Hello everyone, my name's Nathan Grimm. I'm new to Stage 32 and have been sort of browsing about to get a feel for the site, before introducing myself.
I'm new here, but I've been writing since I was a child. I'm a disabled veteran that now spends my days avidly working on developing a handful of screenplays into animated shorts all within a shared world. The most recent one, Mariposa - Angels of Valhalla, has been making minor waves on Coverfly, and wrestles with heavy themes meant for mature audiences.
I'm here to network, but it seems I'm still at a loss here, as it feels like the only thing offered (especially by way of spam) beyond the social media space are classes that I feel I really don't need; especially considering the unreasoned price tags of some.
Can anyone elaborate further on what services are provided beyond the arbitrary webinars and the like?
I'm happy to be here and look forward to talking with those with shared interests and goals.
Thanks.
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Welcome to the community, Nathan Grimm. I used to live in VA and my dad was stationed there in the Army.
There are a lot of features and resources on Stage 32:
Lounges: https://www.stage32.com/lounge (you can make posts, ask questions, comment on people's posts, and build relationships/network with nearly a million people)
Blogs: https://www.stage32.com/blog
Logline Section: You can post your loglines, synopses, and scripts in the Logline Section of your profile. Members can give feedback on your loglines, synopses, and scripts. They'll also show up in the Browse Logline Section (https://www.stage32.com/loglines). Producers, directors, etc. search the Browse Logline Section.
Browse Section: You can browse for members, videos, loglines, and Stage 32 Meetups (https://www.stage32.com/browse)
Job Section: https://www.stage32.com/find-jobs
Script Services: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices
Contests: https://www.stage32.com/contests
The Writers' Room (best feature on Stage 32): https://www.stage32.com/writers-room
Here's a blog about navigating Stage 32 for the best experience: https://www.stage32.com/blog/navigating-stage-32-for-your-best-experienc...
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Thanks for both the welcome and the help. Virginia isn't a bad place to live, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the mountains of Colorado.
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Welcome, Nathan! Nice to meet you. Glad you're here. Look forward to seeing what you'll create!
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You're welcome, Nathan Grimm. When did you live in Colorado?
Also, you can use the "@" symbol to reply directly to someone. A drop-down box will pop up. Sometimes it doesn't pop up. What some members do when that happens is we use the "*" symbol four times (two before a person's name and two after it). Like this: Maurice
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Welcome, Nathan. I've used the script coverage services and a couple pitch sessions. The coverage can be found under script services. I haven't gotten back my notes from the first pitch, but I can tell you that the coverage is great. I received specific, actionable feedback from the studio-level coverage (3-5 pages of development notes).
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Nathan, Welcome to Stage 32. I have found there are helpful people here. I know transitions can be difficult. I wish you the best of luck.
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Welcome, thank you for your sacrifice.
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Hi Nathan Grimm thank you for your service. Please feel free to contact me personally and I will help you in any way i can
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Hello Nathan, welcome to this media platform.
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Hey everyone, I apologize for the late response but know that I do greatly appreciate the welcome as much as the explanation of resources. Cheers, everyone.
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Hi Nathan - welcome to Stage 32 and thank you for your service! You've walked into a network of liked-minded people who are constantly creating and looking to launch projects, just like you!
Our Community Lounges will also have special event AMAs with Stage 32 Thought Leaders who are in the field and available to answer any of your questions.
Here's the most recent two for you to read:
Tom Malloy -
https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing/Ask-Me-Anything-AMA-10-4-to-10-5
Brian Smith -
https://www.stage32.com/lounge/animation/Ask-Me-Anything-AMA-10-18-to-10-19
Please reach out if you have any questions! Happy to help!
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@Schellie Schmals awesome thank you, now I did some perusing around the site and noticed you offer pitch meetings. Are those meetings actually for pitching screenplays to industry professionals that are known or strictly for preparing scripts for potential pitch meetings?
I read the fine print in some and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems most are purely for arbitrary help and that's it?
If true, shouldn't the disclaimer be a bit bigger so that screenwriters aren't fooled into false hope?
I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, so I apologize if it seems like it; just curious how the platform benefits writers as it seems everything has a price tag with very little potential for return on investment.
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Welcome to Stage 32. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but you’ll get it soon. Join some lounges and watch some vlogs.
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Welcome to the stage.
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I appreciate the welcome.
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Hi Nathan! welcome to Stage 32. I work on the Script Services team where you can meet with executives and producers at WB, Columbia Pictures, Paramount, etc and many other highly regarded and top producing studios and companies. You can send them your scripts then meet with them through Skype to breakdown your script's strengths and weaknesses, and get direction on how to move forward. For your Angels of Valhalla, I would recommend Jason Piette or Thomas Pemberton. You can also pitch your scripts to executives of your choice. Links are below! Hope this all helps. If you need more recommendations you can always write in to writerhelp@stage32.com Cheers, GiGi
Consultations:
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/consulting
Coverage:
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/coverage
Pitch Sessions:
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/pitch-sessions
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@Jody Hart, I value any help provided. I'm still learning to navigate the world of production and entertainment so any guidance from a brother is appreciated greatly.
@GiGi Raines, are these pitch meetings strictly for advice on how to further develop written screenplays, or are they legitimate pitch meetings with potential for production options, etc?
This is where my disconnect seems to lie as the clarification is a bit confusing when looking at these options at face value.
Thank you for all your input in squaring me away.
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Nathan Grimm The Pitch Sessions are mainly to help Stage 32 members prepare their pitches, but sometimes the executives, producers, etc. request to read the scripts, pass the scripts along to their contacts, and option or buy the scripts. Sometimes agents and managers sign writers after Pitch Sessions: https://www.stage32.com/blog/romance-writer-lands-representation-after-s...
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Maurice Vaughan thank you for the clarification.
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Hi Nathan Grimm, welcome! You have great questions and I'm so happy to hear you're invested in poking around the site and really understanding everything there is to take advantage of. All Stage 32 script services aim to provide both a networking opportunity between writers and executives and simultaneously provide writers with an opportunity to be educated by those executives on their work. Our objective is always a dual Networking and Educational one. For Pitch Sessions, you get feedback on the pitches themselves as well as a bit of feedback on the project. And live pitches give you a chance to build your networking community by pitching face-to-face to different executives. That being said, there are a ton of success stories that come from our services, I'll include a link below where you can read about them if you'd like. But at our core, we're rooted in Education and Networking.
I know you mentioned not being interested in classes, but I do encourage you to look at the webinars. There are many that are free and the subject matter is varied and vast. For example I really like the webinars that breakdown current scripts.
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/success-stories
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@Niki Hayes, I appreciate you further clarifying the provided services; this alleviates my concerns as now I've the context needed to temper expectation.
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You're welcome, Nathan Grimm.
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Welcome, Nathan! Nice to meet you. Sop glad you're here. Thanks for being part of the community and thank you for your service!
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Welcome, Nathan, and good luck with forwarding your career. And thank you for your service.
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Thank you all very much for the continued greetings and well-wishes.
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I hope you do a adaptation of your story to a novel and film. It was moving.
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Hi Nathan, good to meet you…..thank you for your service and the very best to you in your endeavors.
I know how you feel, as I also navigate from time to time and get confused. But I’ve learned by continuing to navigate.
Hope it works for you too.
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Hi, Sabra. Have you read this blog: https://www.stage32.com/blog/navigating-stage-32-for-your-best-experienc...
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Thank you Maurice. I will look into it…..again
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@Tasha Lewis thank you for the kind words; I don't really like talking about my experiences directly, instead, I allegorically deconstruct them in my screenplays as a way of sharing my point of view and making the journey entertaining while eliciting ponderance from my audience.
@Sabra Darugar I'm learning it slowly, but surely, as you said it boils down to persistence.
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You're welcome, Sabra.
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I do that also, Nathan Grimm ("deconstruct them in my screenplays as a way of sharing my point of view and making the journey entertaining while eliciting ponderance from my audience"). Sometimes without knowing.
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Nathan Grimm Storytelling and journaling allows us to express ourselves and heal ourselves. See my projects on my project page for illustrations. That’s how I have lived my life.
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This story may help. Still being developed since it’s a new story.
https://www.stage32.com/profile/753105/Screenplay/Overcoming-Adversity-B...
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I’m an actor/writer, I’m using Stage 32 lately to connect with a co-producer for a short film I’ve written. Beyond that I have simply enjoyed seeing the different points of view here.
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Thank you all and it's a pleasure to hear your stories and successes. I can only hope I'm as fortunate moving forward.