As our industry changes rapidly and new platforms crop up every quarter, a new player is becoming too big to ignore: Angel Studios. Off the success of DAVID at the box office during the holidays and having just passed 2 million subscribers, the Utah-based mission-driven studio is doing two things Hollywood would never dare to do:

1) Give greenlight power to the audience (the Guild members)

2) Shine off the Hollywood community entirely

Angel doesn't need Hollywood because, frankly, its audience doesn't care about Hollywood. Quite the opposite. They don't want the same old content. Guild members want mission-driven and message-heavy projects. By voting on what they call "torches," members can decide what makes it to the platform. In return, Angel has a fairly advantageous distribution deal for producers at a time when many platforms are changing their deal terms to be less favorable for producers and creators (I'm looking at you, Tubi…).

I get it—it's hard for many platforms to survive in this climate of consolidation when the top 3 platforms seem to have…everything. Mubi started off with a noble mission and had its fair share of struggles. But Angel's success can't simply be attributed to its niche content. They're not just listening to their members and giving them what they want. They let members decide what the platform can become and which stories it amplifies.

And whether or not you're interested in faith-based or inspiring stories, Angel is doing something right: it treats the audience like a partner. And for producers, creatives, and filmmakers, that's an exciting time when the line between creator and consumer is becoming thinner.

This Week in the Writers' Room

Wednesday 1/7 at 4pm PT: Our special guest, Co-Head of the Animation Department & Literary Manager at ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT, Evan Anglin, will do a Q&A about character development and the animation world!

Attend this webcast and learn from an executive who oversees the development of the animation department and represents award-winning artists and talent, including showrunners, feature writers and directors, production companies & studios.

If you would like to join the Writers’ Room, access weekly events, submit to dozens of open writing assignments, and attend exclusive pitch tanks with industry executives- click HERE for a free trial!

This Week’s Exciting Announcements!

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight the winner of our 2025 Action/Thriller Screenwriting Contest!

Nico Burasco - Screenwriter & Filmmaker!

Nico Burasco is a screenwriter and filmmaker from Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Missouri State University where he studied Video Production and Screenwriting. He’s been a videographer, video editor, and documentarian for Ozarks Public Television since 2015 while writing screenplays independently.

In 2025, his screenplay KATANA CROCODILE won the ‘Stage 32 + Zero Gravity Action/Thriller Screenwriting Contest.’ His horror screenplay LUCID was a semifinalist in the 'Stage 32 Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest' and his screenplay THE RAT KING was a finalist in the 'Stage 32 Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest.’

As a writer, Nico strives to tell stories that transcend boundaries and tap into universal human experiences because he believes in cinema’s ability to explore, delight, and unite.

Congratulations to the Winner of our annual Action/Thriller Contest, Nico Burasco, with his winning script KATANA CROCODILE! After a punk rocker steals a priceless artifact from a mob boss, a katana-wielding Cajun outlaw must hunt down the thief while battling an onslaught of assassins. See all the placements here:

One last reminder for writers working in historical, biographical, or era-specific storytelling:

The Early Bird Deadline for our 3rd Annual Period Piece Screenwriting Contest ends tonight, 1/7 at midnight PT. This contest is designed to connect period piece writers directly with executives, producers, and judges who actively develop and champion historical storytelling. Time and again, winners and finalists from this contest go on to get signed, optioned, and produced. If you have a script rooted in a specific era or inspired by real history and you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to put it in front of the right people, this is it.

Click here to submit your script now!

Need help navigating the industry? Contact success@stage32.com

Stage 32 has hundreds of opportunities. Reach out to our success team at any time for personal guidance and career advice.

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