Proof of Concept Filmmaking
What is a Proof of Concept Film?
A PoC film demonstrates the potential viability of the long-form TV pilot or feature film idea.
Unlike a short film, a Proof of Concept (PoC) is usually less than 10 minutes and is written with a significant focus on intrigue, usually concluding with a cliffhanger that entices the audience to want more.
Traditional short films have a complete self-contained idea, whereas a PoC film also has a complete idea yet has an ending that sets up an interesting future scenario, showcasing the potential of the larger project to buyers and studios.
“We live in a world now where people need visuals. The sad truth is that people don’t spend the time to read anymore. A Proof of Concept makes it so much easier to pitch. A writer needs to prove not only the concept but the competence of the overall project.”
Do you have a feature or TV pilot?
Submit a writing sample and become eligible to join Get It Made
Learn how to develop your stories with in-house producers and industry experts.
Every great story starts with a roadmap, and that roadmap is your beat sheet.
In this 4-session writing intensive, acclaimed TV and feature writer Alix Sternberg will guide you step-by-step through the process of turning your raw idea into a fully formed beat sheet—your pre-outline blueprint for either a TV pilot or feature film.
What to Expect
This isn’t a passive lecture—it’s a fast-paced, deadline-driven workshop designed to push your project forward. You’ll:
- Submit new material each week
- Read and review peers’ work before class
- Provide and receive thoughtful, constructive feedback
- Leave the series with a completed beat sheet ready for your next draft
About Your Instructor
Alix Sternberg is a New York transplant and an accomplished LA-based writer. She started her career as a Script Coordinator on Saturday Night Live (though it technically started when she wrote her first spec script at age 10 for Full House). Since then, Alix has worked across multi-cam and single-cam comedies before achieving her goal of writing for television dramas. She’s written for high-profile series such as Shadow and Bone, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and Supergirl (where she earned her first on-screen writing credit in Season 3). Her first feature, Full Out 2 (on Netflix), tells the story of what it takes to defend a National Championship when your star leaves to chase her Olympic dream. More recently, she has ventured into children’s animation. She will definitely ask to pet your dog and, yes, she watches way, way too much TV.