I honestly haven't explored all of Stage32's features, but I just saw you have the ability to post loglines and screenplays. What I don't see a lot of is Review-Trade threads in this lounge.
Do you guys not engage in that a lot on here? Looking through one page of loglines, comments seemed pretty sparse.
Is there any benefit to posting your screenplay on here, that I'm not seeing? Is there an active read-review community I haven't found yet, or are most people just playing the lottery hoping to be stumbled upon?
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Hi Stephen. Stage 32 is structured for relationship building and making connections. The more you engage in discussions the more people will take a look at your profile page, and/or check out your work. Give give give first, then ask. Many offer to read each other's scripts. And after getting to know each other in the Lounge... many members exchange email addresses and share work that way as well, or they Skype, or meet in person, etc. And... there are some new site features currently in the works that I think many will like, so stay tuned. Best to you! ;)
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Thanks for the reply. I know I've been a part of other sites that are specifically structured for Read/Review trades without a whole lot of courtship and relationship building. So on the surface this site seems pretty inactive in that regards, but perhaps it's more of a behind the scenes part of the community as you're suggesting.
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I'd say this is the most active screenwriting community anywhere! The forums are crazy busy! Also I see a logline section has been added under Browse. That might help.
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This is not a script trade and review site and it hasn't been designed as one. It's a forum and connection site.
Stephen, essentially I agree with your observation but then (as noted) Stage 32 is more a social networking forum aimed at newbie/wannabe types - what I think of as a fluff site. There are professional screenwriting sites but they are aimed more toward the vetted professionals. I have long hoped that Stage 32 could become a skill enhancing vehicle to enhance screenwriter's skillset but, alas, that appears to not be the case.
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i received solid feedback from several Stage 32 members. Lots of talent in the shadows.
Beth is right. Again.
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What Beth Fox Heisinger & Dan MaxXx said. There are very accomplished people on this platform. You have to know how to approach them.
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Stephen, and with all due respect, Doug, I suggest you better familiarize yourself with all aspects of the site and our generous and creative community: those who contribute in the Lounge forums who share information, resources, and knowledge; the Stage 32 Blog; On Stage with RB (both have guest contributors from all industry areas and from different levels offering insights and personal experiences); the variety of Educational options available, Webinars and Next Level Classes; and the access to industry execs, producers, managers, etc, either through Happy Writers or through the free S32 platform. The S32 membership of 600,000+ members comprises of people from all over the world, from all areas and levels of the industry, and from a wide variety of personal and/or professional experience. For me, as a member for 5 years now, I have received solid feedback from Stage 32 members, and I have gained much knowledge in my own development as an aspiring screenwriter. I've met some amazing people through Stage 32!—many of those "pros." Stage 32 really becomes what you make of it, how you utilize it. That truly shapes your experience with the site and with the community. Anyway, I wish you the best with all your creative endeavors, Stephen! Best to you, sir! ;)
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The idea is to meet people with the same goals and interests. The benefits of talk about your work is to receive feedback and comments from people who knows the business. Also I agree with Beth, we are a generous and creative community.
Bravo Beth Fox Heisinger !
Beth - I'm reasonably familiar with this site's many and varied aspects and its many diverse and talented participants. I commend R.B. for bringing Stage 32 to life and I'm reasonably confident that he's earning a buck or two for his efforts but I stand by my assessment that these forums are more social fluff than serious professional forums. They certainly offer value in networking; but frankly, little else. There are a few old pros prowling these forums but the vast majority are wannabe dreamers. Steven is asking why there is so little feedback on his posted scripts and the answer is simply that this is a social networking site - nothing more, nothing less.
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Doug, I wholeheartedly disagree with you and your assessment. And I'll leave it at that. The answer to Stephen's question is more than "it's a social networking site — nothing more, nothing less." As I said previously... The site is what you make of it. You gotta incite interest by engaging. Build connections to champion your work. ;) Best to you.
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Stephen Scheboth I would like to keep myself out of the discussion of what Stage32 is, but recommend to start a lounge discussion and publish a link to your loglines and scripts here at Stage32 (in the screenwriting lounge or directing/producing lounge) and additionally in the general social media. Plus, - depending on your grade of film business or related communications - also in a footline of your e-mails. Spread it and see what happens. I can only say that I used to get a lot of feedback and new personal contacts to executives by this. Please, don't forget to register your scripts before posting anywhere. Best at the Library of Congress. Good luck and all the best!
Just a side note... Posting work (loglines, screenplays, reels, etc) in the S32 Lounge for feedback and/or for promotion go in "Your Stage." ;)
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Elizabeth, Beth,CJ,thank you for all your complete comments on the benefits of Stage32. In the last 3 years I have benefited from this community. It is more than a social network. It is more than an educational site. It is more than a place to pitch screenplays. To me it has become FAMILY. I am very grateful to "RB", the staff, and my fellow "Happy Writers".
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Hi Stephan, when I joined Stage 32, I added my Loglines to my profile and I messaged many people here with friends request to take a look at my Loglines and asked them to read the script. Thus, I received many good comments, eventually that improved my Loglines and Script. This works. But yet it is not grown up as a read-review community like you find on zoetrope.com where you will have to take a workshop. That is to read at least five participants scripts and review it to get your script reviewed. That is also a good platform.
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Hey Wardan, thanks for the insight. I've been a member of Zoetrope since 2004, but what was once plentiful is now near barren. So I've been searching for a new read-review community as I get closer to finishing my next script. Not a big fan of the screenwriting subreddit either. The audience seems generally less experienced and younger, although there are a few working writers on there. Also not a fan of the anonymity of their setup. Maybe once I'm ready for feed back I'll follow your(and others) advice given and try to garner some review trades on here.
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Joined Stage 32 April 2016. Noticed the pretenders & contenders in a week. The contenders, like Uncle Phil, pushed my drive, had to step up my game to match his dedication & sacrifice. Cut to 14 months later, I have a WGA signatory Agent; studied how to write snappy queries, I am submitting to WGA prod companies, PGA Producers & SAG actors. Free. Why pay when access is free?
Gotta put in the work & Time. That's all on you. Not a website.
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Doug - what Beth said. Have to disagree with you entirely on what this site achieves. It's inspired me, given me some good pointers, enabled me to attend script-classes, pointed me to competitions and events I'd otherwise not heard of, allowed me to employ someone to proof-read my work, opened my work up to others and a whole lot more. That's more than mere "social fluff". Of course it's a networking site but to say it's nothing more than social is like saying LinkedIn is only for wannabe employees.
Like Dan M says - it's all on you, not on a website. These Stage 32 forums are indeed valuable free assets for networking. And it does offer educational (paid) courses (of unknown quality to me) to learners. I recognize that there still are a few old fire horses in the stable willing to offer aid but it is not a professional forum for vetted film industry individuals nor should it be viewed as such. If participants find inspiration herein - all the better.
Stephen - Zoetrope has wilted on the vine, Trigger Street has drifted off into the sunset and I don't know if Two Adverbs is still around or not. I say that becoming a Professional (at anything) ain't easy and like Dan said - it's up to you.
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Hi Stephen, there is a website called Talentville, I think it's what you are looking for. But as some said, it's worth networking here and make some friends, I had amazing help in the past and couldn't recommend this community enough. Best of luck.
One more thing Stephen, don't rely on stage 32 chat applet, it never works. After receiving two-three comments, it stops working. Better send them messages in box ;-)
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I disagree with Doug Nelson as well. Not my experience at all. Cranky!
Wardaan T I use chat all the time and have never had that problem. Have you contacted the support team here?
I've been off and on writing 20 years++, writers follow like blind sheep, website to website, seeking some miracle advice, hookup, validation, something.
Inktip, tigger, zoetrope, simplyscripts, blacklist, specscript, roadmap, stage32, no-talentville whatever the site is called. $$$$ pay to play.
long time ago, terry rossio and ted elliot (look up their movies) started a free website for screenwriters. Wordplayer.com. Back during the dial up modem pre-facebook era. AOL chatrooms. Nothing about screenwriting has changed, well maybe the market is worse . there isn't enough talent to satisfy the demand for TV, movies, webstreaming shows.
To Stephen, what are you looking for online? I think you said you have been 2004 Zoetrope member. that's 13 years ago. How many finished format correct feature scripts have you completed in 13 years? Can you submit your finished script as sample specs now?
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Dan I think you and some others may be reading too much into my inquiry. You're talking about websites being mistaken for gatekeepers and being "pay for play." Zoetrope is not pay for play. That's a free community for writers to trade reviews and receive feedback from other writers. Unlike Blacklist which is a snake oil scam as far as I'm concerned.
I'm not looking for a shortcut or a golden ticket in. I merely like to crowd source feedback on first drafts of spec scripts I write. And I like to do that with relative strangers who have no emotional investment in me or my feelings. It's a plus if those strangers have an interest in film and screenwriting. That's what Zoetrope was for me. A place to get more honest and experienced feedback than what I would get from friends and family.
Since Zoetrope is basically on life support, I decided ask what the read/review community is like around here. That's all.
Yes James, the chat problem persists. I told about this to support but it doesn't improve. There are small bug issues with this site.
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Stephen
Your plan doesn't seem like much of a plan- asking strangers online for feedback. Why would you believe faceless yahoos than yourself?. If you dont know anyone, cut to the chase and pay $$ to a vetted script consultant. Compare your craft to working professionals. Gotta figure a way to close the gap and get jobs.
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Stephen. I have seen people here ask people to review their scripts and volunteer to replicate. I don’t want people to read my screenplay and offer feedback so I never tried it but if you want feedback that might be a way to get it. Again, I don’t give feedback and I never ask for it.
I'm with the Dans. If I truly want feedback I'll pay the $ for it. I don't ask for feedback or do script swaps here. I have two trusted readers and a few industry execs who have agreed to read any scripts I send them. I prefer to go with their feedback than getting notes from some unknown person who probably has less experience than I do.
Hey Dan M, the "faceless yahoos" are our peers and contemporaries, no need to denigrate them. Also somewhat ironic from you since most people on here use their real names and photos, but you use a Myspace-esque moniker and picture of Michael Jordan. :\?
If some people don't see the value in free feedback from a crowd consensus, that's cool. However, films have test screenings all the time, and I see sharing a spec with others in the same way. Prose and poetry writers workshop with each other all the time, why should screenwriting be different? Everyone has their own process. And this is purely for my own spec works, anytime I've been under contract it's not something I do. I have producers/directors/clients to give me feedback on the project in those cases.
(Sigh) Okay, sorry, just a side comment... Actually if you look up Dan M you'll see it is his name. Or rather part of his name; it's sort of a pseudonym, if you will. For those who do not know... The triple xXx is a play on the Vin Diesel character "Xander Cage" from the xXx movies... When I first read one of Dan M's scripts... "Written by Dan Maxxx" on the title page cracked me up. BECAUSE it fit the tone of what he was writing. And it's funny. Certainly would help draw the attention of a reader or producer, no? And Dan M wants to write/make more awesome action B movies—am I right, Dan? Lol! ;) So it makes perfect sense to use his name, his "nom de plume," to add nuance to his persona. It's called marketing, baby. Lol! ;) And just to further add... Other members go by pseudonyms as well, or use only their first initials, or use a different image other than one of themselves for their profile picture, say... an image of their dog or cat, a logo, some graphic, their kids, their favorite film or movie stars, etc... Dan Guardino years ago used to have "Sinatra Squirrel" for his profile pic—loved that! I miss that cute squirrel in a fedora! And, let's see... Phillip Hardy now goes by "Uncle Phil." Sure, it is preferred for members to use a picture of themselves. Absolutely. But a member profile is also theirs to express themselves. So, while "fake" names and "fake" pictures can be a sign of a false person, it may not be. There are many other things and criteria to consider before any member account is determined to be "fake." ;) Again, my apologies for interjecting. It's just that the issue has come up recently... Anyhoo... Please, carry on! :)
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For myself, I prefer the review of a trusted few over the review of the public. Many of my trusted reviewers I have met on S32. I just prefer to work privately. Some do prefer to post work for open review for anyone and everyone to comment. To each their own. ;)
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That's fine, you're entitled to that opinion. I think you may be assuming I'm reliant on crowd sourced feedback to improve myself as a writer, which I'm not. However, I'm not dismissive of the idea that other people may have good ideas to help me improve my personal projects. I am confident in my writing ability, and I as I've already alluded to my writing has served me well enough to land me paying gigs. (Although, admittedly I'm not a WGA member nor am I repped, yet.)
Side story, your heartbreak over your Knicks reminded me of an episode of Seinfeld I just watched. Jerry and George con their way into a limo and find out it's headed to MSG for a Bulls vs Knicks game and Jerry and George are far more excited to see Jordan than the Knicks haha.
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Also, final thought I've neglected to share, I enjoy the other side of participating in read/review trades as well. I derive enjoyment and sometimes inspiration and insight from reading the works of others. Writers are always writing, but if they're not they should be reading.
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Beth. I changed my profile picture just remind myself even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while of for old time sake... I forgot about him:)
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Dan Guardino You were using that "secret squirrel" image when I first joined. Nice to see it back!
Regarding the chat issue - this could be a problem if you're browsing the site through IE. Cut and Paste on this site doesn't work in IE but does in Chrome. I've reported that "bug". I tried looking up Dan M / Dan MaxXx. Couldn't find anything about him whatsoever outside of his profile here. Probably just as well, given the negativity he perpetuates here anyway. LOL.
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I've met some really giving writers, even a working screenwriter, and two in particular gave me constructive feedback, and I did the same. Wrote my first blog ever with the help of our great S32 editor Rosalind and worked on a short film through S32 jobs section. They are many working artists from all forms here which I writing and communicated with, like. BETH said, thanks Beth for all that you do. Both Dans, uncle Philip have always given great sound advice the lounges. CJ, always your fan and I have read many of your shorts, since day one, back in 2014...I think that's when I joined. Stephen you have a good support system here and that's good enough for me.
'Sinatra Squirrel' is back! Lol! Great to see him! Thanks, Dan G! :)
Personally, I keep my Chat off, or rather "offline." Many may do the same. ;) I would suggest using "Browse" to search and connect with members. Send a network request, and use private messaging to communicate. ;) And here's Dan M's (Max is a middle name) IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906396/?ref_=tt_ov_wr. ;)
Shameless plug Beth! Lol! Imdb is all fake & wrong. They dont know about the other 6 or 8 titles for cash money.
Anybody with an Amazon prime account can watch my 1st movie. Better if you buy. I profit .5cents for every sold dvd.
No, no. No plug. Just sharing information. Keeping the peace--or rather trying to. Lol! ;)
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Beth buy my movies! Another 50-cents and I can pay for a Starbucks coffee
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Dan Guardino Love the squirrel. Him and his friends are some of the heroes of my animated script 'Birdland'. Love everything about Stage32. If I had not joined 3 years ago at Tribeca and met Richard "RB" Bottom my Screenwriting would not have come this far. Oh one more thing; shout out to Beth Fox Heisinger looking forward to the November Write Club to finish what will be my soon to be 4th copyrighted script: 'AMSTERDAM 74'.
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Agree with Steven Harris Anzelowitz about Beth Fox Heisinger and RB. Generous people! I spent nearly 2 hours this morning watching that video on the blog and it was amazing. Plan on watching it again.
Wonderful discussion. But there is bug somewhere. Recently I uploaded this my new photo, all my earlier photos have vanished. I couldn't find them! Please do something!
Ah, Steven. Too kind. But don't wait 'til November. Keep writing all year round! Lol! ;) James, yeah, I've been enjoying the blog as well. :) And, Wardan, I just checked your profile page and clicked through all your images—some dating back a year ago. So... I dunno? It looked fine to me. Perhaps something on your end? There certainly were some uploading/server issues a while back, so maybe some residual issue there? Regardless, please reach out to tech. Perhaps they can shed some light on what's happening: support@stage32.com. Hope that helps. ;)
Thanks Beth, I will do so. Here I can see only one photo :-(