Advice

Happy Thanksgiving, Creative Army! On behalf of the entire Stage 32 team, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We are so proud of our ever-growing creative community and we are beyond honored to provide every one of you a safe haven to connect, be inspired, and come together to make your art. We are all extremely grateful for the members of this community and for the incredible relationships and friendships that have bloomed this year. Truly, we feel blessed. As I've m...

This Thanksgiving, my invitation is to pause and consider the role gratitude plays in your writer’s journey. Gratitude is not just a feel-good emotion; it is the way, the path to navigating challenges, strengthening your resilience, and fueling your process. Think of gratitude as your superpower. Find Strength in the Challenges You Have Overcome Think about the struggles you have faced and conquered in your creative life—the dragons you have slain, all the times you broke through frustrating...

Happy Tuesday, Stage 32ers! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been bringing new film commissions, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix as we support film and television workforce development worldwide. This week we’re welcoming The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission to Stage 32 Certification! The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission and Stage 32 are excited to partner to bring Certification opportunities to creative p...

As a producer and executive in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, I’ve seen countless submissions and been in hundreds of pitch meetings - on both sides of the table. While the landscape is constantly changing, one thing remains clear - preparation is everything. Whether you’re submitting a script, pitching a new series, or meeting a potential collaborator, your level of preparedness can make all the difference in securing a deal or moving your project forward. Even if you want it...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, in this Film Courage interview, they’re talking to writer, Jay Fingers, about how to handle rejection. Jay Fingers is a novelist, journalist, editor, and emerging screenwriter who authored four books: Guestlist, Kisses for Tati, Orange Mound, and Manhattan Sweetheart before moving to Los Angele...

Hello, Screenwriters! My name is Shaun. I am a Stage 32 Exec, Gotham Award-winning independent film producer, member of the Producers Guild of America, Repped Screenwriter, Script Consultant, and educator. I've been in the film and television industry for 29 years and producing for 15 of those years. In that time I have been privileged to work with and learn from some of the greatest filmmakers and performers in our industry - from James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Judd Apatow to Joe Wrig...

Working with writers as an instructor, consultant, and producer on developing television series, writing pilot scripts, and pitch bibles, I have found that the most exciting – and most difficult – part of the process is imagining that the show is being made and working out what the first season and subsequent seasons might be about. Sure, there will eventually be a writer’s room that will “break” the seasons (decide what happens in each episode), but before that happens, we dream up episodes and...

What is up, Creative Army! Myself and the Stage 32 team couldn’t be more thankful for this incredible community. This year has been a whirlwind for me with a lot of international travel so it's been a while since I've been able to do an AMA. Between my travel, the strikes, the M&A happening in our industry, independent film having a resurgence, I've seen and learned a lot... and there is a lot to talk about right now. It's an exciting time for you as a creative - whether you work in film, t...

“I love this script”. It’s the beginning of my Stage 32 consult with a producer, and I’m flabbergasted. In my head, I’m thinking, “Oh! My! God! Did she just say she loves my script?” She continues, “It’s a cool story that deserves to be told.” I’m not expecting more than the typical encouragement and notes. So, I’m momentarily surprised to have someone excited about my story. IT TAKES PERSISTENCE We dream of hearing those words from a producer. But if you’re like me, there’s a long...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! I recently had the honor of being featured on the brand new and already massively popular podcast, Beyond the Glam, hosted by the wonderful, amazing, spectacular 3X Emmy nominated, Rasha Goel. Rasha's podcast is about the raw, human side of success– showing the true, unglamorous realities of celebrities and creatives. We hope you’ll join us in feeling inspired to tackle personal challenges after discovering the inner struggles, insecurities, and triumphs that h...