My name is Ashley Smith, and I’m the Head of Community here at Stage 32!
Before joining this incredible team, I spent nearly seven years in development and talent management, working across film, TV, and streaming projects for companies like Amazon, Sony TV, FX, Universal TV, Paramount TV, and more. Now, I have the absolute privilege of overseeing this amazing Stage 32 Community, the daily Blog, weekly AMAs, monthly in-person Meetups, and numerous initiatives to help you connect, learn, and grow in the entertainment industry.
I love seeing our members engage, collaborate, and support one another every day, and I’m always working on ways to bring you even more opportunities, insights, and resources. If there’s anything you’d love to see more of in the lounges, AMAs, blogs, or meetups, let me know. I want to make Stage 32 as helpful as possible for you!
Since it’s February, let’s have a little fun- what’s your favorite romance or rom-com film of all time? Or, in honor of Black History Month, what’s a film or TV series by a Black filmmaker or creator that you think everyone should see? Let’s get the conversation going!
Looking forward to meeting new members and reconnecting with familiar faces. Drop a comment and say hello!
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Happy Valentine's Day and Introduce Yourself Weekend, Ashley Renee Smith! Thanks for everything you do for the Lounge Moderators and the entire community! We appreciate it.
My favorite Rom-Com of all time is HITCH. It's hilarious and so fun! My favorite film by a Black filmmaker is GET OUT (Jordan Peele's film). The creativity, characters, scenes, dialogue, etc. All incredible!
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Happy Valentine's Day, IYW sweet Ashley Renee Smith . I need to tell you this: your blog today was vital for me; I learned a lot, and it was a masterclass for me. Thank you for that! You are excellent at it! My favorite rom-com of all time is Pretty Woman, a classic. The time I was always in LA, my hotel was on the same street as "Regent Beverly whilshire". So, on my night walk, I was passing it by, appreciating it, dreaming a little, and going for Rodeo Drive. Pretty Woman was there! So, it's part of my imagination. :)) For Black History Month , I choose SELMA, directed by Ava DuVernay. It's a powerful one and an amazing lesson! And yours?
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Thanks so much, Maurice Vaughan! I always appreciate your kindness and everything you bring to the community.
Hitch is such a great choice! It's so fun, full of charm, and Will Smith and Kevin James have such a hilarious dynamic. And Get Out, what a masterpiece! Jordan Peele really crafted something that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking, with such tight storytelling. The way he builds tension and layers in social commentary is just next-level.
What is it about Hitch that makes it your all-time favorite? And have you been keeping up with Jordan Peele’s upcoming projects? I’m always excited to see what he’s working on next!
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Sandra Isabel Correia, that means so much to me, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog and found it helpful. That truly makes my day!
Pretty Woman is such a fantastic rom-com! I love that you have that personal connection to it, walking past the Regent Beverly Wilshire and taking in all that LA magic. What an amazing way to experience the film’s world in real life!
For my picks: my favorite classic rom-com is Sweet Home Alabama! I just love the charm, humor, and that perfect mix of romance and personal growth. For a modern rom-com, I’d have to go with Set It Up on Netflix, it’s such a fun, feel-good movie with great chemistry between the leads.
And for Black History Month, I think I’ll be rewatching When They See Us, Ava DuVernay’s powerful limited series about the Central Park Five. It was such an incredible, emotional, and beautifully told story, and I’ve been meaning to revisit it. Selma is also such a fantastic choice! Ava really has such a strong voice and ability to bring history to life in a deeply moving way.
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Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend Ashley! I have to say lately I loved Nobody Wants This...that's one that I've loved recently :)
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You're welcome, Ashley Renee Smith. The premise of HITCH, the cast, and the chemistry between the characters make it my all-time favorite. I've been keeping up with Jordan Peele’s upcoming movie HIM. Marlon Wayans is starring in it.
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It was SO. GOOD. Amanda Toney! I devoured the whole series in a day.
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Yes, the time I lived in LA, it was in a very cozy hotel that I love a lot. The hotel is located on the same street as the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Sometimes, I felt like the Pretty Woman. :D I need to see Sweet Home Alabama and Set It Up.
Ava is brilliant, and I love her movies :)
Happy sunday sweet Ashley Renee Smith
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I've always loved Moonstruck and While You Were Sleeping.
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Wow, seven years in many amazing companies ! Learned something new, Ashley. Universal or Paramount would be good stepping stones for work in Film / TV. I've looked there before - nothing yet.
Romance ?? I see the Hollywood Kiss on TV so much anymore, lol. :~).
I'm more of an Action and Sci-Fi guy.
K. Kennard
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I'm also a big Sci-fi fan, Kerry Kennard! But I like to think that I'm mostly genre-agnostic and can enjoy good storytelling regardless of genre.