Trending Lounge Discussions

Sounds like a cool project Alex! Have you thought about writing a screenplay adaptation?

Amanda Toney it's very screen-friendly, not least as the haunting leads to a movie franchise!

But I'm not keen on adapting my own work, I rather like the idea of leaving it to someone else.

"Hi Alex, your project sounds amazing! I admire how you’re blending meta elements with suspense—this kind of storytelling really pushes boundaries and engages the audience on multiple levels. I also focus on creating tension and atmosphere in my own work, and I know how much impact well-developed characters and subtle visual cues can have in keeping viewers invested."

Hi Alex,

Congrats on the upcoming publication of "The House That Screamed" a meta horror with found-footage elements already suggests a strong atmospheric engine, and framing it as Amityville for the digital era is a very clear hook.

It sounds like a project with natural screen potential, especially if the narrative plays with perception, authorship, and the reliability of what we’re “seeing.” I’d be interested to hear how you’re using the digital layer whether it shapes structure, character psychology, or the escalation of dread.

Wishing you a strong launch in June. It’s always exciting to see dark fiction that leans into both concept and emotional unease. Would be great to stay connected and hear how readers respond.

Hey Lauren Hackney we all need to rediscover that sense of childlike wander. The one trait would be my empathy. I'm deeply connected to the subject matter in my current project.

It's great to have you on stage 32, Lauren!

Welcome, good to have you

Lauren Hackney, You had me at “a little bit of magic can exist in even the hardest seasons”. I think the trait that defines me as a storyteller is emotional immersion. I want people to feel like they’re inside the story, not just watching it, to feel seen and understood.

Love that about your storytelling @ashley I feel like your stories are somewhere I could escape to!

Alexia, does this mean we, as wannabe writers, are doomed to being stalked by everyone and their little brother, telling us that if we just give them money, they will show us the way? jim

Thank you for this reality check, Alexia. You hit the nail on the head: Attention is a spark, but Momentum is an engine. >

In an era where AI can generate thousands of scripts in a click, the 'human currency' you mentioned—trust and relationships—becomes the only true filter. As a screenwriter and painter, I see the script not as a final product, but as a blueprint for a partnership.To answer Avril, I don't think it's just about patience; it's about architectural credibility. If we treat our projects like startups—with a clear understanding of the market, the risks, and the distribution landscape—we stop being 'aspirants' asking for a favor and start being creators offering an opportunity.Hollywood isn't a wall to break; it's a code to understand. Respecting the 'gatekeepers' means respecting the risk they take by simply opening an email. Quality is the entry fee, but Strategy is what keeps you in the room.

AMEN. Holy crap this is so well thought out and realized Alexia Melocchi

Jim Ramsay - there is no one “way” and anyone who thinks they have the one way figured out iI would be weary of. There are repeatable systems that successful projects follow, based on patterns of what we see to put together films, but even those systems break when external factors change - ie. tax incentive shifts, money falling out, losing talent, distribution shifts, streamer consolidation. The goal is to put your all into your art. Find your champions. When you find your champions it’s going to take a long time - years and years - to get something done. The key is to stick with it and educate yourself the best way possible to do the right thing for your project- we always say it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Luckily you have this community to be here for you along the way!

Of course not. I was hoping for a response from Alexia. My statement was mostly sarcasm, but the beginning writing community is a target of many (not all) who aim to extract money from the unsuspecting.

Hi Imanuel Smith nice to meet you.

What kind of work do you do or have done?

I am a producer...I recently did a film called 'Fuck Toys" with Director AnnaPurna Sriram. I am also a Digital Imaging Technician and Cinematographer for such films as 'the color purple', 'the naked gun', spiderman no way home', and tv shows such as 'interview with the vampire' and 'Lovecraft Country'

Oh waw Imanuel Smith that's a really nice portfolio on projects. Must be great to have been part of such big projects. So anything new you're working on now?

Hi Imanuel! Welcome to Stage 32, great to meet you! :)

I love your perspective, stories really do have the power to enlighten, educate, and inspire when they’re shared authentically. That’s exactly what this community is all about.

Have you had a chance to attend one of our free Community Open House Webcasts hosted by Ashley, Stage 32’s Head of Community? It’s a great way to show up, be seen, and start making real connections and progress. You’ll also learn how to stay informed through the Stage 32 Blog and how to access Education, Certification, Career Development Services, and Writer’s Room resources that align with your goals.

Here’s the link for this month’s Community Open House Webcast—hope to see you there!

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-march-2026-communit...

Hi Stephane Atelo, welcome to Stage 32! I’m Ashley, Head of Community here on the platform. It’s great to meet you, and your project sounds incredibly compelling. I'm a big fan of high-concept sci-fi!

I’d definitely encourage you to spend time participating regularly in the Screenwriting Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting). It’s a great place to connect with other writers, share your ideas, and engage in conversations about development, structure, and pitching.

Since you’re looking for collaborators and next steps, our Success Team is also a fantastic resource. If you email Success@Stage32.com and share your project and goals, they can help guide you toward curated opportunities and connections that align with what you’re building.

It’s also fantastic that your materials are bilingual, that’s a real advantage when working internationally. One small tip for the platform, though: when posting or commenting here on Stage 32, be sure to include English translations. Since the community is global but primarily English-speaking, that will help more professionals understand your work, engage with you, and get to know your projects.

I’d also love to invite you to our upcoming Community Open House webcast. It’s a free session where I walk through how to navigate Stage 32 strategically, build meaningful industry relationships, and position your work for real traction:

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-march-2026-communit...

So glad you introduced yourself!

Hi Ashley, Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for your kind words about my project! I truly appreciate the advice regarding the Success Team and the bilingual approach. I will definitely reach out to them and start including English translations in my future posts to better connect with this amazing international community. I'm also excited about the Open House webinar—I'll be there to learn more about positioning my work strategically.Looking forward to being an active part of the Screenwriting Lounge!Best regards,

Stéphane Atelo

Hey Stephane Atelo - congratulations on "Welcome to the Black Hole"! As a sci-fi writer myself, this sounds interesting! Welcome to Stage 32 - so glad you're with us!

Hi Leonardo,

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

It’s always great to connect with fellow sci-fi writers — especially on a platform like Stage 32 where these ideas can really evolve. I’m very interested in how you approach the genre as well.

I’d love to hear more about your work when you have the time.

All the best,

Stephane

Stephane Atelo You’re very welcome! Love connecting with other creatives as well. Please feel free to reach out anytime friend.

David Dicaire Happy Weekend If you’re interested in conversations with writers, industry access, and live webcasts, the Writer’s Room can also be a strong resource. We have a special event this Tuesday with the Creator of HEATED RIVALRY. There’s a free month available here: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

Hello Laura Hammer. Thanks for the information. Happy Weekend!

Always great to see you, David Dicaire, and to have you as a member of the Creative Army.

Thanks Richard "RB" Botto. That means a lot to me.

Most welcome, my friend.

What was it fan fiction of?

Buffy the vampire slayer spin off movie called Xander.

Bobby Cinema, cool.

Geoffroy Faugerolas - thanks so much for that feedback and encouragement. I would love to get this in front of an exec that would be looking for this type of irreverent humor and silly (ultimately heartwarming) love story.

Darrell Pennington - you are officially my spirit animal.

Amanda Toney I am honored!!

Darrell!! 17 countries, 58 cities, and now a 2-month pet sit in Argentina? That’s incredible. I love how you’re continuing to build and develop projects directly from your life experiences while staying in motion. It really shows in the authenticity of your concepts.

Bravo!

My first love used to be my muse… now it’s just pure escapism and nostalgia xD anything that makes me feel like I’m in another time (even one I never knew), another plane of existence, I’ll chase on full steam. That’s also why stuff that’s more grounded is EXTREMELY difficult for me to write rofl (not impossible, but there’s a reason I don’t often write something normal ^^;)

I mainly write from life experience. It's a form of healing for me. I also like capturing the stories my boys and I create - they are quickly growing up so there's not many more of those moments. It's nice to capture them.

Right there with ya! Lauren Hackney and Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. And David Taylor I love that! Writing simply for pure joy. I think I do that now. It's nice to not always create from pain, but from curiosity and contemplation of our world.

My muse is asking questions. I get really curious, ask a question, and then my mind is off!

Kat Spencer My current project was inspired initially by an experience I had and then from a whole bunch of research .

You are very welcome, Adam Spencer, no matter what :)))

Sandra Correia, your single sentence shifted the totally shifted my attention back to the real reasons I began this journey. Thank you, truly.

Adam Spencer :))))

Hello Adam Spencer

No worries about the language — the essence of your message came through clearly.

Thank you for sharing this so openly. There’s something very powerful when a creative work begins as a response to loss and evolves into a world that can be shared with others.

That kind of origin gives the work a truth that’s hard to replicate — and that’s what creates real connection with an audience.

I truly hope PRAYPREY finds the people who need it.

Adam Spencer, it’s always great to see you pop up during Introduce Yourself Weekend. Curious to hear, as you’ve expanded into the vertical micro-drama format, what have you learned about translating such a layered world into shorter form storytelling?

Hey Libby Wright congrats and best of luck putting a team together.

Sounds like an amazing project Libby Wright Much success assembling your team.

Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend, Libby Wright! Love to see you reintroducing yourself! Definitely keep reaching out to the Stage 32 Success Team at Success@Stage32.com, so they can help you find a partner that aligns with what you’re looking for.

Ela Ilham Schoening I love this idea! There is an album by one of my favorite bands, Rush, called 2112 that addresses very similar themes.

Hi Ela,

Great to meet you, and The Singer sounds like a very evocative concept. A world where music is forbidden immediately creates both thematic tension and strong visual storytelling possibilities. Coming from a music background is also a real advantage rhythm, silence, and emotional pacing can shape how scenes breathe in a way that feels very cinematic.

I’m always interested in projects that balance high-concept world-building with intimate human stakes. If you’re open to sharing more, I’d be curious how the prohibition of music affects everyday life in your story and how your protagonist’s voice begins to disrupt that system.

Wishing you real momentum with the project, and I’d be glad to stay connected and exchange ideas as it develops.

Servus back from here.

Hello Ela Ilham Schoening , good to meet you virtually. Much success with the Signer and looking forward to your project thrive. Are you looking to shoot it in Germany?

Hello Ela Ilham Schoening Congratulations on your project and being a Stage 32 Member! Bravo!

Ela Ilham Schoening, thank you for reintroducing yourself, it’s so great to learn more about your work. I’d love to hear how your music background influences specific scenes or moments in your writing.