The place for all producers to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on raising funds, setting a budget, on set strategies and all other topics related to producing a film, television or theater project
I've secured a 12-month option to adapt a short story for a proof I hope to make over the next 12 months. An extension, should I fail to make the proof over the next year, is possible.
The next step is getting an IP lawyer to write a 1 or 2-page option agreement for me. I want to reach out to a VLA a...
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Hello Stage 32 community!
Back at it again on this lovely Tuesday afternoon and hoping to connect with a producer here to discuss my feature film project, A Hell of Heaven, a horror/thriller set in the 1980s that explores psychological paralysis and the traumatic inhibition to survive.
Information abo...
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Hi, Kevin Hoyer. A Hell of Heaven sounds interesting. You can connect with producers in the Browse Members section (www.stage32.com/people?name=&location=&roles=Producer).
And it's Stage 32's November...
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Maurice, this is why you are always the best!
Stage 32 also has free in-person Meetups that are great for networking with producers, executives, directors, etc., Kevin Hoyer. www.stage32.com/meetups If you don't see a Meetup in your area, keep an...
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Kevin Hoyer Add me here and we can go from there.
Variety curated details on the films garnering attention ahead of this year's AFM.
The American Film Market returns to Los Angeles and sets up at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel from Nov. 11-16.
"Nestled in the heart of the entertainment biz after 2024’s edition in Las Vegas, the AFM hosts buyers, se...
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As producers, we get pitched a lot. But when a film package lands on your desk, it's a script, a deck, maybe a teaser. What actually makes you lean in?
Is it the emotional hook? The cast? How realistic is the budget? Do you scan for genre viability, international sales potential, or festival strategy...
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Laura Notarianni and Sean Patrick Burke - I am curious if your responses align in the same way with Television as with Features. Especially as it relates to bringing it to market - so assuming you hav...
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Darrell Pennington while they are very different with the approach to getting them made, for me personally, it is a similar way for me to want to sign on. I do look at TV very differently than films f...
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Sean Patrick Burke Thank you for that insight, very helpful.
Thank you, Laura Notarianni, your vision resonated deeply with my vision also. I sincerely appreciate how you center emotional clarity and intention before anything else. That lens of “why now?” is su...
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Thank you again, Sean Patrick Burke. TV and Films are different markets, so your vision is very helpful to all of us. Thank you.
If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a film that captures the joy, heart, and magic of the holidays — while also becoming a seasonal favorite that audiences return to year after year — this webinar is for you. Holiday movies are more than just festive stories; they are one of the most reliable and pro...
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sir am looking for investors who I can pitch my movie to
We are thrilled for another fantastic year partnering with the American Film Market. Whether you’re a producer looking to secure financing, a filmmaker hoping to land distribution, or an industry professional seeking to expand your network, this session will give you the insights and strategies you...
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Hey all. Toni D with Shake The Tree. Stop by our suite (416) and say hello. This will be our 3rd year exhibiting and my 12th time attending. Looking so forward to being back in Cali for this market an...
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Just stepping in to say thanks to all who attended and asked such fantastic and insightful questions. Looking forward to seeing many of you at AFM. Cheers!
You're welcome, Richard "RB" Botto. Looking forward to hearing how AFM goes!
Wishing the incredible Stage 32 team a powerful and inspiring AFM 2025. May bring new partnerships, bold ideas, and the kind of serendipity that only happens when passionate people gather with purpose. Go shine my friends :))
Well, I've been directing a film in Big Bear the last 3 weeks so VERY late to reach out to distributors in the thriller category. If you know any responsive ones, let me know. See ya at the conference.
Does a scene like this speak louder when no one says a word?
Sometimes the entire emotional arc of a character lives in the silence.
Period Series — Character-driven.
Love, identity, and the quiet rebellion of the heart.
You're welcome, Yanina Koroleva. I've been thinking about writing a no-dialogue short script.
Don't know, "Sense and Sensibility" and "Room with a View" probably did good job.
Yes — both of those films let emotion live in the silence between the characters.
That’s exactly the kind of tension I’m exploring in this scene as well.
The beauty of filmmaking and having a director with a strong vision at the helm. You put Lynne Ramsey or Nicholas Winding Refn at the helm of this scene at it could be haunting and silent. Personally,...
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Thank you, Sean — exactly.
The right director can let the emotion breathe in silence.
That’s the kind of atmosphere I’m drawn to — where the audience "feels" the connection before anyone speaks.
Producing isn't just budgets, call sheets, and contracts.
It’s culture.
A producer is responsible for:
• Building safe, professional sets
• Clear communication
• Protecting morale
• Making sure everyone goes home whole
• Leading with empathy, not ego
Anyone can call themselves a producer — but not e...
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Sean Patrick Burke thank you, Sean. And thanks for the heads up, that it’s not only the cast who may need a sympathetic ear, but the crew too. And yes, I’ll let you know how this all pans out....
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Pamela Jaye Smith thank you Pamela. Your encouragement, as always, is gratefully received.
Totally agree
When I was shooting a hidden-camera show called Krazie Kenyan, I used to take the cast through screen presence sessions between shoots — techniques I’d studied from some of Hollywood’s greats. But bey...
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How very generous of you, Daniel. Encouraging individuals improves not only their own careers but the entire industry. You're creating Win-Win situations all round.
I have written a screenplay I want to direct. I'm looking for an independent producer to work with, a collaborator, to develop the script and realize this character driven story. This is not an action driven thriller or sci fi/fantasy mega money maker. It is a quieter story about identity, cultural...
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You could search for a producer in Stage 32's Browse Members section, Roz Sohnen. www.stage32.com/people?name=&location=&roles=Producer...
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Upon his return to podcasting with The Producer's Guide, Todd Garner has thrown two heaters with his first two guests - Rebecca Green and Billy Ray. The Ray episode especially is a MUST LISTEN for any producers working right now. One of the best podcast episodes I've ever heard, carefully dissecting...
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Good morning,
I’m currently shaping the visual structure for my pitch deck (historical drama, 1830s American South).
For those with experience in period drama or character-driven storytelling — do you typically organize visuals in narrative sequence or by emotional tone?
I’m exploring both approaches...
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Please see attached , it is amazing
• Fuel your November goals with a free month of the Writer’s Room: Weekly Zooms, exec access, Open Writing Assignments, and script services/education discounts—all designed to keep you learning and connected: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip...
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Congrads!
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Kyle Eidson You'll need to find a valuable reason for someone to give you a discount on services pertaining to a speculative venture. I cannot think of one. You say you secured an option - its not sec...
Expand commentKyle Eidson You'll need to find a valuable reason for someone to give you a discount on services pertaining to a speculative venture. I cannot think of one. You say you secured an option - its not secured until you have it signed, right? I don't do legal work for outside productions, I am just trying to be realistic and you should, too. If you need a proper option agreement and cannot do it yourself, there's a reasonable price to pay for one.
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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg that's what VLA's do, yes? Support broke artists? That's a reason. Hence the V for "volunteer?"
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Kyle Eidson Sure except that when you are asking for legal assistance, it's because you want to have someone who has liability insurance and who has an ethical and legal obligation to do the same work...
Expand commentKyle Eidson Sure except that when you are asking for legal assistance, it's because you want to have someone who has liability insurance and who has an ethical and legal obligation to do the same work for you they would if you were paying ten times their normal work. Otherwise, you would just find a free template on the internet and do it yourself, right? That's not like asking for a volunteer production assistant or help with coordinating a shoot. You have to offer something of value for someone to take on the risk.