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Sandstone Artists Signs Writer Discovered On Stage 32

AZ Master Screenwriting Basics Cert
Posted by Benjamin Pollack

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical of Stage 32 at first. But I figured, why not? I've tried pretty much everything else. Joining Stage 32 ended up being a game-changer for my career. It wasn't like anything I'd experienced before. For once, people were reading my work not because they had to judge it for a competition, but because they were genuinely interested. The feedback I got from industry pros was eye-opening and, honestly, exactly what I needed.

My screenwriting journey has been quite an adventure, filled with lots of learning curves and a few unexpected turns. It all started back in my undergrad days when I dabbled in writing and producing a radio show. This little project was my first taste of storytelling, and honestly, I was hooked. Later, when I moved to Los Angeles, I got into writing for animation and saw a bunch of my cartoons come to life, which was pretty cool.

I wanted to take things up a notch, so I went for it and got a degree from the American Film Institute. That move paid off because I ended up working with the legendary John Daley — the producer behind movies like TERMINATOR and THE LASTER EMPEROR. After John passed away, I found myself diving into the world of music videos, directing pieces for musicians from INXS, Smash Mouth, Morrissey, Bauhaus, and so on. That period of my life was all about living and breathing filmmaking. I wrote like crazy, pouring everything I had into my scripts, tweaking and polishing until they felt just right.

Sandstone Artists Signs Writer Discovered On Stage 32

But I didn't stop there. I wanted to do more than just write, so I ended up writing, directing, and producing a short film starring Bruce Greenwood and Wayne Knight that actually won a bunch of awards. That experience was incredible, but it also left me feeling a bit stuck. I had these stories I wanted to share and the drive to work with experienced producers, but I wasn't sure how to make that leap.

I've been to my fair share of screenwriting festivals and even picked up over 30 awards, which always feels great. But the truth is, winning doesn't always open the doors you'd expect. It's more like a pat on the back, a sign that you're on the right track but still have a long way to go in terms of getting your work out there.

That's where Stage 32 came in. Through Stage 32, I connected with Tammy Hunt from Sandstone Artists through a Script Read and Phone Consultation. We hit it off after a few chats, and eventually, I signed with them. Looking back, it's clear that every step of my journey, even the ones that seemed like detours at the time, has brought me closer to where I want to be. Stage 32 helped me bridge that final gap, proving that sometimes, taking a chance on something new is the best move you can make.

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