Trending Lounge Discussions

The hottest discussions in the Stage 32 Lounge.

Liked by Brande Chantell Clark and 6 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

Bill Albert

I've had that happen several times. Usually their comment is "I love it, I'd watch it, but it's not the kind of thing I do." Are there any hints towards that in their comments?

Jack Binder

Hello @johnbranagan - My suggestion would be to take the win and keep moving forward. There are too many reasons a project might not be picked-up beyond your control: company finances, strict criteria...

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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.

Liked by Mohammed Sillah and 4 others

Alex Olguin
Armstrong-D.U. – Character Development & Pitch Bible

Hi everyone!

Last month I shared an early animatic test for my feature project Armstrong-D.U., and I was blown away by the thoughtful and detailed feedback from this community. It genuinely helped me refine the emotional rhythm of the story and strengthen several key moments—thank you so much.

Over th...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Alex Olguin! Kevin and Armstrong's personalities come through clearly in the character sheets.

I like the designs, but maybe make Kevin's outfit more unique so it's memorable, and maybe add a logo....

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Alex Olguin

Hey Maurice, thanks a lot for the feedback,really appreciate you taking the time.

Kevin’s outfit:

You’re right that it’s simple. Inside the dome, all kids wear standardized clothing, so the base look is...

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Maurice Vaughan

You’re welcome, Alex Olguin. Yeah, I think giving Kevin a small distinctive detail (a patch, a hand-made accessory, etc.) would help make him more memorable, and it would help communicate the main the...

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Alex Olguin

Maurice Vaughan Thank you, really. I’m currently working on a sketch that might work as a sort of pseudo-poster, but I definitely want to explore the concept further, just like you mentioned.

I also wa...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Alex Olguin. You could make a post for an artist on the Job Board down the line (www.stage32.com/find-jobs). I'm looking forward to watching Armstrong-D.U.!...

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Liked by Federico Aletta and 11 others

Ray Fontenault
Introducing myself and letting you know what I'm here for!

First and foremost to connect with folks with the same interests. I'm a songwriter (3 minute stories), that fell into scriptwriting. I've had feedback on my scripts and interest, but financing has been a revolving door. Financers want talent attached and talent want financing attached. I'm looking f...

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Ray Fontenault

Thanks for sharing. The pitch was a request. Simply waiting to hear back from them.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Ray Fontenault. Congratulations on the request! Hope you get a meeting and financing! And Stage 32 has some Financing resources.

Financing/Crowdfunding Lounge: www.stage32.com/lounge/fu...

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Mone't Weeks

Welcome. Sounds like a great script and what a beautiful way to honor your twin brother.

Via Cason

This is great! If you ever have need for a Wardrobe stylist or designer for your character looks I would love to help out.

Ray Fontenault

Thank you Mone't and Via I'll keep you in mind if things get funded and I have a say in the decisions.

Liked by Eon C. Rambally and 17 others

Maurice Vaughan
Gratitude Shout-Out – Ashley Smith

Who's a Stage 32 member, writing partner,...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Yeahhhhh :))) Someday, we will be doing gigs :)))

Maurice Vaughan

I can't play the guitar, Sandra Isabel Correia, but it's a fictional band, so I can play the guitar. :D

Sandra Isabel Correia

I know :)) Me too :))

Elle Bolan

Honestly? I'm grateful for all of you. The platform in general. It's so supportive and informative. I just love it.

The lounges are where I'm mostly at. I believe in networking early. And doing that o...

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Maurice Vaughan

I'm grateful for you too, Elle Bolan. I'm mostly in the Lounges too, and I'm less nervous networking online. Networking early is great advice! I used to write scripts and make pitch material, then net...

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Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 4 others

Aradia Paquette
Looking for a manager to develop my movie script

I've written out a very well done movie script, it's not exactly a screenplay since it doesn't have what everyone is saying minute by minute, though it's well detailed and 3 pages. I heard you can't just submit a script to a production agency/company for legal reasons and you need a manager or agent...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, John January Noble.

Aradia Paquette

Cecile George Yes, it would be categorized as a synopsis too, thanks for the info! I thought that you had to find a manager who could help you develop it further by working with someone else turn it into a screenplay.

Maurice Vaughan

Jon Hersh is having a free AMA about "How to Utilize Agents, Managers, and Dev. Execs. In Your Screenwriting Career" all day Friday, Aradia Paquette. You can post questions now. www.stage32.com/lounge...

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Aradia Paquette

Maurice Vaughan Thank you for your answer by the way! I will make sure to upload a proper profile picture, just wasn't sure how many people have a proper profile, but I see everyone does! And thanks for the all the links, I will check them out

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Aradia Paquette. Ok, great. And I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. If you ever have any questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know. We have badges on our pictures....

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Liked by Yan Ju Zeng and 27 others

Jon Hersh
Ask Me Anything (AMA) 11/28 to 11/29- How to Utilize Agents, Managers, and Dev. Execs. In Your Screenwriting Career

Hi, Stage 32 Community!

More about m...

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Tania Cárdenas Paulsen

Hi, Jon. Saludos desde Colombia. I will like to know how to prepare my portfolio of screenplays? And how do I prepare my portfolio of projects in development? Gracias!

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Your bio says your firm looks for "bold voices and incendiary material." What do you mean by "incendiary material"?

Jon Hersh

Yan Ju Zeng If you're looking to star in it, that will make it significantly more difficult when it comes to packaging. Indie films rely on star power to get financing. That said, if you want to star...

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Jon Hersh

Tania Cárdenas Paulsen You don't need a "portfolio" necessarily. You really just need at least two scripts that are finished, rewritten, polished, and ready to go....

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Jon Hersh

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh When you read all day long, everything kind of blends together after a while. The same kinds of stories are told over and over. By "incendiary" I mean things that stand out and a...

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Liked by DJ Gautam and 9 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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Elle Bolan

I haven't had formal screenwriting education. However, I do break movies down, analyze the writing, the structure, look for the breath moments.

I like to turn off my captions and volume and ad lib dia...

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Chris Aitken

Yep. It's very hard to switch off and I find myself overly critical now. But I probably appreciate those TV shows and films, which I can tell why their is an underlying genius to them.

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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Liked by Salisu Abdullahi and one other

Salisu Abdullahi
The Challenge: When does a 'Contained Thriller' become too claustrophobic?

Hi fellow creatives! I'm currently working on The Venice Glass House (a psychological thriller), and I've been wrestling with the boundaries of the "Contained Thriller" subgenre.

We know films like Buried (one coffin) or Panic Room (one house) succeed because the tight setting raises the stakes and f...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Salisu Abdullahi. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from the Introduce Yourself Lounge to the Screenwriting Lounge since it's about screenwriting. You can...

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Stephen Folker

Good question. Just watched 'The Long Walk' which translated into 'The Long Watch'. At some point - the walking and talking go to be too much for me. Perhaps aim for 75 pages and find a few side locations to mix it up!

Salisu Abdullahi

"Hi Stephen,

That is a great point about The Long Watch (or The Long Walk). You nailed it—that feeling of the setting becoming repetitive is exactly what I'm trying to avoid with The Venice Glass House...

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Michael Thorn

I know this is a little off-topic, but ep. 5 of All Her Fault, which I saw last night, is an example of how a screenwriter can use the midpoint of a series to really confine the action and concentrate...

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Liked by Federico Aletta and 8 others

Davide Ludovisi
How a Hidden WWII Diary Turned Into My Next Big Writing Challenge

I’ve seen that many posts invite members to share their November Write Club goal, so here’s mine. I come from the documentary world, and for many years I’ve been sitting on an unpublished and quite unique diary/memoir telling the incredible true story of a soldier of Austrian origin who enlisted in...

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Maurice Vaughan

Great to meet you, Davide Ludovisi. Congratulations on getting the script request! I can see the story working as a fiction TV series. I'd watch it!

Here's some free TV writing webinars: www.stage32.co...

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Davide Ludovisi

That's awesome! Thanks Maurice

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Davide Ludovisi. Stage 32 has feedback services too (www.stage32.com/scriptservices).

And you could post your script on your profile. Producers search profiles for projects. That and ne...

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John January Noble

Decide Ludovisi-That was Ashley Rene Smith's in OPEN HOUSE -response live yesterday, about being attentive here on the platform, interacting, writing. It didn't work out yesterday, maybe today, but to...

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Mick Eggins

Davide, my mother worked in a nursing home in Laurieton, Australia and a lot of WW2 Veterans used to lend her their war diaries. I woke up one morning and went onto the kitchen, Mum was sitting there...

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Liked by Federico Aletta and 8 others

DJ Gautam
Tell me what u think?

How was the life of queer people a century ago?

May be many experienced sexual assaults and also been molested by the people in their daily life- and it's happening in the very religious or developing country where still they value the society.

can you imagine a small boy in the mid of city telling...

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Njabulo Shabangu

The idea is excellent and would make a great movie. Your idea is different and touches a topic no one would talk about

Yan Ju Zeng

Your story does touch on very key issues in the community that often go ignored. Predation on the LGBT Community has always been an easy out for serial killers and other criminals. It’s one of the rea...

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DJ Gautam

Thank you everyone for the guidance and encouragement. As I am not a very confident person this word means a lot to me. thank you again guys. I will gonna disturb you guys in future.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, DJ Gautam. Keep us posted on your script in the Your Stage Lounge (www.stage32.com/lounge/promotion)....

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Elle Bolan

Very important subject material that doesn't get talked about enough. I would say write it.

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