Trending Lounge Discussions

Charles Terry Congratulation Charles!

Congratulations Charles Terry and you're right. It's what we pour out that matters!

Nikita Adams Lol! Your comment didn't make me roll my eyes, but it definitely made me sigh. I've applied to numerous assistant positions at multiple production/network companies, but I've found the playing field is very crowded, with a lot of talent coming in. I'm trying to find a way to stand out. I would LOVE to have an assistant position, not only to get my foot in the door, but also to LEARN! I am just having trouble getting past the "resume" phase.

Thank you, Nikita! Will do; sounds politically correct as stated in your remarks.

Hello Nikita! I'm sure you've gotten (and still get) countless responses like this, but I have aspirations to build a career as a screenwriter of television and film. I'm twenty-three, so I recognize that I'm young and early in my career and that I have my whole life ahead of me to make this happen. I'm currently writing spec scripts and reading scripts of movies I like to practice my craft, but I'm also looking for some professional opportunities. What are some of the best career decisions I can make right now? What are some habits I can get into? Who are some people I should try getting in contact with?

Thanks Nikita - I am convinced that because my story is part-bio and I’m a fairly bold personality at heart…that my character is strong - she carries the weight of blame and guilt throughout the four books I’ve written, so far. There is always something out there - waiting to raise its ugly head, and she faces it - head on. I think female empowerment is the WHY NOW golden nugget - with a fight for justice. I’ll make sure I highlight the right qualities.

Thank you very much Nikita for your amazing industry success, guidance, and support. I have 5 Novel screenplay adaptations, I"m so thankful that 3 out of my 5 adaptations have updated WGA certificates. Hopefully I will be able to get the WGA certificates for the other 2 adaptations soon. I hope you have a great rest of your day.

It's been a wild ride watching you from the sidelines. You are always creating and doing something interesting - I know there's so much more to come for you because you never stand still! Love it!

Lauren Hackney Thanks it's been a real challenge to get here and I'll be going to Cannes this May with my Savage Roads movie

Fantastic Pat Savage Cheering you on from Down Under! Good luck!

congratulations

Cheers to that!

Tash Smurthwaite That's awesome! Congratulations Tash!

Tash, way to GO! Here's wishing you and Paris more and more and more success!

Congratulations Tash.

Never wrote a series but it sounds like a really cool story.

This is a great take on pacing and emotional progression. I'm a feature guy but I'd love to see how others map this out in TV format. Great post R.L. Canupp.

I really like the limited series format. When I lived in the UK almost all series were limited series, that's just the way they did it, so when I moved back to N. America it seemed like a big commitment to get into all these open-ended series. We only have so many hours in our day to watch shows!

The pacing and intensity can be so much higher with a limited series. Some I've really enjoyed recently are "Zero Day", and "A House of Dynamite", both which are nail-biters from beginning to end. It makes it a real experience to sit and watch it, as opposed to something familiar on in the background.

I'm no expert so have no real advice to give. Just wanted to say good luck and I look forward to seeing it!

Congratulation

Congrats, Shamila Habibi !

Well done, Shamila Habibi. Best wishes advancing to the next round!

Congratulations

Way to go, Shamila!

Make the internal one visual where the external is spoken and make the external one spoken when the internal is visual. Break the rules by doing utterly horrible, imagined things in the internal as illustrations of feelings - like strangling her cat. Or not staring at her ass in reality versus... you know what i mean.

David Taylor Thank you for the suggestion! I love the idea of using the internal screen to lean into more visceral, 'rule-breaking' illustrations of feeling.

The contrast between a composed reality and a chaotic, imagined internal state is exactly the kind of psychological friction I want to explore. Breaking the rules is definitely valid—and likely necessary—to get this concept right. Appreciate the creative spark!

Joshua Jones Social media platforms and low level producers have followed the common trend to charging for "mentorship" - it's just another way of upcharging for one on one tutoring. Actual mentorship still exists, has always been informal and personal.

Joshua Jones, this is a really thoughtful question, and I want to offer a slightly different perspective that might help reframe it a bit.

I don’t think the industry has suddenly become “pay to win.” I think what’s changed is visibility and access.

If you look back at the 80s, 90s, even early 2000s, that kind of mentorship you’re talking about absolutely existed, but it was mostly only accessible to a small group of people. If you had a connection through family, friends, or proximity to the industry, you might find a mentor more easily. But for most people, that door was closed. Otherwise, the path looked like this: you moved to LA or New York if you could afford it, took an entry-level job that barely paid enough to survive, worked long hours for years, and hoped you’d impress the right person enough that they’d give you a bit of their time. And even then, there was no guarantee.

And if someone did agree to meet you, you were still investing, just in different ways. Buying drinks, covering meals, giving your time, energy, and years of your life for the chance to build those relationships. So the “cost” has always been there. It just used to be hidden in things like geography, time, labor, and access.

What’s changed now is that platforms like Stage 32 have made access more transparent and global. You don’t have to move across the country/world or spend years trying to get in the same room as someone you respect. There are structured ways to connect, learn, and get feedback from professionals. It’s also often more direct, more efficient, and absolutely more accessible than the traditional path ever was.

That said, mentorship still exists in both forms. There are people who give their time freely, like the director mentoring you, and the many professionals that are part of the Stage 32 Community in these lounges, writing blogs, hosting events like last week’s Free Heated Rivalry webcast, etc.

I think the key is recognizing that there’s no single path. It’s about finding the mix of relationships, community, and opportunities that work for you. But the great thing is there are more options and opportunities available for more people, than ever before.

Think of it like tutoring - no one tutors for free. Why should screenwriting be different?

Joshua Jones I think screenwriting, and the industry in general, has always been a closed shop in LA and it is always about who you know, who you have worked with, and are you a fit in the room.

Platforms like Stage 32 are avenues to make those connections for those aspiring writers to break in to the industry with a side of education to help improve our craft.

The connections you build are free. The education has always had a price and is your choice. Just do not confuse mentorship with education.

Mentorship is earned with talent and our ability to work in the room.

This is really insightful. I’m new to filmmaking and it’s inspiring to see these conversations happening.

Steez Steez_aura, welcome and thank you for saying that. These conversations are inspiring, because they remind us that filmmaking isn’t just about craft or budgets, it’s about the stories we choose to elevate. Seeing producers, writers, and newcomers all leaning into queer joy, agency, and representation means the landscape is genuinely shifting. And the fact that you’re stepping into filmmaking now is a gift, you’re entering at a moment when voices like yours can help shape what comes next. What kind of stories are you feeling pulled toward as you begin?

Anna Marton Henry this is such an important reframe. Also, what you said about people perceiving you as a “social butterfly” is something that I relate to deeply. That confidence often comes from having a clear, achievable intention, not from being the most outgoing person in the room. And of course, practice makes perfect.

Anna Marton Henry thank you for your sage advice. I too get nervous amidst large groups pf people I don't know and this next step on my screenwriting adventure, to attend the producing conference in a few weeks' time, is daunting. I hope my preparation will help to give me some confidence, and I will take your words to heart and concentrate on that one meaningful connection each day. Thank you for sharing your experience. Cheers from the very far south! Ingrid

I published 68 books and 68 audiobooks before writing three screenplays. My four-series sci-fi horror screenplay was a finalist in the 13Horror.com Film& Screenplay Contest in September 2025. I feel stuck because, although I submitted it to producers and movie companies, it is being turned down. The last correspondence I received stated that it would cost too much per series to be made into a movie. I am also awaiting the results of a competition for my romance screenplay. Meanwhile, I am not writing.

I am a Producer/Writer with a studio that makes movies that matter, movies that can change the world for the better, we call it, "solution-based" cinema. I would love to have a larger audience for this type of production; one that inspires, uplifts and makes the audience feel that anything is possible.

Push forward with every piece of the pie that makes up your journey to success. The number and type of pieces are unique to your journey as are your goals for success. Break them down into bite size, manageable pieces. Tackle a seemingly fearful obstacle (Anna Henry, I love your post just above)! Last of all, at the end of each day recount that day's events. Seek and embrace the one (or more) good thing(s) that took place that day. YOU made them happen! Confidence and accomplishment will follow suit!

Will this be recorded, I have a one of my features on a table read that day? thank you

I went to the webinar registration, and it would not let me register, is it full?