Heya! Kay Ross from the DMV but now in LA. Yes, I'm okay, but I'm still in a Red Flag Zone until these last of the winds die down. The air quality is the biggest issue in my area in LA right now. We do have an upcoming chance of rain, though!
Most of you know me as the Community Manager and Writer's Room Producer here on Stage 32 - for almost FIVE YEARS! - and if you haven't tried out The Writer's Room, I highly encourage you to! There are TONS of weekly LIVE events, including:
- a weekly Coverage Report (a guided script exchange, which I co-host)
- a weekly Pitch Practice Session (preparing for a "Pitch Session" under Script Services)
- a weekly Webcast with a Guest Executive (either a Script Breakdown, Executive Hour (Q&A), or a Pitch Tank (to pitch your project with a 5-minute verbal pitch))
- Writer's Cafes multiple times a week
Of course, the BIGGEST Perks we've added recently is the "Open Writing Assignments" which a requests for scripts that come in directly from producers, managers, and production companies. Writer's Room members can submit their scripts at no additional cost for a chance to be selected.
If you're interested, feel free to try it for a month to see if we can help you reach your writing goals faster and with more confidence:
https://www.stage32.com/plan-vip
BUT I'm also an author, screenwriter, producer, director, and stage/screen actor! I love comedies, especially coming-of-age, but I'm also a died-in-the-wool SciFi Geek, so I'm down to unpack the cerebral films & shows, too.
Shall we do a bit of LAST Year / THIS Year? I'll share my top 3 if you will!
LAST Year, I...
1) Premiered the BIGGEST proof-of-concept short film I've ever helmed as a producer to date - "Sanctuary" the short film - and it's already won a couple of awards! If you'd like to learn more, check out: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuarytheshortfilm/
2) Became a PAID feature screenwriter for the first time! Usually I just produce them myself.
3) Was offered a microbudget to direct my first feature. It's based on another short I wrote and produced called "Livin' with Lisa", a mockumentary about a neurotic, out-of-touch mother who documents her epic battle to save her live-stream-obsessed daughter. Filmed as part of the LA 48-Hour Film Project.
THIS Year, I...
1) Look forward to greenlighting "Sanctuary" the FEATURE film!
2) Selling my first feature - so I'll be doing LOTS more pitching this year Eep!
3) Directing & Distributing my first feature.
Looking forward to hearing about YOUR Top 3!
P.S. - I asked about "what is your theme" because of my recent Stage 32 Blog where I shared about how to create a "New Year's Theme" instead of Resolutions:
https://www.stage32.com/blog/setting-intentions-for-the-new-year-creatin...
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Best of luck on SANCTUARY, Kay! Here's to completing our goals in 2025!
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Hi, Karen "Kay" Ross. I hope you, your family, and friends stay safe, and I hope LA gets rain! Congratulations on everything you accomplished last year, and I hope you accomplish your goals this year!
LAST Year, I...
1. Wrote 2 feature scripts and finished a lot of projects (ghostwriting jobs, short scripts, rewrites, etc.)
2. Networked like crazy
3. Read more scripts
THIS Year, I...
1. Will write 3 feature spec scripts
2. Plan on selling 1-3 feature spec scripts
3. Look forward to reading more scripts and novels
My theme for this year is "Pitch More." I finally got back to the Writers' Room Pitch Practice last week. I sat in and listened to the pitches, and I got a lot of incredible notes!
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Congratulations Karen "Kay" Ross! Onward and Upward in '25!!
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Kay, you forgot to say that you are an amazing “Break my Feature” mentor and I recommend all the screenwriters to break their features with you :)) They will have the best Final Draft of their lives! You are a rockstar :)))