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

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Tuesday, November 25th 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 November Community Open House Webcast happening Tuesday, November 25th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-house-webcast

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?


Liked by Beridze Kakha and 20 others

Meriem Bouziani
Movie or TV series?

Hello creatives, hope you’re all doing well.

I have a question — when you develop your world this far, how do you decide whether it should be a movie or a limited TV series?

I’d really love to hear from you, as I’m still torn between formats for my own creation.

Meriem Bouziani

My story has a very gradual development of events, which is why it may need more space.

But I’m trying to write it without forcing it to become either a movie or a ser...

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Michael Thorn

For me it was easy - my tv series project, ARIGNI, was just too long with too many characters for a movie feature

Meriem Bouziani

For me, it’s harder to decide since I’m still a new screenwriter....

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Dwayne Williams 2

Meriem Bouziani even fleshing out the villains so players can step into their perspective would be fun. If it helps, I usually finish writing the full franchise as a film first before adapting it into...

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Meriem Bouziani

I’ll try to think more about it once I finish my writing....

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Liked by Thadine Quick and 8 others

Yan Ju Zeng
Pitching technique!

Hello all! In the spirit of collaboration and community outreach, what are your pitching preferences? What do you use to make pitch decks? Do you pitch stories with yourself attached as an actor/actress? How does that experience differ from stories with no talent attached? How do you present the bud...

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Phoenix Black

Hi Yan I use Canva pro. Canva also allows you to ‘animate’ your pitch deck for your website or socials. Re pitching, I’ve always done in person. People want to get a sense of whether they could work w...

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Nancy Wilkinson

I have started to learn to use Canva and create simple movie posters for each script I have that makes a memorable visual. I started doing written pitches and did get a request for my 1975 Husker voll...

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Jack Binder

A pitch deck and a film budget are critical elements to prepare your pitch, know the cost of production, and be able to convey the numbers with confidence. Even a creative pitch deck can contain a budget number, if not a full blown financial presentation.

Cynna Ael

I've been making my pitchdecks using powerpoint. Honestly, I normally have casting ideas in my head while I write the story- so it's easier for me to know how and what to pitch because it's like-- Thi...

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Yafa Alramahi

I'm a university student, so I'll certainly have experience using such tools. I present my ideas using PowerPoint or Canvas, sometimes in addition to designs I might use when I want to improvise. I pr...

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Liked by Jim Boston and one other

Sandra Isabel Correia
November Write Club! Week 3 Goals & Reflections

Hey Screenwriters!

How are you doing with your week 3 for NWC?

For Week 3, my goal is to close Act 2 at the climax with 75 pages total. I’m currently about 20 pages away, and I’m determined to hit that milestone this week.

Preparing for Future Meetings, Pitches & Collaborations

This week’s Stage 32 blog...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Sandra Isabel Correia! Congratulations on being about 20 pages away to reaching your goal!

I wrote and rewrote a one-page script for Week 3. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to use it as a writin...

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Marc Ginsburg

I didn't even know this was going on so this is Day 1 for me. But it's not Day 1, it's Year 8 for CHRYSALIS - THE FAMILY ADVENTURE(S), now into an even more exciting phase that includes a Billie Eilis...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Maurice Vaughan, Thank you, and congratulations on pushing through your Week 3 work! A one-page script that could expand into a feature is such a powerful tool, whether you use it as a writing sample...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Marc Ginsburg, I love the passion and determination you’re bringing into Week 3; it’s contagious! Eight years of commitment to Chrysalis. The Family Adventure(s) is no small journey, and it’s inspirin...

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Liked by John Fife and 10 others

Bend a Knee at the Altar of Honesty — November Write Club: Week 3

Preparation and perseverance are two sides of the same coin. Toss that coin into the air, watch it flip, and the blur between those faces starts to look like one word: “undeniable.”

Being “undeniable on the page” isn’t just about structure and market fit—they matter—but being undeniable starts with r...

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Corey Balbuena

Love this. Also, incredible vocabulary and writing in this post. So well done.

Michael Elliott 2

Maurice: why am I a #2? (spare me the scatalogical references). Who is Michael Elliott 1?

Maurice Vaughan

It's a glitch, Michael Elliott 2. The Tech Team is working on it.

Corey Balbuena

You should keep the 2, it sounds catchy lol

Sandra Isabel Correia

It's my truth, AdamAdam Spencer. Thank you :))

Liked by Mathieu Vayron

Deric Kwizera
UMUZI project

Hello Stage 32 community!

Deric Kwizera
Umuzi project

Hello Stage 32 community!

Liked by Beridze Kakha

Shazz K
Scarlet ink

Hello guys. wanted to post a logline for a feature film over here. would love to get your feedback and see if anyone is interested in reading the script.

logline:

A disgraced forensic accountant with photographic memory must decode a tattooed countdown to a city-wide attack by breaking out the impris...

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Michael Thorn

I stumbled on "tattooed countdown" - trying to visualise what that would be

Liked by Shiva Shekari and 6 others

Ilanna Mandel
Holiday Dramady

Hi All: I have finished ACT ONE of my holiday screenplay and I have until late December to submit. Is anyone keen to read the first 30 pages to see if I'm on the right track? Thanks!

Pink Matzke

I just started writing a holiday screenplay myself, and would love to swap and give each other feedback if you're willing

Philip David Lee

If you're writing in acts, you already have an idea of where you want to go. If your deadline is late December, then it's not for this year so don't wait for other's opinions. Just write it out. With...

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Lenny Levy

I'll read it and let you know what I think. I do a good amount of this and the people whose works I read usually compliment my comments. Let me know if you want me to read it and I'll send my e-mail address where you can send it.

Jay Swendris

Looking for Management or Producing Partner – Original Sci-Fi Series: THE PHOENIX

Hello Stage 32 community!

I’m seeking representation or a producing partner for my original series THE PHOENIX, a

myth...

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Lenny Levy

Ilanna: Send it to lenilevi@comcast.net

Liked by Beridze Kakha and 2 others

Luciano Mello
Logline improvement

This is the logline for a project I'm rewriting. and as a non-native English writer, I'm struggling to make it sound less formal.

'A small-town teen’s dream of becoming a model and escaping poverty turns into a manufactured fantasy controlled by a powerful billionaire, forcing her to confront the pr...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Luciano Mello. I think "turns into a manufactured fantasy controlled by a powerful billionaire" is vague. What's the manufactured fantasy?

Luciano Mello

Thank you and you are right Maurice Vaughan "Manufactured fantasy" is her modeling carrear , I think this may sound better “A shy small-town teen’s modeling dream is taken over by a powerful billionai...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Luciano Mello. I think that's a stronger logline. What's the "it" in "behind it"?

Liked by Arthur Charpentier and one other

Cynna Ael
Preparing for Pitching and more

So, it's NWC and this question made me sit and think. Why? Because I'm AuDHD- autistic and ADHD, and it can present in various ways, but when it comes to pitching and prepping for pitching- it's all about the day before and the day of. Now, my way will not work for many of you- so be warned- unless...

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Cynna Ael

Harney and Sons makes the best choco-mint tea- it's like hot chocolate but tea. Some sugar and cream and YUM! Glad the pitchdeck and lookbook prep idea can help. I think on average it takes me about 8...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Cynna Ael. I make pitch decks with Canva Pro. What do you use?

Cynna Ael

Powerpoint. I find it lets me shape and reshape things easier. I should take the time and learn Canva Pro. I mean if I can master Illustrator and Photoshop, I should be able to do Canva Pro. Right?

Maurice Vaughan

I haven't used Illustrator and Photoshop, Cynna Ael, but I used Powerpoint to make a pitch deck. Canva Pro is easier than Powerpoint in my opinion....

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Adam Spencer

Neurodivergent? Well, well—welcome, fellow traveler!

ElevenReader (or any similar AI reader app) has been a huge help for me. The trifecta of hearing the words, reading them on the screen, and followi...

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Liked by John Fife and 4 others

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
BoFS

I think the website ate my previous post, so I'll try to recreate it lol:

I blew my week 1 NWC goal out of the water and finished BoFS's first draft as of about an hour ago. Started off with the more reasonable goal of 60 pages by the end of the month (so roughly half), then the writing gods decided...

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Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations on blowing your week 1 goal out the water and finishing BoFS's first draft, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh!

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you, Maurice Vaughan! I just sent it in for its table read and will be working on the date and time soon. If it weren’t for the bad sleep I’d even think about how I want to open SiR (or part 5 l...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. Is the table read gonna be recorded?

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Yup Maurice Vaughan, I’ll get the recording and try to learn how to cut the choice parts so you can see it too :D

Liked by Shiva Shekari and one other

Nicholas Kirschner
What should I do next!?!?

just finished my first thorough read through of my 4th installment, in my movie series screenplay,The American Dream (TAD). got to the 100 page mark which is perfect, that gives me 20 pages to fix up flow and further the depth of a few scenes. once I wrap up (TAD4). I have run into quite the pickle....

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Nicholas Kirschner. Welcome to the community. I suggest focusing on rewriting TAD1 and pitching that instead of working on the sequel scripts. You could post your script on your profile. Producers...

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