Exclusively on Stage 32, CEO Stan Spry's leading management, production, and finance company has opened their doors to our community and we're excited to announce we've partnered with Evoke Entertainment who will develop and package the winning script of our Romantic Comedy screenwriting contest!

Hey Stage 32 Community!

Ever dreamt of seeing your Romantic Comedy script come to life on the big screen or stream on flat-screens in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! We're proud to announce the Stage 32 + Evoke Entertainment Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest to help discover the next great Rom Com script!

Evoke are partnering in a first-of-its-kind talent incubator designed to fast-track emerging Rom-Com writers from contest discovery to professional development and production!

Direct Manager Access

Evoke is leading the charge. CEO Stan Spry has produced dozens of rom-coms and holiday movies for companies like Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix, Tubi, Great American Family and many others. The company produced nine Rom-Coms in the last twelve months alone, along with several series. For 2026, they already have a slate of over two dozen Rom Coms and Romances in development. With a rapidly growing client roster and proven production pipeline, Evoke is poised to dominate one of the fastest-growing segments of the business.

Evoke will work directly with Stage 32 through our 5th Annual Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest because they're serious about finding their next great project. They'll even be personally reviewing all the semi-finalist loglines and all top 10 finalist scripts from our global community of 1.3 million creative professionals.

Think about that for a moment. A top literary management, production, and finance company are committed to building new bridges exclusively for Stage 32 writers who are ready to make people laugh, then cry across the globe.

Evoke's Track Record

This isn't just any manager looking for content. Evoke Entertainment's recent track record speaks to their ability to get their clients work, package talent, and find financing, while delivering projects that audiences actually watch.

Evoke Entertainment is a leading management company, and they're not offering empty promises: they're providing access to their proven infrastructure.

A Truly First-Of-Its-Kind Opportunity

“We’ve been producing rom-coms for over a decade, and in that time, demand for feel-good content has only grown,” said Stan Spry, CEO and Founding Partner at Evoke. “Viewers throughout the world love what this genre has to offer, and we are excited to partner with Stage 32 to find fresh voices and elevate screenwriters who are as passionate about this space as we are.”

This philosophy is revolutionary in an industry increasingly closed to new comedic voices. With our initiative, Stage 32 is giving writers the chance to shoot your shot, and Evoke is committed to finding their next break out hit!

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Why This Partnership Is Different From Every Other "Opportunity"

Numerous contests, fellowships, and programs promise industry access. Here's what makes this fundamentally different:

• Direct Access CEO Stan Spry and Evoke Entertainment aren't just lending their names. They're personally reviewing submissions and selecting winners. Your logline won't disappear into a sea of readers; it goes directly to decision-makers no matter what.
• Commercial Viability Focus Winners are selected based on both creative merit and commercial viability. This isn't about artistic statements. It's about finding scripts that can actually get made and seen.
• Joint Packaging Commitment Stage 32 and Evoke Entertainment will jointly package developed projects for production. This means you're not just getting notes: you're potentially getting a produced film or series.
• Proven Track Record Stage 32's recent successes with Neighborhood Watch (Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and The Vortex (Billy Gardell, Jamie McShane) demonstrate our ability to connect writers with real production outcomes.

The best part? The contest is now open for submissions. You can submit here

What "Development and Packaging" Actually Means

We're talking about Evoke Entertainment's established development and packaging process. Here's what that looks like:

• Script Development: Professional-level notes and revisions with industry mentorship
• Industry Mentorship: Direct guidance from a manager with active studio relationships
• Packaging Support: Connecting projects with appropriate talent, directors, and financing
• Representation Pipeline: Integration into Evoke Entertainment's active roster

Skip the theoretical development and prepare for actual production.

The Stage 32 Advantage: Why They Chose Us

Stan Spry and Evoke Entertainment didn't randomly select Stage 32 for this partnership. Stage 32 has the infrastructure to surface talent at scale, and Evoke has the development muscle to get it ready for buyers. This an opportunity to support talent and launch careers. Our track record of connecting emerging writers with real opportunities, combined with our global reach and curated community, made us the logical partner for this new comedy initiative.

"This partnership with Evoke creates a real on-ramp for writers to go from undiscovered to produced and is directly aligned with our mission to make the entertainment industry more accessible and meritocratic,” added Geoffroy Faugerolas, Head of Development at Stage 32.

Let's Laugh, Then Cry Together

The focus on Rom Coms isn't arbitrary. It reflects current market demands:

• Streaming platforms actively seek original Rom Coms because audiences can't get enough
• New Rom Coms are wanted by every studio, sales company, and producer
• Franchise potential makes Romantic Comedy films and series attractive to financiers

You're positioned perfectly for current market opportunities combining several rare elements:

• Established Access: Direct pipeline to proven managers
• Exclusive Platform: Available only to the Stage 32 community
• Personal Review Process: Your work is seen by actual decision-makers
• Global Scale: Worldwide talent search through the largest creative community
• Proven Success Model: Based on Evoke Entertainment'strack record of discovery and pipeline of results

Stage 32 Contests Launch Careers

The Stage 32 Difference: Winners receive meetings with managers, agents, and producers - not just a trophy. Real careers launched, real movies made, real representation secured.

"Stage 32 isn't about a quick win and a pat on the back. They're serious about opening doors." - Travis J. Opgenorth, Contest Winner

What This Means for Your Career

If you're selected for this opportunity, you're not just winning a contest. You're joining a development pipeline with a proven track record of commercial success. You're getting the kind of attention that can move a career into overdrive.

But even if you're not selected, your participation in this process demonstrates the kind of strategic thinking that separates professional writers from hobbyists. You're positioning yourself within a community that attracts this level of industry attention.

And that's not all. These additional judges will be reading all top 10 loglines and meeting with finalists. Those jurors include:

• Silvia Mathis, Producer, Punkin Studios (A NASHVILLE LEGACY, SPRING BREAKTHROUGH)
• Alexia Melocchi, Producer, Little Studio Films (STEALING ROSES, SHADOWS IN THE DISTANCE)
• Samantha Olsson Shear, Development Executive & Producer, Zoic Pictures (SHADES OF RAY)
• Sammy Warshaw, Producer (SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2, KNUCKLES)

And if you select the optional add-on mentorship opportunity or you're a Top 10 finalist, you could win a mentorship with TWO Literary Managers, including Michelle Knudsen of 42 Management & Production, Marilyn Atlas of Marilyn Atlas Management, and Producer Ceci Cleary of Bluewater Lane Productions (Oscar-nominated TO LESLIE).

These are actionable opportunities to make meaningful connections in this industry!

The Bottom Line: Opportunity Meets Preparation

Neighborhood Watch's Sean Farley didn't know his Stage 32 connection would lead to a theatrical release starring Jack Quaid. James Papa didn't predict his Stage 32 relationship would result in No Address with Billy Baldwin. Richard Zelniker could never have thought that 3 years after his contest win, he'd be linking back up with an Executive Producer, who Stage 32 set him up on a general meeting with after winning a contest, to direct The Vortex.

Success in this industry often comes from positioning yourself in the right place when opportunity strikes. Stage 32 has created an ecosystem where fresh voices can thrive. Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Is your voice ready to be discovered? If so, click here to submit now!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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