Screenwriting

I jumped head first into the world of screenwriting about a year ago after completing the one-year UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting (100% online which was convenient for me because I don’t live in LA!). With a decent draft of my first script in hand, I wondered: what next? Like most beginning screenwriters, I submitted it to the major screenwriting contests (Nicholl, PAGE, ScreenCraft etc. etc), hoping to get some traction. Which I did. And didn’t. And then I started doing some researc...

I recently gave some thought to what actions and strategies had made the most significant impacts in my success over the years.   I was surprised to realize how it really was not the things most of us expect. Not agents. Not union membership. Not publicity. Not awards or accolades. Not proactive networking.   The reality is far more subtle, nuanced and more powerful than any of those things. It took decades of perspective for me to recognize the indisputable patterns. When...

Happy Wednesday Creative Army! Since 2011, the Stage 32 team has been working tirelessly to help you stay connected, creative, motivated, and informed. As always, we are committed to bringing you networking opportunities, education and mentoring from top-level industry executives and professionals, and access to decision-makers around the globe all from the comfort of your own home. Recently our efforts have been noticed by the media in a big way. We are incredibly proud and honored that Sta...

As an artist, you’re called to show up in the world. Whether it’s on stage, making a pitch, submitting your screenplay, putting on an art show, you make yourself vulnerable to others over and over again. Making art is a unique process. The initial stages of creating are deeply personal, but, eventually, you need the attention of your audience to bring your creative work to life. Though it began as something private, your art only achieves its purpose and full potential when it impacts someone...

Watching a Rom-Com is like drinking a mug of hot cocoa - soothing and sweet. If you’ve been working on a romantic comedy script, it’d be our treat to read it. Give us the pleasure of reading your work, and we’ll make sure others get to read it too! We’re looking for Romantic Comedies like recent hits TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, CRAZY RICH ASIANS, or THE BIG SICK to spread the joy this year. With 90’s nostalgia spreading through all of pop culture, it’s the perfect time for the next big...

It’s not uncommon to dream about becoming a screenwriter. You see your words and ideas come to life on TV and movie screens worldwide. That’s fascinating. Have fun with it and never let go! However, Hollywood has changed in the past years, so screenwriters have to know how to promote themselves. If you don’t have an agent or a manager to help you out, then it might be difficult to establish yourself as a successful professional. You’ll have to do everything on your own. Likely, the digitalized...

Steven Bernstein is the cinematographer of White Chicks and Oscar-winning Monster, writer/director of Last Call with Rhys Ifans and John Malkovich is also a screenwriter, an actor, teacher, the author of the best-selling book “Film Production”, a writer for various film magazines, a lecturer and a motivational speaker. With over thirty years of experience in the biz, he is creating Instagram posts that are a “film school” goldmine to any Stage 32 member. I know a lot of people have an Inst...

I remember watching Jane the Virgin for the first time three years ago. Do you remember the flashback when Jane meets Rafael for the first time? If you’ve never seen it, just stick with me for a sec. Rafael asked Jane about what she wants to be in her life. She replies, Well, it depends. Am I being practical or brave? He says, Practical. She says, I'm a teacher. Then he says, Brave. She says, I'm a writer…I have never said that out loud before! He smiles at her and leans in for a kiss, and wh...

Happy Wednesday Creative Army! I am incredibly proud to announce that Stage 32 is partnering with Stage 32 educator and writer Mike Gauyo (Insecure, Ginny & Georgia) and Black Boy Writes Media to bring you the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative. Launched at the beginning of 2021, the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes initiates aimes to bring industry access and resources to budding WGA Black writers.  The application for the class of 2022 open November 15, and cl...

Welcome back, filmmakers of Stage 32! Most of you know me by now, either for my achievements or for my infamy, so I’ll spare you the branding prologue. If anyone needs a little reassurance that I actually do know what I’m talking about, I can tell you I’ve written two screenplays since my last blog and that I was paid to my satisfaction for both of them. If you’d like to check my receipts a little more thoroughly, I’ve got a brief bio and a list of all the articles I’ve written for Stage 32 at t...