Screenwriting

Hi, Eric Charran. I think anti-AI is a great theme to write about! I have some ideas for scripts where people and creatures battle AI. A lot of writers are using AI/will use AI, and a lot of writers aren't using it/won't use it. I don't see any benefit of using AI. It's theft, harming the environment, and making some people think they can take a shortcut in the industry.

Ha!!!

I am usually in the draft on the next one club. And I've been right there with you on the exhaustion part too. My creative brain has been having a tantrum. It says to me "No" and forcing things doesn't work.

It's trickling back slowly.

I've been talking a lot lately about how rest is so vital and this is actually why. I wrote myself out.

So, in the interim I've been focusing on pitch materials for finished work, outlining etc. and I do a lot of proofing and editing on drafts that's aren't fully polished yet.

I love edits, so it's fun for me and keeps me engaged with my work without stressing my creative brain further.

Duunnn. Dunnn. Haha I work on another project, watch a movie, rest, network, or do something else, Michael Dzurak.

I know that stuck moment—when you want to continue, but your mind forces you to stop. Even though I haven’t completed my first script yet, I often experience long pauses when I discover new contradictions in the story’s flow, or when I become emotionally blocked and can’t move forward.

When you have big dreams and many ideas waiting, those moments—or even days—can feel like a huge loss. But we’re human, not computers. It’s okay to rest and then slowly return to the work.

Sometimes, taking a small step—like rereading your outline, writing a single beat, or reconnecting with your characters—can be enough to guide you back into the story.

Thank you CJ for sharing this thoughtful perspective. The analogies to dance and music capture how structure can still allow limitless combinations. I feel the same when I am writing and developing projects like Fallen Angel. By grounding the technology in real research and human behaviour you create a base that allows imagination to soar. Your idea that realism and wonder are partners rather than opposites resonates with me.

John, I appreciate your commitment to grounding your settings and tools in reality even when your premise is fantastical. That attention to detail helps readers connect with the world so the extraordinary elements feel believable. Thank you for your encouragement about Fallen Angel. It is reassuring to know that realism in storytelling resonates across genres.

Believability depends on how the world, and its characters are set up. Properly set up, if you believe in it, the audience will too. BUT it's more the old chestnut of 'suspension of disbelief' in the audience. Science should be grounded in science, but technology has a wide scope of invention. If Douglas Adams can get away with the technology of an 'Infinite Improbability drive', there's lots of scope.

Eric Charran I absolutely agree. As writers we have to use our imagination to flesh out some speculative technologies but basing them on things we recognize in our current day has always made it easier for me to suspend my own disbelief. Something like Her springs to mind for multiple reasons. Samantha's initial setup, for the most part, is like the setup on, say, an iPhone or a voice recognition software. Theodore speaks to it hesitantly the way any new user might. That small detail helped me to instantly identify with the protagonist and more readily accept the story as it unfolded because I identify with it. On the other hand, when Theodore plays his augmented reality game, the casual cursing from the cute little alien character pulled me out of the film because I've never experienced anything like that while playing a video game. Instinctually, it made me begin to question what I was seeing and I needed a little time to get back into it.

Andres, thank you for sharing your perspective and for bringing up Her. I agree that grounding speculative tech in familiar interfaces helps audiences connect with the story. It is those small, recognizable details that make it easier to suspend disbelief. In my experience with Fallen Angel I found that basing AI characters on current trends allowed me to explore bigger questions without losing readers. Your example of the augmented reality game is a good reminder that even minor inconsistencies can pull us out of a narrative. I appreciate your insights.

Filmmakers will be able to work around those issues in my opinion, Göran Johansson. And a writer can describe the location so directors, actors, etc. will understand what it looks like.

With film budgets cut to the bone right now, I think of “Contained” locations. Eg Walk in restaurant freezer. Protagonist locked in during power cut, & 24 hours until electricity resumes.

That's great, Debbie Croysdale. I do the same thing with most of my short scripts and feature scripts. Writers can come up with unique locations for Contained scripts, like a grocery store for aliens. And writers can pick areas inside locations that aren't usually shown in movies and shows, like setting a script in a pantry.

A popular idea in film is "cast against type". Can be done also for location. For example, take a courtroom drama. People who arrive at the court are told that due to some problem, the court can't be used. But the judge is involved in an NGO in her spare time, so she has borrowed their big place. So everyone goes to that place, and it sure doesn't look like a court, but there is room fore everyone.

That's a great idea, Göran Johansson! I'll have to try that. Thanks for the idea.

Thanks, Maurice — appreciate it.

That’s very similar to how I work as well. I usually push the logline and series bible as far as possible first, just to see if the concept really survives before writing the pilot.

Nice to see that approach reflected here.

You're welcome, Tatiana Prokopieva. I haven't done it with a TV series, but sometimes I test out a feature script idea by writing a short script.

“Start testing the concept

It looks like you have a lot of material, so I'd agree with testing the concept. It's like back in school, at some point you have to present your work to scrutiny (in front of the class!) and it's nervewracking, but you didn't make all those story materials to have them just sit.

That’s a great way to put it. The architecture is there — now it’s about opening it up to conversation outside my own head.

Appreciate the encouragement.

Hope you have a great time at EFM and make a lot of connections, Monte Albers de Leon!

Maurice Vaughan As a Canadian, I feel I could do a lot with the "City Beavers" concept!

I'm old school, like Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends old school. Haha Also loved Looney Tunes.

Wow, such major nostalgia here. I didn't follow all of these shows, but have vague memories of many. I was a big fan of Tom & Jerry and The Animaniacs. However, my love of sci-fi action started with G.I. Joe and then Exosquad, the latter of which I recently rediscovered via a retrospective look.

You're welcome, Maurice Vaughan~

Oh gosh. Doug. Looney Tunes. Animaniacs. Pinky and the Brain. Tom and Jerry was top though.

I still watch some of these now if I happen across them.

I translate myself into English, but I ask AI for assistance since English is not my native language. For example, I asked AI for help with having the characters speak differently.

Göran Johansson، thank you so much

Yes, it can be a good idea. A good rule if thumb is to give your characters relations. If you can't give one specfic character a relation to another human, you can give that person a relation to god.

Hi Göran,

You’re so right! That’s a really great point. Are you planning to attend the lab? We’d love to have you there!

Hey everyone! Looking forward to kicking things off in a few weeks. Let's help you tell your story!

Dear Sydney, I don't like to disappoint you but the lab costs 799 dollars. And I have already created a movie with one Christian character, plus the bad main character becoming a reformed Christian at the end. A 103 minutes long no-budget TV-movie which cost me "about 799 dollars".

Dear friends, I apologize for my absentmindedness in my previous comment. In 2018, I created a no-budget film. Main character a scientist and second most important a young rich Christian woman. Now I have a new script. The scientist is back as the second most important person. The young rich Christian woman is back as the third most important person. And at the end, the main character shows that she is reformed by saying "hallelujah". So I messed up a previous project with my new project.

Welcome to Stage 32, William Sutton!

Congrats on finishing your first draft. that’s a huge milestone. A Nightwing fan-film sounds like a fun and ambitious project. I’m always interested in character-driven stories, especially within established universes. Happy to connect and exchange feedback where I can. Best of luck polishing the script!

Thanks, Jack Binder.

You're welcome, William Sutton. Great. I'm a Nightwing fan. I'm looking forward to watching your fan-film!

Have obtained the rights? I’d love to read it. Big fan of DC Comics.

im pretty sure you are not legally able to make a fan fiction film about a character when you dont own the rights. you can write a script for fun, but you cant profit off of their character.

Hi, Jackson Izquierdo. Welcome to the community. I've been to NYC once. It was back in high school.

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32 had its monthly Community Open House last week. It'll also help you navigate the platform and make connections. You can watch the free recording here: www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-january-2026-community-open...

Reach out to the Success Team at success@stage32.com. Geoff and his team can help you connect with reps.

I suggest adding a detailed bio to your profile. It'll help you build relationships/network on here. You could add things to your bio like why you became a screenwriter, your accomplishments, your goals, and what movies and shows you like. You can edit your bio by clicking the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner of Stage 32, then selecting “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu, then clicking the red button underneath your location and choosing "Edit Profile."

hi Jackson, do you have other polished, ready to go scripts completed? if not, then youre not really ready for a manager yet. a manager does not get your script into production, they guide your career and help develop your scripts/ideas and get you meetings and get you read.