Trending Lounge Discussions

The hottest discussions in the Stage 32 Lounge.

Liked by Michael David and 8 others

Andrew Pacleb
New writer sharing real life stories and learning the craft

Hi everyone, I’m new to screenwriting and just starting my journey into storytelling. I’m also a father of two kids, and many of the stories I want to tell come from real experiences in my life, family, and the moments that shape who we become. The script I’m currently working on is based on true ex...

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Leonardo Ramirez

It's great to meet you Andrew Pacleb - so glad you're with us! Totally get where you're coming from in wanting to share what fuels your storytelling. As a husband and dad, I can totally relate. Here’s...

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Andrew Pacleb

Thank you i will be checking these links out

Leonardo Ramirez

You're very welcome Andrew Pacleb Welcome to Stage 32!

Ryan Wilford

Welcome @Andrew. How exciting! You're in a great community to share your ideas and get feedback. I've learned that overtime you'll start to hash out your own process based on what works for you.

Liked by Oleg Mullayanov and 2 others

Suzanne Bronson
Staying True to the Script

Hi fellow actors,

Recently I was in a discussion among writers regarding feedback on how some characters speak. This got me wondering, sometimes we get a script and we think, “no one would ever say that”, “no one talks like this.” When in fact, the dialogue is based on someone the writer knows. So p Expand post

Sebastian Tudores

great question Suzanne Bronson - for me, I look at my job as having to find a way to justify every word in the script as if ...well, as if someone WOULD say that lol sometimes I've worked with directo...

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Suzanne Bronson

I have done some bad plays myself Sebastian Tudores We, the cast, just embraced the suck. We had fun even though there was hardly anyone in the audience and just enjoyed being on stage. Had to believe...

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Liked by Oleg Mullayanov and one other

Laura Hammer
Self-Taping Auditions: What Casting Directors Actually Want

Self-taping has become the industry standard for actor auditions. Understanding what casting directors look for in a self-tape is fundamental to remaining competitive in the modern audition process. What matters most in a self-tape is not production value but clear, honest acting. The critical eleme...

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Suzanne Bronson

Thank you Laura Hammer so much for sharing this incredible resource.

Amanda Toney

Great share Laura. We actually have a really great webinar on how to get noticed by Casting Directors that complements this perfectly! https://www.stage32.com/education/products/actors-how-to-get-noti...

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Laura Hammer

Thank you Amanda Toney That's a great webinar! Lots of advice on ways to set yourself up for success in the audition.

Liked by Frank Meijden and 39 others

Sammy Warshaw
Getting Started

As a producer, I’m always fascinated by a writer’s journey from a blank page to a full breathing spec. It’s a reminder that every writer has to think like a producer from day one. What are some of the ways you guys find the right idea that not only speaks to you, but you think is worth putting on screen?

Beverly Thompson

Hi Sammy, my idea for my novels was borne when a huge turning point in my life, meant that I was suddenly living alone over 20 years ago - and had plenty of time to write the passion and frustration I...

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Bill Brock

Brock’s Zesty Secret Sauce: Play close attention to Life and the human experience. LISTEN……EAVESDROP on conversations, mentally jot down dialogue that REALLY POPS! Transport them directly into appropriate scenes. I’m currently writing my 9th and final feature screenplay.

Barry Goldblatt

I worked hard to develop a unique story that has strong coverage as a prestige thriller. The characters are reflections of people who I encountered over a lifetime. Some didn’t make it as far as I hav...

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Chris Schwarze

sometimes the story, maybe the inciting incident, is secondary to the journey.

John Fife

I think it comes down to the story. I read a lot of produced scripts and some are written poorly but the story is really good. When I'm writing, I try to lock the story down first and then find the pe...

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Liked by Kelvin Bernards and one other

Ashley Renée Smith
Let's Talk 2026 Oscar Predictions, Filmmakers!

With these films currently circulating in the conversation, I’m curious what everyone here is predicting, rooting for, or still unsure about.

Best Picture Nominees: Train Dreams, Sinners, Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, Hamnet, Frankenstein, F1: The Movie...

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Michael David

Best film I think will go to ONE BATTLE and all the SINNERS fans will have a social-media heavy hissy fit about it. I think SINNERS would have won if they didn't bring in the vampires. Like WTF, they...

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E Langley

- Which film do you think will ultimately take Best Picture?

"One Battle ..."

- Which director feels most likely to win right now?

Coogler

- Are there any films in this list you think are underrated or fl...

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Michael David

Couldn't agree more @E Langley. Lackluster year. But haven't they all been lackluster for a long time? Very few classics are made anymore. RIP twentieth century (the century, not the studio)

E Langley

Last year was better: Oscar Noms — Oppenheimer, American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest.

Saw all,...

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Liked by Paul Samson and 3 others

Shadow Dragu-Mihai
Netflix Acquires AI Filmmaking Start-Up Founded by Ben Affleck

So Netflix is getting into the editing and VFX application business now? Hmmmm. What are your thoughts?

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/netflix-acquires-ben-affleck-ai-filmm......

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Laura Hammer

Love that they are creating new tools to help workflows.

Cyrus Sales

I just posted about this too! It’s interesting to see how Ben Affleck has been ahead of the curve, keeping this in “stealth” mode for four years. I’m a bit confused, though, how does this not take awa...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai

Cyrus Sales In fact, it doesn't help creatives at all, IMO. It gives Netflix a way to get their fingers into the post for films that want to go to them. Given their history, where they do such things...

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Cyrus Sales

Shadow Dragu-Mihai Thanks for sharing your perspective. It’s a really interesting take on how these systems affect indie filmmakers. For me, it does seem to “ease the workload,” but I feel like that’s...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai

Cyrus Sales I am going to say that IMO the only people losing site of what it really means to make a film are the host of wannabes making mediocre fight scenes with Tom Cruise images, etc. The rest of...

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Liked by Kelvin Bernards and 8 others

Rashcell Mercer
hello introducing myself I'm Rashcell

Excited to start sharing my first feature screenplay concept, COMPUTER LOV3. It’s a psychological AI thriller exploring how artificial intelligence might evolve emotionally when connected too deeply to human life.

Sandra Isabel Correia

Rashcell Mercer, congratulations. Sharing your first feature screenplay concept is a huge milestone, and COMPUTER LOV3 sounds like a bold, timely idea. A psychological AI thriller that explores emotio...

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Rashcell Mercer

Thank you so much for that I'll go check it out now

Sydney S

Hi Rashcell, welcome! Your concept for COMPUTER LOV3 sounds fascinating — a psychological AI thriller with an emotional twist is such a timely and compelling idea. I’d love to hear more about your mai...

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Marc Ginsburg

I came up with a similar idea for a series in which a person's relationship with their personal AI begs us to ask, "What about the people in this person's life?" I'd like to hear more about your idea and how you developed it. Yours sounds less like a comedy and more like a love story.

Mike Boas

Two challenges— how to make it visual (not just a person talking to a computer screen), and how to make your story different from Her.

Liked by Sharda Crawford

Leonard Hawkins
Read for Read!

Hey everyone ! I just finished my first feature film and was wondering if anyone is free to give feedback! I will read your project and return the favor!

Andrew Pacleb

hello, i am interested in you film script. would love feedback on mine as well

Julius Schmitt

Hey Leonard! I’d be interested in a read for read.

I’m currently working on a mystery TV pilot called Blackwood (about 30 pages). I’d be happy to read your feature and give feedback as well.

Let me know if you'd like to exchange scripts!

Liked by Kelvin Bernards and 14 others

Sam Rivera
CONGRATS! 104 Script Requests and 49 Meeting Requests in the last 2 weeks! 3/11

Hey everyone! I wanted to congratulate our fellow community members who had scripts requested through Stage 32 pitch sessions over the last 2 weeks. We are thrilled for the opportunities for the following writers to have their scripts requested by various producers and managers, Bluewater Lane Produ...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Congratulations, everyone!

Abhijeet Aade

Congratulations to all the writers mentioned! It's always inspiring to see scripts getting requested and moving forward. Wishing you all continued success and many more opportunities ahead.

Sharda Crawford

Congratulations everyone!

Lakiesha KieshaThaCreator Edwards

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THIS IS AMAZING !

CAN’T WAIT TO CATCH UP

John Fife

Congratulations! A great milestone.

Liked by Israel Samuel and 2 others

Federico Luna
The first lord - World War 2 Action Drama . Written by Federico Luna. Presented by Gemini thoughts studios

When three brothers answer the call of World War II, the oldest ensures they fight together in the same unit. After proving himself the best marksman in his division, he is recruited for a classified mission days before the invasion of Normandy. Leading a hand-picked team of thirteen Allied soldiers...

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Federico Luna

Dedicated to 101st Airborne Division and my father.

Michael David

Thank him for his service

Ugo Balluet
Cinéastes : quelle est votre principale difficulté actuellement ?

Bonjour à tous,

J’échange actuellement avec plusieurs cinéastes afin de mieux comprendre les difficultés concrètes qu’ils rencontrent aujourd’hui dans le développement de leurs projets.

Par curiosité, j’aimerais vous poser une question simple :

Quelle est actuellement votre plus grande difficulté ?...

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Sebastian Dove

le financement :)

Abhijeet Aade

Ugo Balluet Great question. For me, the biggest challenge right now isn’t writing the script it’s finding the right producer or financing partner who truly believes in the project and wants to move it...

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