Hi, Stage 32 Community!

Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community!

At Stage 32 you have direct access to industry professionals who’ve written, authored, developed, produced, directed, and represented acclaimed projects like SPIDER-MAN 2, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, BORAT 2, THE WALKING DEAD, THE PUNISHER, SUPERGIRL, THE WINCHESTERS, THE LEFTOVERS, DEEPWATER HORIZON, TOY STORY 4, Disney Pixar CARS 3, JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM, JUSTICE LEAGUE, BARBIE, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, THE MORNING SHOW, RIVERDALE, LOCKE & KEY, and many more.

So without much further ado, let's roll out the red carpet and welcome some of the fantastic new people joining our Stage 32 Community this November!

New Stage 32 Educators-

Stephen van Vuuren, Filmmaker at SV2 Studios & SV2 DCP

Stephen van Vuuren. Stephen runs SV2 Post, a full-service post-production house that routinely takes films through the process from Edit to VFX/MIX to Final Mastering. As part of his turn-key post-production business, Stephen has made over 200 DCPs (the digital cinema packages that are what theaters use to screen films today). SV2 has worked with independent filmmakers on their projects with budgets from zero dollars to the low millions that have screened at Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca, Berlin, and many other major festivals as well as international commercial theatrical releases including on IMAX. Over 75% of the films submitted to Stephen have suffered from at least one major post-production problem and required costly, time-consuming fixes. And about 10% of the films have suffered from showstopper, unfixable problems that have resulted in distribution rejections and non-releases.

You can currently register for Stephen’s webinar- How To Maximize Post-Production Before You Start Shooting

New Stage 32 Executives-

Judd Cherry, Producer, Director, and Writer

Judd Cherry is a Producer, Director, and Writer. He currently has a slate of projects in development as well as several scripts in discussion for financing both independently and on the studio level including at Paramount Pictures, Epicenter and Kevin Hart's HartBeat, among others. Most recently he served as Head of Creative Video Production and Executive Producer at Bakery Agency two boutique advertising agencies, writing, directing, and producing commercials, online content, and social media campaigns for several major brands. He also served as Director of Production at StoryGiants Entertainment, a multi-tiered media company with a first look Television deal at Amazon Studios. In that role, Judd managed all in-house production, executive producing two television shows, as well as leading content development for the company’s independent TV and Film production projects. Prior to StoryGiants, Judd formed his own company Sacred Pineapple Productions, writing, producing, and directing features, tv shows, and award-winning short films, and venturing into new media and marketing.

After graduating with a degree in Art/Semiotics from Brown University, Judd Cherry went to work in entertainment for some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Laura Ziskin, Alvin Sargent, Sam Raimi, Shawn Levy, Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller, and Sasha Baron Cohen. In his time with these heavy-hitters, along with gaining valuable knowledge in the fields or writing, directing, and producing, he learned the importance of educated and confident decision-making, thinking on the fly, anticipating issues that might arise, and being prepared for any situation. Notable in this time, Judd wrote a significant portion of the final shooting script for SPIDER-MAN 2 and was responsible for all on-set rewrites, BTS videos, and some 2nd unit direction on NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM.

You can meet with Judd about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

Austin Sokol, Producer and Co-Founder at Tooth Hurty Media

Austin Sokol is an independent producer and Co-Founder at Tooth Hurty Media where he creates and develops film and television projects currently such as a scripted comedy series at FOX, TV Series setup at Amblin and a documentary with A24. At Tooth Hurty Media, Austin has partnered with FOX, ABC Signature, George Clooney’s Smoke House Pictures, Vice Studios, The Content Group, Keenan Thompson, Story Syndicate and more working alongside comedians like Jordan Klepper and Chris Smith. Working as a hybrid manager/producer, his best strength is helping develop a project from an idea into a viable show or movie.

Prior to his time at Tooth Hurty Media, Austin was a Development Executive at Sacha Baron Cohen’s Four by Two Films, there he ran Sacha Baron Cohen’s production company throughout the release of BORAT 2 (Amazon) and WHO IS AMERICA? While there, he pursued and read available material, submitted projects mindful of all relevant buyers, sourced and appraised content for possible development, financing, and distribution. Prior to working with Sacha Baron Cohen, Austin was an executive at Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door Productions. Austin began his career at CAA working his way up to Agent within the Motion Picture Talent department. Before traditional entertainment, Austin was a Public Relations Executive for NFL Media.

You can meet with Austin about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

Jason Feffer, Producer

Jason Feffer is an independent producer who has spent over a decade in the entertainment industry, working in representation and production. Currently working alongside Impression Entertainment, Jason looks to find new projects and liaise with clients. After spending time at WME, Relativity Television, and Dick Clark Productions, he is now working as an independent producer looking to find the next great film or pilot script. Prior to Jason's work at Impressions, he was working at Dick Clark Productions. Dick Clark Productions projects include Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, The American Music Awards, and The Billboard Music Awards, THE PASSION, CATCHFIRE). Before his work at Dick Clark Productions, Jason was working as an Associate Producer for unscripted television where he worked with multifunctional teams to fulfill producer needs, ensuring the development of captivating stories and episodes. Projects included THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE (Food Network) and SWING. He also worked at Relativity Television under the Executive Vice President of Production.

Jason started his career working in Development at Valhalla Entertainment (THE WALKING DEAD, THE PUNISHER) before joining William Morris Endeavor as an assistant to two TV agents where he fortified client loyalty and burnished the agency's reputation by conducting exhaustive script analysis and research for high-profile clients including Marie-Louise Parker, Sean Hayes and Lily Tomlin and played a pivotal role in placing writers on staff for esteemed television programs, including THE OFFICE and COUGAR TOWN through the strategic distribution of client materials and submissions.

You can meet with Jason about your First 10 Pages.

Jessica Kardos, Producer & Screenwriter

Jessica is a Producer and Screenwriter who specializes in female angst stories and is currently developing FRAN FRAZER (Archie Comics) with Warner Brothers. Over Jess’ career, she’s not only written dozens of episodes of television but has actively produced her episodes, becoming an experienced and valued on-set producer.

Jess finally made her way into television as the showrunner’s assistant on USA’s COVERT AFFAIRS, Disney’s BUNK’D and CW’s SUPERGIRL. It was SUPERGIRL where Jess received her big break, writing episodes for the show until she was fully staffed on season four. Jess remained on staff as an Executive Story Editor until the show’s sixth and final season before jumping onto CW’s horror-romance (and “Supernatural” prequel) THE WINCHESTERS. Jess started her career at the Gersh Agency and then went on to work in film sales at Preferred Content.

You can meet with Jessica about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

Lauren Downey, Executive Producer & Development Executive

Lauren Downey is an independent film & TV producer with a deep love of story, all things relating to the human condition, and a passion for bringing meaningful, character-driven stories to life. Lauren has produced/co-executive produced a range of film and tv projects.

Most recently, she Executive Produced the film THE PASSENGER starring Kyle Gallner and Johnny Berchtold for the latest in Blumhouse TV’s feature slate with MGM+. In addition to several other films for MGM+, Lauren was an EP on Hulu’s anthology series INTO THE DARK and Amazon’s WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE.

Before becoming a producer, Lauren was a Development Exec at Peter Berg’s Film44, which produced films including PATRIOTS DAY and DEEPWATER HORIZON both starring Mark Wahlberg, and WIND RIVER starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, and the series THE LEFTOVERS starring Justin Theroux. Prior to Film44, Lauren worked at production companies helmed by Michael Shamberg & Stacey Sher, Jay Roach, and Brad Simpson, giving her a strong and varied development background.

You can meet with Lauren about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

Josh M., Producer & Network Executive

Josh M. is a senior producer and network executive with more than 20 years of experience developing and producing content for Amazon, Disney, Pixar, Warner Bros, Universal, Sony, DC Comics, Dreamworks, Microsoft, Mattel, Interscope, Atlantic Records and WWE.

Josh currently oversees the Development of original tv series and movies at Amazon Kids+, the premiere destination for movies, tv, mobile games, and books aimed at kids ages 3-13. Currently, he’s working on ANGRY BIRDS MYSTERY ISLAND.

Josh started in Development at Miramax with Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York and Production at Interscope with artists like Eminem, Weezer and 50 Cent before segueing into feature films and television. Josh has produced ten feature films around the world including Lord of the Rings documentary RINGERS, Best of 2015 Critics Pick UNCERTAIN TERMS, Independent Spirit Award-winning WITHOUT, and 2023 WGA-shortlisted PARIS IS IN HARLEM. Other notable projects Josh has worked on include THIRST STREET, AQUAMAN, TOY STORY 4, Disney Pixar CARS 3, JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM, JUSTICE LEAGUE, and BARBIE. Josh has also been a Senior Programmer at the Slamdance Film Festival for 15 years and has produced over 100 TV commercials.

You can meet with Josh about your Pitch Deck/Bible Reviews.

Shannon Vayo, Director of Development at Hello Sunshine

Shannon Vayo is an entertainment veteran who has worked across the industry in producing, development, and current programming. Most recently she was the Director of Development for Film & TV at Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Managed and drove results on multiple film & television projects in various stages of development, production and post.

She has served as an executive and producer on numerous television projects including the Emmy award-winning series THE MORNING SHOW and SURFACE starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (both for Apple). On the film side, Shannon helped produce the film adaptation of one of Reese’s Book Club’s most beloved selections, the chart-topping New York Times Bestselling novel WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (3000 Pictures/Sony), starring Daisy Edgar Jones, as well as Aline Brosh McKenna’s feature directorial debut YOUR PLACE OR MINE (Netflix).

Prior to joining Hello Sunshine, Shannon worked at The CW Network, Sony, Amazon Studios, and CBS Entertainment on such series as RIVERDALE, THE GOOD FIGHT, MOM, and the CHARMED reboot, among others.

You can meet with Shannon about your Pitch Deck/Bible Reviews.

Julie Winograd, Producer & Development Executive

Julie Winograd is an independent producer and experienced development executive. She has worked in partnership with numerous companies in both film and television, including Amazon, AMC, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, 20th Television, UCP, Universal International, and WBTV.

Among Winograd's specialties is her experience in IP adaptation. She previously served as the Director of Development, Live Action Film & TV at IDW Entertainment (LOCKE & KEY), where, in addition to developing and producing adaptations of existing IDW properties, she worked alongside IDW Publishing to create new properties, building cohesive story worlds and developing engaging stories to be told across multiple mediums, including, film, TV, and print.

Prior to IDW, Winograd served as Manager of Development at Circle of Confusion Television Studios, a joint venture between Circle of Confusion and ITV Studios America, and as an assistant to Director/Producer Michelle MacLaren (BREAKING BAD). She began her career in creative development at Kevin Misher's Misher Films, where she worked on projects including FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY and RICHARD JEWELL.

You can meet with Julie about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

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