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Say, “Thank you”: Why Gratitude is Your Superpower

This Thanksgiving, my invitation is to pause and consider the role gratitude plays in your writer’s journey. Gratitude is not just a feel-good emotion; it is the way, the path to navigating challenges, strengthening your resilience, and fueling your process. Think of gratitude as your superpower. Find Strength in the Challenges You Have Overcome Think about the struggles you have faced and conquered in your creative life—the dragons you have slain, all the times you broke …

November Write Club Week #4: Congratulations, You Got Through the Door! How Are You Keeping it Open?

As a producer and executive in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, I’ve seen countless submissions and been in hundreds of pitch meetings - on both sides of the table. While the landscape is constantly changing, one thing remains clear - preparation is everything. Whether you’re submitting a script, pitching a new series, or meeting a potential collaborator, your level of preparedness can make all the difference in securing a deal or moving your project forward. E…

Coffee & Content: Reframing Rejection as Part of the Journey

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, in this Film Courage interview, they’re talking to writer, Jay Fingers, about how to handle rejection. Jay Fingers is a novelist, journalist, editor, and emerging screenwriter who authored four books: Guestlist, Kisses for Tati, Orange Mound, and Manhattan Sweetheart before moving t…

Advice For Screenwriters From An Award-Winning Producer & Repped Screenwriter

Hello, Screenwriters! My name is Shaun. I am a Stage 32 Exec, Gotham Award-winning independent film producer, member of the Producers Guild of America, Repped Screenwriter, Script Consultant, and educator. I've been in the film and television industry for 29 years and producing for 15 of those years. In that time I have been privileged to work with and learn from some of the greatest filmmakers and performers in our industry - from James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Judd Apatow to Jo…

The Secrets To Mapping Out a Multi-Season Story

Working with writers as an instructor, consultant, and producer on developing television series, writing pilot scripts, and pitch bibles, I have found that the most exciting – and most difficult – part of the process is imagining that the show is being made and working out what the first season and subsequent seasons might be about. Sure, there will eventually be a writer’s room that will “break” the seasons (decide what happens in each episode), but before …

A Writer’s Room Special Event: Ask Me Anything with Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto

What is up, Creative Army! Myself and the Stage 32 team couldn’t be more thankful for this incredible community. This year has been a whirlwind for me with a lot of international travel so it's been a while since I've been able to do an AMA. Between my travel, the strikes, the M&A happening in our industry, independent film having a resurgence, I've seen and learned a lot... and there is a lot to talk about right now. It's an exciting time for you as a creative - whether you…

A Stage 32 Success Story: Getting To The "Yes" For Your Screenplay!

“I love this script”. It’s the beginning of my Stage 32 consult with a producer, and I’m flabbergasted. In my head, I’m thinking, “Oh! My! God! Did she just say she loves my script?” She continues, “It’s a cool story that deserves to be told.” I’m not expecting more than the typical encouragement and notes. So, I’m momentarily surprised to have someone excited about my story. IT TAKES PERSISTENCE We dream of …

Stage 32 CEO Richard ‘RB’ Botto Featured on Beyond The Glam Podcast! Come Watch!

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! I recently had the honor of being featured on the brand new and already massively popular podcast, Beyond the Glam, hosted by the wonderful, amazing, spectacular 3X Emmy nominated, Rasha Goel. Rasha's podcast is about the raw, human side of success– showing the true, unglamorous realities of celebrities and creatives. We hope you’ll join us in feeling inspired to tackle personal challenges after discovering the inner struggles, insecurities, a…

November Write Club Week #3: Set Yourself Up For Success With Feedback On Your Project!

Inception You have an idea. Well, maybe a kernel of an idea at this point, but it’s there. Could make a great movie or TV series. The idea starts to grow and take shape in your mind. You crack a story beat while driving, type it into your phone, or write it into a notebook the next time you stop. You think of that amazing character's name and laugh out loud to yourself, “That’s great”. The notes become an outline, your thoughts start to take shape, and the bones …

Coffee & Content: The “And What?” Philosophy

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. First up, in this video essay by Frame Voyager, he’s taking a close…

In Defense Of Shallow Characters

In defense of shallow characters -- Some people just simply are shallow. Yes, for the most part, we want to have story characters with depth, mystery, and things to discover. We want to follow their character arc throughout the story, to see them change and grow, to go with them on their journey of transformation. But sometimes, it simply isn’t there. Nor should it be. You probably know at least one person who only has the depth of a grease spot under the car in the garage. [C…

New Feature: You Can Now Build Your Stage 32 Education Wishlist!

Hey, Stage 32 Community! Our tech team has been hard at work to bring your wishes to life! We've heard you loud and clear that because there is so much to choose from in Stage 32’s industry-leading educational library, you want to be able to save some of your favorite education opportunities to go back and visit later. Well, now you can! An exciting new feature has just launched on the Stage 32 Education page that will allow our members to create and save their personal educatio…

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