Screenwriting

From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting

Meet the Stage 32 Success Team! We're here to help you with your craft & career!

Email us at success@stage32.com

For over 12 years Stage 32 has been committed to helping screenwriters at every stage of the process and have helped launched thousands of careers! Our Stage 32 Team is made up of members who actively are working in the entertainment industry! All you have to do is shoot us an email at success@stage32.com and we can help you navigate your career no matter what stage you are at!

Whether you are brand new to writing and trying to hone your craft, to a mid-point where you're starting to get some traction and recognition in contests but wanting to take the next step, or if you are a paid professional in screenwriting, we are here to help you. We talk all day every day with executives in the business and help matchmake creators with film & TV makers and we absolutely love it!

Our Stage 32 team is the best in the industry. Our CEO produced the creator of EUPHORIA Sam Levinson's Sundance winning film and has sold feature film screenplays and an original TV series to a mini major studio which has an Apple Showrunner attached. Our Executive Liaison Nick Phillips is a producer and started his career as a studio executive at SONY and Miramax. He just had BARRON'S COVE come out from Mandalay and REVERSE THE CURSE with David Duchovney. Our Managing Director is a producer who just sold a TV show to USA. I ran development for ImageNation and developed FLIGHT, BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and THE HELP. Our Marketing Coordinator was the production coordinator for all of White Labels' unscripted slate (Savage X Fenty with Rihanna, Can't Cancel Pride for iHeart & Hulu, Masked Singer: Japan, etc.), our Certification Director is a 2-time Emmy nominated producer on NatGeo/Disney's GENIUS, our international certification producer has worked on over 200 international films and is the President of Canacine Quintana Roo in Latin America for all filming in that region. Our Executive Assistant produces Stage 32 education programming for the Cannes Film Festival and FOCUS London. The rest of our team started their careers at places like Circle of Confusion, Buchwald, Pierce Law Group, Marsh Entertainment, Third Hill Entertainment.

Between our collective experience on our team, over 12 years of running Stage 32 and our current partnerships with companies like Netflix, Canon, the Cannes Film Festival, American Film Market and dozens of film commissions around the world we really pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of the business! 


Shoot us an email at success@stage32.com and let us know what you're working on!

Liked by Jim Boston and 4 others

Maurice Vaughan
Super Bowl – Script Idea Exercise

Today’s the Super Bowl, and there’s a lot going on! Fans are making YouTube videos about it, the pre-game show, crew members and workers are setting up things at the stadium, Kendrick Lamar and SZA are getting ready for the halftime show, the team warmups, Super Bowl parties, tailgating, etc.

Take on...

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Wal Friman

What if a super bowl party is intertupted 5min before kickoff by three mafiosos who need to borrow the tv?

Wal Friman

Break into act two: dudes on the couch point at each other. -You ll take it back.

Maurice Vaughan

That'd be messed up, Wal Friman. I picture it as a football version of ANALYZE THIS.

Billy Kwack

Thanks Maurice, we're ordering pizza for the night

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Billy Kwack. I'm gonna eat pizza too. We're all gonna be Ninja Turtles tonight. Haha

Liked by Jamie Sutliff and 4 others

Greg Zawaski
Why pay $$ to pitch when your pitch is easily available through your profile/social media?

These people who want to find new scripts want $$ for the opportunity to pitch them.

Why don't they seek out the diverse content on this platform?

I'm not charging for the opportunity to review my material.

I am reluctant to spend $$.

Andreas Miliaressis

Thank you for the recommendation.

Drongo Bum

You are wasting your money and feeding a predatory machine that feasts on the hopes and dreams of aspiring screenwriters. Paid pitches, paid coverage, paid contests, paid consultants: all selling you...

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Maurice Vaughan

Stage 32 also ha...

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Andreas Miliaressis

Maurice Vaughan you are a legend, thanks for the links.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Andreas Miliaressis.

Liked by Maurice Vaughan and one other

Cecilia Wenzler
Student looking for advice

I am a Junior looking to transfer from The University of Tampa and study abroad. I am majoring in Creative Writing, minoring in Film & Media Arts, and minoring in Marketing. I have a great interest in screenwriting and film in general. I am looking for any advice on where I should look into for scho...

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David C. Velasco

I wish you the best of luck on such an incredible journey.

Dan MaxXx

Get your finances in order. Move to a city/country with a booming tv/movie community and then hustle for a job on a tv show or feature film production. Theres also jobs doing post production. Basically you want to align with ppl who actually make stuff for a living.

Dan MaxXx

Oh, maybe talk to a lawyer about work visa at whatver country you pick. Dont think you can just show up & work without govt papers.

Liked by Jim Boston and one other

Mike Childress
Do You Title Your Pilots?

Well beyond "Pilot" that is... Basically just curious what other Stage32ers do given what I have seen elsewhere on zee Interwebz. I title them and plan on doing so in the future.

Also, why do we number scenes in TV scripts, but for features they are considered verboten except for shooting scripts?

Cheers,

~Mike

Dan MaxXx

No to titling spec episodes and No to scene numbers. Worry about that stuff when someone pays you.

Bill Albert

I title the episodes so I figure the pilot script is getting titled, too.

Mike Childress

Maurice Vaughan Drat. Oh well, the die has been cast... I had looked at a bunch of pilot scripts online and saw scene numbers in them, including in non-shooting ones. Of course now I search re: scene...

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Bill Albert

I numbered the scenes because I always saw it in the scripts that I read. It was finally pointed out to me that I was reading copies of shooting scripts. Luckily I learned before I was opening up and submitting scripts.

Mike Childress

Bill Albert I definitely skimmed through some that were not shooting scripts that had them, but likely those were still, mostly, well-known pilots. For the writing program the only requirement was two...

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Liked by Wayne Jarman and 4 others

Maurice Vaughan
Two People Talking at a Table

Sometimes it's hard to write an interesting scene where two people are just sitting at a table, on a bench, etc. talking, but it doesn't have to be. Here’s some ways to make the scene interesting:

Use a ticking clock – Maybe one character has to tell the other character some really important info, b...

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Maurice Vaughan

Yeah, some table conversation scenes are interesting just by the dialogue, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. And making one of the characters frustrated is a way to make the convo interesting....

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Mike Childress

I feel like these scenes work well in all genres, but sci-fi particularly (biased I am hmmm in Yoda voice). I can think of several offhand where the protagonists are meeting shady sources in taverns o...

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Maurice Vaughan

Yeah, I think table conversation scenes usually work better in certain genres, Mike Childress. Like Sci-Fi, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Comedy, and Crime. I think the location and what's going on aroun...

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Dan MaxXx

"Who wants what from whom? What happens if they don't get it? Why now?" - do this for every scene and your scripts will be filled with drama/conflict, which is basic storytelling. Works for all genres.

Ewan Dunbar

Inglorious Basterds (both the scene before the bar shootout and the one just before the end of the movie) and Heat are the standout examples. Also some good examples of this in Resident Alien as well....

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Liked by Maurice Vaughan and one other

Mike Clarke
Navigating the Jump: Novel-to-Screen Sci-Fi Adaptation Guidance Needed

Hey everyone! I’ve been writing science fiction in prose form (novels and short stories) for a while now, but I’m eager to adapt one of my works, maybe a short story, into a screenplay. I’m excited about the potential for visual storytelling but also recognize that I need to make some shifts in paci...

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Göran Johansson

Try to create a few scenes, or at least one. That will help you to determine what is suitable for the screen. Either you persuade the local group with no-budget filmmakers to film it for you. Or you f...

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Göran Johansson

I forgot. Or ask your local amateaur theatre to show you how a few of your scenes will look on stage.

Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Mike Clarke. I’ve been hired by authors to adapt a few books into feature scripts. Basically, what I did was talk to the authors and go through each book, making notes for what HAD to stay in the...

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Ewan Dunbar

It sounds like you're already approaching it with the right questions in mind. Particularly in reference to condensing and streamlining. When faced with these challenges you can ask yourself "what is...

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Liked by Hudson Forster and 5 others

Thomas Cummins
Screenplay feedback.

best place to get feedback on full scripts?

Jill Godley

Are you looking for peer or professional? Is it a rough draft or are you looking for that Pass, Consider, Recommend? If it is rougher and you need feedback on story then I recommend going with Peer- W...

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Sam Rivera

If you're ever looking for feedback, I highly suggest reaching out to success@stage32.com where they can suggest of Stage 32 best feedback script reads! Personally, I think notes feedback and consulta...

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D Kreate

Thomas,

I saw a post asking how to know if your work is good, or that you are not sure due to familiarity. If you want my feedback, I am seeking clients who need such bc a biz writing client flaked on most of pay.

Drongo Bum

Go here: www.simplyscripts.net

It's completely free of charge — nobody legit will ever ask you for money — and there are all kinds of interesting people actively participating or simply lurking in the...

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Ewan Dunbar

Script services here is a good place to start. You can choose from people actually working in the industry in different fields to find someone that can give feedback relevant to you.

Liked by Jim Boston

Maurice Vaughan
FREE Awards Season Script Giveaway!

Hollywood "Awards Season" is upon us. Stage 32 is giving away scripts to all of this year's Awards nominated movies for you to read and study! The Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs. https://mailchi.mp/stage32/oscarscripts...

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Awards Season 2025: Awards-Nominated Scripts
Awards Season 2025: Awards-Nominated Scripts
Hollywood "Awards Season" is one of the most exciting times of the year! The world's best actors and filmmakers step out in their finest fines to strut the red carpet amid the flashing lights and ador…

Liked by Jim Boston

Maurice Vaughan
Coffee & Content: Are You Ready to Get Sh*t Done This Week?

Stage 32’s founder and CEO, Richard “RB” Botto, shares two videos in today’s blog.

In the first video, The Take explores how seemingly small roles in The Substance, Mean Girls, The Avengers, Twin Peaks, Stranger Things, and more have played pivotal roles in shaping narratives, shifting perspectives,...

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Liked by Nick Eff and 8 others

Greg Zawaski
I bit the bullet and paid for 2 written pitches. How long does it take for them to be reviewed?

I paid for two $35 written pitches. They will be reviewed today. I assume that if the producer really likes what they see, they'll get back to you ASAP, right?

I was hoping for a video pitch but had issues installing Skype. I'm not in the US so a phone call wasn't an option.

I still included a link...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

I've only submitted one written pitch and I got feedback maybe a couple days after. I've also so far done one Skype pitch session and both gave me very good feedback on how to pitch (feedback for that...

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Mike Childress

Nothing to do with my expectations, or yours. Has to do with the language Stage 32 uses to advertise pitching sessions and a mountain of historical, empirical data available to anyone who chooses to t...

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Cameron Tendaji

Real studio/network pitches aren’t 5-8mins. They’re at least 15-20mins. So yeah. Do with that what you will.

John Stone

in my opinion if a producer likes your screenplay they will find you. paying for a pitch or to get your work read is an absolute no no for me personally. I don’t want to disparage anyone but why should you pay to be read ? I’d rather give up writing altogether. Just saying.

GJ Harvey

If you feel your script and pitch is market ready, then enter it into the top tier competitions, go for an 8 on the Blacklist, or cold query managers and prodcos.

Liked by Maurice Vaughan and one other

Thomas Cummins
Anyone looking to swap scripts?

would anyone like to swap scripts? feedback for feedback?

Michelle Dionne Wardlaw
How Do You Feel About Act Breaks in your scripts?

Is it necessary to include page breaks? Just curious about the consensus. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Richard "RB" Botto

At 62, I don't think you're risking that reaction, Michelle Dionne Wardlaw. Now, if you want to challenge yourself to get to 60 and below, have at it. But I wouldn't kill yourself if you're happy wher...

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Richard "RB" Botto

Extremely well said and absolutely on point, Staton Rabin. As long as the reader understands and, of course, you can speak to the breaks, total shifts, reversals, etc, you're good to go....

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Richard "RB" Botto

Most welcome, Staton Rabin. Fantastic contribution.

Staton Rabin

:-)

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