Heidi Schussman's Lounge Discussions

Heidi Schussman, this is such a fantastic testament to the power of table reads—not just for refining a script, but also for building connections and opening doors to unexpected opportunities. It’s so encouraging to hear how your initiative led to a paid treatment gig, even if you weren’t ultimately chosen. That kind of experience is invaluable!

I completely agree that hearing professionals bring your work to life is an eye-opening experience. It highlights pacing, dialogue flow, and character dynamics in a way that simply reading a script in your head never could. And beyond that, it’s an incredible way to expand your network in an organic and collaborative way.

I did want to clarify that it’s against Stage 32’s policy for the same exact post to be copied and pasted in multiple lounges, as a measure for us to stay on top of spam posts. However, if you ever want to share something like a table read invitation in different lounges, you just need to adjust the text of the post to be different and intentional for each space where you’re sharing it. That way, the post remains engaging and relevant to each specific audience.

I love that you still managed to bring together such a diverse and talented group.

Ashley, I appreciate encouragement!

This is awesome Heidi Schussman! What a great idea to put together a table read online. I love this!

Leonardo, you've got to give it a try. It's super helpful. Just be careful about all the various time-zones! :D

I think I will Heidi Schussman ! It really does sound like it is helpful and a lot of fun!

Yes! Congratulations on the read requests, Laurie Woodward!

That's so incredibly awesome!

That’s amazing Laurie Woodward! Congratulations on your requests! I love the colors of your photo! Celebrate each victory!

Good for you!!! I hope you land a deal!!!

Congratulations, Kevin J. Howard!

Wow, quarter finalist! That's impressive.

Hi, Heidi Schussman. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your posts from the Acting Lounge and Producing Lounge to the Your Stage Lounge. The Acting Lounge and Producing Lounge aren't places to find actors for table reads and invite producers/directors to table reads.

You could make a post for actors on the Job Board (www.stage32.com/find-jobs).

You could also search for actors, producers, and directors in the Browse Members section (www.stage32.com/people).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Okay, I did it here last time and thought it was okay. Sorry.

I used Chatgtp for this and other stories. I also made a casting wishlist with Chatgtp but that wasn't to good. Also a financial forecast for a movie in development. I did a logo with Goggle's gemini. I like AI but think it should be free and in the public domain.

At first, this post read like the beginnning of a film noir about a filmmaker and I wasn't sure where it was going - I felt terrible for the unpaid asistants. But even a story about not telling a story can be a great story. And that's my answer. It's always about story telling and always will be. Nobody invited me to the world of filmmaking - it was a choice - and nobody will uninvite me because my choice is made. And supporting other filmmakers and this community gives me such joy and hope so there can be no stopping. The show must go on!

Happy that you are finally at peace, my man. Because life is too short to be waging war from within your own soul. To answer you tag question, unlike yourself, I am not a titan who left after decades, I am someone who has had some success early on and do (I think) have much to still say but finding it so very frustrating to not feel I am spinning my creative wheels in the muck trying to get known and find funding...so right now it's more of a fear that I'll watch waves crash knowing I failed rather than going out on my own terms as you did. Though, I bet, and I'm just guessing here, you do have more to say cinematically, and we may all be less served not seeing it.

Very thought provoking, Willem Elzenga . I'm reminded of an interview with Orson Welles later in his life where he mentioned his regret of being in love with movies, which was the passion he had which drove his career. He said that if he hadn't had such a passion for it, he would have given up instead of struggling so much. Even with his career, he was always fighting the studios and other gatekeepers. I think it's perfectly fine to step away for a while, and even permanently if this no longer is a passion. We all change over the years and maybe I'll end up doing something else later on, but right now I'm right where I want to be and can't think of anything else I want to do.

I think that if you feel peace in your soul and can calmly sit and watch the waves crash against the rocks without worrying about anything, then you have fulfilled your mission—or at least one of them.

Nothing will ever work out if done by force. Over the past 30 years, you have accomplished quite a lot, and not everyone can boast such experience and contribution to the film industry. You have earned the right to simply sit and watch the waves, free from any worries.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow you will find another passion, and the waves and the sound of the wind will once again fade into the background. :)

Honestly, I wish for myself and many others to follow a similar path and, just like you, sit by the shore with peace in our hearts.

I would love to join. How do I do this?

Aaron, add me to your network and message me!

Great seeing you at it in 2025 Heidi Schussman!

Eon, I can't help it... I'm addicted to storytelling! :)

What inspiration and spirit! 2025 and beyond!

Sure, I'll read one and I have five for you to choose from

Table Reads are so much fun!

Wishing you every success, Heidi.

Wayne, I agree. It's an opportunity for us to stretch our wings and have a little fun. You're welcome to join us.

I am new but I would be interested

New is good, Meghann :) I shot you a pm.

I definitely didn't know that one!

This is my first time hearing of Oomf, Mark Deuce. I like to stay up to date on slang for scripts. Thanks for sharing.

"One Of My Followers" -- interesting

I love this Francisco Castro and congratulations!! Love tha poster bro!!

Francisco Castro Please keep us updated.

Oh my gosh, the movie "Surfer, Dude" from the poster you're using is an incredible "bad movie" watch. No disrespect to anyone who made it because it's really funny if you're in the right headspace

I'm fully aware of SURFER, DUDE, Pat Alexander.

So fun, Pat Alexander . Congratulations!

I think you will love it Heidi Schussman and Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, Mark Deuce. What project are you working on this week?

Mark Deuce, you're welcome, took a look at the website, looks great! Will message after sorting out some matters. Best!

I am digging inot Maid Man Maurice Vaughan

Cool Beans!! Eon C. Rambally please link your new account when ya get it up and running, would love to check it out. Cheers!

Travis, which books that "you can't afford" do you think would be good?

Eric, good luck with the Maltese Falcon! Michener wrote 40 or 50 books.

I envision actors sometimes, Heidi Schussman. It helps me write scenes.

Heidi Schussman Just to name a few, in no particular order...

The Museum of Intangible Things

Anthem (this is Public domain in the USA but not in other places)

the card game Ascension (they allowed me to come up with a pitch but would not option the rights to me)

The Girl In Red

The Illuminae Files

the video game Psi-Ops

the movie series The Butterfly Effect (I think it'd make a killer TV series and I have a pitch for it)

plus a ton of comic books

Louis Sachar's "The Boy Who Lost His Face" would make a great film adaptation

Thanks, Chris, but I have emailed them numerous times to Hal, Cheryl and their support email. No answer from any of them.

It's grade D with the BBB:

https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/santa-clarita/profile/online-education/screenw...

Wow, this post is getting to the bottom of it....Keep us posted about how this turns out for you....

Hi Randall. Cheryl is usually the person that handles the billing issues. Did you also try the customer support ticket system?

I have seen Con artist to. They are the reason it is so hard to trust people.

Here's the SPS engine with a small crowd of astronauts checking it out.

Claude, it's a great story for sure, but it has the complexity of Boyce's entire life... kind of like Forrest Gump, or more recently A Million Miles Away. It will be a major undertaking for me.

Well, Claude, I'm certainly not looking for backing. I promise all of you directors, producers, and financers that I will NOT ask you to make this into a film. I just want an opinion. Does this have potential?

Dan MaxXx, Do you think it's worth pursuing?

Naturally, I will continue selling the book, but if a movie corporation wants it I should tell them that I hold the movie rights?

Sam Sokolow, I've been thinking about what you said. The thing I learned writing this biography over a four-year period was how incredibly difficult it was to create from scratch an engine that could even function in outer space. At that time it was impossible with what they had. They had to invent the tools to make the invention. The materials used for the nozzle failed over and over again. Clay broke out the high-school chemistry book periodic table of elements to find a rare earth metal that could withstand the temperature of the engine exhaust. He found columbium, but there was no way to cut it to the shape they needed. He found a boat guy in the middle of Massachusetts to cut it. The next problem was the columbium reacted with the air and turned into a brittle glass-like material and shattered on restart.... and so it needed to be coated with something to protect it while it was in Earth's atmosphere. He couldn't find anyplace in the US that could house such a big engine to do all this in a vacuum. They had to make a smaller replica. I almost named the book; 3, 2, 1, Oh Shit! because of all the unplanned explosions. which would make a great montage.

I use Final Draft 12, Julio Torres. It's really easy to use. I have WriterDuet as a backup, but WriterDuet is Internet-based, so if there's something wrong with my Internet or browser, it goes slow or doesn't work properly.

I used Final Draft for quite a while, and I like some of it's features, but switched to Fade In.

I use FD 9. If I didn’t have a Windows laptop, I’d be tempted by John August’s Highland software.

I find final draft dead easy to use after trying others that were free or cheaper & since version 11 images can be added.

So do I, Debbie Croysdale.

Welcome Al! Nice to meet you. Glad you're here.

Al, if you mean turn your book into an actual novel, then I say go for it. It makes for a fast-paced novel and writing a book is a good way to hone your writing skills, but be warned--it's difficult to switch to past tense :) IF that's what you're doing then be sure to self publish for free on Smashwords. It's free and they distribute to all e-reader companies like Apple and Barns &Noble. If you do Amazon you'll have two choices of distribution. Choose the one with less royalties, otherwise you will be contractually stuck with only Amazon.

Otherwise, it's just for fun. Maybe you could peddle it to your social media as "Screenplay book," but as Craig said, It's unlikely anyone in the industry will read it.

Hi Al, the comments here are all in the same vein, and correct. Publishing a screenplay in the script format is not something that's done in the industry as there's really no use for it. No person or company accepts unsolicited material. It's much easier to get people who do want to read your script an electronic copy. So make sure you are using the proper screenplay format and software.

I suggest you reach out to our team at success@stage32.com. Let us know what you're working on and what your goals are. We can help guide you to some next steps and recommend some executives to meet with who can guide you on your work. Check out our Script Services: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices

Thank you all for the lovely comments and advice, I will take it into account. very much appreciated!

It is difficult to sell indie books, let alone Screenplays, Al. Is there any market for such?Where would you sell them? I don't know anyone that reads screenplays in book form.

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