Happy introduce yourself weekend. I’m Amanda and I’m the Managing Director for Stage 32 and also a film and TV producer. I absolutely love this community and Introduce Yourself Weekend.
So, here is my challenge. After 12 years with this community I know that we have a lot of introverts here. I am ultra sensitive to that because I myself am not an artist, but I surround myself with creative people because that’s something that I just am not equipped to do and I find it really inspiring. I recognize how hard it is to put your art out into the world and why that could make you introverted. So…my challenge to you if you are an introvert reading this is to step out of the shadows and introduce yourself on this post here. I promise you that you will be met with nothing less but support and encouragement. As terrifying as it might be to put yourself out here publicly just know that you’re in a safe space and my goal for you is to take that first step which will be the first step of many for you.
Let me know what you’re working on, what’s inspiring you right now, or just what you are watching right nowt! No matter what it is a journey starts with the first step.
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Even though I've reintroduced myself plenty of times here already since late 2022, I consider myself an introvert at heart. So, why not?
My name is Marcel Nault Jr. I hail from the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada).
I'm an history author and novice screenwriter; a journey I began in late 2022 because the inspiration was already there. I just had to lit the match, so to speak. Professionally, I've been working as a full-time real estate appraisal technician for almost two months now because I was on welfare funds before and it could've ended dramatically for me... Luckily, it didn't. I also have this screenwriting project to ground me on shaky grounds these days. But, I try and remain as grateful as one can be.
Enough with being sentimental. lol
I am currently working on my pilot script for The Leviathan: a dramatic thriller TV series that takes place in Albany (and the county), NY in present time. Think Better Call Saul-meets-True Detective-meets-Law and Order. I also have two more loglines ready to go, but the time and motivation to work is a whole other story.
In short, my primary goal is to tell compelling stories, whether they unfold on the big screen or through the episodic nature of television.
That's basically it.
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Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend, Amanda Toney. Great idea! I'm an introvert, but I've been putting myself and my work out there so much, I've become comfortable doing it.
I'm finishing a rewrite for a ghostwriting job, working on a feature spec script, and pitching scripts.
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Marcel Nault Jr. Think Better Call Saul-meets-True Detective-meets-Law and Order sounds very interesting!
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Hello! Lovely to introduce yourself, thanks! My name is Tiana I am a writer from Alaska new to LA network.
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Hi Amanda Toney. Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend. I'm adapting one of my short films into a webcomic and developing ideas for new scripts.
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Hello! I am working on figuring out next steps, inspiring me right now is doing a torch to submit to film studios, Thanks and glad to connect! My journey continues with the next step! https://www.stage32.com/profile/1090092/Screenplay/Survivor
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Hi. I am a Toronto-based artist who has written several screenplays over the years, mostly in collaboration with Ron Hier. As extreme introverts, we were always better at writing than marketing ourselves, and when Ron died last year, I determined to get more exposure for our material. I completed our last script together, Ilium Ridge, an updating for Homer's Iliad to the First World War (https://iliumridge.com/), and have had some success in the online film festivals. Wish me luck!
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I'm Vincent Turner I make a movie every month... Looking for other artist and business partners.
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These are really inspiring stories, please keep them coming...
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My condolences, Glen Cram.
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We love you, too, Amanda Toney *hugs* Love a good challenge! And this is a great time to do it - networking once a month for Introduce Yourself Weekend gives introverts \_plenty\_ of time to recover and recoup their energy. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Oh, and what I’m working on is pretty extensive, so here is the link to my Introduce Yourself post with the tally LOL:
Greetings from LA - and Welcome to Stage 32!
https://stage32.com/post/3586644762427403442
https://stage32.com/post/35866447624274034425 people like this
I've found that writing and producing is a strange dichotomy. In order to write, you have to be an introvert. You're kind of required to sit alone, go deep inside, and write. Then, when you're done with your script, you have to claw your way out of your cocoon and be (or pretend to be) an extrovert - calling people you're terrified to call, going to networking events, trying to sell this thing you just spent the last few months alone with. It can be jarring.
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Hello hello! I've been with Stage32 for a while but as a habitual lurker on most platforms, I'm not always as active as I should be with conversations/posts/etc. But I just had a lovely pitch session and am switching gears to work on a pitch deck for another pilot, and considering re-watching "My Lady Jane" on Amazon Prime for the 3rd time...
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Dawn Prato Hi there Dawn, it’s good to see you coming out of the shadows and being a part of the IYW. Well done on the pitch session, please keep us posted as things develop.
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Amanda Toney Hi Amanda, it’s always great to hear from you on the IYW.
I know many won’t believe this, but I’m an introvert who through the force of what I’m trying to do, is pushed into extroversion/extraversion!
For about 15 or 16 years I was an arts mentor, and every quarter we’d hold a social gathering that we called the Tree House. I had to push myself into organising these and also presenting them. The thing that made me realise I needed to be more confident was that after each gathering I come home on a high and was unable to go straight to bed, but had to exhale many Wows, for about an hour, sip a glass of whisky and settle down so that eventually I could get some sleep.
I see in my grandson that selfsame introversion, so we sit easily together. Today, he had an early birthday party and then came back for a special sleepover. I read him a number of bedtime stories, but he said he wasn’t tired, so we sat on the stairs and looked out of the window, because he said he wanted to watch the sunset. I said to sit quietly and watch the rain clouds pour in. He asked why. I said because we may see the Cloudmaker, whom I told him was the same as the starmaker and the planet and galaxymaker. “What’s a galaxy?” I gave him the introverts guide to the galaxy and told him in the morning I’d show him some pictures of galaxies.
What this got to do with anything? Well. His first year of school has been great and his report said that he has a great imagination and he uses it to solve problems by creating characters and environments! I thought to myself, Alexander is going to be a writer!
If we limit our lives and our stories to what is simply around us and don’t look up to the expanse out there, shedding our introvertive ways as we dare to gaze, we’ll write parochial stories and not universal epics. This is, I believe, a time that is calling for such epic and extravagant stories, that fill our lives with wonder and not fear. My grandson is already looking up and I pray that he will find his own path and write stories which will stir our imagination and compel us to action against a world of injustice.
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Glen Cram - wishing you a ton of luck, I'm inspired by your determination!
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@marcel - thank you for sharing your journey with us, you should be very proud to have overcome obstacles you've faced, and as a real estate appraisal technician I bet you have some interesting stories! Would love to see you make some of those into a script of yours!
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Lisa Lee - that sounds really cool! What's the short film about? Keep us all posted on how the webcomic progresses. Love that creativity!
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@tiana - we are so happy to have you in the Stage 32 community! I imagine you find a lot of inspiration from living in Alaska. It's such a beautiful state. What do you like to write?
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Alicia Pozsony - I read your logline/synopsis of SURVIVOR on your profile and it instantly hooked. I'm so curious about the mother with Schizophrenia and it is even more powerful that it's based on a true story.
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One of the best courses I've taken courtesy of Stage32 "Networking for Introverts: Online and Offline https://www.stage32.com/education?p=8944831660339. Truly helpful and original.
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Amanda Toney, the short film is about a mother who uses an old family recipe to turn her daughter into a zombie. The webcomic expands on the ending and shows what their lives look like after the fact.
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Vincent Turner, a movie a month is a fantastic way to improve your craft and to get yourself out there! what kinds of movies do you make?
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Amanda Toney For how long though, that is the million dollar question. lol But yes, I might have some interesting tidbits to share in a future script about real estate. You never know. ;)
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I LOVE this idea, Amanda Toney! We both know that I’m not a true introvert, but I love that you’re inspiring those who are to step out of the shadows. =)
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Lisa Lee feature films mostly. I work hard (sweat drips) lol
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I have another challenge for everyone on this thread. I love the support and positivity here - I challenge everyone here to send a network request to everyone who has responded on this post. This is the first step to put yourself out there with likeminded people. Here's how - just hover over the person's name and click "View Profile" (or you can just click their name, too). That will take you to their profile page and once you are on their profile page click "add to network". If you are on the receiving end of a network request you will find it in your top right hand corner under the little person icon next to your settings (gear icon). I am going to keep checking in to see if we can spark some friendships here. All it takes is just one step :) You never know where it will lead.
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Hi! I'm Travis and I just finished directing my latest short film "Yellow Balloon". I'm currently trying to develop a number of feature film scripts that I have written, but the "introvert" in me makes that difficult, since I have not been able to find any other producers willing to help move the projects along. Being a lone wolf in this business stinks.
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There are more lone wolves in this industry than not, Travis Thoms. You're not alone. You should check out today's blog about overcoming obstacles and staying motivated despite the challenges. It also includes some great tips about how to engage and network here on Stage 32! https://www.stage32.com/blog/july-filmmakers-club-week-5-staying-motivat...
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Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments here!
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Thanks Amanda.It is encouraging challenge, for some of us to come out of the darkness
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You're welcome, Amanda Toney.