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Hey, Kurt Kingston. I wrote a Batman script once (short script). What's your Batman script about?

Hostile takeovers, get it? :)

I'm not deep into Batman lore, Kurt Kingston. Is there something about hostile takeovers in Batman? Or are you talking about hostile takeovers in general?

Kevin Hager you can find OWA in the script services section.

Is there a way to find a pacific OWA, and do any of them come with a fee?

Here's the link to the OWAs (scroll down when you go to the page), Kevin Hager: www.stage32.com/scriptservices

You have to be a Writers' Room member to submit to the OWAs. The Writers' Room costs $39.00 a month. You can sign up for your first month of membership free here: www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

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 dialogue for movies and TV shows.

I've also broken episodes and features down and reoutlined them, reworked dialogue. Downloaded scripts to edit.

It drives my husband crazy.

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.

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 backgrounds in depth that you could watch it 1000 times and never catch every object in each location. The new netflix on President Garfield has wonderful and deep background panoramas so you could see it 1000 times and never catch everything.

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.

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 screenwriter achieved this. Screenplayed.com has videos that show a rolling script next to the corresponding scene in the final movie so you can see how the scene translated from the page to the screen.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sydney S! I'm grateful for everything you do for the community! Thanks!

Aww thank you Maurice and likewise! It was so lovely to hear you speak on the community open house :) Hope you had a beautiful day!

You're welcome, Sydney S. Thanks. I had an incredible Thanksgiving! Family, food, rest, and more. Hope you had a beautiful day too!

I was doing something on Stage 32 when I heard Ashley ask me to talk, so I had to hurry and grab my phone and unmute my mic. Haha

Whether direct release to streaming, or post-theatrical streaming, the years best films as judged by AMPAS members makes catching them far easier. Some nominated films are not available to see in a theater. It's part of the reason why many AMPAS members see nominated films for the first time on Screeners (which I also do — on buddies' copies).

I don't see Cameron carping about release of his films to streaming on Disney and Max. "Avatar: Way of the Water" nabbed $2B in theatrical and was number one streamed film upon release with 2B streaming minutes. Cha-Ching!

His bread is buttered on both sides. So ... what's the problem? It's 2025, dude.

Netflix should qualify for Oscars as it has closed the gap from gate keeping giving a lot of young and upcoming writers a platform, and as long as the movie or project does well in terms streaming, numbers and ratings I say its fair game

Great points raised with this discussion. As an Australian viewer, it is very frustrating when films are nominated for all the major awards and they have not been cinema released in Australia at that time. Streaming allows many films to be viewed prior to the awards. And of course the nominations drive viewing on streaming as well as making it easy for cinema goers. I am personally excited by the opportunities that overall streaming has given all players in the film industry. As E Langley wrote, it's 2025, dude. So ....what's the problem.

Roll on 2026 and beyond for more exciting developments in the film industry.

I love all the views, and I agree with every single one. I have not seen so many Oscar films because they were never released in cinemas where I am. Streaming has given us unparalleled access. The Oscars should represent the best of the best across the world, not the best of the cinema releases. Furthermore, release in cinemas doesn't even guarantee you will be considered.

I have to say I disagree with his views here. This, to me, smacks of more gate-keeping energy than anything. I don't usually go to theaters. I can't stay awake. For some reason, it puts me out. I'm usually asleep mid act 1.

I prefer to watch at home because of it.

And some of the best stuff I've seen in years has been Netflix exclusive. So... Yeah. Can't agree with Mr. Cameron.

There were a few things this year inspiring more of me, one was the daily journaling I committed to for 2025. There are always a few stories rising to the surface briefly each day as I applied pen to paper in my journals, so I captured the wisps as they arrived. I peruse the local library to see and read what the youth and children are absorbing to guide their future manifested life. Some are magical with more heroines than heroes which is nice to see. There are definitely potential gaps with some outdated genres misguiding young minds into confusion around what their future could hold. This is one area I am looking at seriously to fill in those gaps and welcome other creators to join me in this.

Another blessing in disguise was my tablet battery decided to die in June!! With no way to access my documents or social media network with a stolen phone locking me out! I did spend more time on You Tube with Michelle Chalfont's Podcast - The Adult Chair, Jefferson Fisher on Communication tips from a lawyer. I can say his podcasts refocus my day allowing for a greater depth in my writing and communication. Walking through the forests here on Vancouver Island BC Canada which hold such beauty it is easy to feel inspired by the life giving majesty of the giant old growth. To experience the essence of these trees one must walk or stand among them at sun set when they release their aerosols into the environment. And last before my tablet battery failed I understood the hype over the kindle app. I could have the app read stories to me while I was in my garden or cooking, and who here does not like to have story read to them? Something I discovered about this app was if highlighting a word the app will give the words origins, and many of those words did not mean of have the same usage we apply to them to day. Give it a try if you have the kindle app.

You all have a beautiful Day/Evening

I thought I would add a narrative feature that is Taiwan's entry for an Academy Award. It is called, "Left-Handed Girl," and it was the best film I saw at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Ashley Renee Smith one of the standouts for me was ‘The Eternaut’ on Netflix, from Argentina. It’s a six episode short form series, based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld graphic novel.

I love it because it sustains the mystery and the tension of the story. The acting is awesome as well as the production design. I have loved these dystopian, apocalyptic stories probably since I watched films like ‘The Day of the Triffids’ and the Quatermass films, when I was a kid.

I remember "The Day of the Trigffids." This dystopian film still haunts me, especially when overgrown trees and bushes creep toward my house. Ah, the power of the movie.

Edward Yang's Yi Yi & Taipei Story. It's hard to find something original, new- refreshing nowadays, so in my attempt to turn back the time, i got hold of these two gems and they have influenced and inspired me ever since.

When it comes to writing & the psychological exploration of deeply flawed characters, you'll catch me betting my 2 kidneys on Takopi's Original Sin. Masterful in every aspect, but a short disclaimer- it's not an easy watch.

Go blind, but come with enough space & a free evening to fully grasp the inner turmoil and conflict you've just felt & probably continue to feel for at least a little while. It's a ride but one worth taking!

Congratulations on winning, Tony! Congratulations, everyone who entered and everyone who placed!

Congratulations, Tony Yancey II for your winning screenplay!

You were right up there James Tuverson ! Congrats to you as well!

Congrats Tony!

Charles Chas Green Agreed, mate. I loved in GOT when Catelyn Stark was standing in Bran's room after he was thrown out of the window and she is looking at Jon Snow. I remember thinking about the look she described in the book as to the look on TV and I thought, Oh that's what that look was, I thought she was just a bitch. The way she explained the not wanting to love him because of the thought of Ned cheating, totally worth the wait.

Yes , books will always tell us more, they have that length and breadth to delve into the psychological and emotional justification for why characters do what they do. Its only very clever and good screen writing which then married to masterclass acting , where an actor can give us rich emotional complexity because of the sub text they have thought about and are providing through their characterisation. The hard part of course is getting all of those themes, ideas, characters needs/wants/ obstacles /triumphs in a two hour period = Film or Movie. And that's the Directors job! Lol

Mick Eggins I suggest checking out "Turn & Burn: The Scriptwriter's Guide to Writing Better Screenplays Faster" by Stage 32 member CJ Walley. www.amazon.com/Turn-Burn-Scriptwriters-Writing-Screenplays/dp/1910515973

Maurice Vaughan I will get on that, thanks Maurice, you are a legend of Stage 32

You're welcome, Mick Eggins. Thanks.

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

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

I know :)) Me too :))

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 online is so much easier than in person. Not because of the convenience, but because of the pressure. I can't get nervous if I don't know who I'm talking to. I'm using my obliviousness to my advantage while it still exists!

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 network. Now, I network as I write scripts and get pitch material ready.

Thanks for sharing the podcast, Alexandra Stevens. I write a lot of micro-budget scripts, especially shorts. I talked with an actress on here a while back who started writing, producing, and starring in micro-budget scenes for her acting reel.

I wouldn’t have a problem with being in one, my only concern is that the writing is good.

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 for acquisitions, personal choices, etc. A bench of positive affirmations for your work and pitch is good justification to persevere - the heart and soul of this business. Best of luck in your endeavors.

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!

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.

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.

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

My creative goal between now and January 1st is finish rewriting my feature script and pitch it, Kat Spencer. I did 3 drafts for Stage 32’s November Write Club. What's your creative goal?

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 do at the end of the year is go through all of the years project files and add any mixes and edits of tracks to my production library ready to be available for licensing and then generally clean house on the drives and systems to get them cleared up and ready for the new year.