Lew Riley: Screenwriter in Yorba Linda, California.

Mine would have to be "The Game" 1997

Welcome, Roberta! Maybe you should attend USC or UCLA or one of several other top-tier universities in SoCal.

Only thing missing on Stage32 is pro sports—although creating projects about them is certainly fair game, so to speak.

About four months ago, I started a rom-com, and for some reason I made the fetching ingenue, HANNAH, an MMA expert. No idea why. Probably my hard-working Muse, who also made me make her love-hate protagonist a new employee working for her father. I sent the script out to a few powers-that-be, and a couple really liked my writing--but not the idea of a femme lead that is proficient in combat sports, and HANNAH's skill does figure into the plot but doesn't dominate it. Cut to last night: I'm listening to a CBS Sports radio interview with Ronda, and she says she absolutely will not fight a man (as many are screaming for) because she does not like the idea of a man hitting a woman (if in fact any guy could) for any reason. Moreover, she says because there are no legit contenders out there, she may well focus on acting, her second love. Bottom Line: I have several published and produced comic plays, and I believe my screenplay--titled "Pants On Fire!"--is ideal for Ms. Rousey. But how best to get it to her, guys and gals? Virtual Pitchfest, possibly, but Ronda is the talk of the town--make it the nation--and I don't want to waste time guessing who on VP is Ronda-worthy. I remember back when Variety and Hollywood Reporter were THE top "blogs" in SoCal, and I thought perhaps I could place a small ad in one of them. But I don't know if doing so would be cost-effective 'cause I don't know if these organs still have any influence. Any suggestions from you clever folks on how best to get my script into Ronda's hands? And, by the way, do you know the only state whose letters can be typed on one line of a keyboard? (That brutal question was actual a Final Jeopardy question--and some budding Stephen Hawking answered it!)

It was me. I was a substitute teacher, and made it my mission to complete all the work the regular teacher set for me by the end of the day. I was editing a student's writing and I was in ruthless editing mode. Red ink was flowing. Insert that full stop, make that verb agree with that noun, fix that spelling. But as red filled the page, it also filled the face of the kids standing next to me. It was his work and he stood there silently, holding in his growing humiliation and rage. I realised what I was doing and closed the book. Here was a 10 year old kid and a piece of writing he had lovingly put half an hour into creating, and I told him it was worth nothing. I sent him outside for a drink of water before his head exploded like a volcano. That event sobered me. How often, when reading someone's script I've focussed on the inconsequential stuff. Format, grammar, spelling, logic issues, even structure. These things matter, but doesn't creativity, an interesting idea or a unique voice matter even more? Can't those smaller things be worked on later? Or what do they even matter if it an underdeveloped creative idea lies dormant under overdeveloped average-ified writing? From now on, that's what I'm looking for when I review a script. Creativity. And that's what I'll be working on in my own script. What makes my script interesting, weird, unique, different.

Hello Actor & Actress friends, I want to thank you for the connect, my name is Gaius Lee DuPree, a baby actor. (this is their parents representing him as we are typing this) Gaius Lee appeared in three films, and he is going to do few more soon within few weeks. I do appreciate your support by accepting my Stage 32 friendship as your future colleague, acting community member, friend and acting family. I do have a small request, a small favor. :) Will you please like my Facebook page? www.facebook.com/actorgaiuslee www.imdb.me/gaiuslee It will be very appreciative from us and thank you. Please feel free to leave your links for me to visit or like. We will be very glad to do so. And… If you know or need a baby actor, I would love to be part of your film project and I will do great. Contact us if you are interested. Thank you so much, Gaius Lee and his family.

So I'm at the ending of my second screenplay. It's a thriller so it already has a bit of a surprise ending that is uncovered through the whole movie.... so it's a surprise and that makes sense. Then suddenly, I get this "brilliant" idea that would add a big twist at the end... it'd be a shock! In the recesses of my mind, I hear someone's advise that surprise is better than shock. Surprise makes sense and feels right, whereas shock apparently seems like a cheap trick. I'm wondering what others think... does shock have value in a screenplay? Should we stick to surprise and leave shock alone? Is shock and surprise together too much? Love to hear what you guys think! Thanks!

You remember the day you fell in love? Watch this most extra ordinary story and you might :) http://youtu.be/aTLySbGoMX0

I guess you could mean three "bothers," but pretty sure you mean "brothers"--especially based on the text that follows.

Hey, Ritesh, sounds intriguing--even has 2 Likes, which is unusual. I must tell you, the English writing instructor that I am, that you misspelled the most misspelled word on the planet these days--unless the gaffe is intentional. "Millennium" and "millennial" both have two l's and two n's--and you can win bets at parties by challenging folks to spell either or both. Some 99.9% will leave out the second "n"" and often further butcher the spelling.

Okay, there's supposedly no harm in asking a dumb question, Kathryn, so I'll test the adage: What, exactly, are Happy Writers pitch sessions/Screenwriting Contest? And kudos for making the finals.

Bless you for adding me to you network

HELP!!! We have till the 13th to come up with a title for our arthouse film so we can start our Kickstarter campaign in time to get the film set off to Cannes! I A splash of absurdism and a pinch of surrealism: the sexy, awkward and desperate lifetime of an unsuccessful, narcissistic singer captured in the dreamlike narrative of a science fiction universe. We need title suggestions that you're happy for us to use. We will credit you with the title in the film, of course. If you want, one of the characters can even say your name and thank you on film. It doesn't have to fit the description above. Alternatively, if you would vote for one of the titles we've already come up with? We don't care if it's relevant but what has popular appeal. We want people to want to watch this. THE PLANET OR THE CHOCOLATE BAR/ ATTACK OF BORIS THE DOG/ THE EMOTIONAL STRING/ BETTER WORSE OR NOTHING Please let me know! My director/screenwriter partner is pulling his hair out trying to choose a title. For his scalp's sake, please help! Molly

Hi, Justin, I live just south of you in Orange County (don't hold that against me!). I've just completed a full-length comedy--"Rockzilla!"--which involves a girl who can sing like Taylor Swift but who is crippled by stage fright. I'd be glad to send you the logline and synopsis. Thanks for your time, and good luck in your quest.

Hi Natalie. I'm RB, co-founder and CEO of Stage 32. As an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work and attracting attention to their projects. That's why we created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 150,000+ members strong spanning 180+ countries making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth. This is a network for you, built by you. Like most things in life, the more you participate, the greater the rewards. We ask all new members pay it forward and invite at least 5 fellow creatives and to spread the word of Stage 32 through other social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can also invite fellow creatives through the site by using the "Send Stage 32 Invites..." button on the upper right side of your profile. The more creatives, the stronger the network. The stronger the network, the more opportunities. Thanks for joining the movement and for being a part of this most talented and inspiring community. PS - Please take a moment to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @Stage32online.

Hi, Carrie, I thought the only feature of San Dimas was the waterpark; now I know different. I'm also a screenwriter (and playwright) down a couple of freeways in Orange County. Good luck on your change of professions. Maybe you can write a romance about handbags! I just finished a loopy romantic short, which is posted under my picture; it could easily morph into a feature--if only I wasn't working on several other projects.

Cool idea! Looks like you're covering all the angles....

Hi, Ellie, I may have already requested your "friendship," and you turned me down ;(. Anyway, I'm a screenwriter who lives in Yorba Linda, and your name was again suggested to me by Stage 32. Hard to tell how old you are, but I just finished "Rockzilla!"--a (mostly) comedy about a 17-year-old who can sing like Adele but is crippled by stage fright. Might be right in your wheelhouse.... Also, I'm friends with perhaps the most-prolific voice actor in the country, Chris Fries (check out his web site) as I coach his daughter in basketball...

Hey, Melissa, Interesting "logline" about Horace and his affinity for bugs! My name is Lew Riley, and I’m a Southern California playwright with several notable successes under my belt, including “Game Show" (Dramatic Publishing Company); "Married Not Buried" (Heartland Plays, Inc.) and "Where Was The Sexual Revolution When I Needed It?" (Players Press). But I like to eat, so I also write screenplays, including shorts. And one of my shorts is "Liar! Liar!"--a comedy with a budding romance--and not only do you look a lot like the ingenue, Hannah, but I see you're an actor, screenwriter, AND producer. You can see the logline and synopsis in my "slot" on Stage 32. I'd be happy to send you the script if you're interested in pulling a Joseph-Gordon Leavitt and perhaps producing, directing and starring in "Liar! Liar"--just as he did with "DonJon." If it's playing in Canada, I'd highly recommend this movie if you haven't already seen it. It's outstanding; reminds me of a new "Saturday Night Fever." Thanks for your time. And go Oilers! Lew Riley