Trending Lounge Discussions

Amanda Toney — good to be back. Honestly, it’s a lifelong obsession with mythology, including modern myth, inspired by my own unique brushes against the unusual.

Sound very cool! bravo

Good to have you back Adam Spencer — and a direct ask with a project ready to go is exactly the right energy. The Lounge is a great place to start, and the Writers' Room is where a lot of those producers, managers, and executives are actively looking for new material every week. Grab a free month and get KERES THRESHOLD in front of the right people: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

Good

Great to see you, Adam Spencer! Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend!

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!

"I wake up every day and pursue joy". This is such an important statement and I think all of us, whether we're in the entertainment craft or somewhere else, should make this our motto. Life can be tough and work can be quite fraught with all kinds of things much larger than seems humanely possible so remembering to enjoy each day is so important. I think we already connected and you were going to do some reading on my podcast but then I switched to artificial voices. But now, I getting kind of sick and tired of the sound of the Microsoft Voice. The Google Voice I like. If you check out my last Spotiy podcast for Chrysalis - The Family Adventure(s), you'll see that in addition to MS and Google I brought back reading it myself. So if you want to give this another try again, just contact me. Anyone's voice other than mine would be welcome.

Thank you Marc Ginsburg It took me a long time to learn that lesson. Joy is our birthright, so if we are not doing what makes us happy, then what are we doing? Yes, I would love to read on your podcast, I got a new microphone. I will DM you.

Leonardo Ramirez Have patience — it’s spring, the trees are in love ;-))

Amanda Toney Thanks so much, I love taking pics. To be honest, here in Italy it can feel a bit isolating sometimes.That’s why I’m so grateful for spaces like Stage 32 — they become the place where those connections actually happen and keep the creative energy alive.

LOL OK Alex Bridge - roger that!

Alex Bridge it is! but we don't get cool special effects ^^"

Hi Alex Bridge, I’m Ashley, Head of Community here on the platform. It’s so great to see you here, and I just want to say how much I’ve enjoyed seeing you around the Lounges over the last few weeks. The way you’ve been showing up and engaging already makes a real difference, both in building relationships and in staying visible for opportunities, so definitely keep that momentum going.

Your projects sound fantastic, especially that balance of high-concept ideas grounded in emotional tension. And I love how you described finding clarity in nature, that’s such a great creative practice!

I’d also love to invite you to my next Community Open House in June. It’s a great way to learn more about how to use the platform strategically and connect with others in real time. You can register here:

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-june-2026-community...

You may also find it really helpful to reach out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com. If you share more about your projects and your goals, they can help guide you toward curated resources and opportunities that align with where you want to go next.

@Laura Hammer Thank you. That deep investment in the characters and the world is honestly what pulls me in the most as a viewer, so it naturally shows up in how I write as well.

I'll definitely take a look at the Writer's Room. Thank you for sharing.

Welcome, Alisha — love that “proud parent” energy, that’s how you know the project matters!

Excited to see what you’re building and glad you’re here!

Hey Alisha,

Love this, especially the proud parent line, very relatable! Nice to e-meet you :)

I love to paint too. What do you like to paint with, and what kinds of things do you usually create?

Great to have you here and looking forward to seeing what you’re working on!

Laquan Copeland Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm excited to keep building and sharing more as it develops. Glad to be here.

Sydney S Hey Sydney, nice to meet you too. I love that you paint as well. I work mostly with acrylics, especially metallics, and I'm drawn to more symbolic, layered pieces. A lot of feminine energy, nature elements, and storytelling through visuals.

What about you? What kind of things do you like to paint?

Brenda, adapting your own books into screenplays and landing in the finals and quarterfinals is a strong foundation to build from — and the fact that you're doing it from Trinidad and Tobago is exactly the kind of international voice this industry needs more of.

With competition placements already behind you, this is the right moment to make sure the right people can find your work. Our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com can help identify the next right steps — whether that's getting your scripts in front of producers, finding the right pitch sessions, or mapping out a clear path forward.

What are you working on right now?

Hey Brenda Mohammed, welcome back! Love that you adapted your own books into screenplays. That's a smart move. Getting finalist and quarterfinalist recognition is no small thing. What's the sci fi horror romance mashup you're most excited about right now?

Hi Brenda,

So great to see you here again and congrats on adapting your books into screenplays, that’s a huge achievement. Finalist and quarter finalist placements are amazing momentum too.

Love that you’re working across sci-fi, horror, and romance, that’s a great mix.

What are you currently focusing on next, another adaptation or something new?

Hi Geoffroy, Sam, and Sydney. Thanks for your lovely comments. I have published 68 books, so it is easier to adapt suitable ones into screenplays. I started working on a mystery, but the screenplay software conked out on me, and all my work disappeared. The provider said it was the fault of the company and gave me a refund. I will buy new software and get going again. Have a nice day.

Hey Jason Rist great to meet you and thanks for sharing about all you're up to! Stage 32 is a great place to learn, connect, and get comfortable with turning on "business mode" once you've finished the fun writing part. There's a lot of great resources and webinars on adaptations like this one: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-adapt-a-book-into-a-fi...

Welcome Jason Rist — the journey you are describing is more common than you might think. Starting with screenplay concepts, turning them into novels, and now bringing them back to script form means you already understand story architecture at a deep level. The formatting and industry conventions are learnable quickly. The instinct for what a story needs to do — that is the harder thing, and you clearly already have it.

The business side being the harder piece is something a lot of writers here will recognize immediately. Stage 32 is genuinely one of the better places to get comfortable with that side of things at your own pace — the community is warm and the webcasts in the Writers' Room give you direct access to industry professionals without having to put yourself out there cold. Grab a free month and ease in: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

Congratulations! Writers have to write!

I think it's great that you know yourself so well, and that you're willing to stretch yourself!

Good for you that you’re writing both books as well as screenplays, that’s not easy! I immediately thought of this webinar that I know you will find helpful for your current situation: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/the-step-by-step-process-of-developing-a-book-into-a-film-or-television-series

Hi Sam! what are some of the exciting things that are happening in certification?

I love that " "your talent determines your floor, but your character will determine your ceiling." Great message!

Amazing re-introduction, Sam Sokolow. Yes, the takeaway phrase I'll never forget was "your talent determines your floor, but your character will determine your ceiling."

Thank you for all you do for the community Sam Sokolow

Hi Amanda Toney - there are always exciting things happening in Certification as communities all over need to fill crew jobs, and as people take control of their own projects to make indie films and digital series. We recently completed successful training partnerships with film commissions in Florida and Edmonton. We're about to launch 2 new training programs in Hawaii. We're in early talks on doing a repeat training program in Chicago. I was super honored to host a webinar for Women In Film International in Sydney, Australia, to announce our partnership and offer their members special access to Stage 32 Certification courses. Individuals are logging on and getting certified everywhere, every day, as production continues to expand. It's a very cool time and a real credit to RB's vision of how production would evolve right now.

Cool blog post Darrell Pennington. You have such a wide, vast experience with living in so many countries. It's amazing. I'm curious about Spain - your post mentions a two-week cruise there but did you actually live there? I ask because lately I had traced my ancestry all the way back to Navarre on my father's side all the way back to 1290 so I'm curious. Never been there.

Leonardo Ramirez Hi there - no we haven't lived as most people would consider living. We've lived on the road constantly since we left the states and just float from place to place depending on out pet sitting opportunities. WE spent about a month total in Spain. Started in Barcelona and made our way down the east cost south to Tarifa and then went to Africa for 3 weeks. Spain as you can imagine was GORGEOUS, especially Ronda. One of the most physically beautiful places I've seen in person. Highly recommended.

Nice, Darrell Pennington. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts" -- Mark Twain

Wow Tom Stohlgren - I knew this quote from my Creative Writing days at WKU but had forgotten it. I'm building a premise out of this being the opening super on a GREAT MOVIE. Thank you! BTW, there is so much wisdom, truth, irony and scrutiny in that sentence living in 2026 that it boggles the mind hahaha...

Sounds amazing Darrell Pennington. I will have to visit some day.

I feel like I've known you for way longer than a year Geoffroy Faugerolas ! Seriously...THANK YOU for all of the tremendous work that you do. Thanks for always responding to queries and always being so willing to help and clarify. You've been a real source of hope for me this year and I can't thank you enough. Happy IYW my friend. You are good people!

Thanks for all you do for our creative community. It’s exciting to see so many careers that get launched through the work you and your team do!

The Matchmaker himself! Thank you for your dedication and care for the members of this community, Geoffroy Faugerolas. You make such a difference in their trajectory!

You inspire me every day, Geoffroy Faugerolas. The opportunities you present to us are varied and insightful. Thanks for all you do.

Thank you Geoffroy Faugerolas for all you do for our team and members! It is great to be working with you. Stage 32 is a wonderful community and every day it is an honor to support this community.

You too Sandra Correia - thank you so much!

Thank you Maria Caeiro :)) Happy IYW <3

Leonardo Ramirez <3

Sandra Correia, happy Introduce Yourself Weekend, my soul sister!

First of all, huge congratulations on Soul Mated taking 2nd place at the Liverpool Indie Awards. That’s such a meaningful milestone, especially knowing how much time, care, and emotional energy you’ve poured into It. What stands out most about your work is that clear throughline of wanting to empower and heal through storytelling. That’s not easy to do authentically, but you continue to show up with that purpose in a really grounded way.

This month, I’ve been deep in Cannes prep, building out meetings, planning events, and thinking about how to make the most of those in-person moments that don’t come around often enough. It’s a different kind of creative energy, but still very much about connection and momentum.

As you’re refining the pitch deck, what’s been the most important element for you to get right in communicating the emotional core of Soul Mated?

Ohhhh I feel so blesses to be a spectator watching your amazing journey unfold. I'm so happy for you with 'Soul Mated' - and to think it's just the beginning!

Hey Gurpreet Singh

it was nice meeting you man, I help artists bringing their music to life through animation

i would love to connect

Pleased to meet you, Gurpeet. Congratulations.

Thank you!

Pleased to meet you, Gurpreet Singh You have come to the right place!

Thank you Pat