Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community!

The day after Thanksgiving always feels like a quiet crossroads. The world slows down just enough for us to hear ourselves think. And in that quiet, I’ve been reflecting on something powerful that came up during this past week’s November Community Open House (if you missed it, click here and watch for free on demand), a moment that, to me, gets to the heart of what Stage 32 is really about.

A new member asked me, very honestly, whether this platform was the right place for her. She told me she wasn’t here to “build community” and didn’t have time to waste. She wanted to connect with a producer who could take her project straight to Netflix. She wasn’t rude. She wasn’t dismissive. She was focused, intensely focused, and I completely understood where she was coming from.

And she’s not the only one who has asked some version of that question.

“Why should I comment on someone’s post about their favorite sci-fi films? How does that get me a Manager?”

“How does sharing about my creative process in the Lounges help me sell a script?”

“What does sharing a YouTube video on screenwriting tips have to do with landing a deal?”

From the outside, it can look like a detour from the “real work.”

But here’s the truth — the truth I shared with her, and the truth I’ll share with you today:

You can grind alone for 10 years and barely move the needle, or you can spend a handful of intentional moments every day building relationships and watch your journey accelerate in ways you couldn’t have planned.

This business isn’t built on transactions. It’s built on people. And people don’t move your project forward because you’re talented — plenty of people are talented.

They move your project forward because:

• They trust you.
• They know you.
• They enjoy talking with you.
• They remember you.
• They connect with the way you show up.
• They share your interests and passions.
• They are interested in your voice.

That happens in the in-between moments — the comments, the conversations, the tiny windows where you reveal a little of who you are.

Those moments are the connective tissue of a creative career.

You wouldn't believe the caliber of professional producers, managers, agents, executives, filmmakers, actors, editors, composers, authors, financiers, distributors, VFX artists, and so much more that surround you in this community every day. The experienced, award-winning industry veterans who see your posts, comments, and interactions in the Lounges. Many of you have likely spoken to people on Lounge posts or Stage 32 blogs, who have worked on some of your favorite works of entertainment, but because you don't know them by name, you never realized who they were.

But the reality is that they're here. They're scrolling through the lounges on the Stage 32 app while they're standing in line at Starbucks. They're seeing your Introduce Yourself Lounge posts during Introduce Yourself Weekend. They're scrolling through the Stage 32 Videos page and Loglines page, curious about what people are working on currently.

Creativity Is More Than Output — It’s Identity

We often define ourselves by our work.

• Our scripts.
• Our reels.
• Our finished films.
• Our decks.
• Our scene reads.
• Our awards.
• Our placements.

But that’s not what makes someone want to collaborate with you.

What draws people in are the things beneath the surface:

• Your curiosity.
• Your generosity.
• Your humor.
• Your kindness.
• Your communication style.
• Your way of seeing the world.

Those are not “soft skills.” Those are creative skills.

The best filmmakers, writers, producers, actors, composers, etc. - they’re not just talented.

• They’re emotionally agile.
• They’re observant.
• They’re collaborative.
• They’re open to being inspired by someone else’s spark.
• They're not afraid of feedback.
• They can debate differences in opinion on notes, themes, material, etc., with respect and professionalism.

Creativity is not only what you make. It’s how you move.

We currently have over 3,000 working Industry Executives who spend time on the platform, making themselves available to you all for pitch sessions, career development calls, coverage, mentorship, contest judging, etc. But they're also in the larger community and observing you, based not just on the material you're submitting, but the kind of person you are in your normal everyday interactions, profile page information, and shared interests.

The Myth of Doing It Alone

I told our Open House attendee something I’ve learned again and again:

Every time a creative tries to do this alone, the journey becomes harder and longer.

Not because they’re unskilled.

Not because they’re unmotivated.

But because they’re missing the one thing that moves careers faster than any query letter: Support.

I have watched meaningful relationships form on Stage 32 in a handful of exchanges — sometimes across a single afternoon, sometimes over a few weeks.

And those connections have led to:

• Collaborations
• Representation
• Producing partnerships
• Jop opportunities
• Mentorship
• Script requests
• Film festival teams
• Friendships that change the work and the creator behind it

Not because someone aggressively chased an outcome, but because they showed up as a human being first.

That doesn’t slow your journey. That speeds it up.

Removing community from your path is like building a stone wall on the road to your own success. You weren’t meant to create entirely in isolation. No one in this collaborative business advances alone.

What Stage 32 Is Really For

Stage 32 is not just a place to upload work samples or fish for a single yes.

It’s a training ground for the thing that matters most in this industry:

Building real, human, creative relationships — the kind that make people want to say yes in the first place.

This platform is a rehearsal space for connection.

A laboratory for voice.

A community where the small interactions are the ones that shape the big opportunities.

If you comment on someone’s post about sci-fi films, you’re not wasting time — you’re building rapport and sharing your passion.

If you join a conversation about loglines, you’re not distracting yourself — you’re practicing the language you’ll need when your moment comes.

If you share insights, or ask questions, or show up with kindness — you’re planting seeds that sprout into career-changing introductions.

This is not noise. This is the work.

A Real Example of What Connection Looks Like

If you still feel unsure about the value of community or how small interactions lead to real opportunities, let me show you what I mean, with something happening right now on Stage 32.

All day today, a successful literary manager, Jon Hersh, is hosting a completely free Ask Me Anything event directly inside the Stage 32 Screenwriting Lounge. Jon represents working writers. His clients have developed projects with Netflix, Universal, Disney, Lionsgate, Amazon, Paramount, FX, AMC, and more.

He’s the kind of manager writers send cold queries to for years without ever hearing back.

On Stage 32, he’s here in the Lounge, answering questions in real time.

And the purpose of this AMA is simple:

To make you more educated, more confident, and more comfortable navigating the world of managers, agents, and development execs.

This is an opportunity that costs nothing, requires no gatekeepers, and is available to you whether you live in Los Angeles or Lagos.

Not because you pushed hard for a transaction, but because you chose to be part of a community that professionals actively want to invest their time into.

Jon’s background speaks for itself — USC alum, former CAA story analyst, former development exec at Broad Green, founder of Night Drive Management, and a rep whose clients regularly work. He’s the real deal, and today, he’s here for you.

You can jump into the AMA and ask him anything — truly anything — by clicking HERE!

This is what I mean when I say connection accelerates your journey. This is the difference between trying to break in alone and breaking in with a community behind you.

You Are More Than Your Logline, Reel, or Last Production

You’re a creator. A connector. A problem-solver. A world-builder. A storyteller.

A person capable of generosity, depth, humor, imagination, dedication, resilience, and emotional range.

And in this industry, that identity, not just the script in your hand, is what opens doors.

So if you’re reading this and wondering whether Stage 32 is worth your time, I’ll say this:

If you want to grow faster, go together.

If you want to navigate the industry with clarity instead of confusion, ask others.

If you want your work seen, supported, and championed, let yourself be seen too.

Because at the end of the day, the most powerful currency in this business isn’t a finished script or film. It’s connection.

And connection starts with one simple choice: Showing up.

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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