As recently announced in a Deadline article, the producers behind The Accountant 2 and Ozark just opened their doors exclusively to our community. Here's why this changes everything.

When I first started developing partnerships for Stage 32, I dreamed of creating opportunities that could genuinely transform writers' careers overnight. Today, that dream becomes reality with our exclusive Zero Gravity Management talent incubator, and I want you to understand exactly why this represents a once-in-a-lifetime moment for our community.

The Rarity of Direct Producer Access

Fresh off The Accountant 2's $100+ million box office success and with Ozark's massive streaming impact, Zero Gravity could easily rely on established talent and A-list submissions. Instead, they're doing something almost unprecedented in Hollywood: they're personally reviewing semi-finalist loglines and all top 10 finalist scripts from our global community of 1.3 million writers.

Think about that for a moment. These are the same producers who discovered Ozark creator Bill Dubuque through a cold query. Now they're bringing that same discovery mindset to Stage 32 writers exclusively.

Why Zero Gravity's Track Record Matters

This isn't just any production company looking for content. Zero Gravity's recent successes speak to their ability to package, finance, and deliver projects that audiences actually watch:

• The Accountant franchise: Proven box office success transitioning to streaming dominance
• Ozark: One of Netflix's most successful original series, spanning four seasons
• Consistent development pipeline: Active projects across multiple studios and streamers

When Zero Gravity selects writers for development, they're not offering empty promises: they're providing access to their proven packaging and financing infrastructure.

The "Cold Query" Philosophy That Changes Everything

Eric Williams made a statement that should give every emerging writer hope: "Discovering fresh voices through queries has long been a key part of how we do business—it proves there's no single path to getting noticed."

This philosophy is revolutionary in an industry increasingly closed to new voices. While other producers rely exclusively on agency packaging and established relationships unless they are reading and meeting writers through Stage 32, Zero Gravity actively seeks undiscovered talent. The Dubuque discovery wasn't an accident. It's their business model.

Why This Partnership Is Different From Every Other "Opportunity"

I've seen countless contests, fellowships, and programs promise industry access. Here's what makes this fundamentally different:

• Direct Producer Involvement Eric and Mark Williams 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.
• 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 Zero Gravity will jointly package developed projects for production. This means you're not just getting notes: you're potentially getting a produced film.
• Proven Track Record Stage 32's recent successes with Neighborhood Watch (Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and No Address (Billy Baldwin, Patricia Velasquez) 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 "Fast-Track Production" Actually Means

When Zero Gravity talks about "fast-tracking production," they're referring to their 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 producers with active studio relationships
• Packaging Support: Connecting projects with appropriate talent, directors, and financing
• Production Pipeline: Integration into Zero Gravity's active development slate

This isn't theoretical development. It's preparation for actual production.

The Stage 32 Advantage: Why They Chose Us

Zero Gravity didn't randomly select Stage 32 for this partnership. As Eric Williams noted, their "long-standing relationship with Stage 32" has shown them "remarkable talent emerge from the platform over the past decade."

Our track record of connecting emerging writers with real opportunities, combined with our global reach and curated community, made us the logical partner for their talent discovery initiative.

The Action/Thriller Genre Sweet Spot

The focus on action and thriller genres isn't arbitrary. It reflects current market demands:

• Streaming platforms actively seek elevated genre content
• International sales favor action/thriller properties
• Franchise potential drives studio interest in these genres
• Production efficiency makes mid-budget thrillers attractive to financiers

If you write in these genres, you're positioned perfectly for current market opportunities.

Why "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Isn't Hyperbole

This opportunity combines several rare elements:

• Established Producer Access: Direct pipeline to proven hitmakers
• Exclusive Platform: Available only to the Stage 32 community
• Personal Review Process: Your work is seen by actual decision-makers
• Production Commitment: Development aimed at actual filming
• Global Scale: Worldwide talent search through the largest creative community
• Proven Success Model: Based on Zero Gravity's track record of discovery

These elements rarely align. When they do, careers are made.

The Path Forward: What This Means for Your Career

If you're selected for this incubator, 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 same attention that turned Bill Dubuque from an unknown writer to Ozark creator.

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. Four additional judges will be reading all top 10 loglines and meeting with finalists. Those jurors include:

• Andrew Kersey, Literary Manager, Kersey Management (client credits include OPERATION ENDGAME, ARMED RESPONSE)
• Alexia Melocchi, Producer, Little Studio Films (DAY OFF, BOOK OF THE DEAD)
• Sofia Rovaletti, Director of Development, MoJo Global Arts (NIGHT OF THE HUNTED, MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN)
• Raquelle David, Literary Manager & Producer, Authentic Talent & Literary Management (client credits include THE BROTHERS SUN, THE CLEANING LADY)

And if you select the optional add-on mentorship opportunity, you could win a mentorship with Janet Jeffries, Development and Production Executive at Lawrence Bender Productions.

Lawrence Bender Productions is an independent feature film company in Los Angeles, led by award-winning producer Lawrence Bender. Films include the Peabody Award-winning animated short film COPS AND ROBBERS, the Academy Award-winning, live action short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, THE HARDER THEY FALL, GRETA, and Academy Award-winning and nominated films - HACKSAW RIDGE, GOOD WILL HUNTING, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, PULP FICTION, and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS. As a development executive, Janet works closely with Mr. Bender to develop a wide variety of features in many genres.

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.

Success in this industry often comes from positioning yourself in the right place when opportunity strikes. With Zero Gravity's exclusive partnership, Stage 32 has become that right place.

The producers behind $100+ million films and Emmy-winning series are personally reviewing Stage 32 submissions. They're looking for voices that could "redefine the genre."

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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