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Who wants to win $5k and do what they love the most?

We recently partnered with DramaBox to find writers that can adapt their titles or create new ones for their vertical series app. Interested? Read more here: https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/Stage-32-%20-Drama-Box-Sc....

Greetings to all! My name is Kyle Stanley, and I am a beginning screenwriter just getting into the business after a chance encounter with Grok (Premium because I have a verified X account) piqued my interest for creative writing one day, and inspired me to go into screenwriting after a curiosity evolved into a series idea in the mold of This Is Us, highlighting a family in the Houston suburbs. My interest in screenwriting has only grown from there.

Some of my favorite producers on the drama side include the late Steven Bochco, Dick Wolf, David E. Kelley, Dan Fogelman, Jason Katims and Ed Zwick - which makes it fair to say that the upmarket family or institutional drama is perhaps my favorite genre. I also have an interest in documentaries (e.g. The Food That Built America, NatGeo, ESPN 30 for 30), procedurals involving first responders (e.g. Law & Order, The Rookie, 9-1-1) and competition and business reality series (e.g. Shark Tank, The Amazing Race), with some of my favorite topics centered on sports, politics, finance and history, and have also been interested in the history of game shows as well - even doing a Mark Goodson-themed map for my high school geography class in my freshman year at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas, where I also took drama class my junior year and have been familiar with theatrical plays (both onstage and backstage) as a result.

I am eager to obtain feedback for my series and scripts, as well as to collaborate with others on their projects as well, and believe that my writing skills would be an asset to showrunners in my desired genres. My hope is to gain more experience as I go along on this writer's journey, for which the possibilities are endless. I will close by saying that I am a persistent voucher for Houston and its surrounding area as a filming site, and believe that having more films and TV series set here will be of benefit to our region - not only economically within, but also in the minds of the audience who otherwise seem to think Houston - a model metropolis with one of the most dynamic economies in the world and also one of the most philanthropic and forward-thinking as well - is some murky backwater in comparison to the I-35 corridor from DFW to San Antonio/Austin. To which I say to those naysayers, "Don't judge us by what you see on TV...come see for yourself what we are truly about!"

Hi all! My name is Alicia. I've been acting (for fun) since I was young and only recently did my first professional projects. I've gone in many circles for the sake of making it in this industry - one of those being getting my BFA in Interior Design (2018), working for an architecture firm, and eventually starting my own design business. 

At the beginning of this year (2025) I went back to one of my acting agents and said I wanted to REALLY try and make this work this year. It's been slow moving but by the end of 2025 I have 

- Started acting classes again (and excelling) 

- Booked and filmed my first SAG role

- Booked and filmed a commercial that aired on TV

- Made tons of very inspiring and helpful connections

- Was invited to work on 2+ film/tv sets (coming soon)

- Realized my potential on the production side

- Applied for, got accepted and completed the Stage 32 Master Production Assistant Program

- Laid the groundwork to direct and film my very first project

- Probably a few more things I can't remember right now

Amazon Fire TV is rolling out a new Alexa+ feature that lets viewers jump directly to any scene in a film simply by describing it, even if you don’t mention the movie title at all.

Read more here: https://deadline.com/2025/12/amazon-fire-tv-jump-to-scene-voice-feature-...

This new “Jump to Scene” function spans tens of thousands of scenes across thousands of movies on Prime Video and will eventually expand to TV series. Viewers can say something as specific as:

“Jump to the scene when John McClane says ‘come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs,’” or “Jump to the boulder chase scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and Alexa+ will take them right there, using AI models trained to recognize visual cues, captions, characters, and plot beats.

One of the biggest advantages of streaming and home entertainment tech is the accessibility and ease it creates for viewers of all kinds, especially those with mobility or accessibility limitations. This update pushes that convenience even further.

Which begs the question:

If you could have any new tech feature added to the streaming platforms you use most, what would it be? (Accessibility tools, smarter search, creator-focused features, interactive options, new viewing modes — anything goes.)

Curious to hear what innovations you think would move the needle.

I'm dating myself here, but the first film I ever worked on was "The Shawshank Redemption." I remember seeing Nikki Marvin walking around the set, a small woman in an oversized coat (if memory serves), commanding respect and authority without ever saying a word. When I wasn't watching Roger Deakins work, I was watching her. I knew next to nothing about the business at that time, and I remember asking someone on set, "Who is that, and what does she do?" I got a one-word response... "Everything."

For a producer who really knows what they're doing, that statement is still true today. A great producer doesn't just "manage a set." They protect the actors, champion the writers, support the directors, govern the BTL staff, looking out for their well-being and respecting their time. They are open with their praise and constructive with their criticism. They know the script, they know the budget, they respect the locals and the filming environment, and they never, ever "phone it in." In short, a great producer knows that they can only serve the film by also servicing the people and places that make it happen, and they do all of this without most people even knowing they're doing it. So, why aren't they protected?

Do you think producers need more advocacy for their rights and protections? Let me know in the comments section below, and if you haven't done so already, hug a producer today (or if you don't want to seem creepy, at least say "thanks").

https://variety.com/2025/film/features/movie-producers-united-hollywood-...

Hello everyone! I'm Dr. Michael J. McDermott — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, historian, theologian, author, and award-winning independent screenwriter. I write prestige thrillers, grounded sci-fi, faith-driven dramas, historical epics, and heartfelt holiday films. My work blends real-world experience with emotional depth, moral clarity, and cinematic storytelling.

Over the past few years, I've built a diverse slate of feature scripts, including Project G.H.O.S.T. (Honorable Mention – Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition), The Final Cry, The Savior's Journey, Echelon Rising, and A Star-Spangled Christmas. I'm currently developing producer-ready packages for several projects and actively expanding my professional network.

I joined Stage 32 to connect with filmmakers, producers, writers, and creatives who love powerful stories — especially those rooted in character, tension, and meaning. I'm always open to collaboration, conversation, and creative partnerships.

If you work in thrillers, historical projects, faith-based storytelling, or holiday films, I'd love to connect. Looking forward to meeting many of you and supporting your journeys as well!

Hey Stage 32 Family! I hope your week is going smoothly!

As I near the end of my 3rd pass of my debut psychological thriller screenplay, "Confidence," I’m starting to seriously consider pitching. (I’ve never pitched outside of undergrad and grad school, so this is all new territory, lol) I wanted to bring some questions to the community for insight, especially regarding the difficult jump to bringing your words to life when you're solely a screenwriter and don't yet have connections with filmmakers or producers.

I’d love to hear from writers and creators who have successfully made this jump. Any insight, personal experience, or resources you can share would be extremely helpful!

Q1: Pitch Readiness and Approach:

- How do you know when your script is truly "pitch-ready"? Is it about a certain level of contest placement, professional coverage scores, or something else entirely?

- What are your preferred pitching approaches? Do you lean heavily on verbal pitches (e.g., networking events), written loglines/one-sheets, or paid pitching opportunities (like hosting services or pitch festivals)?

Q2: Getting the Work Made When You're Solely a Screenwriter:

- If you are solely a screenwriter and not a filmmaker, what's the most effective strategy for bringing your work to life? Do you prioritize pitching directly to independent producers, targeting literary managers, or building "heat" through high-level screenwriting contests?

- What's the best way to find and pitch to filmmakers (directors) who are looking for their next project?

Thanks in advance for the advice! I'm looking forward to engaging and learning from your experiences.