Screenwriting Development Deals

Writing a good screenplay is hard, getting a development deal is even harder. What is a development deal and what does one look like? These screenwriters share what it took to craft their story from their initial pitch to the final screenplay. We’ll explore what they learned about the process and themselves as writers, discuss the basics of their different studio development deals, how they handled notes from the execs, and most importantly, how they got those deals in the first place. Moderator: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns Panelists: Carrie Schrader (Writer, Director Producer), Janlatae' Mullins (Writer, Director, Producer), and Takashi Doscher (Writer, Director, Producer) Janlatae' Mullins is a writer and director of narrative short films and branded content who has collaborated with companies such as OWN, Nickelodeon, Barbie, and Paramount. She won best director with her short film Soul Fire for the Gentleman Jack/Jack Daniels Real to Reel Program in collaboration with HBO and The American Black Film Festival. Recently, Jan sold a television pilot to Amazon Prime with a development deal attached. Carrie Schrader is an award-winning filmmaker who makes her living as a writer-for-hire, adapting real-life stories for film and television. She has two television pilots currently in development, including one with ARGH, the company behind Unstoppable (Amazon/Artist’s Equity). Carrie's notable works include Don’t Mess With Texas (Wolfe Video), The Founders (Peacock), Batdad Battle For Bedtime (Netflix) and Phoenix (Blacklist Winner), and her projects have appeared on networks like TLC, Bravo, and AMC. Takashi Doscher is an award-winning writer and director. He is currently in post for his next film, Karoshi , an action thriller set in the corporate world of Japan. Starring Teo Yoo ( Past Lives ), Isabel May ( Scream 7 ) and Cynthia Erivo ( Wicked ), it is being produced by Lionsgate Studios and Chad Stahelski’s 8711 ( John Wick ). Takashi is also writing the film adaptation for the blockbuster video game, Ghost of Tsushima , for Sony's Columbia Pictures.