Red Carpet Roll-Out: August 2024's New Educators & Executives At Stage 32!

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community!

Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community!

At Stage 32 you have direct access to award-winning industry executives and professionals who’ve written, produced, developed, and represented acclaimed projects such as NARCOS, THE CROW, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, THE GREEN KNIGHT, FENCES, MUDBOUND, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, DINOSAUR, WILDERNESS, THREE PINES, FOUR MORE SHOTS PLEASE, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, FAST AND FURIOUS 6, MORTAL KOMBAT, RAMPAGE, SAW, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, AFTER MIDNIGHT, CHICK FLICKS, BLACK-ISH, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, STUMPTOWN, WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, INTO THE DARK, STOWAWAY, BLOOG FOR DUST, DEVIL'S PEAK, and many others.

So without much further ado, let's roll out the red carpet and welcome some of the fantastic new people joining our Stage 32 Community this August!

New Stage 32 Educators-

Chris Debiec, Executive Producer & CEO of Civilized Entertainment

Chris Debiec was previously the VP of Production at Entertainment One Television (eOne) and was the CEO of Oscar-winning Director James Cameron's company, Earthship Productions. He's worked on studio-level projects such as OSCAR, THE CROW, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, and DINOSAUR, as well as the hit A24 film THE GREEN KNIGHT. With over three decades in production, Chris is exceptionally qualified to guide you through the intricacies of hiring and managing key departments. Mr. Debiec relocated to Austin, Texas and as CEO/Founder, immediately established the Texas Media Coalition, a political action committee with the aim of creating a mutually beneficial and sustainable multi-billion-dollar transferable tax-incentive program. This program was developed through a comprehensive analysis of Texas tax law, the needs of the media industry, and successful global and domestic programs.

Currently, as CEO of Civilized Entertainment LLC, Chris has built an award-winning studio focusing on the development and production of content directly related to Science, Technology, Environment, Art, Space, Expedition, Exploration, Medical and Historical Events.

You can still register for Chris’s webinar- A Producer’s Guide to Hiring and Managing Key Departments

New Stage 32 Executives-

Thomas Drachkovitch, Emmy-Nominated Development Executive & Managing Director of Dream Bay Ent.

Thomas Drachkovitch is an Emmy-nominated Development Executive and Managing Director of Dream Bay Entertainment, an international production and management company. DBE is based in the UK and produces scripted films and television as well as unscripted documentaries and docuseries. They have played a pivotal role in the globalization of film and TV content, consistently delivering standout projects across various countries and languages.

Prior to founding DBE, for nearly a decade Thomas was a Development Executive for Amazon Studios and has worked on dozens of feature films and television shows including the Amazon Originals WILDERNESS, a thriller starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson Cohen announced in Deadline, tennis drama FIFTEEN-LOVE with LINE OF DUTY Producer World Productions, and THREE PINES based on novel adaptations. His work on the Amazon Original comedy-drama FOUR MORE SHOTS PLEASE earned him an Emmy-nomination for Best International Comedy TV Series.

Keep an eye out for Thomas’s upcoming pitch session, which should be available for registration soon!

David Romero, Literary & Talent Agent

David Romero is a literary and talent agent representing high-profile clients who have worked on films and TV shows such as HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, FAST AND FURIOUS 6, MORTAL KOMBAT, Amazon's JUBILEE, and more critically acclaimed showrunners, writers, directors, and producers, providing unmatched expertise and tactical advice.

For nearly a decade he was a TV Literary/Scripted Agent at powerhouse agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) until he branched off on his own. He began his career at The Shuman Company in management and producing before joining CAA's Scripted Television department. Romero started his career as an assistant at The Shuman Co. before joining CAA’s Scripted Television department and assisted Bruce Vinokour and Michael Gordon, as well as working as a Scripted TV Coordinator.

You can receive notes from David about your First 10 Pages or meet with him about your Pilot or Pitch Deck/Bible Review.

Chris Sablan, Literary Manager & Producer at Avenue 220

Chris Sablan is a Literary Manager and Producer at Avenue 220 a management and production company. He has an impressive track record of launching screenwriters' careers and selling high-profile screenplays and pitches, including BATES MOTEL (A&E), MET GALA HEIST (New Line), THE GARDEN (FOX Animation), and many more. Chris also executive produced the film I SEE YOU starring Helen Hunt, which opened Number 1 on Netflix.

Chris has almost 2 decades of experience as an agent, having worked at APA (Agency for the Performing Arts), The Gersh Agency, Genesis, and Original Artists. He has represented clients involved with projects including NON-STOP (Universal), RAMPAGE (New Line), SAW (Lionsgate), JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (New Line), and many more. Several of his clients have appeared on the prestigious annual Black List. At Original Artists, Chris formed a film sales department where every film he represented obtained a distribution offer, including the low-budget Slamdance Film GHOST TEAM ONE, which he sold to Paramount Pictures.

You can receive notes from Chris about your First 10 Pages here.

Terrah Bennett, Co-Partner & Chief Content Officer at Inyani Corp.

Terrah Bennett Smith is Co-Partner and Chief Content Officer for the global production company Inyani Corp. An award-winning producer, Terrah dedicates her time to reading scripts, identifying talented writers, and adding fresh, engaging stories to Inyani’s project slate. Currently, Inyani is developing the feature film UPRISING, a political thriller, and a television series chronicling the story of Nana Ashurst, the first female President of Def Jam.

In addition to her role at Inyani, Terrah actively pursues independent projects. This year, she is the Executive Producer of an immersive stage/TV pilot HEAD HUNTERS, a feature film romantic comedy titled MY PERFECT CHRISTMAS, and she is slated to produce two additional television pilots. Some of Terrah’s previous producing credits include serving as Producer on two entertainment streaming shows, CHICK FLICKS and WHAT'S HOT ON STREAMING, CANDY RAIN, Co-Executive Producer for the 8-episode TV series THE WRIGHT TURN, Co-Producer for the docuseries HEART AND SOUL OF A CHAMPION, Producer of the talk show AFTER MIDNIGHT, and Producer on the soon-to-be-released feature film, THE LOS ANGELES BAKERS.

You can receive premium notes from Terrah about your Pilot here, Feature here, First 10 Pages, or meet with her about your Pilot, Feature, or Pitch Deck/Bible Review.

Ilayda Yigit, Director of Development, Scripted Television for MACRO TV Studios

Ilayda Yigit is the Director of Development, Scripted Television for MACRO Television Studios. MACRO is well known for its tremendous feature film projects including the Oscar-nominated hit films FENCES starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis and MUDBOUND starring Carey Mulligan and Jason Clarke, as well as FREAKY TALES starring Tom Hanks, THEY CLONED TYRONE starring Jamie Foxx for Netflix, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH written and directed by SHAKA KING and SORRY TO BOTHER YOU directed by Boots Riley. Macro has a first-look deal with Amazon Studios.

MACRO has expanded its production slate into television and is responsible for hits like RAISING DION on Netflix and DEAR MAMA for Hulu. They recently announced the series GOVERNMENT CHEESE for AppleTV+ which was featured in Deadline, as well as THIRST, a hip-hop vampire drama for HBO, announced in Variety. As a television and production executive, she has varied experience working with talent, executives, agents, managers, writers, directors, and production crew through all stages of development and production. She started her career at powerhouse agency William Morris Endeavor within their Literary Packaging department and before that, their Talent department. Prior to WME, she began her career as a Writers PA on the series, NARCOS for Netflix and Gaumont Studios.

You can receive premium notes from Ilayda about your Pilot here, or meet with her about your Pilot, Pitch Deck/Bible Review, or Adaptation Review.

Lindsay Maizel, Producer & Development Executive

Lindsay Maizel is a Producer and Development Executive who has worked for some of the top companies in film and television including Disney, HBO, Amazon, the Chernin Group, and Fee Fi Fo for over a decade. She was most recently the Head of Development for Fee Fi Fo, a production company with a first-look deal at ABC Signature, for director James Griffiths (BLACK-ISH, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, STUMPTOWN). She was responsible for finding fresh talent and developing scripts in-house to support Giffiths' deal with ABC.

Before Fee Fi Fo, she was the Creative Associate at Disney Television and helped develop shows for ABC Development teams (ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, THE WONDER YEARS, HOME ECONOMICS) and Freeform Development teams (EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE OKAY, MOTHERLAND). She was part of Disney’s Executive Management Program and worked in Marketing, Research, Scheduling, Unscripted, and Business Affairs. Prior to Disney, she also worked at Awesomeness (PEN15, TO ALL THE BOYS franchise, XO KITTY) where she worked with the Chief Content Officer. She began her career at HBO in Film Programming, Amazon in Comedy Development, and The Chernin Group in Development.

You can receive premium notes from Lindsay about your Pilot here, Feature here, First 10 Pages, or meet with her about your Pilot, Feature, Pitch Deck/Bible Review, or Adaptation Review.

Adam Gerhleter, Creative Executive & Producer at 507 Collective

Adam Gheleter is a Creative Executive and Producer at 507 Collective, a fully integrated creative collective across motion pictures, entertainment, and distinguished film production company known for its focus on independent and diverse storytelling including films such as STOWAWAY (starring Ruby Rose, Frank Grillo, and Patrick Schwarzenegger), BLOOD FOR DUST (starring Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington), DEVIL'S PEAK (starring Billy Bob Thorton, Robin Wright, and Jackie Earle Haley), and many more films.

At 507 Collective, Adam oversees acquisitions, script development, and project packaging and seeks to craft compelling presentations that resonate with industry stakeholders. Adam has collaborated with leading directors and writers to develop and package projects. His past clients and collaborators include award-winning filmmakers and emerging talent, contributing to various independent and commercial projects.

You can receive premium notes from Adam about your Pilot here, Feature here, First 10 Pages, or meet with him about your Pilot, Feature, Pitch Deck/Bible Review, or Adaptation Review.

Alyssa Autterson, Television Drama Executive

Alyssa Autterson is a television development executive, most recently serving as Manager of Drama Development (Original Series) at HULU, a key division within THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, and has been instrumental in the development and success of several critically acclaimed series, including WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, SAINT X, and DEATH & OTHER DETAILS. She has also contributed to Hulu’s popular horror anthology series INTO THE DARK (Seasons 1 and 2) and numerous 20TH DIGITAL original feature films such as THE MILL, CLOCK, APPENDAGE, MATRIARCH, JAGGED MIND, and GRIMCUTTY.

You can meet with Alyssa about your Pilot here.

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