Trending Lounge Discussions

You're welcome, Sebastian Tudores. Not right now, but who knows? It might happen. I've learned a lot about directing on here.

I got distracted by how good the story and the acting are Sebastian Tudores. I've seen one or two verticals and they didn't really appeal to me. They tend to feel a little tight but the story and acting in this one pull me out of that. Nicely done!

Leonardo Ramirez 2 firstly, thanks so much my friend - I take your words to heart. and yes - I agree with you totally. it's def a case of custom-build narrative but haven't seen that adjustment go beyond making sure that the action in the episodes can physically be easy to register & having hooks and cliffhangers closer together in frequency than in more standard length formats. For me the question would start with "what does a 9:16 canvas offer me that no other canvas size does? What are the opportunities?" haven't seen that question being explored but it's so early in the game for this format.

You’re asking the right questions Sebastian Tudores-still think exploring and practicing is the right thing until those get answered. And it looks good!

Sebastian Tudores you’ve asked

Has anyone else tried reframing some of their existing projects? Or got their friends together and bullied them into being actors for the day to try out some scenes you wrote? Would love to hear about the experience.

but would you like any notes or feedback on the result of your cropping the 16:9 footage into 9:16?

I appreciate your advice to allow my passion & creativity to flow Mone't Weeks ! I'm still using the arrogance in my new character, he's just not going to be my cousin in the script. (Actually, he may have liked it) LOL.

I don’t think so. My characters are very far from my real surroundings, because I don’t write drama or family stories.

Thanks Debbie Seagle, yeah, my worlds are for me to indulge in what I can’t have in real life so it’s all about people I wish I knew, places I wish I could go to, all that. That’s why I hate writing about real life lol

It’s also why I was annoyed at how often I was asked when I was younger to write someone’s biography or to fictionalise them in one of my stories. In the former case I just wasn’t interested in the proposition (I still don’t want to ever do it lol, I don’t even want to write a memoir. More power to everyone who does), and in the latter case my response was usually “but you’re so boring ^^;” LOL and of course it was more trouble than it was worth anyway, because you know they’d get mad if you highlighted any negative traits.

You're welcome, Debbie Seagle. It was a fictional character, but it was about something people deal with in real life.

That's interesting Debbie Seagle I don't know this character or your script so I am not sure if what I am going to say applies, but imo, who cares if someone chooses to take offense? Were you writing it with malicious intent?

I do think that everyone probably has at least one narcissist in their family and most likely knows a couple more to boot. That being said, you can't hurt a narcissist's feelings, as they don't have any, and they also lack self awareness, so they wouldn't see themselves as having any negative traits. One hundred percent; anything you portray them as, will not register to them that's it's them.

Hi, Maurice! Definitely you have to mix it up a bit with the angle shots. In this case, the director had in mind regarding that shot that it would be a close up. In films, you’ll see close up shots on specific objects that is an integral part of the film. Just saw that in Blood Simple by the Coen Brothers. If a close up is being used on an object, you know that it is serving as an important part of the film.

Thanks, Sam. I enjoy the collaborative process with film directors because you are contributing something to the project. On another film I worked on, the director asked me to do a slew of storyboards because she needed help/assistance on composing the shots. She needed someone that had an ability to draw and visualize the scenes. Once I did it, completed the boards and sent them to her, she was very happy with my work. Sometimes, it’s troubleshooting the challenge and working it out. I always enjoy drawing/illustrating boards and concept art for directors and producers.

The Coen Brothers are incredible directors, Rich Terdoslavich! I'll check out Blood Simple. Thanks.

It was their first film. Neo noir. Highly recommend it.

Thank you, everyone for liking my work.

Hi Alex, I very much enjoy adapting novels and short stories and have adapted three novels and one short story. If you're interested in speaking, please let me know.

ALEX - The writers delight, dreaming up new and interesting ways to kill characters.

Yes. Always. My story, my direction - I'm the only one allowed to direct my own works which I've written.

Everyone has a vision of what they want in an adaptation. I always have an editor after I am done to revise things I missed.

Stefano Pavone I'd happily let my stuff go! To the right person, that is.

Congratulations on working on The Shawshank Redemption, Michael Fitzer, MFA! Incredible film! I think producers need more advocacy for their rights and protections. Producers do A LOT! I tried to make two feature films way back, and it was so much work! I didn't know anything about producing going in. I suggest aspiring producers learn a lot about producing before making their first film, show, etc.

Wow, The Shawshank Redemption is my all-time favorite movie!

I had skimmed this article before Michael Fitzer, MFA - but I am thankful you shared it here and prompted me to read the entire thing. I think many (me included) just assume producers at that level have nothing to worry about - blew my mind to read they have to even ask for something like health insurance during production.

Producers are not the engine - the entire production operational structure is the engine. Producers are the fuel. And some of these studios may (hopefully) realize that if you're too busy trying to get to some financial/market share objective to stop for gas.... well, we know the rest :)

When you say a "micro-budget film", is this a feature film (how long?) or a short film (how long)?

A micro-budget feature film, Peter D. Marshall. 90 minutes.

I don't know what your story is about, but be careful that the film does not get too "claustrophobic" if so much happens in just one location. Think abut where you can break up some scenes to shoot EXT or in another "close" INT:Location. Those are just some general ideas without seeing your script. :)

Try a warehouse of 1/2 million sq ft. Shoot when it is closed. Plenty of locations. Or shoot outside in a park. You need constantly changing backgrounds or viewers will get bored.

Thanks, Peter D. Marshall. I was just curious.

Must-read blog, Debbie Elicksen! Thanks for sharing it! I can use some things in it to help pitch my scripts and projects, like "Repurpose Videos Across Multiple Formats."

Maurice Vaughan Awesome.

Roberto Micheletti it’s good to hear you so excited about finishing the script and pitch deck for THE CALL - refining the materials and learning from the community here is exactly what I’m doing as well - look forward to hearing more about your feature and best of luck with pitching it

Michael Thorn Thanks so much — really appreciate that! THE CALL has been a huge personal milestone for me, so hearing your encouragement means a lot.

I’d love to hear more about what you’re refining in your projects as well. What part of the rewriting or polishing stage do you usually find most challenging or rewarding?

Always great connecting with writers who are in the same phase of the journey

Hello, congratulations on completing your work and good luck with your pitching.

I’m working on a sci-fi screenplay called The Silent PFC War.

Roberto Micheletti Welcome Roberto!!! Congrats on reaching this milestone. Stage 32 is an awesome, professional and very valuable platform, and work place. I'm currently off my first Holiday screenplay, and now on my new project, a reverse rom-com, inspired by a real event I lived while on a retreat in the North of Spain.

congrats and welcome!

would love to read the script or an excerpt thereof…

happy to swap if you’re interested—I’ve a short film submitted for competition called A HYPOTHETICAL CAT.

Comps would be, superficially LOCKE and THE GUILTY (my story’s about a woman on the phone while racing to find her boyfriend who may have tried to kill himself) but as the title (Schrödinger reference), its theme revolves around a weird quantum concept, but without any sci-fi elements (so the nearest comps i could think of are ARRIVAL—but without the aliens—and ETERNAL SUNSHINE—but without the mind wipe tech).

peace and love…

yes that's a good theme as well Maurice Vaughan

the persistence of memory

I’ve written 6 stories thinking they were about other things but in the end realised they could all go into a collection by that title

That sounds so good James LO

Even when a story explores many themes at once, there is always one major guiding theme behind it.

meriem, have you written any short story or screenplay about times travel or parallel worlds from the lens of human existence that you would care to share? I’d be happy to swap with one of my unpublished tales revolving around the persistence of memory

I have the idea but it’s not written yet.

It’s called The De-Evolution Game: Paradoxes Unleashed.

You can see some insights about it here James LO

https://stage32.com/post/3920679695024137577

Thank you for this link Pat Alexander

Thank you very much for sharing the article.

It’s exactly the kind of hopeful energy we need to hear all the time.

I’m so happy to be here in the Stage 32 community — a place that could one day help me realize my dreams through collaboration and the right introductions.

Very useful article, Pat Alexander. Thanks for sharing.

Pat Alexander Thanks for the article. I can’t imagine how famous a screenwriter or director has to be to work without an agent. I guess people at that level already have their own production companies :)

Pat Alexander This is an awesome and timely reminder, at the end of this year and at the gates, prepping and revving to race into 2026, that it is always, always a collaboration: writers with actors, writers with agents, agents and actors, it's a dance. We can't stop dancing just because we found a partner right? We should be sharper and ready to dance with them, not sit down and expect them to carry us through.

This post came right on time, Ash! Laquan and I were just handed a project to figure out how to report metrics to improve Member Help. I'm also working on using AI more constructively to efficiently get school work and professional work done to a quality standard. So I'm working on using AI without leaning on it too heavily. I think I've hit a stride with managing my time and I'm really proud of myself for that. I'm definitely working on organizing my physical space better but that's an ongoing thing that I hope to become better and better at. I am also working on processing what leadership means to me and keeping my ears and mind open when working with people about what a good leader looks like so that I can become one in all my endeavors.

Also sidenote for the community. Ashley and I were just discussing how these posts are such a great opportunity to process and dig deep and it's almost like Stage 32 Group Therapy lol Keep us posted on ways you want to grow creatively and professionally and we've got you! Send an email to success@stage32.com and our Success Team will be so glad to work with you and help you get the best out of Stage 32! Cheers to the onward and the upward, y'all!!

Ai, Ai, Ai! Finding some really exciting ways to use this in workflow. We actually have some really great education about this, as well. Email us at edu@stage32.com and we can share it with you!

Absolutely agree! While all these tools are powerful, there's real science behind pen and paper...the hand-brain connection activates different creative pathways. I still keep a notebook for brainstorming and breaking story because something about physically writing ideas down makes them stick differently.

The best toolkit is whatever works for each writer. Sometimes that's AI, sometimes it's index cards, sometimes it's a blank page and a pen. All valid!

Wkly check ins are great! I am not a tech person but for the creative side of things I will be refining my website with all the new projects from 2025, revising my model comp cards with new portfolio pics I just got taken for next year since my last were from 2024, tweaking my one page actor pdf resume to send out to potential new reps, experimenting with some fun one off actor workshops since I can't commit to regular weekly ones atm, and I already re organized my wardrobe for audition clothes and MUA room by tossing old/expired products and purchasing what I needed to be self tape hair, skincare, & makeup ready, plus washed all the hair brushes and cosmetics brushes, so I am feeling very prepared for whatever comes next! :)

I’m trying to start my script The Silent PFC War from scratch, and I’m literally fighting my mind to avoid using AI drafts.

I only let the AI generate a first draft for each micro-scene as an example and guidance in the process, but then I read it and write my own version.

I’ve also started using Arc Studio, and I really love it—it makes the script feel professional and well-structured.