Trending Lounge Discussions

You're welcome, J'Nae. Here's the link for Week 3's blog (www.stage32.com/blog/november-write-club-week-3-how-to-make-a-strong-fir...). There's three prizes you could win this week!

Hi, J'Nae! I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my aunt to leukemia in 2013. I love writing poetry, too. Are there any specific genres of poetry that you write?

My condolences, Haley Mary.

Thanks, Maurice. She passed the week before Christmas, so that time of year is always tough.

You're welcome, Haley Mary. I hope it's not as tough this year.

AI makes us all smarter, and more valuable to investors when we can show real numbers. As a writer, my expertise in the legal, pitch and other elements is rudimentary, I watch, learn shoot and edit because of what I have learned from real industry pros. But the legal, pitch, and refinement aspects - complete newb, and AI has shown me things about all the elements I am weak in and helped me to be a better producing story teller. Now when I come to the table, it's made me a much more coherent participant.

Tom Schaefer Good points. Someone here (I wish I could recall who) said that AI will make the best of us better and the worst even worse. That's my observation so far.

I am currently producing an AI shortfilm and encourage crew and cast to use as much AI tools as possible and be creative about it. I, or better together we will look at the output and see if it will bring the good stuff we envision as talent filmmakers. I personally do work with ChatGTP as much as possible and have had several (including breaking) professional succes with it.

This site acouple of months ago: Total AI FearThis site now:

Wizard Of Oz - "it's ok children, the AI won't hurt you, c'mon out now".I remember crickets on this site when Hwd writing community was in AI Fear Mode. posted a couple of comments, articles and got crickets.

Once you have your AI breakthough you will see how much the fear was all bullshit.

The Authenticy Ruse

This notion that somehow what we sell has to have some kind of seal of approval about how we obtained the creative result, that somehow, AI enhanced or improved or even written was somehow going to tarnish the authenticity of the produced IP. If that's where your head is at, you're only seeing a tiny corner of the big picture.

"Claude, where do YOU see weakness in this part of the story?" is one of the best questions you can ask.

"How can we amp this up into a $300m franchise?" "Help me reduce the number of locations"

As a photographer, videographer, video editor - all of my roles were replaced by AI. The shrieks of horror started back in the 1980's ... OMG he's got a camera with autoexposure! Then came autofocus, that branded you as lazy.

Bokeh is what everybody wants, so now that's Portrait Mode on your phone. I've done pro shoots with the 13Pro, 15pro in portrait mode and folks thought I had an expensive DSLR. I still do some editing, but not near as much.I even used Midjourney for my demo restaurant site at tomslounge.com, Claude did the menus and pricing and locations.

Trailers and other demo assets - I have hidden my old handmade trailers - only as proof of "before AI".

The AI Gatekeeper Reduction Act

The whole pitch industry must have taken collective shit when dark horses like me find out what my show is actually worth. What my true IP value is based upon The Numbers - the numbers AI runs against my work. AI has become the new "authoritative close", the new source of truth.

But that's not a bad thing. Investors can now see if I am full of shit or that wow, this guy has a saleable property, and this could actually work.

Instead of me trying to "divine what the buyers want" and "divine a proper pitch" ... everything they need to know is now possible, before i even get to the table, there's no mystery - it's all right there. IP value, per episode cost, season cost, locations, script samples.

I have NotebookLM explainers, I have my own custom PDF display (thanks Claude) and a few trailers. But I'm not going to 3rd grade level it, a serious scifi producer would understand everything there. They can pass without even saying anything. But there's a producer out there that sees it - and will run with it.

I have a back-stage link on my site for serious inquiries and would love someone to take a peek. But I'm not gonna pay to find out my shit is good. It's very good, and whoever buys it, gets an opportunity to make an epic show, and win awards. I'm the next Gene Roddenbery. He was cocky too, but he knew what he had in hand.

So my premise is a saleable show to folks paying for it - now I can show them immediately - what's it gonna take for the check to get signed?

Helping the suits with numbers seems to be a very good piece of the puzzle. Now the "hunch lottery" is reduced to real numbers, demographics etc.

'Hunch lottery' - "this guy gave us x films that rocked" - who then shits the bed with the next one because the last one(s) were great. But that hunch can be verified now. (i.e. risk mitigation/strategies) <-- words I didnt even have a clue about a couple of years ago.

They can then run all my stuff through their own AI and find out for sure. Which I would imagine they have probably already done before you even get to the pitch.

Tom Schaefer The whole AI thing is reminiscent of the not-so-long-ago Unreal Engine 5 buzz, and the much earlier public advances in 3D animation platforms. One part of the industry cries out in existential fear, while those who have only dreamt of being a filmmaker exclaim that now their creative genius will be seen by the entire world because all they have to do is press a button. At no time in the past has technological advance brought anyone to the fore, who hasn't already got what it takes to be a filmmaker. The AI experience isn't going to be any different.

Thanks mate! Right back at you!

Maurice Vaughan If you’re part of any member organisations ask if they have discounts to IMDB pro. I got a 30% discount. Often there’s a one month free promo so you can save all your queries and do a blast in one month. Note: it used to be great for finding emails but not any more.

You're welcome, Phoenix Black. Thanks. I'm not part of a member organization, but thanks for the info.

OMD, this insight is incredible, I'm definitely bearing this in mind. thank you Phoenix for this information

Phoenix Black I do the exact same IMDB drill with every ‘exec.’ Dollars are too hard to come by to not do your due diligence. it took me a couple of missteps to have that pounded into my wallet, but in doing it, I get more meaningful results.

I use my IMDb for brand practice. Well, kinda. I like to park the latest headshots, BTS shots, update my bio (which need it), and in general show the credits. The Starmeter means something, like anxiety, in the beginning when you become aware of it, but after a few years you find it is background noise. I love what you have written Dan. My meter will budge up in February. That's when I'll upload new head shots.

Thanks Dan and I'll return the favour visiting your page.

I've never looked up my IMDB ranking. I don't care. It seems silly to me, to put weight on something one has to pay for. I have credits yes, but I do not pay for my own page. Your post Dan Martin Roesch is a good reminder that it's all manufactured and means nothing as far as landing a role.

I've never used IMDB. Don't really have the credits for it to really count right now. I love the point about how the business remembers authenticity and emotional truth more than analytics. I think if I didn't stay true to the stories I want to tell as an artist, I would feel like the art was becoming fake and I wouldn't be telling the stories that I enjoy or the stories that make me feel most alive.

Hi Haley Mary,

thank you for sharing that — it’s beautifully said.

And honestly, I think your approach is exactly what keeps this industry human. IMDb, analytics, rankings… they’re all just numbers. They can help with visibility, sure, but they’ll never replace authenticity or the emotional truth behind an artist’s work.

What you said about staying true to the stories you want to tell really resonated with me. That’s the heart of it, isn’t it? If we lose that, the craft becomes hollow — but if we protect it, it stays alive, raw, and meaningful.

Credits will come in their own time.

But the voice, the honesty, the intention you’re speaking from… that’s already real artistry.

Thanks for adding such a grounded and honest perspective.

Feels good to be in a community where people still care about the soul of the work.

Warmly,

Dan

Should add, if it does end up being PIF, that would be a seismic event which would only accelerate what we're already seeing in the international marketplace.

I'd say most certainly major news rumors or not! Industrial eyebrows are now in retrospective! Public relations factors will have to be paid close attention to, as this will alert investors etc.

Generally draws all attention to scenarios before not considered.

The comments and post of course reflects international educated levels here at Stage 32!

Interesting development as Saudi Arabia pushes hard into film and television production.

And many interests there hiring and using Stage 32 Certification, Jack Binder

Amanda Toney personally, I can’t see it getting past your government’s scrutiny of an American company being owned by a Saudi entity. Unless of course there’s a kick-back!! It doesn’t seem like a very good fit. There’s also the Saudi money being tainted by restrictive social policies towards women and the link between this money source and the funding of terrorist organisations. Or is that a rabbit hole we don’t want to go down?

Congratulations on scoring your first project and reaching the halfway point, Cyril Pineau! It's incredible! It sounds like I'm in a forest, and I really like how the score changes from calm, to intense, etc.!

Thank you Maurice Vaughan ;)

I would advise keeping it simple but intriguing.

Thank you for the suggestion, Mimi — I appreciate it. I’ll refine the logline and keep it simpler and more intriguing in the next post. Thanks again for taking the time to share your feedback.

If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate your honest opinion on this logline and the story. Thanks for taking the time to look at it — your feedback means a lot as I’m still learning my way around here. I’ve shortened the logline as you suggested.