3rd Annual Stage 32 Search For New Blood Screenwriting Contest

Join us as we congratulate the Grand Prize Winner and 1st & 2nd Runner Up!

The Stage 32 3rd Annual Search For New Blood Screenwriting Contest Winners:

Grand Prize Winner

WAR DOGS Griffin - Devine & Alyssa Radmand-Devine

1st Runner Up

THE OCCULT INFECTION OF HOOPER HIGH SCHOOL - Chris Chaberski

2nd Runner Up

THE FREEZING SEASON - Kellen Gibbs

Please celebrate with us on social and tag us on Twitter: @stage32 and Instagram: @stage32online #stage32rocks

What do our past winners have to say about Stage 32 and The Search for New Blood Contest?

"Winning the Contest Changed My Career." -- Glenn Forbes

“It’s definitely opened a lot of doors. I’ve been out here for 5 years and I’ve never had this kind of rush and experience.” -- Frank Ponce

- Glenn Forbes, Grand Prize Winner, Stage 32 Happy Writers Search For New Blood Contest, 2014; Signed with Infinity Management International

"I have signed with a management company in LA, Infinity Management International. I met them when Stage 32 flew me down to LA, and now the deal is done. I'm so thrilled to have Stage 32 Happy Writers in my corner for this ride. I've been plugging away for more than 10 years to secure representation. My message is never give up on your dream, and surround yourself with people who can help you get there. For that, Stage 32 has become my lynchpin."

- Frank Ponce, 2nd Place, Stage 32 Happy Writers Search For New Blood Contest, 2014; His script has been picked up for development by Atlas Entertainment (The Dark Knight, American Hustle)

"My only wish was to find this site sooner for the sake of saving time, discovering in-depth educational value, and making legitimate connections. I have to tip my hat at RB, Joey and the gang for changing the game and helping shape my future in filmmaking. I’m honored to be swimming in a community of like-minded individuals. I’m proud to be Stage 32’s HAPPIEST WRITER right now!"

- William Jeffrey, 2nd Place, Stage 32 Happy Writers Search For New Blood Contest, 2015; His script is under consideration at The Safran Company

"Speaking as a screenwriter to all my fellow writers, I highly recommend submitting to any and all Happy Writer's Writing Competition. I came in 2nd in the Search for New Blood Horror competition and it at very least exposes you and your work to industry professionals. To get that kind of eyes on something you've written, whether you end up selling your screenplay or not, is a great experience. All me best to all!"

The Stage 32 Happy Writers Search for New Blood contest is not associated with The Blood List.

Allie Moore - SVP, Television, Left Handed Films (Riz Ahmed)

Currently, Allie Moore is a manager of scripted television programming at AMC and the Sundance Channel. She joined the company in 2013 and is one of the creative executives on Better Call Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, and Halt and Catch Fire. She also serves as the department point person on books and IP material. Prior to AMC, she worked at Gran Via Productions and Scott Rudin Productions on projects including Breaking Bad, Rectify, The Social Network, True Grit, The Book of Mormon, among others. Moore graduated from the University of Virginia and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Jennielyn Abrot - Producer

Jennielyn is looking for Action, Horror, Thriller and Faith-based/Feel-good Feature Screenplays of All budgets.

 

Jennielyn Abrot was the Creative Executive behind LOVELACE

 

Jennielyn Abrot is an independent producer. She is a former Development Executive with The Van Johnson Company (client credits include THE WRESTLER, JESSICA JONES, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY), Threshold Entertainment (upcoming Tetris trilogy), and Eclectic Pictures (THE LATE BLOOMER, FRANKENSTEIN).

Jennielyn navigated first-look deals with both Universal Pictures and Millennium Films and was the Creative Executive behind films like LOVELACE (Amanda Seyfried, James Franco) DEATH AND LIFE OF BOBBY Z (Paul Walker, Olivia Wilde), TRUST (Clive Owen, Viola Davis), SOLITARY MAN (Michael Douglas, Jessie Eisenberg), and the Co-Producer of AS GOOD AS DEAD (Andi MacDowell, Matt Dallas).

Jennielyn is the Development Executive on the Sara Seligman thriller FALCON LAKE with the Van Johnson Company and Entertainment Law Partners producing. She is currently working with a Stage 32 writer to develop their project and is looking for fresh, stellar scripts ripe for production.

 

Born and raised in the Philippines, Abrot attended CalArts for Theater as a California Arts Scholar, and received her B.A. in Art History and Visual Arts, with emphasis in Film and Media Studies, from Occidental College. Abrot started her career as a Development Intern at Mandate Pictures.

 

Credits include:

Zack Ward - Actor, Director, Screenwriter and Producer (over 100 films!),

Zack Ward an actor, director, writer and producer with almost 4 decades  in the industry. Launching his career with the role of Scut Farkus in the classic A Christmas Story, Zack's career spans the gamut of genres, from blockbusters like Transformers and Resident Evil: Apocalypse to edgy art films such as Trade and Oscar Winner Almost Famous to the slapstick action of Postal and the dark comedy cult hit Titus.

Zack continues using his years of experience behind the camera having written, produced and directed feature films. Don’t Blink which starred Brian Austin Green and Mena Suvari was Zack’s first production. He also wrote and produced two features, acting in both and directing one. Restoration was his feature directorial debut and his second feature was Bethany.

Blake Goza (Judge) - Development Executive, Dark Trick Films & TV

Blake Goza has spent the last seven years as the development executive for Ryan Reynolds’ production shingle, Dark Trick Films / TV, where he is in charge of new material acquisition and project development. Blake worked on such films as Buried, The Change Up, RIPD, and Deadpool, and now serves as the company’s VP, managing their first look TV deal at Universal Cable Productions.

At the beginning of 2014, Blake took a sabbatical from Dark Trick to produce The Escort, with friend and writer Michael Doneger, which premiered at the LA Film Festival and was distributed by The Orchard.

Goza graduated from the University of Southern California School of Theatre where he studied acting and playwriting as a National Merit Scholar.

Stefano Agosto - Manager of Scripted Television, AMC

Stefano Agosto is a manager of scripted television programming for AMC. He joined the company in 2012 and is one of the creative executives on Hell on Wheels, Into The Badlands, Feed The Beast, and The Walking Dead. He grew up in Italy and moved to Los Angeles in 2006. He graduated from Loyola Marymount University. As a manager of scripted programming for AMC, he is also involved on multiple projects that are currently in development and is constantly on the lookout for emerging writers, and filmmakers. Stefano currently lives in Los Angeles.

Adrienne Biddle - Partner/Producer, Unbroken Pictures

After receiving a Masters degree from the Peter Stark Producing Program at The University of Southern California, Adrienne began her career at Jersey Films, where she worked on several projects including Man On The Moon, Caveman’s Valentine, Garden State, How High and Erin Brokovitch.

In November of 2002, she left Jersey Films to become Vice President of Production and Acquisitions at Summit Entertainment. Summit’s production arm generated five movies during her tenure: Dot The I, Wrong Turn, Lies And Alibis (which she co-produced), and Step Up. In November of 2005, she left Summit to become Rogue Pictures’ Senior Vice President of Production. This genre division of Universal Pictures released several movies during her tenure: Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Balls Of Fury, Hot Fuzz, The Strangers, Doomsday, Last House On The Left and she was the executive in charge of The Hitcher, The Unborn and Fighting. Rogue was sold to Relativity Media in December 2008.

In September of 2009, she partnered with writer/director Bryan Bertino to form Unbroken Pictures.

The duo has produced five movies together: He's Out There, written by Mike Scannell and directed by Dennis Iliadis, starring Yvonne Strahovski for Screen Gems; The Blackcoat's Daughter, written and directed by Osgood Perkins, starring Emma Roberts and Kiernan Shipka acquired by A24; Stephanie, written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, directed by Akiva Goldsman, starring Frank Grillo and Ana Torv for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures; The Monster, written and directed by Bertino, starring Zoe Kazan and Ella Ballentine for A24; and Mockingbird, written and directed by Bertino, for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures. Unbroken is represented by Jason Burns at UTA.

She is also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America, and serves on the board of Cinestory, a non-profit dedicated to nurturing new screenwriting talent through its fellowship and annual retreat. The program is aimed at writers with a high level of trade craft who are ready to enter the industry, and encourages participation from writers across the globe.

Drew Smith - Creative Executive, Unique Features

Drew specializes in Horror, Action, Thriller, Sci-fi, and Comedy Features of all budget ranges. He is especially interested in Horror. NO DRAMA.

  

 
"Shadowhunters", produced by Unique Features

 

Drew Smith is the Creative Executive at Unique Features, the feature and television production company founded by veteran producers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. The duo have produced dozens of high profile films including THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, The A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films, HAIRSPRAY, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, "Shadowhunters" (Freeform), THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES.

Unique features recently announced they will produced the contained, horror-thriller NIGHTLIGHT under Sony's Columbia Pictures. The original, spec script was penned by Tyler MacIntyre and Chris Hill, with MacIntyre also set to direct. Their action-fantasy TV series "Shadowhunter" is set to premiere it's 3rd season on Freeform in April, and has already been picked up for a 4th season!

At Unique, Drew is responsible for bringing in project ideas, exposing the company to new talent, and providing insight on current projects to better reach a worldwide audience. Prior to joining Unique, he was the manager of acquisitions at The Steel Company and brokered deals on behalf of some of the biggest international distributors at film markets included Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and the AFM.

 

STAGE 32 exclusive interview with Drew Smith

 

Company and Principle credits include:

Stacey Stanley - Executive Producer, The Smart Stanley Group

Stacey Stanely is the head of the consulting firm The Smart Stanley Group providing entertainment finance and packaging for features and television.

Stacey is the former head of Live Action at New Arc Entertainment, under Film Roman and Anchor Bay.  Under her direction the company produced more than 15 indie features in its first 18 months.

As the Executive in Charge of Production for the division, she produced the EMMY nominated series Masters of Horror for Showtime, Masters of Science Fiction for ABC and Painkiller Jane for SyFy, amongst others.

Stacey then ran the production unit of Starz Media, and later, she shifted her focus to creative development overseeing new series including the Emmy nominated Starz Inside and Martin Lawrence’s First Amendment, as well as all overall development deals with Ludacris and Martin Lawrence..

Stacey also served as the Vice President of Development & Production for Indomina Media Group, overseeing output deals including Pantelion/Lionsgate and Relativity.

 

Stacey specializes in Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, and Horror. 

 

 

Credits include:

Joan Mao - VP of Production & Development, The Safran Company

Joan Mao is the VP of Production & Development at The Safran Company (TSC), a leading Hollywood production company, in which their supernatural thriller The Conjuring was a hit for New Line last year. The Conjuring was named one of the most profitable films of 2013 and earned $330 million at the box office on a budget of only $20 million. The Safran Company also produced The Conjuring-spin off Annabelle which brought in over $200 million. The company has a slate of 10+ feature projects set up at several studios and with independent financiers with budgets ranging from $500k to $20M in genres including Thriller/Horror and Drama. 

Prior to working at TSC, Mao worked at Millennium Films for almost seven years where she started assisting the Head of Creative Affairs & Production and ended as Director of Development. Mao was involved in Millennium’s successful franchise The Expendables.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Minnesota, Mao graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in English Literature.

Projects The Safran Company have produced:

 

Micho Rutare - Director of Development, The Asylum

Micho Rutare has been Director of Development at The Asylum since 2010. In that capacity, he has overseen the development of more than thirty films, with twenty-five more in the pipeline. During this period, he wrote and directed Adopting Terror (Sean Astin, Samaire Armstrong) for Lifetime Television and wrote Bigfoot (Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams) for Syfy.

Prior to working full-time for The Asylum, Rutare freelanced as a writer and director. Before that, he worked in Production Management at Paramount Pictures.

Rutare holds two BAs from Michigan State University, one in English and another in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy. He is a native of Lansing, Michigan.

Ricky Mammone - Assistant to Steve Fisher, Agency for the Performing Arts (APA)

Ricky started his career at Madhouse Entertainment working in development. Now he works at APA as the assistant to literary agent Steve Fisher in the IP department, primarily finding new cutting edge material.