Hi, Stage 32 Community!

Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community!

At Stage 32 you have direct access to award-winning industry executives and professionals who’ve written, directed, produced, composed, developed, performed, and represented acclaimed projects such as KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, BLACK WOMEN OWN THE CONVERSATION, RED TABLE TALK, WHAT/IF, UNDER THE SILVER LAKE, HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET, PACIFIC RIM: THE BLACK, THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, LOVE TAKES FLIGHT, HOME SWEET HELL, THE AMAZING RACE, TOP CHEF, and many others.

So without much further ado, let's roll out the red carpet and welcome some of the fantastic new people joining our Stage 32 Community this February!

New Stage 32 Executives-

Toni Bullock, Emmy Award-Winning Producer & Executive

Toni Bullock is an Emmy® Award-Winning Producer and an Unscripted Development Executive. She identifies stories and characters that resonate with a broad, young audience while developing and pioneering new series and formats. Toni has worked with brands including The CUT, NY Mag, POPSUGAR, and NowThis, creating and developing long-form content while pitching to networks, digital platforms, and clients bringing to life their creative visions and purpose.

She has spent the last 10 years developing and producing high-quality content for broadcast, cable, and online streaming networks such as Netflix, Bravo, CBS, Facebook Watch, OWN, Buzzfeed, and others. Her extensive expertise in unscripted TV development, casting, and field production led to her producing on the Emmy-winning show, BLACK WOMEN OWN THE CONVERSATION for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). She has also produced on other Emmy-nominated shows including, RED TABLE TALK (Facebook), THE AMAZING RACE (CBS), and TOP CHEF (Bravo). Toni virtually produced two timely television specials: BLACK WOMEN OWN THE CONVERSATION: COVID-19 for OWN, and TIME IS NOW: RACE AND RESOLUTION, a national series that aired simultaneously on the six A&E networks.

You can receive premium notes from Toni about your Pilot here or your First 10 Pages.

Allie MacDonald, Award-Winning Actor & Producer

Allie MacDonald is an award-winning actor and producer with over a decade of experience in film and television. Allie is next set to grace the big screen in the upcoming feature film THE ART OF A HIT announced on Deadline. She captivated audiences in the Netflix series WHAT/IF alongside Renee Zellweger.

Her recent filmography also includes UNDER THE SILVER LAKE with Andrew Garfield which was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival Palmes d'Or and distributed by A24 and the indie WHY NOT CHOOSE LOVE: A MARY PICKFORD MANIFESTO. A standout performance in the first season of the CTV drama series CARDINAL, earned her a Canadian Screen Award. Her performance in MEAN QUEEN garnished her another CSA nomination. Her versatility in comedy shines through in her series regular role in the Canadian comedy YOUNG DRUNK PUNK. Allie booked the UNTITLED MONICA POTTER PILOT with NBC and held the female lead in the Lifetime pilot CINNAMON GIRL, co-created by Renee Zellweger and Anthony Tambakis, directed by Gavin O’Connor. She also was the lead role in the Freeform pilot MISFITS announced on Deadline. Her film credits encompass the independent feature STAGE FRIGHT, premiering at SXSW, and roles alongside Jennifer Lawrence in HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET and with Stephen Moyer and Mia Kirshner in THE BARRENS. Allie also stars in the animated series PACIFIC RIM: THE BLACK on Netflix.

You can meet with Allie about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

CJ Jones, Development Executive at Live Forge Entertainment

CJ Jones is a seasoned industry development executive. They currently work as a Creative Executive in Development at the Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning production company Lion Forge Entertainment - a Black-owned animation and live-action studio focusing on diverse stories, authentically told for kids, family, and YA audiences. Lion Forge Entertainment has a First-Look deal with Paramount Animation/Nickelodeon. Initial projects identified for development include BORN DRIVEN, a story based on the life of Wendell Scott, the first Black NASCAR driver; comedy adventure IRON DRAGON, based on original IP created by Jay Kim at Mostapes studio in South Korea and Lion Forge; and MARLEY AND THE FAMILY BAND, an animated series based on Cedella Marley’s book, co-produced by Universal Music Group.

Before Lion Forge, CJ worked in Development at Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment, where they helped funnel numerous projects from development to delivery, including THE SLUMBER PARTY for Disney+, the Annie-Award winning series THE TINY CHEF SHOW and BOSSY BEAR for Nickelodeon, and WILD LIFE for HBOMax. Prior to Imagine, CJ developed projects with top talent including Viola Davis/ JuVee Productions and Amazon; Tony Kushner (The Fablemans, West Side Story, Lincoln) and Plan B; Tate Taylor (The Help, The Girl on the Train); Chad & Carey Hayes (The Conjuring), and others. While working for the independent production/financing company Faster Horse Pictures, the company struck a co-finance with Cross Creek Pictures, financing projects like THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, THE TAX COLLECTOR, and THE PALE BLUE EYE.

You can meet with CJ about your Pilot here, your Feature here, or your Pitch Deck/Bible Reviews.

Steven R. Monroe, Director/ Producer/ Screenwriter

Steven R. Monroe has directed music videos, commercials, documentaries, feature films, Series, and Television movies, doing all formats and all genres from Horror to Family, Action to Sci-Fi, and Thriller to Rom-Com. To date, he has directed almost 60 long-form projects. Television movies for such networks as SyFy, Lifetime, and Hallmark including the Hall of Fame film LOVE TAKES FLIGHT. He directed the final four episodes of the UP TV original dramatic series, TIES THAT BIND. He also directed many feature films including the acclaimed HOUSE OF 9 starring Dennis Hopper. Two films for legendary producer Stephen J. Cannell, and the controversial and critically acclaimed re-make of the 1978 classic I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE in 2010, and in 2012 the sequel I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2. He also directed the horror sequel for 20th Century Fox, THE EXORCISM OF MOLLY HARTLEY. He has also recently directed five Tubi Original Horror/Thrillers.

Monroe has an impeccable reputation as a director who brings a unique style to each project, has good performances, is fast yet efficient, and is respected by both crew and cast. He is also known for being one of the most prolific directors working today. He has worked in all regions of the US, all Provinces of Canada, also Prague, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Japan, U.K, Ireland, Mexico, Central America, South Africa, and almost every state in the U.S.

You can receive premium notes from Steven about your Pilot here, your Feature here, or your First 10 Pages.

Lee J. Russell Jr., Award-Winning Producer & Composer

Lee J. Russell Jr. is an LA-based award-winning producer and composer. He has a wide range of creative knowledge that has made him a rising wonder in the entertainment industry. Lee has worked as an Executive Producer with Burbank International Film Festival-Winners, including the COLEMAN-SMITH ARTISTIC COMPANY and BIBLICAL FILMS. As well as projects and people in association with Tyler Perry, Nick Cannon, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He's partnered with SONY and GATEWAY FILMS on multiple projects and has co-produced with Grammy Award-winning producers such as Phillip Aphillyated Guillory, associates of Kendrick Lamar, T-Pain, Paul Russell, and SONY MUSIC, PARAMOUNT RECORDING, EMPIRE MUSIC.

You can receive notes from Lee about your First 10 Pages here.

A.J. Edwards, Director & Producer

A.J. Edwards wrote and directed his first feature, THE BETTER ANGELS, starring Diane Kruger, Jason Clarke, Brit Marling, and Wes Bentley. The project debuted domestically at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and internationally at the 64th Berlin Film Festival.

His second feature as writer and director was AGE OUT, a modern-day crime drama set in Texas starring Tye Sheridan, Imogen Poots, Caleb Landry Jones, and Jeffrey Wright. AGE OUT made its world premiere at the 2018 South By Southwest Film Festival. His most recent release, FIRST LOVE, starring Diane Kruger, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Jeffrey Donovan.

Before directing his own features, Edwards worked as Editor and 2nd Unit Director on Terrence Malick's THE TREE OF LIFE, TO THE WONDER, KNIGHT OF CUPS, and SONG TO SONG and Co-Editor on Rick Rowley’s KINGDOM OF HEARTS, Executive Produced by Alex Gibney.

You can receive premium notes from AJ about your Feature here or your First 10 Pages.

Andre Champagne, Founder of Passcode Entertainment

Andre Champagne is a producer and founder of PASSCODE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC.

PASSCODE ENTERTAINMENT's upcoming development slate includes the biographical drama BUTTERFLY IN THE TYPEWRITER, the true story of John Kennedy Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning "A Confederacy of Dunces," THE UNICORN 5, a children's live-action TV series produced with SHERYL LEACH, founder of BARNEY, DARK WELL, a psychological thriller based on a notorious Louisiana serial killer, and SILENT, an episodic TV series based on the true stories of WWII's most deadly female snipers with KATHERYN WINNICK attached to star and produce. Recent credits include the supernatural drama, THE TOWER currently in post-production, starring BELLA THORNE, CAM GIGANDET, JACK KILMER, HOME SWEET HELL for SONY PICTURES starring KATHERINE HEIGL, PATRICK WILSON, and JORDANA BREWSTER.

Andre has spent over 25 years in the entertainment industry, currently overseeing all IP acquisitions and finance at PASSCODE, a VP of Creative Affairs at CLASSIC MEDIA, and a founder and CEO of his former production services company, HOLLYWOOD TRUCKS that he sold in 2019. Andre is also a current founder and board member of LFEA (Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association)

PASSCODE is a full-service IP acquisition and finance company that develops, packages, and arranges financing for feature films and television with a focus on filmmaker-driven, commercially minded stories for global audiences. The company is based in NEW ORLEANS, LA.

You can meet with Andre about your Pilot here or your Feature here.

John Thomas, Literary Manager at LBI Entertainment

John Thomas is a literary manager at LBI Entertainment, working with television and film writers/directors at various levels. John works with several of LBI clients' production companies - Martin Scorsese's Sikelia, Jonah Hill's Strong Baby, and Jennifer Lawrence's Excellent Cadaver - on different projects in various stages of development and production such as KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and the last installment in Ti West's X trilogy, MAXXXINE. John also had projects premiere at Cannes, NYFF, TIFF, and has overall deals with Apple, Netflix, etc.

After attending Temple University in Philadelphia, he moved to Los Angeles in 2015 where he got his start working for Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim's Abso Lutely Productions. He worked as an Agent Trainee in the TV literary department at Paradigm Talent Agency for two years before transitioning to LBI in 2017.

You can meet with John about your Pitch Deck/Bible Reviews here.

Alfredo Marun, Creative Producer

Alfredo Marun an independent Creative Producer who has worked at multiple production companies and studios, including Scott Rudin Productions, Matt Tolmach Productions, Sony, DreamWorks Animation, and most recently, was Director of Development at Disney Television Animation. Some of his credits include KIPO & THE AGE OF WONDERBEASTS, DRAGONS: NINE REALMS, THE MIGHTY ONES, and ZOMBIES: THE RE-ANIMATED SERIES. Alfredo is an advisor/charter member for LatinX In Animation, a group dedicated to empowering diversity in animation from page to post.

Alfredo Marun is a bilingual (Spanish-English) creative executive with over ten years of experience and a proven track record of developing live-action and animated television series and feature films for theatrical, linear, and SVOD. Born and raised in Colombia, Alfredo Marun moved to the United States in his early teens and quickly found his passion for filmmaking and storytelling.

You can meet with Alfredo about your Family Pilot here or your Family Feature here.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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