Toby Tate: Author, screenwriter and producer in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Wow, what a story! I once wrote an article called "How Do You Like Your Horror?" for Famous Monsters, but it was under new management as Forry had passed. I've read FM all my life. Would have loved to see the "Ackermansion!"

Wow - this was so right on. Insightful and encouraging. Thanks so much!

After more than five years of writing a dozen screenplays and enduring hundreds of rejections, things are starting to pick up steam. I learned the hard way that this business really is about networking, which is not an easy thing if you don't live in a filmmaking hub like L.A. or Atlanta. But it looks like 2023 might be my year, with at least two films, possibly three, in the works. I am still writing screenplays, of course.

But getting involved as a co-producer, rather than just writing scripts and firing them off to agents, definitely helps me maintain some control over the process, which is awesome. I can't say enough about networking. It really is about who you know. And a close second is learning about the film business itself. And Stage 32 is very helpful in both respects!

Great advice! I sent you a PM, by the way.

Awesome! Congrats, Richard!

Thanks for this, Ava. Great advice!

WOOT WOOT LETS GO!

Never heard of Trello. Sounds like something I can definitely use! Thanks for the info!

Love Bradley. I have his webinar, "Hiring Your Director and Cast." Really great advice. It helped me to figure out how to put together my first film project.

We already have a lead actor, and now we're bringing in an experienced director to helm our project, an action/thriller. I'm not posting this all over social media, but I am posting it here because people on here understand what it takes to put an indie film project together. It's been a true roller coaster ride, and of course it's not over yet. We're about to do a loop de loop! Things are gonna get crazy!

Five years ago, I would have never thought in a million years I would be where I am, doing what I'm doing right now, but here I am, co-producing an indie film based on my own screenplay! A lot of it is due to the things I have learned right here on Stage 32! Thanks for all your guidance and support!

Hey! Wanted to see what everyone thinks of my story idea for the script I'm writing.

for now, let's just call it SCHOOL BUS

Okay so the story is about a 13 yo named Davion who is embarrassed by his little brother Elliot and sits far away from him on the school bus.

But the school bus is hijacked by two gang members because one girl on the bus is the daughter of their enemy and they are kidnapping her.

One man drives towards the destination while the other takes apart all phones, holds kids hostages with gun.

So Davion has to find way to protect his brother who has panic attacks, like he promised his dad he would, from these murderers.

Davion also knows which gang these men are with from their tattoo and because his cousin was killed by the same gang. So he knows they will kill them all.

Davion and several of his friends must use their wits to communicate with each other and form a plan to fight back under the watchful eye of the violent criminals.

Lotta tension, chases, a big crash.

Okay so it's basically SPEED, but instead of Keanu Reeves it's the cast of Stand By Me. Not really that cast RIP River Phoenix but that age group, character study type.

Thoughts?? I can't get it out of my head!

Thanks for the awesome post! As a former U.S. Navy vet, I have used that experience as a basis for many of my novels and screenplays. It makes a difference when you can write with first-hand knowledge. After leaving the military, I worked as a contractor for two years, and then spent the next ten trying to break into the music industry. I went back to college and got my degree in English and then spent five years as a journalist at a daily newspaper. The breakthrough came when I got my first novel published. Seven published novels later, I turned to screenwriting and had to begin the learning curve all over again. After a dozen screenplays, I was able to get one optioned. I am also co-producing and we are currently looking for a director. All of this thanks to eight years in the military!

I announced a while back that a project of mine was optioned. Now we have brought in a high-profile producer who loves our screenplay and has, in turn, gotten the screenplay in front of an amazing director! I know this is a long way from actually getting a feature made, but it's another step in the right direction. So my advice is: keep plugging away, ignore the naysayers, keep writing and re-writing, and keep knocking on doors!

One of the most informative posts I have read. Thanks for this!

Just optioned my first screenplay! Can't say much beyond that for now, and I know it's probably lame to announce that since it doesn't exactly mean a film is being made. Just to add some context, I've been at this for about five years, so this may give hope to others to know that persistence does pay off!

Wow - great blog! Thanks for your service, Justin, and Semper Fi! Your story sounds so much like mine - except I was in the Navy - the "Gator Navy" as they call it - because my ship specialized in transporting Marines. I also spent several years as a "Sea Bee."

I have "traditionally" published five novels and two novellas, and just optioned a screenplay, which happens to be my second one. I am not as far along in the game as you are, probably because I was focused on a career in music after the Navy before switching to writing and going back to school. Anyway, glad to see there are other vets out there making their way in this crazy but rewarding business. If you are interested, here is my website: http://www.tobytatestories.com.

Informative and insightful. Thanks!