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Starting your screenwriting career can be a daunting task, especially for new writers seeking to sell their scripts and captivate audiences with their stories. The Heroic Journey, a powerful narrative framework deeply rooted in well-known storytelling, holds the potential to breathe life into characters, the moral premise, and your dramatic structure. Last week we covered what the Heroic Journey is, where it originated, and when you should consider applying it in your own storytelling. If you...

Last year, I snagged a 2nd Rounder badge at the Austin Film Festival with my script Kira and Henry and sat in on a roundtable led by Larry Postel, a non-represented screenwriter living in Dallas. Larry’s story is unique in that he has managed to have four original spec screenplays purchased, produced, and released since 2020. Larry told us his secret; he sent out query emails after doing lots of research on who would be a good producer for his scripts. He didn't have a manager and I had thought...

You’re ready to pitch your TV series idea. You’re there, in the room or on Zoom, you’re nervous as hell but you know your stuff, you’ve got this, you draw a deep breath, you say that much-practiced logline and end with “it’s X meets Y!” Someone somewhere told you to use “comps”, so you picked two shows or films that bear some resemblance to your show and put them together. They told you to pick comps that were profitable to show your project will be too, but what does “profitable” even mean in t...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! A great animated film or TV show combines adventurous storytelling, colorful character development, visually stunning animation, and a imaginative spirit to create an immersive and memorable experience. Classic animated shows like THE SIMPSONS or SOUTH PARK are some of the most watched series of all time, in the television and film spaces. Current animated franchises like DESPICABLE ME, INSIDE OUT, and MOANA have fans waiting on the edge of thei...

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 video from Writer Brandon McNulty, he’s breaking down how to write strong and effective dialogue--with examples from The Dark Knight, Game of Thrones, The Godfather, and more! He highlights what he feels are the “3 Higher Purposes of Dialogue”, looking at how in success, dialogue presen...

Behind every animated film, there's a creator. These creators' contributions to this industry have shaped the industry in large ways. From their visual style, color combinations, the stories they tell, use of inclusive representation, and more, these artists have helped impact their own industry and audiences who love their work. In this article, you will find nine animators who shaped the world of animation and a few lessons we can learn from their experiences. So let's get into it! Hayao...

When a movie is filming on a public street and the camera only photographs cars and people who are working for the production, how do they manage to keep all of the public’s cars and regular pedestrians from driving or walking through the scene? When something, or someone, is needed on set quickly, who makes it happen in a safe and efficient way to keep the production moving on schedule? How does everyone involved on set get vital information wherever they happen to sitting or standing? And if t...

The first season of True Detective stands out as one of the finest offerings in the realm of quality TV shows. All episodes were penned by a single writer: Nic Pizzolatto. But what exactly makes them so compelling? I took this question as an opportunity to closely analyze Pizzolatto's novel *Galveston* and the first three seasons of *True Detective*. From this exploration, I extracted dramaturgical similarities and devised a writing model. This process was enlightening, and I'd like to share the...

Hello, Stage 32 Community! We love celebrating our amazing members and all that you have worked hard for and achieved, and we know you do too! We wanted to shine a light on all of the successes you've garnered and make sure they are getting their proper due. So sit back and read on to learn all about signings, deals, meetings, script requests, and all of the fun happenings from the month of May... Success Stories Congrats to Stage 32 Community Members Jessica Calvello, Stephanie Harrison,...

NOTE: To bypass all potential arguments or misunderstandings, I have renamed the Hero’s Journey to the Heroic Journey to encompass both genders. When you decide to master storytelling, you step into a new environment known as the Heroic Journey. It is an eternal narrative structure that has shaped countless tales of triumph and self-actualization (on-screen). As you venture into the heart of this narrative archetype, you experience what is known as the Heroic Quest, which is composed of the ca...