Hi, Everybody!
My name is Ashley Smith and I’m Head of Community here at Stage 32!
Prior to joining this incredible team, I spent nearly 7 years at a boutique development and talent management company where I was deeply involved with every development project, management client, and administrative aspect of running the company. I oversaw a rich development slate of films, ongoing series, and limited series across genres and developed projects for Amazon, Sony TV, FX, Universal TV, Paramount TV, Legendary Global, MGM, A&E, Concord Originals, and many others.
Here at Stage 32, I’m honored to oversee this fantastic Community. As well as the daily Blog, weekly AMAs, monthly in-person Meetups, and numerous volunteer efforts to make your time here at Stage 32 as helpful and resourceful as possible. It’s always my goal to bring you all exciting resources and information to help you network, connect, and learn more about various disciplines and processes within the entertainment industry. I’d love to know what you all enjoy most about being a part of the Stage 32 community, what you’d like to see more of, the kind of AMAs that you’d like to see in the lounges, and the type of blog topics that you would enjoy!
But mostly, I'd love to know what YOUR 2025 goals/intentions/resolutions are, however you define them. Drop them in the comments below!
My Goals:
1. Read 52 books
2. Complete the full first draft of my book.
3. Become a first-time homeowner.
Don’t be a stranger! I look forward to connecting with you all.
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Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend and Happy New Year, Ashley Renee Smith! Thanks for bringing the resources and info to the community! They definitely help.
What I enjoy most about being part of this community are the people, the Lounges, and the resources (like the blogs, the AMAs, the webinars, and the Writers' Room). I'd like to see more AMAs/blogs about character arc, pitching, and the legal side of the industry.
My creative goals are write 3 feature spec scripts, sell 1-3 feature spec scripts, and read more scripts and novels.
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Ashley Renee Smith - the one and only Captain Ash! Thank so much for all you do. It's quite the feat but you pull it off every month with a smile and an encouragement. I would say my goals this year are:
1. Wrap my head around producing.
2. Complete my voice acting setup.
3. Get back on the piano.
4. Foster relationships I've made here on S32
5. Take better care of self.
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Hi Ashley Renee Smith ! Great to meet you. Thank you so much for providing resources and insight to our community. I'd like to see more blogs about pitching, selling scripts, and production. My 3 goals for 2025: 1. Coach 100 screenwriters, 2. Write & finish my 1st novel this year, and 3. Travel out of the country.
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Ashley Renee Smith I love to read you :)) Happy IYW! Your 2025 goals are really challenging, but I know you will achieve them! My goals for 2025. They are not many, let’s see: Option my Soul Mated romantasy ; Go to Cannes Film Festival; Go on pre-production with Seeing Rachel; Write a Pilot that’s playing in my mind and help Stage 32 Community to grow and be more known in Europe! Most of all, being happy every day, live day by day and shine more love to the world!
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Those are great goals, Maurice Vaughan! Cheering you on as always my friend!
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Ugh. You're gonna make me all teary, Leonardo Ramirez! I love your goals! I just know that it's going to be a good year for you.
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It's lovely to meet you as well, Jessica Tanner! I'm also writing my first novel this year! We're gonna crush it.
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Go big or go home, Sandra Isabel Correia!! I LOVE how big your goals are and if anyone can accomplish them, I know it's you!
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Yours are great goals too, Ashley Renee Smith! Thanks. I'm cheering you and everyone on to reach the goals!
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I was just telling Kristen that we need to go to Cannes and AFF just to hang with my creative family Ashley Renee Smith.
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Thank you for being such a vital part of this community, Ashley and for everything you do to make Stage 32 such a welcoming and resourceful space! I love your goals for 2025—especially writing your book. That’s such an inspiring intention, and I have no doubt you’ll accomplish it. Looking forward to seeing all the exciting things you’ll bring to the community this year!
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\o/
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Hi Ashley, happy new years
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Leonardo Ramirez I wanna go to Cannes also and meet you all in person :))))
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Ashley Renee Smith thank youuu and we will rock the stars :)))
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That will be a good day Sandra Isabel Correia !
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Will be Leonardo Ramirez we can co-create until becomes reality:))))
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Absolutely Sandra Isabel Correia !!
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Ashley Renee Smith goal #1 is worrying me. I could never read a book in a week!
Mine:
1. Launch my new company in January/February.
2. Call “Action!” On Seeing Rachel.
3. Complete the screenplay for The House of memories.
There you go. That’s my ten penneth worth. Have a great weekend, Ashley.
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Ashley Renee Smith great discussion! I agree that you're a wonderful part of Stage32. My goals for 2025:
1. Make my movie, Stacks;
2. Write my new historical drama, Angell;
3. Get off my ass and enjoy life a little more;
4. Get a couple of other projects greenlit.
I want to buy my forever home and I know where it is, but I think that's not going to happen until 2026. :-)
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Ashley Renee Smith Hey Ash!!! I’m just getting my feet wet here as well so haven’t had much interaction but what I will say is this community and the platform seems to be a safe haven for creatives! I think we’ve all heard the horror stories on how cut throat this business can be I don’t get that here, everyone feels genuine from top to bottom.
My goals
1) Release my first series Baseball Moms before 6/1
2) Finish the rewrites for 2 of my scripts and complete the period piece I feel is a uniquely redonkulous (I said what I said
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We may need a video of you calling "Action" on set Geoff Hall !
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Thank you for your engagement! I’d say:
1)Writing a soundtrack for a major film
2)Securing funds to produce my first solo album
3) Finding my physical place in the world (preferably in the Mediterranean)
Maybe I'm asking for too much? Ahah
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No, Giulia Marzano you're not asking too much! I'm a soundtrack fanatic (played french horn in orchestra) so I'd love to hear that soundtrack when ready!
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Leonardo Ramirez wow! so are you a musician? one day it would be amazing to sing with an orchestra!
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Giulia Marzano I am, yes! Also a singer. I sang with the Houston Masterworks Chorus as well as a rock band a while back. Btw, I just listened to “Angel Lies” and you have a new fan. It was beautiful!
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Leonardo Ramirez thank you very much! My co-writer will be happy to know this.
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You are very welcome Giulia Marzano. I’ll be sure to listen to the rest.
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My goal is to simply write a screenplay I'm proud of
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Fantastic Goals Ashley Renee Smith !
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Leonardo Ramirez okay, Leonardo. Are you going to pop onto the set, to shoot that famous moment? ;-)
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Sounds like I need to go ahead and get a passport Geoff Hall.
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Geoff Hall, I'm a bit nervous about it too to be honest, mostly because I want to get so much writing done this year and I'll have to make decisions on which one will get my attention in my free time. But back in high school, I used to read a book a day to completion. If I can get into a rhythm with few interruptions, I can blast through a good book. I'm already almost done with my second book for the year and I'm really excited to start #3 because I preordered it last summer.
Your goals are great and I'm cheering you on as always!
Thank you, Maureen Mahon! I love your goals! What is your historical drama about?
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Hi, Bobby Wallace! I'm so glad you're having a positive experience here on Stage 32!
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Mike Childress, are you writing a book this year as well? May I ask what it's about?
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Thank you, Sydney! That means so much to me. <3
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Thats awesome, Mike Childress! I love the concept!
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Leonardo Ramirez jetsetting screenwriters need a passport, Leonardo!
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I'm on it Geoff Hall !