriter

Dorian is a force of nature! It was such a pleasure working with her in the Pitch Prep Program and Marketing Intensive. Our group learned so much; it's clear our confidence is growing every time we pitch—all thanks to Roadmap! We received specific notes, invaluable guidance, and, most importantly, we laughed all along the way.

~ Brenda Lynn Bynum, Screenwriter

Thank you so much for all of your help on my project—especially on the business, marketing, and pitching side. Who knows what will come from any given meeting, but it’s a good feeling when someone requests the script or asks about additional materials and if I currently have reps. Right now, an A-lister's development producer is reading the script and I’m meeting with a streaming exec tonight. I feel so much better prepared to pitch and take these meetings because of Roadmap.

~ Todd Hunter, Screenwriter

After the Verbal Pitch Scenarios Prep in Marketing Intensive, I was more prepared than I would have been for my actual pitch meetings otherwise, and it worked out! I performed my main pitch through to the end - the exec said they loved it, but then immediately said it sounded too hard to produce and asked what else I had. I did a 20-second pitch on my other feature and they requested that script! Without this program, I may have frozen like a deer in headlights. Yay!

~ Christopher Wright, Screenwriter

This is such a special group. Four months ago, I would not have imagined being anywhere close to where I am now. The Career Writer Program is an incredibly well-thought-out, transparent program that really does think of everything. I can't wait to get repped and get my work into the studios so I can return to Roadmap and give back to the writers. Thank you for seeing something in me and giving me this chance.

~ James Murphy, Screenwriter

How it Works

After registering, your confirmation email will include a link for you to access your syllabus for the program, which will include any prep work & resources, class dates & times, join links, assignments, and other instructions.

All interactive sessions are conducted face-to-face via video conferencing software Zoom. While the ability to call in by phone does exist, we strongly recommend taking full advantage of the face-to-face nature of these programs, so you should plan to attend your sessions in front of a computer or stationary tablet at a desk or table in a well-lit room.

Please ensure you are familiar with our Code of Conduct.

**NOTE: Once you have registered for a particular month of the program, you are able to push your registration to a later month up to 7 days prior to the first session of the month for which you originally registered. Please note that the first session of the program may occur up to 5 days prior to the first day of the originally selected month, so check your syllabus accordingly. Changes requested after the 7 day deadline will not be accommodated.