2nd Annual Feature Drama Screenwriting Contest

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!!!

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL FINALISTS!

This year’s Grand Prize Winner will be flown to Hollywood (travel permitting) to meet one-on-one with our judging and mentoring panel whose credits include the upcoming romantic drama WILD MOUNTAIN THYME with Golden Globe-winner Emily Blunt, Oscar-winning BLACKkKLANSMAN, Oscar-winning THE REVENANT, MIDWAY for Lionsgate, BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY for MGM, TETRIS for Apple+ and more!

ALL Finalists will receive exposure to our incredible panel of judges and have their titles and loglines featured in the Stage 32's Industry LookBook, which is sent to over 500 executives and professionals who work directly with Stage 32! Previous Stage 32 contest finalists have had their projects optioned and been signed for representation as a result of our industry lookbooks!

This is exclusive access and unprecedented opportunity.

Drama, when done well, can elevate any movie genre. Feature dramas continue to be the cornerstone of entertainment around the world. And while other genres may go through trends of popularity, writing a compelling feature drama can launch a screenwriter’s career. Which is why...

Stage 32 is thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual Feature Drama Contest!

“This is more impressive than most other contests I've placed in - Nicholl, Austin, etc. - so I'm really grateful and happy!”

- Jeff Galante, Stage 32 Contest Winner

The legendary writer and actor Gore Vidal told us, "A talent for drama is not a talent for writing, but is an ability to articulate human relationships." It is Stage 32's ongoing commitment to find incredible, undiscovered talent. We're excited to announce our 2nd Annual Drama Screenwriting Contest. This is a worldwide search for the best screenplays that take a deep dive into human relationships.

In this time of social distancing, we’re seeing relationships through a brand new lens and are looking for human connection. There has never been a greater need to explore the nuances of Drama than right now.

Drama is an exploration in complex character relationships and there is perhaps no more nuanced genre that can encompass many others. Projects like MARRIAGE STORY teach us that dramas can be hilarious, MOONLIGHT shows us an earnest and stunning piece of art, THREE BILLBOARDS... shows us a world that is dark and quirky, while 1917 reinvented the war drama. No two dramas look alike, but all of them dare to show us a different perspective of humanity.

What does the Winner Receive? 

The Grand Prize Winner will be flown to LA (travel permitting) and meet with our Judge & Mentor Board including:

• Bradley Gallo , President of Film & Television - Amasia Entertainment (GREEN HORNET, DARK SHADOWS)
• Michael Ewing, Creative Executive - AGC Studios (MIDWAY for Lionsgate, BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY for MGM)
• Oliva Hurd, Development Executive - Amasia Entertainment (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME starring Golden Globe Winner Emily Blunt)
• Augustine Calderon, Co-Producer TETRIS (Apple+), CRITICAL THINKING with John Leguizamo & Development Executive, THE REVENANT
• Meagan Culberson, Management Coordinator - Alta Global Media (Oscar-winning BLACKkKLANSMAN)
• Juan He, Literary Manager, Pregame Content
• Christina Pickworth, Literary Agent, IMAGINE TALENT UK

All Top 10 Finalists get incredible exposure to these major decision makers!

ALL FINALISTS will be in a Stage 32 Look Book which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 500 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Look Books are respected throughout the industry and have helped secure dozens meetings and which have led to writer success with companies like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.

What Are We Looking For?

Remember that Drama has seemingly infinite sub-genres and we are open to them all. We want unique Dramas  that have something new to say to audiences. Whether your story is a Romantic Drama, Historical Drama, Horror Drama, Legal Drama, War-time Drama, Crime Drama - or anything else in between - our judges want to see it! 

Our goal is to amplify your voice, give you the access Stage 32 is known for, and springboard your writing career to the next level!

What Types Of Scripts Can I Enter?

We’re looking for original, feature-length screenplays. Please no television pilots or limited series. 

Feedback Option

For an additional fee of only $49 you can receive full coverage from our industry readers on your screenplay or teleplay. Just check "coverage" upon checkout. Coverage will be sent out after the winners are announced.

"I found Stage 32’s contest coverage far better than some other services I have used in the past, where I felt almost assaulted. Please thank him or her for a well-done job. It was my first try with Stage 32 but it will not be my last." - Bob C.

"Stage 32 contest coverage is even better than some of the industry coverage I received. Thank you for these invaluable notes!" - E. Robinson

"The insight from my coverage from the Stage 32 contest helped me improve my script's dimension exponentially. I had looked at the script so much that I can't believe I missed a major plot point. Thank you!!" - S. Persons

Unprecedented access. Greater opportunities. Better exposure. More reads.

Real success!

Stage 32 Gets Results!

Stage 32 screenwriting and television writing competitions have springboarded over TWENTY screenwriting careers! All of these writers have either been signed, optioned, or are now working screenwriters in the industry.

Some highlights from Stage 32 contest winners and finalists in the last 12 months alone include:

• Martin Reese - landed at $5,000 option agreement and eligibility for $100,000 in production financing after having his script selected in the Microbudget Horror Script Competition.
• Eric Jeske - was signed by literary managers Krista Sipp and Devon Byers of First Friday Entertainment after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Greg Mania - was signed by Laina Cohn and Jon Taub of Cohn/Torgan Management after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Christina Pamies - was signed by prolific spec script selling manager Jake Wagner of Alibi Entertainment after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32! She was hired to write the horror Thriller BAGHEAD for StudioCanal!
• Jonathan Jordan - signed with a manager and agent as a result of winning the Stage 32 Feature Screenwriting Contest and is now writing for a major studio. 
• Christine Torres - signed with prolific manager and producer Brooklyn Weaver of Energy Entertainment after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• See dozens of success stories below under "Our Track Record"

The Grand Prize Winner

The Grand Prize Winner will be flown to Hollywood and sent on private one-on-one meetings with the panel of industry mentors from:

• AGC Studios (MIDWAY, BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY)
• Mandalay Pictures (RAIN MAN, BATMAN, THE COLOR PURPLE, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS)
• Apple+ (TETRIS)
• Amasia Entertainment (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, THE CALL, CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR)
• Imagine Talent UK
• Alta Global Media (Oscar-Winning BLACKkKLANSMAN)
• Pregame Content 

In addition, Stage 32's executive team will send your screenplay title, logline, writer bio & script synopsis to over 500 development executives, producers, managers & agents who work with Stage 32. If an executive requests the script or a meeting, we will facilitate the delivery.

If you make the top 10, you still get massive exposure to decision makers!

ALL FINALISTS will be in a Stage 32 Look Book which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 500 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Look Books are some of the most sought after talent resources for the industry and have helped secure meetings with places like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.

Bradley Gallo (Judge & Mentor) - President, Film & Television, Amasia Entertainment

Bradley Gallo is the co-founder and President of Film and Television at Amasia Entertainment. Helmed by the former president and COO of Marvel Studios, Michael Helfant, Amasia has emerged as one of the top production companies in the industry today.

Amasia which is the production company behind the sequel series DARK SHADOWS: REINCARNATION for Warner Brothers and the grounded reboot of the GREEN HORNET franchise, set up at Universal.

Amasia will soon release WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, starring Emily Blunt, Christopher Walken, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Dornan. Previous credits include 2019’s Official Sundance Selection THEM THAT FOLLOW, starring Olivia Coleman, Jim Gaffigan, Walton Goggins, Kaitlyn Dever, Lewis Pullman, Alice Englert, and Thomas Mann.

Amasia Entertainment is a production, finance and management company based in Los Angeles. They're behind films like CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, FEAR, INC., THE ROAD WITHIN, THE CALL AND MR. RIGHT. Amasia is currently in pre-production on FATE, written by Gary Whittar (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, BOOK OF ELI).

Recently, Amasia opened up a bidding war for MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS, with SONY picking up the project, which is now in development (see it on Deadline) and announced a new Television division led by industry veteran Tracy Mercer, formerly with Morgan Freeman's Revelations Entertainment (See it on Deadline here). Amasia just acquired the rights to the sci-fi feature WORLD BREAKER and the pilot DOPPEL (see more here).

Agustine Calderon (Judge & Mentor) - VP of Features, Amigos Studios

Agustine Calderon is the VP of Features at Amigos Studios. Previsouly he was VP of Features at 3Pas ("Trey Pās") which has a First Look production deal with Lionsgate for features, and ABC Signature for series. Their previous 3 projects with Lionsgate have made over $250m in the Global Box Office - starting with breakout remake of the classic OVERBOARD with Anna Ferris.

Previously, Agustine identified the IP, and co-produced TETRIS starring Taron Egerton for Apple+. He also just developed CRITICAL THINKING directed by actor, John Leguizamo.

He was previously an executive at a major production company with a co-financing and production deal at Warner Bros. His production and development credits include HORRIBLE BOSSES, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN, READY PLAYER ONE, WONDER WOMAN, THE LEGO MOVIE & THE LEGO MOVIE II, THE JUNGLE BOOK.

Agustine is also currently in development on a project with producer Beau Flynn (Rampage, Requiem for a Dream, San Andreas). Agustine specializes in Drama, Horror, Comedy, Action-Comedy Features, and Television of all genres.

 

Meagan A. Culberson (Judge & Mentor) - Management Coordinator, Alta Global Media

Meagan A. Culberson is the Management Coordinator for Alta Global Media, a joint venture between Peabody Award-winning Manager/Producer Steven Adams and Theo Dumont that represents international talent, writers/directors, and media companies for the US Market. At AGM, Meagan helps manage international talent and media companies and helps clients develop their tv and film slates.

Steven Adams is a producer on the Netflix Original adaptation of Roger Guenveur Smith’s solo performance piece RODNEY KING and the Peabody Award winning A HUEY P NEWTON STORY for Starz, both directed by Academy Award winner Spike Lee. Adams recently collaborated on the marketing of 2 seasons Spike Lee’s hit series Netflix SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, and the Academy Award winning BLACKKKLANSMAN.

Theo Dumont has a tremendous amount of entertainment publicity experience. He is the co-founder and co-director of the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, Hollywood Comedy Festival and co-founder of the Mammoth Film Festival. Prior to Alta Global Media, Dumont was Head of Marketing at Buffalo 8 and Director of Corporate Communications at MGM Studios.

Michael Ewing (Judge & Mentor) - Creative Executive, AGC Studios (MIDWAY, )

Michael Ewing is the Creative Executive at AGC Studios which just released the Heist Thriller LOCKED DOWN from director Doug Liamn. 

Matt he sources new projects for the company while also supporting the Chairman and CEO. Most recently, ACG released the smash-hit drama MIDWAY directed by Roland Emmerich for Lionsgate, and will be releasing the drama BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY with MGM, starring Mila Kunis and directed by Tate Taylor (THE HELP).

AGC is also currently in post-production on VOYAGERS with Colin Farrell and directed by Neil Burger (DIVERGENT Franchise).

The new studio’s Hollywood output has a wide-ranging multicultural focus, designed for exploitation across an array of global platforms including major studio partnerships, streaming platforms, traditional broadcast and cable television networks and independent distributors, both in the U.S. and internationally. 

Olivia Hurd (Fellowship Mentor) - Development Coordinator, Amasia Entertainment

Olivia Hurd is the Development Coordinator at Amasia Entertainment, the production company behind the upcoming sequel series DARK SHADOWS: REINCARNATION; and THE GREEN HORNET AND KATO, which is being set up at Universal as a tentpole franchise, written by David Koepp.

In 2020, Amasia produced John Patrick Shanley’s Irish romance feature film WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, starring Emily Blunt, and Jamie Dornan, Christopher Walken, and Jon Hamm. Amasia's other credits include the Sundance thriller THEM THAT FOLLOW starring Olivia Colman, Walton Goggins, Kaitlyn Dever, Alice Englert and Jim Gaffigan; MR. RIGHT starring Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick; and THE CALL, starring Halle Berry. Currently, Amasia is in post-production on AUDREY'S CHILDREN, a biopic about groundbreaking oncologist and Ronald McDonald House Charities co-founder Dr. Audrey Evans, starring Natalie Dormer, Jimmi Simpson, and Clancy Brown.

 

Juan He (Judge & Mentor) - Literary Manager, Pregame Content

Juan He is a Literary Manager at Pregame Content which has offices based in London and Los Angeles. Previously, Juan was a Junior Manager at Good Fear Content where he discovered many of the clients on Good Fear’s wroster by scouting talent from all over the globe.

In late 2018, Juan found a British horror director Alberto Marina and successfully set up his short film BAGHEAD at StudioCanal with Picture Co producing. The adaptation is now being written by Christina Pamies another screenwriter discovered through Stage 32.

Juan started his career in Universal Pictures Creative Development where he was involved in the development of features films such as JURASSIC WORLD, MUMMY, NIGHT SCHOOL and more. He later joined the world’s biggest talent agency CAA in their Motion Pictures department where he worked in representation, with a strong focus on director and writer clients.

In early 2019, one of Juan's clients, Diane Hanks had her project HICKAM submitted to Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock and Steven Spielberg through CAA for production considerations. At Pregame Content, Juan continues to advocate for undiscovered voices from around the world.

 

Christina Pickworth (Mentor & Judge) - Literary Agent, Imagine Talent (UK)

Christina Pickworth is a Literary Agent at the UK-based, Imagine Talent. Christina founded the agency in 2012 to support writers and directors in telling their stories. She now works with a raft of brilliant clients, championing emerging talent and female voices.

Christina has been working in film and television since 2003. She has consulted for production companies and financiers, worked on film and television productions. Previously, Christian was at United Agents, as well as a film development finance fund that invested in 300 British film projects over 3 years.

Christina founded and runs the Writers’ Group for Women in Film & Television (UK), which supports new and established writing talent.

Christina has been on the selection committee for the BAFTA Rocliffe screenwriting competitions, she was also the assistant chair for the Fremantle UK New Talent Award, as part of the Women in Film & Television Awards 2012, and has been a mentor for First Light.