Insider Intel: Let's Talk Mandates- What is the Town Looking for?

Mandates come and go. But what's in this week?

Horror is IN. And it's not just me saying it, it's the Academy.

I know every cinephile pundit in town is going to have a take on what mattered and what's going to shape the culture going forward, but for the first time in a long time, the Academy Awards didn't feel like same old, same old. As a lifelong horror and monster movie aficionado, I was rooting hard for SINNERS, WEAPONS, and FRANKENSTEIN…and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

Bigger budgets dominated this year too, with expensive streamer-backed projects taking home major categories. So what does it all mean: for us, for the industry, for the moviegoing experience, and for what actually gets made next?

A few things stood out. Most of the films that won told us the world can get ugly and unfair, but love, heart, and heroism will prevail, which feels like exactly the sentiment the moment called for. The ceremony rewarded mainstream success over obscure drama, which was a welcome change of pace. But it also felt, somehow, like the final nail in the coffin for art house cinema.

Right now, what's shiny, bold, and unapologetically mainstream is the flavor of the moment, and somehow, this was a welcome change. More than ever, Movies are combining and mixing genres, and it feels like bold takes are rewarded. So what's next? A horror-rom-com mash-up? A sci-fi-monster-drama? I'm eager to see what filmmakers and writers are going to concoct next when constraints go out the window.

This Week in the Writers' Room

The Exec Hour with Nikita S. Adams- Wednesday, March 18th at 4pm PT!

This Wednesday, March 18th, at 4pm PT, The Executive Hour welcomes Nikita S. Adams, literary talent agent, Head of Production and Development, and one of the most well-rounded executives working in the industry today.

With over 25 years spanning BET, New Line Cinema, 20th Century Fox Television, Hallmark, Jamie Foxx's Foxx/King Entertainment, Forest Whitaker's Junto Films, and the representation desks at Paradigm and A3 Artists Agency, Nikita has done it all.

She'll be joining us live to answer your questions about what agents and executives actually look for in writers, and what it takes to build a lasting career in this industry.

If you would like to join the Writers’ Room, access weekly events, submit to dozens of open writing assignments, and attend exclusive pitch tanks with industry executives- click HERE for a free trial!

This Week’s Exciting Announcements!

We have an incredible Writer's Room event coming up on Tuesday, March 24th, that you won't want to miss!

Join us for an exclusive Q&A with the Creator & Showrunner of HBO Max's HEATED RIVALRY!

Jacob Tierney, creator, writer, and director of the show that took the world by storm, HEATED RIVALRY (Crave/HBO Max), is joining Stage 32 Writers' Room members exclusively on March 24th at 3pm PT for a live Q&A. This is the show that took a "too niche" romance novel, navigated international co-production, secured U.S. distribution on a major streamer, and literally increased NHL ticket sales. Everyone said it wouldn't sell. It did.

Attend this session and learn about the creators’ entire journey from optioning the IP to landing on a major streamer, which speaks to writers interested in book-to-screen adaptations and breaking into prestige TV! Discover how to write authentic LGBTQ+ romance, sports authenticity, character-driven dramas, and learn the world of International productions, how to secure U.S. distribution, and the economics of streaming deals!

Click here to register for The Writer's Room now!

This week, we're spotlighting a talented Writer & Director who recently won the Stage 32 + Color Farm Media Screenwriting Contest & Diversity Talent Accelerator with his script, THE PERFECT KISSER!

Micheal S. Camp is an emerging screenwriter and director focused on character-driven stories rooted in Black life and cultural specificity. A graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Micheal blends analytical structure with emotionally resonant storytelling.

Originally from Atlanta and currently spending much of his time in Japan, Micheal brings a global perspective to distinctly American narratives. His creative foundation was shaped in the music industry, where he worked as an audio engineer for Grammy Award–winning producer Jimmy "The Senator" Douglass at his Miami studio. His work aims to engage social commentary without sacrificing entertainment value, balancing layered themes with accessible storytelling and cinematic momentum.

See Micheal's Stage 32 Profile here!

This Week In The Stage 32 Community!

Right now in the Screenwriting Lounge, Stage 32 member and screenwriter Maria Caeiro has sparked a conversation that every writer, no matter their level, can relate to: What’s a hard truth you learned the hard way?

It’s the kind of question that cuts through the noise. Because behind every polished script and every “overnight success” is a collection of tough lessons, rewrites, rejections, pivots, and moments where things didn’t go according to plan.

Maria’s own answer will hit home for many of you: spending weeks perfecting a scene, only to realize it doesn’t serve the story and needs to be cut entirely. That’s the reality of this craft. And the responses coming in from the community are just as honest, insightful, and, at times, hilariously painful.

These are the conversations that accelerate your growth. Not because they give you a shortcut, but because they remind you what to expect and how to keep moving forward anyway. If you’ve ever questioned your process, struggled with a rewrite, or wondered if you’re the only one learning things the hard way, you’re not. And more importantly, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Jump into the discussion, share your own hard-earned lessons, and learn from others who are on the same path.

Click here to join the conversation!

Need help navigating the industry? Contact success@stage32.com

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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