Screenwriting

The world is changing quickly and the phrase “new normal” is being bandied about with abandon. Even though filming is limited (at best), development continues to move forward and that means producers are busier than ever. In the entertainment industry, scripts continue to be optioned, projects continue to get developed, talent continues to find representation, and production is slowly starting to resume in LA and more so all over the world. So what does producing look like in this "new normal"?...

Good morning Stage 32 Creative Crew! I hope you had an inspired weekend full of creative endeavors and ambitious pursuits. It has been a bust month of August for the team over at Stage 32. Not only were we able to surprise Stage 32 member Martin Reese a $5,000 option agreement after his script THE EYE OF OWUO won the Microbudget Horror Screenwriting Competition, we also launch two brand new competitions - The Diverse Voices Springboard Screenwriting Contest and The Search for New Voices in Anima...

Like many of you, theirs been many days where I’d stare off into space wondering when I’d hear good news. I realized that I had two choices, bury my head and soak in the stress and weight of negativity or preoccupy myself by driving my kids insane, singing, dancing, or playing board games. So, I created other choices, flip a couple of houses, and redesign my entire first floor. New boxes showed up on my steps for almost three months. I was busy. I was creating. I used art, fabrics, furnishings,...

Dr. ScreenLaw: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Law As a screenwriter turned attorney I’ve learned how a screenplay is not just a story: it’s a minefield of intellectual property that could affect the project’s style, budget, sponsorships, and even its distribution. Through this article, you will learn my perspective on how decisions made during the writing phase of an audiovisual project can positively, or negatively impact the legal and financial aspects of a project. It will also...

Walt Disney said, "Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive," and in our ongoing mission to discover new talent from all over the world, Stage 32 is thrilled to announce our inaugural New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest! Ever since a feisty little cat named Felix first made his debut on the silver screen over 100 years ago, animation has been delighting audiences across generations and all over the world. Whether the hero is an intrepid mouse, a foul-mouthed ogre,...

THE EYE OF OWOU is based on the West African tale of how death entered the world. The logline is “A desperate mother uses ancient African magic to resurrect her daughter, then realizes the price for keeping her daughter alive entails taking the lives of others.” The logline won a logline contest in 2014 which led me to believe the idea, at least, had potential. I’ve always enjoyed reading mythology. Most horror films are based on Eurocentric myths. I decided to take a different route and explo...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! Here's hoping you had a happy, healthy, and creative week. I've got my coffee in hand and some epic content to share with you today. Let's get inspired, shall we? First up, the folks over at Aputure have curated an excellent video with 7 Tips for Telling Story with Lighting. Filmmaking is an incredibly collaborative medium. No matter what discipline you work in, every job on a production is, in one way or another, there to serve the story. This video highlights th...

Happy Saturday Stage 32 fam! Here at Stage 32, we always have our ear to the ground when it comes to industry news. Our mission is to keep our community educated, inspired, and motivated. Naturally, the topic of productions starting back up has been a hot-ticket item in the industry. We were proud to share two Stage 32 member's stories about their experiences shooting during the pandemic. Emily Skye, a director, screenwriter, and cinematographer, shot her award-winning short film River in No...

Do you have a friend whom you dearly love, but who just can’t seem to tell a story that doesn’t leave you wondering what’s for dinner or what you’re going to watch on Netflix? Maybe your friend tells stories like this: “and then...and then...and then...and THEN…” -- as if just raising the pitch and volume of each subsequent “then” raises the intensity of the story? Or maybe they’re so vague you’re not sure you know what they’re talking about -- or perhaps they get bogged down in so many detai...

Good morning, Stage 32 Creative Crew! I hope it was a fantastic weekend and one filled with creative endeavors. Keep hitting those writing goals. What separates those who succeed in this business from those who do not is simply tenacity and identifying opportunities.  In that spirit, I want to introduce you to Angela Uzun - an incredible writer who connected with Television Executive Anna Henry through Stage 32 coverage, and now has a television project optioned at Mind's Eye Entertainment! Mind...