Trending Lounge Discussions

The hottest discussions in the Stage 32 Lounge.

Liked by Maurice Vaughan

Morgan Aitken Ipg
Help, I'm not an actor but need some advice on how to be one!

My place is firmly behind the camera, or a desk, and I'm happy there, but a recent project has me requisitioned for a making of type of documentary. My task is to read notes and sound as though I am not reading them but making it up on the spot.

I set up a microphone and gave it a try, and no matter...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Morgan Aitken Ipg. Stage 32 has a webinar called "Voice Acting 101: What You Need to Know to Get Started" (www.stage32.com/education/products/voice-acting-101-what-you-need-to-kno...). One of the...

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Jon Shallit

Try spacing your speech into uneven rhythms, pauses, some faster, some slower, and find the key word to hit. Sentences follow a melodic pattern that arcs high pitch 2/3 of the way through and drops to the end.

Liked by Jerrold Guadagni and one other

Cyrus Sales
How Do You Handle Client Test Samples for Animation?

Hey fellow creators,

I’ve been thinking about a situation many animators face: a client asks for test samples before committing to a project. How do you usually approach this, especially if you already have animations in your portfolio, but they’re not in the client’s preferred art style?

Do you:

Adapt...

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Patrik Gyltefors

You should definitely get compensated for your time making test samples. And for paid work, adapt to what the client wants in regards to art style. Ideally, the client would have contacted you because...

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Kevin Jackson

It is a common (BAD) practice in the industry. Even though you have a portfolio, studios have been burned in the past hiring people that have talent but just cannot match up to their style of animatio...

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Kevin Jackson

Cyrus Sales it's unfortunately a standard in the industry. I would say limit the test to one character and a 10 second test. Anything more than that is a lot of work.

The other option is to find the r...

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Cyrus Sales

Patrik Gyltefors thank you for your insight. I do feel like the time to sample can be a waste.. most times. Our first animation client did secure us for their project based off the animation we sent h...

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Cyrus Sales

Kevin Jackson beautifully said and maybe somewhere in there I was looking for some sort of glance that I'm headed in the right direct. I feel like at this point standing firm on, we can do a sample ho...

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Liked by Beridze Kakha and 9 others

Reintroducing Myself After 3 Months Away

Hi everyone,

I’m Arshiya Kaye — previously known as Kaye Sereneveil.

I’ve been away from writing for almost three months. No scripts, no brainstorming, not even logging into Stage32. For a while, it felt like I’d run away from the thing I love the most.

But the truth is: I wasn’t running. I was overwhe...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Kaye Sereneveil. Welcome back. It's great to see you again. Stage 32 is having a free Community Open House on November 25th. It'll also help you connect with creatives and industry pros. It's a fu...

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Jack Binder

Welcome back Kaye!

Sebastian Tudores

Hi Kaye Sereneveil - welcome back! Your decision (and instinct) to come back to what you love is a sign that you can already be proud of your journey - even Michelangelo toward the end of his life sai...

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Liked by John DeNatale and one other

James Lagrimas
Demystifying the Agent World: How to Stand out To a Literary Agent. Webinar with Jessica Zou

Breaking into the screenwriting industry is more competitive than ever. Literary agents receive hundreds, sometimes thousands of submissions each month, and most of those never make it past the initial scan. Many talented writers struggle not because their work lacks potential, but because they don’...

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Ewan Dunbar

This looks like a great opportunity! Its easy to see what you want outof an agent, but they are their own people that have careers, aspirations for their company and demands on their time, so knowing how you can best demonstrate your value to them is essential!

David Austin Veal

Hi James, I'm attending on the 11th. I'm an actor, and I know what it's like to have an acting agent. I have no idea what it is like to grab the attention of a literary agent. I have written a lot of...

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Sydney S

Hi, David!

Thanks so much for sharing this with me, what a fantastic question for our host during the live Q&A. I love hearing where you’re at in your journey, and I think this session is really going to speak to you. I hope you can join us for the webinar!

Liked by Jack Binder and one other

JPatrick Baker
Buffalo 8 formally requested my script!

As I put the finishing touches on my script before turning it in I've reached a new roadblock.

B8 has a retainer fee that as a first time creator I just outright cannot afford by myself. I've been told they're definitely interested in moving forward with my project but as a Executive Production compa...

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Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations on Buffalo 8 requesting your script, JPatrick Baker!

Willem Elzenga 2

They don't have to defer payments, they have to invest in you and your project. It's their good right to ask for payments, but it makes you an investor or money hustler and not the screenwriter or creative you probably want to be.

JPatrick Baker

Willem Elzenga 2 you're not wrong but I also don't understand the point of your response

Liked by John Fife and one other

Meriem Bouziani
Celebrating little progress.

hello everyone,

Happy to share a little momentum with you.

As a non-native English speaker, I still use ChatGPT to correct my sentences.

I asked it to analyze my development, and I’m truly happy with the progress.

Here it is — it’s the final response.

** So, to answer your question directly:

> What Engli...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Congratulations and good job!

Meriem Bouziani

thank you very much Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

You’re welcome, Meriem Bouziani~

John Fife

Great Job! Not an easy task.

Meriem Bouziani

thank you very much John Fife

Liked by Maurice Vaughan

John Reizer
Hello Everyone!

My name is John Reizer, and I am new to the Stage 32 Platform. I've been writing stories, mostly novellas, for many years.

I am a retired chiropractor and associate professor of clinical sciences, but I have always had a desire to write fiction.

In 2019, I self-published a novel and later became the...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, John Reizer! Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Screenwriters, producers...

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Elle Bolan

Hi John and welcome to Stage 32! Congratulations on your film. Maurice already gave you the rundown, but I wanted to add my hello!

Phil Clarke

Welcome, John Reizer

Liked by Mathieu Vayron and one other

Clinton Oparaocha
Facts on creativity

“As filmmakers, we often search for powerful concepts to bring to life on screen. But some of the most original ideas come from places beyond logic — from intuition, spiritual perception, and deep reflection on nature and the unseen. Being spiritually aware can unlock myth, sci-fi, supernatural, or...

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Jon Shallit

true

Maurice Vaughan

You're right, Clinton Oparaocha. Another great way to come up with original ideas is combining different life events.

Liked by DJ Gautam and 2 others

Dwayne Williams 2
Reinvent the Story, Reinvent the Industry

"We’ve had more spec sales in 2025 already than in any year in the last eight years. Original ideas are not only back, they’re thriving. A huge chunk of these sales is from first-time writers. No reps. No pre-existing track record. Just strong material, positioned well, taken out by executives who a...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Dwayne Williams 2. And thanks for the offer. The comparables are The Purge, 30 Days of Night, and Blade right now.

Dwayne Williams 2

Wow, that’s a perfect blend of comparables, Maurice Vaughan. Both are actually my favorite vampire films, so that mix hits right away. With those influences, are you planning to bring in a signature w...

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Maurice Vaughan

Blade is my favorite vampire movie, Dwayne Williams 2. I came up with weapons, traps, etc. for Vampire-Proof. Really unique weapons and things.

Dwayne Williams 2

Oh nice, that sounds very interactive Maurice Vaughan. I love it when a world has its own unique weapons and traps; it really pulls the audience in. I’d love to hear more about what you’ve created whe...

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Maurice Vaughan

No problem, Dwayne Williams 2. I might start posting about the weapons, traps, etc. to build hype for my script.

Liked by Philip Sedgwick and 19 others

Cheryl Chase
Hello Cartoon Creatives!

I wanted to introduce myself. I do VO. I’m known for being the voice of Angelica Pickles on Rugrats. If you have a project where you need wacky voices, let’s collaborate.

I’m also writing an adult animated show and excited to see where that goes.

I wish you all much success with your animated projects!

Cheryl Chase

Hi Marc. I’m interested in finding out more. Please reach me at cheryl@cherylchase.com. Thanks!

Nia Jones

I've written an adult animation series too! Would love to connect!

Pat Savage

Cheryl Chase welcome to Stage32 and happy hunting for vo collaboration. Happy networking!...

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Leonardo Ramirez 2

Hey Cheryl Chase - honored to meet you. My daughter and I loved watching Rugrats together. I also write animated screenplays so would love to connect. Glad you’re with us....

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Justin Groats

hello cartoon creative, I’m trying to pitch my adult cartoon as we speak!

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