Introduce Yourself

Hello everyone,

I’m Donna, an ex-pat Canadian living in the Netherlands in the quaint city of Delft.

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Hello everyone,

I’m Donna, an ex-pat Canadian living in the Netherlands in the quaint city of Delft.

I’ve had a love affair with words from the time I learned to read, and have worked as a journalist, educator (English literature, creative writing, journalism, ESL), translator (German and Dutch), and English language copyeditor. But in a move away from poetry and short stories, my non-work-related creative expression over the past two decades has mainly involved writing lyrics.

I don’t play an instrument or sing - although I create melodies - but have been fortunate to collaborate with musicians/composers from as far afield as Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Italy, the US, and the UK. The composers has mostly written their music around the lyrics, an approach that has worked well, with mutual feedback being given during the process. There have even been instances of '15 minutes of fame’, such as the placement of a song in a TV series episode; the licensed use of a song for a concert in Copenhagen; and a couple of wins in annual international song competitions as well as finalist placements, often for stand-alone lyrics.

However, these co-writing occasions have been outweighed by the growing number of lyrics that end up in boxes on a shelf, still longing for a musical home.

Unfortunately, a couple of my best and favourite collaborators are no longer as active, due either to ill health or a desire to spend more time on other creative pursuits.

Since October, I’ve turned to the AI tool ‘Suno’ to bring a few of the languishing lyrics to life with instrumentation and vocals. I enter prompts regarding, among other things, key, tempo, mood, genre, theme, and type of vocals and instruments. Using Audacity, I record a melody and upload it into the program. After a few iterations and additional fine-tuning of the prompts, the resulting song sounds pretty good.

Nevertheless, I prefer to collaborate with humans, and hope to find someone interested in working together occasionally, even if the interest is only in perhaps covering a song or using a particular song for a project. My lyrics are suited to a wide range of genres.

I feel a bit like an interloper, popping up here as a non-musician to a site oriented fully towards the entertainment industry and populated by seasoned and accomplished songwriters. But like many other serious albeit non-professional lyricists, I fan a tiny flame of hope that - before I shuffle off this mortal coil - a lyric or two of mine might land in a song that’s part of an artistic production of some kind, large or small.

Hi everyone!

I've posted here before, but it's been a while

and I haven't found anyone to collaborate with.

So, let's do it again. My name is Den and I'm from Ukraine.

I create props for your script presentations,

film shoots, short films, and so on.

My main focus is horror and fantasy.

Basically, anywhere...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Head of Community at Stage 32 ♦ Creative Executive, Producer, Author

December 2025 Open House Webcast

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House!

Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

Every success story begins with a first step.

If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our December Community Open House Webcast happening Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-december-community-open-house-webcast-with-ashley-smith

Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply tired of creating in isolation, this live event is your chance to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.

This isn’t just an overview — it’s your creative launchpad. You’ll walk away with practical tools, new connections, and a clear path forward, no matter your background or where you are in your career.

You’ll Learn How To:

Navigate Stage 32 like a pro and make the platform work for your goals
Build authentic connections through the Stage 32 Lounges
Access Education, Certification, and Script Services tailored to your next big move
Show up in ways that get you noticed by the right people at the right time
Participate in real-time Q&A and get guidance specific to your path

Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, actor, producer, composer, editor, or wear multiple creative hats — this is where your Stage 32 journey truly begins.

If you can’t attend live, don’t worry — registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere.

Who’s planning to join me live for the Open House?

Click HERE to Register for FREE!

Event starts
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Matthew Wach

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
8 hours ago

Continued.. (Stage 32 cut out half of my original post lol)

I’ve been developing a few different projects recently and I’m excited to start sharing them — not just here on Stage 32, but eventually wit...

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David Taylor

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
1 hour ago

I am DT of the ST on the QT helping you with the ABC with a great big DIFA

Maurice Vaughan

53 minutes ago

Matt-Z. :D I like Matt-E W and M.E.W. better, Matthew Wach.

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Annie Marie Burdeos

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Ramin Ahmadi
8 hours ago

Welcome wishing you all the best

3
3 people like this
7 hours ago

Greetings young man.

Neda Hasan

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Ramin Ahmadi
7 hours ago

hi Ramon. it is nice to meet you. I used to screenwrite on Fiverr before the Pandemic. I had a great time! anyways, now I am an actor. haha

3 hours ago

Hi, Ramin Ahmadi. Great to meet you. Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Scre...

Cydnee Earp

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 hours ago

Hi ! welcome!

12 hours ago

Hi, Steven Janas. Welcome to the community. Congratulations on writing The Long Home, The Tolltaker being a semifinalist, and all your success!

I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know...

Vamsi Tankala

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
11 hours ago

Hi Steven Janas Welcome to amazing community. Best wishes!

Marie Hatten

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
10 hours ago

Hey Steven Janas welcome! I'm a huge fan of Together (starring and produced by Dave Franco ) and written and directed by a fellow aussie Michael Shanks....

Rich Terdoslavich

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
16 hours ago

Thanks, Ron!

Thank you, everyone.

Hi, Maurice! Thanks. Great question. There are so many great directors that I would be psyched to work with. Scorsese, Michael Mann. The filmmakers I worked with recently, I would work with again.

Barbara Young Singer

Hi Rich. I am a writer. Looking for an artist for my comic strip. I’m told it’s very good. My original artist drew the characters per my specs. Interested in meeting in Malibu to discuss? Barbara Sing...

15 hours ago

You're welcome, Rich Terdoslavich. Scorsese and Mann are incredible directors, Did you see the trailer for Spielberg's new movie Disclosure Day?

Sam Rivera

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Temitope Ajijola
19 hours ago

Hi! It's great to meet you Temitope Ajijola! Love that you shared your heist project! Have you had a chance to meet with an exec from Stage 32?

Temitope Ajijola

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
18 hours ago

Thanks @Sam. Yeah I had my first request today through the help of Stage 32 written pitches. Let's see how that goes. I am do glad to meet you as well.

1
1 person likes this
- Temitope Ajijola
17 hours ago

Congratulations on getting the script request, Temitope Ajijola!

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
17 hours ago

Thank you, Maurice Vaughan I appreciate

17 hours ago

You're welcome, Temitope Ajijola. Hope the script request turns into a meeting and more!

23 hours ago

Hi, Priyansh Sinha. Welcome to the community. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know that I moved your post from the Acting Lounge to the Introduce Yourself Lounge since you're intr...

3 days ago

You're welcome, Donna Devine. You might need to email Technical Support about the profile picture issue (support@stage32.com). Have a great sleep!...

Dhamodaran Ddren

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 days ago

Hey Donna, I’m a music composer/producer, would be glad to collaborate with you on a project.

Ville Hilden

Hi Donna, nice to see you here too (in addition to the lyrics forums)!

Ed McDonald

Greetings from Ontario, Donna! Welcome

Edoardo Spano

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Edoardo Spano
24 hours ago

Hi Donna. I'd like to help you with the composing part of your project. If you want you can contact me and explain the genre and the idea you have and we can bring it to life together.

1 day ago

Hi, Karel Curras. Welcome to the community. How are you doing?

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Produ...

Den Rain

2
2 people like this
- John January Noble
- Maurice Vaughan
3 days ago

John January Noble Thanks!)

2
2 people like this
- Jay A Swendris
- Maurice Vaughan
3 days ago

Jay A Swendris Hello! This is a very interesting topic! I can help with them) I'll send you a message to clarify the details of the appearance and other details....

1
1 person likes this
- Ron Reid
3 days ago

I'm glad everything's fine, Den Rain. Stage 32's next Community Open House is Dec 29th (www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-december-community-open-ho...). It's free to attend. You might pic...

John January Noble

@Den Rain your welcome !

Ron Reid

3
3 people like this
2 days ago

This looks amazing!!!

3 weeks ago

Hi, Alex Hastings. Welcome to the community. Congratulations on the success with your short films and finishing your pilot script!

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect...

Fuad Shawn

2
2 people like this
- Alex Hastings
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

best of luck

Rose Dupuis

HI Alex Hastings, I will watch for your productions. I am in the first half of my screen reading training with Hollywood Gate Keeps & Carolyn Carpenter. She is such a great person to train with always happy and radiant, wishing you success in all your endeavors.

Alex Hastings

Good luck to you, too!

David Linski

Sounds exciting! Looking forward to hearing more about your projects!

Introduce Yourself

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House!

Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

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