There is a saying, where there’s a will, there’s a way. That sums up my belief and experience so far in this journey. I am Jeelan, living with my family in the suburbs of San Francisco, California.

All of us are here on Stage 32 because of one common thing that unites us, our love for Movies. To me, movies are not only a passion but devotion. As far as I can remember, movies provide me joy, stirs my imagination, and gives me the escapism I require. At a minimum, one movie a day is my mileage, and I reached a point where I felt it was time to tell my own stories to my audience, which became my obsession.

The Blank Page

I usually get a lot of ideas for stories, but there was this one I couldn't stop thinking about and visualizing in my head ever since I conceived it. I quickly outlined the end-to-end story. Now there is something you should know, I had no experience whatsoever in how to write a screenplay. No professional training. No background. No industry contacts. I basically started from scratch, watched a lot of online videos, and read a lot of stuff on the internet to learn the art of writing a screenplay. And so, I began, purchased software, and started writing my screenplay. After a few months, I was able to conclude my first draft.

What's Next?

Then the challenge, “what’s next?". I want experts to read my work and provide their feedback. So, through paid services, I got my initial feedback, in which I learned the most crucial thing. They all validated my concept/subject and the overall idea. I also understood my screenplay needed a lot of work to reach the industry standards in terms of quality. I kept improvising it, but apparently, I needed more help.

That is when I found Stage 32, where I recognized their logo from a few videos I watched. I joined them immediately and started navigating their website. Apart from helpful resources on their website, I found they have script services where you get the opportunity to pitch your script to active industry individuals. I can't ask for more because Stage 32 provided me with a platform where I got exposure to the individuals I couldn’t possibly reach out to on my own and didn't have to worry about sending materials from unsolicited sources.

Connecting with Ramo Law

From Stage 32 blogs & videos, I understood Ramo Law would be able to help me with my script. I waited a while for their availability and booked one slot as soon it became available. Then arrived at this incredible opportunity to pitch my work to the one and only** Tiffany Boyle.** She liked it and later reached out to me. Since then, I have been working with her and her team. The best thing about her is that she is both professional and friendly. Eventually, she provided me with a lot of valuable notes and feedback, which not only improved my overall script but also made me a better screenwriter. Working with Tiffany, I realized she cares for your work and only does things in your best interest of it.

Going All In

I will share more about my script in the future, but at present, my script's getting pitched to a few potential producers/companies to take it further one level up. I'm all in on this, and I hope my work receives the love it deserves. I'm an optimist, and so you should be too. You gotta believe in yourself and your work, put in your best, and most importantly, especially in this industry, be open to constructive criticism. Lastly, it's not the giant leaps but the small steps that matter.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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