Since it's Introduce Yourself weekend, I'm happy to participate! I knew I wanted to write at a young age, capturing short stories about what was going on in my neighborhood. As I aged, life, as it often does, took me in different directions away from writing for twenty-eight years. After that hiatus, I returned to writing in 2017, but rather than be annoyed or frustrated with myself for those years, I was thankful and used my experiences in my writing.
I attended in-person seminars with some top writers before 2020 changed the landscape of live events. I was able to interact with these writers, speak with them, and learn some fundamental facts about writing. I also joined several writer workshops and actively swapped scripts with different writers, learning and educating myself even as I was assisting these writers. This was the beginning of my exposure to networking and forming trusted relationships that I have to this day.
Stage 32 entered my life in 2021. I quickly took advantage of the many tools it had to further my career. The webinars and classes enhanced my knowledge and understanding of writing, but it also fine-tuned the basics of writing, and helped build a strong foundation that I worked off of. Being a Stage 32 member also magnified my networking abilities and opened possibilities for me and my career.
The results...two of my feature scripts, Garden of Eden, and Two, were sold to a studio with ties to European studios such as Castel Film Studios, Final Cut Media, Odesa Film Studio, and B & H Film Distribution Company. Several of my other scripts have placed in contests such as ScreenCraft, New York & Chicago Screenplay Awards, and The Page International Screenwriting Awards. Once a regular attendee honing my pitching skills, I am now the co-host of the Thursday Night Pitch Practice Sessions and a co-host on the Wednesday Pitch Tanks.
I also pay back to the writing community which gave me so much with script consultations and pitch coaching through my own service, The Writer's Buddy. This is vital to me because I believe in the more who succeed, the better it positively affects the industry as a whole entity. Growth, in anything, is inevitable, and should be nurtured and welcomed. The industry is no different. I welcome you all on this introduce yourself weekend. Be seen, be heard, and become more valuable than you thought possible.
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Hey, John Mezes. Great to see you at IYW again! The Writer's Buddy is a fantastic name for a script consultations/pitch coaching company! Do you have a slogan for it?
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Good on you, John! It's great to have connections with writers who've actually "cracked the nut"!
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Hi, John. Thanks for the introduction and background. Congrats on your successes as a writer. I've attended a couple of pitch practices or pitch tanks and really enjoy your perspective and insight. Like you, I spent a significant amount of time in a field other than writing (law). I'm really excited to get "back" into writing and look forward to getting more of your insight on pitching. Is The Writer's Buddy accessible on Stage 32?
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Always a pleasure, Maurice Vaughan! I do have a slogan for the site...merely a typewriter with the name, tasteful and simple.
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Hi, Todd Garrison! Nice meeting you here. Connections are a valuable treasure, and they don't come without bringing value of your own to the relationships. It was a lot of work to get to where I am, and more for where I'd like to be, professionally, but I love what I do, so it doesn't seem like work at all. I hope your projects are heading in the way you want them to.
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Hi, Jon Weisberg! Good to chat with you. Yes, I recognize you from the times you've attended, and I thank you for doing so. I appreciate the kind words, and as long as you are taking value in our notes and feedback to apply them to your work, then we are doing something right. You can DM me for info about The Writer's Buddy. My best always to you!
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You are as special as they come, John, and I'm thrilled you are part of the Stage 32 family. I'm so grateful you returned to writing because it is clearly a huge part of your path!
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Why, thank you, Amanda Toney! Such kind words from someone who gives so much in an effort to help our community. I'm glad you are a HUGE part of Stage 32 and that you are in so many writers' corners. You handle each writer's situation, when they reach out to you, with so much support and patience. I really admire that.
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The man, the legend. I would encourage those not connected to the wonderful, amazing John Mezes to remedy that immediately.
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Thank you, RB! I would second your statement with regards to yourself, because without your insight and desire to create Stage 32, and without your belief in giving creatives a place to grow and educate themselves, we might not be having these post conversations and supporting one another right now. When a dream fuels action, it builds bridges that others can walk across.
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John Mezes is the MAN! Excited to be a part of the practice pitch sessions this week!
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Hi Jason Mirch! Thank you for the kind words, and more importantly, thank you for being our guest on this Thursday's Pitch Practice! We're going to have a lot of fun while we learn from your expertise.
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John is the best!
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Aw, thank you, Laurie Ashbourne! Coming from you, someone who is generous with their time and knowledge, that is deeply appreciated.
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Very cool about your feature scripts John Mezes. Yes, networking is everything. So glad you're in this community to share your journey.
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Thank you, Debbie Elicksen. I'm glad that you are in our community as well, and hopefully reaping the rewards of being in that position.
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John, thanks so DOGGONE much for being here on Stage 32...thanks for everything you're doing!
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Thank you John Mezes for all you do and you have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
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Hi, Jim Boston! I appreciate that. Thank you for being on Stage 32 too, and bringing your support to everyone. Hi, Asmaa Jamil! Thank you for the kind words, and for bringing your own support and experiences to us.
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You're so very welcome!