Trending Lounge Discussions

Hi Maria Brogna ! So happy to hear your time on Stage32 was so fulfilling. Congrats on all you've achieved so far and I'm sure this year will continue to bear fruit towards your goal :) what are you working on currently?

Hi Maria Brogna This is exactly the kind of post every new member needs to read. From learning to write a script to being nominated for a Masters in Screenwriting is a remarkable arc, and the fact that you are crediting the webcasts, pitch sessions, and community resources as part of that journey means everything to us.

The advice about listening, using criticism as a key, and filling out the surveys is genuinely wise and comes from real experience. Thank you for sharing it so generously. This community is better for having voices like yours in it — keep going.

Laura Hammer my pleasure. I'm 52, changing careers from being a writer in non profits & municipalities and in administration and transferring those skills to writing scripts and pitching those scripts was made much easier by Stage32. Number 1 is putting in the work, but understanding where to focus thar work and how to maximize its impact was absolutely supported by Stage32. Also, a shout out to Laquan in customer service! Been my go to since the first year & always fixes any issue I've had fast, concise and with a great attitude.

@Sebastian Tudores after two pitches for my script, both producers recommended making it a series. Im adapting it to a 6 episode limited series.

Sunil Dhokia Congratulations!

Thanks Laura

Congratulations, Sunil Dhokin!

congratulations! That’s huge!

Congratulations! Sunil Dhokia

Thank you for everything you do for this community, Timothy! Sounds like the 3 P's framework is something every actor should have on their wall. What's the most common mistake you see actors make when they first start out?

thank you Geoffroy Faugerolas

Hey Timothy Miller - good to see you on IY weekend! Hope you're having an amazing weekend!

I am having a wonderful weekend, having the opportunity to meet new and exciting people every day. thank you Leonardo Ramirez I hope you are having a wonderful weekend as well.

Sure am Timothy Miller - glad you're with the mod squad!

To Bill Brock: Thank you for the video of Johnny Cash, a storyteller who puts most other musicians and creative artists to shame.

Robert D. Carver Agreed, and you’re welcome, Rob. Cash = LEGEND!!!! His rendition of “HURT” is Phenomenal. And his talent was the muse I needed to create a very complex character.

May John Cash ALWAYS Rest In Peace.

A number of people in this thread have hit on this already, but, following advice from a writer on YouTube, I listen to music that is related to what I'm writing. When writing my medieval epic, I listened to medieval music. When writing my mummy films, I listened to Ancient Egyptian-style music.

Now if there isn't a clear music-style choice for what I'm writing, I'll usually listen to some form of relaxing music (either lo-fi, classical, light jazz, or weather channel).

But one thing that is consistent in my music choices is no lyrics because lyrics will distract me.

I usually turn to YouTube as I have a Premium subscription to remove ads, so I'll usually pull up multi-hour-long videos with music that runs continuously.

Hey Ashley Renée Smith I can be a very nervous writer so I used to listen to Insight timer calming music now I'm wanting to emulate Ryan Coogler and listen to a mix of First Nations / Irish music to get into the headspace of my two female leads.

1000% yes, music has always transported me out of the tangible world and into the universe I created and need to inhabit fully when I write. We all know the power of music as a viewer of film-- it signals us when to cry or fully feel the appropriate emotion for what we see. Even more so during the creative process!

Look forward to your contributions, Dixon Morisseau

Welcome! What a background and an eclectic perspective! If you haven't yet, you can interact with fellow composers in the Composing lounge. And make sure to checkout the music-centric webinars :)

Dixon Morisseau Be sure to stop by the composing lounge and get to know some of your fellow composers: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/composing. And make sure to checkout the music webinars we have here! Happy networking!

Hi Dixon Morisseau, welcome to Stage 32! I’m Ashley, Head of Community here on the platform. It’s great to meet you, and I love the intentionality behind your approach to composing. It looks like some great advice has already been shared about jumping into conversations in the Composing Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/composing), and I definitely want to echo that. It’s one of the best places to connect with other composers and filmmakers while sharing your perspective and process.

I’d also recommend exploring our Composing Education (https://www.stage32.com/education/collections/composing). There are some fantastic resources there that can help you continue developing both creatively and professionally as you grow your career.

Nice to meet you here in the S32 Club, Dixon Morisseau.

Character‑driven narratives are so needed these days. Your voice is so important. And by the way, portugal has the power to become a real production hub in the coming years!

Always good to see what you're working on Maria! Thank you for the update - your project seems interesting! :)

Thank you Geoffroy Faugerolas, your opinion is very important. I´m grateful you see value in my voice and in the kind of stories I´m trying to tell. I´m also glad you see my country having power to become a real production hub in the coming years. It´s exciting to image what the next few years could bring.

Hi Lauren Hackney thank for your kind words. Yes, this project I´m starting is very challenging because it´s very emotional from beginning to the end.

Maria Caeiro, thank you for reintroducing yourself, it’s so great to see you here. It’s also exciting to hear you’re preparing to pitch Paper Planes while stepping into something new at the same time. That balance of developing multiple projects can really help sharpen your voice.

As you’re in this early writing phase, what’s the emotional core you’re most focused on capturing in this new short right now?

RISK vs. REWARD looks awesome!! I checked it out on your profile - you did a great job of building the tension for the game show and it's clear on whether or not your contestant is a gambler willing to risk it all. I also like the concept of the do over. Really solid reel Eddie.

Hi Eddie Lawhorn - loved it! Just initial thoughts:

- on Reel, I did end up watching it again to get the min/max win/loss primarily because those graphics went a little too fast for me, Si=o maybe either slower pacing on that portion or spelling the risk/probability piece out a tad more?? thinking out loud.

- I also love the Do-Over feature; can only imagine what a sudden personal risk profile readjustment that can be for some! awesome

- also love that the categories go away as you pick and answer them - was not happy about that at all! haha

congrats!

Nicely done Ryan Vallo onwards and upwards!

Congratulations Ryan! Are you working on any new stories?

Congratulations Ryan and nice to meet you!

Congratulations!

Pat, Amanda, Vital, Laura, thanks kindly for your messages. Pleased to e-meet you.

Yes Amanda, in fact I have a full slate of projects I’m working, some of which you can read about on my website, www.ryanvallo.com under "Writing".

Again much gratitude, Amanda, Pat & Laura. The work of you and your colleagues at Stage 32 is most appreciated!

Hello Bipal Dahal - Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend and welcome to Stage 32! Here’s a great post that will help you navigate Stage 32: https://www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-p...

Has your series been produced and available for watching?

Hi Bipal Dahal, welcome to Stage 32! I’m Ashley, Head of Community here on the platform. It’s great to meet you, and I really respect the intention behind your series. Building a story that not only explores real-world problems but also imagines solutions is a powerful approach.

You may find it really helpful to reach out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com. If you share more about your series, your goals, and what you’re hoping to do next with it, they can help guide you toward resources and opportunities that align with your vision.

Your concept feels very message-driven and expansive. What is the central character or perspective we follow through these different versions of the world?

Ashley Renée Smith

Hi Ashley,

Thank you so much for the welcome — and for right question.

The central character we follow is MARK. President of the most powerful nation in a fictional world. Brilliant. Strategic. Completely certain. He controls governments, manipulates economies, arms both sides of conflicts he quietly designed. He is not a traditional villain — he genuinely believes power and control are the only language the world understands. And for most of his life, he has been right.

The series begins with Mark at the height of that power. And the world starting to burn because of decisions he made in quiet rooms, with clean hands, without ever seeing the people his decisions touched.

But the true engine of the story is not his power. It is the crack in it.

That crack is his seven-year-old daughter LILY.

She does not know what her father has done. She only knows that when she draws the sun, she makes it the biggest thing on the page — because it is. One morning at breakfast she asks him: "Can't everyone just be powerful together?"

Mark cannot answer. He opens his mouth. And closes it.

That question — from a child with crayon on her hands — is what starts everything.

Alongside Mark's arc we follow the people the world forgot.

ADAM — a young soldier who writes everything he witnesses in a notebook that becomes a book published in sixty-four languages.

SARA — a factory worker who loses her job to economic warfare and responds by writing, alone at 2am, the framework that becomes global trade policy.

AMINA — a young woman who starts with a megaphone and thirty people and does not stop.

DANA — a medical student turned soldier who carries traditional healing knowledge across a broken world.

NARA — a six-year-old girl in a displacement camp who gives a soldier a smooth stone, because when something is important, you should have a stone so you remember.

Watching all of it — from the universe itself — is HOPE. A celestial being. Ancient. Patient. Not intervening. Not judging. Just watching. And believing — even when everything he sees says not to.

Two seasons. 18 episodes.

Season 1 — the world breaks.

Season 2 — the long, difficult, deeply human process of healing.

Season 3 — what becomes possible when the right people are finally in the right room. (Yet to complete in co ordination with producing partner)

It ends with a round table. One hundred and eight chairs. No head of table.

I am reaching out to the Success Team at Success@Stage32.com today as you suggested. I would love any guidance on the best next steps from here.

Thank you again, Ashley. This platform feels like exactly the right place for this story.

Warm regards,

Bipal Dahal

Such an interesting concept- and totally blue sky as far as more and more content that could be created!

Libby Wright Thankyou for your you time.

Nice to meet you here in the S32 Club, Doug Kayne.

Likewise, Michael Dzurak

Hello Sydney S Writing some Horror Thriller Vampire feature film content. How are things with you?

Hey Mark Films - it's always great to see you here in the lounges. Hope you're having an amazing IY weekend friend!

Hey Mark! with your horror content, are you writing pictures or are you writing, shorter films or verticals?

Just grinding Leonardo Ramirez and thanks for the support bro!

Writing full on Specs and with the help of Ai Amanda Toney I can write a full 90 page script in just a few hours.

So nice to see you here again!

Welcome Back Kyle Bell

It’s great to have you here, Kyle. What are you working on lately? I thought this webinar might be of interest to you. It’s hosted by an agent who talks about getting representation in the US as a foreign actor.: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/finding-agency-representation-as-a-foreign-actor-in-the-us

Welcome Kyle.

Kyle Bell welcome back — building Sumai Pictures while developing original projects and continuing to pursue acting work simultaneously is a serious amount of creative momentum, and London is a brilliant base for the international collaborations that kind of ambition tends to attract.

The Writers' Room is a great place to find the producers, DPs, and directors you are looking for: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip