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Liked by Adam Spencer and 17 others

Maurice Vaughan
Happy Thanksgiving From Stage 32: We Are Thankful For YOU

I’m thankful for a lot in my creative life, like Stage 32’s November Write Club. I got a lot done for Write Club, and I plan on getting some more done the last few days of the month.

What’s something you’re thankful for in your creative life? And what’s something you want to get done before the end...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Meriem Bouziani. I hope you're achieving your goals too. I got a lot done during November Write Club. I plan on making a post about it this weekend or Monday....

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Meriem Bouziani

Thank you very much Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Have a great weekend!

Steve Dini

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone - here's to a "Creative Christmas!"

Maurice Vaughan

Happy Thanksgiving, Steve Dini! Hope you have a Creative Christmas!

Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 6 others

Ehsan Rahimpour
Active Versus Passive Protagonist

No. 02/ Robert McKee, a wise voice on storytelling, highlights an important point:

An ACTIVE PROTAGONIST, in the pursuit of desire, takes action in direct conflict with the people and the world around him.

A PASSIVE PROTAGONIST is outwardly inactive while pursuing desire inwardly, in conflict with aspects of his or her own nature.

Ehsan Rahimpour

John Fife I think McKee’s sharp insight names the conflict’s general vector — in a passive protagonist, that conflict is fundamentally turned inward, a pattern more common in modern characters, with t...

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Ehsan Rahimpour

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh Yeah, that’s true. In the end, we’re all just writing about our real lives.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Pretty much Ehsan Rahimpour. I like to challenge myself but within reason. I’m primarily the kind of person who believes in playing the hand you’re dealt (whether it’s your fault or not), so my charac...

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Ehsan Rahimpour

Maybe we can Banafsheh Esmailzadeh, expand it like this: In contemporary times, this dual situation almost always prevails, and our art is a way of playing between the two....

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Debbie Croysdale

Thread reminds me too, a passive or active protagonist can be their own worst enemy & antagonist not another human, ghost, monster, society or bad environment etc. I write active protagonists who arc...

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Liked by Jim Boston and one other

Writing

The best writing, for me, is the kind where you eventually forget the rules.

I’m not saying technique doesn’t matter, or that structure is useless. I’m talking about that first-draft moment where you let the story come out naturally. Where you’re not trying to write “the right way” yet—where you’re n...

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Maurice Vaughan

Great points and tips, Fares Moha. I rewrite as I work on the first draft, but the first draft is mainly about getting the draft done.

Fares Moha

So keep working the way you do. Take the time to build your own certainty, to strengthen what you want to say, and to feel proud of your story. After that, convincing others almost becomes a consequence, not a battle.

Liked by Meriem Bouziani and 10 others

John Fife
Has writing movies changed the way you view movies?

I'm taking a screenwriting course and as part or the curriculum we are required to watch small clips of multiple movies. The video pauses randomly and the instructor tells us to write what we see on the screen. I love that part of the course but found now as I watch movies, I'm forever talking to my...

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Jon Shallit

Movement in every shot -Kurosawa.

Look for rich backgrounds in great directing. Although I am only a beginning director, I tried in SETESH 2025 (youtube) to make each shot have so many unusual backgrou...

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Thomas Medori

Absolutely. Every time I hear bad dialogue, I think, I can do better. And every time I hear great dialogue, I think, I hope I’ll be that good someday.

Ewan Dunbar

It only gets worse but you wouldn't change it! A great way to develop your screenwriting is to explore parts of films that give you strong emotional responses, then explore how the filmmaker and scree...

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Meriem Bouziani

Actually movies inspire me when I write my own scripts.

I consciously revisit many films to analyze their structure, so I can better understand what approach might serve my own writing.

There are many d...

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Debbie Croysdale

I dissect films & TV shows constantly but don’t actually consciously plan to. It just happens. My friends stop me shouting at the screen, when I notice plot weaknesses or too many coincidences.

Liked by Meriem Bouziani and 2 others

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg
AI News - George R.R. Martin et al Move To Trial Against ChatGPT

NO - a fan didn't generate a storyline. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT uses his work (and that of 17 other authors, acting in a class action suit against ChatGPT and Microsoft) without permission and without compensation. Microsoft and ChatGPT tried to have the class-action thrown out and tried to...

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Maurice Vaughan

I'm glad to hear it, Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg! I hope George R.R. Martin wins! Producers, studios, etc. are big on copyright. I don't see them using generative AI/buying generative AI material an...

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Mathew Tretola

My opinion: I hope they get sued into complete non-existence. Generative ai is one of the worst things humans have created.

Meriem Bouziani

I believe there are several distinct creative states.

Some creators generate both ideas and language themselves — the fully human pipeline with linguistic command and conceptual expertise.

Others use AI...

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Liked by Saparuddin Santa and one other

Meriem Bouziani
Pitching question.

Hello Stage 32 community,

I hope you’re having a great weekend.

I have a question for you:

When you pitch a project and the executive invites you to lead the conversation, how do you open effectively—without oversharing, losing focus, or consuming too much of the allotted time?

I’ve been reflecting on...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Great. There's a lot to do in the Writers' Room. I hope those pitch resources help!

Bill Albert

If I'm doing a phone pitch I have my script ready to go. I'll rehearse it several times to make sure it's not to long and that helps me make sure I reach all the things I want to tell them.

Always fin...

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Meriem Bouziani

Thank you very much for your help.

I wish you the best of luck as well Bill Albert

Bill Albert

You, too. Another thing to remember is they want you to give them the best idea they've ever heard. Let that help your confidence.

Meriem Bouziani

yeah, originality matters. I hope my story, The Silent PFC War, stands out as something unique and layered to them Bill Albert...

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The Tale of the Jester's Mask

After all that I have had to see and endure, the world has opened up to me from a different side. Every second, every ray of light, every breath of wind—this is the astonishing beauty of our world, which I now feel with my very skin. And, looking upon this fragile and perfect life, I believe that we...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Volodimir Skorokhod. Welcome to the community. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. Stage 32 is an English platform. Do you mind translating your post to English?

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you n...

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Volodimir Skorokhod

Thank you, I will definitely watch everything and get used to your site, in English...

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Volodimir Skorokhod. Ok, great. And I suggest using a photo of yourself as your profile picture. People will feel more comfortable networking and collaborating with you if they know wh...

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Liked by Rue Saavage and 9 others

Introduction

Hi, my name is Ashley Dreswick-Dollinger, and I am a new published author as of 2024. I never imagined my passion for reading and movies would lead me to a passion for writing. As my journey continues, I have learned screenwriting as well. I am always looking to advance in my accomplishments and tha...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Ashley Dreswick-Dollinger. Welcome to the community. Congratulations on having four books published!

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and indust...

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Rose Dupuis

Hey Ashley Dreswick-Dollinger, the little excerpt you posted grabs my interest. I want to know the process Allie and Everett go through and the outcome. Here's to your success in finding that group of...

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Ashley Dreswick-Dollinger

Thank you Rose Dupuis! That truly means a lot to me ❤️

Liked by Ville Hilden and 5 others

Kat Spencer
What’s your creative goal between now and January 1st?

The year always seems to speed up once November hits, and I’m curious how everyone here handles that final creative push.

Are you wrapping up any tracks, organizing sessions, experimenting with new ideas, or simply giving yourself space to recharge before 2026?

What’s the one creative goal you want to hit before we turn the calendar?

Mike Hall

The new year is always a good feeling...as if it's a new creative clean slate. I just finished up the music for the last film project for the year. I do have some upcoming projects but what I try to d...

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Meriem Bouziani

The biggest goal right now is to continue my first script, The Silent PFC War.

Cédric Chanet

After a lot of questioning about my artistic endeavors, I just finished the soundtrack for a short film, I feel more confident about pursuing my ambitions as a composer. This December is mostly gonna be about socializing and networking, and hopefully opening doors for new projects.

Quentil Pompey

I aim for finish this last track on my album entitled: Dismantling. I would like to be mastered and prepared for release early 2026.

Ville Hilden

Trying to put into videos the first act of my musical.

Liked by Kat Spencer and one other

Lauren Hackney
What can publishers change after you’ve signed a contract?

Hey Authors and Playwrights,

Short answer: yes - but how much they can change depends entirely on what you’ve agreed to in writing.

I’ve seen this question pop up a bit lately with authors I know, so here’s a quick breakdown for anyone heading into the publishing world:

What publishers can usually chan...

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Kat Spencer

Very helpful advice Lauren Hackney!

Lauren Hackney

Thank you Kat Spencer I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving!

Liked by Ramon Zapata and 8 others

John Branagan
I'm missing something about the art of Pitch

I recently pitched a tv series concept to a rep at zero gravity management he wrote back to me giving a surprising great review on my pitch and the concept I was pitching yet the rep passed:(. can someone please explain that thought process. Why pass on me and the project when the pitch checked all the boxes.

Thank you,

JB

Emilia Maria

Hey John - if it's any consolation, I pitched 2 weeks ago, and still haven't heard back hah! The wait is killing me, but it is what it is!

Steven R Mitchell

For me, a win is when an executive asks to read my screenplay. Then I know the pitch really worked despite the score and I get feedback on what really counts, the screenplay itself.

Trevor Learey

So many planets need to align for a studio to take on a project. It almost needs to be no brainer with prior success, all the rights, funding, politics and most importantly, need for a project.

Ian Milne

In the meantime well done for getting your foot in the door and getting to pitch! I'm still working on that step.

Debbie Croysdale

@John It may be too expensive to make.

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