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 Darrell Pennington and 4 others

Need Advice on Developing a Spiritual Film Idea

Hi everyone,

I have a spiritual/metaphysical feature film idea that means a lot to me. I’m a writer but not a screenwriter, and I’ve written about 20 pages describing the concept.

I’d really appreciate guidance on the best next step:

Any advice would be truly appreciated. Thank you.

Marc Ginsburg

If you want to write for the screen, study the rules and the craft. If you want a collaborating screenwriter, you've come to the right place. Message me privately if you'd like to discuss the concept and pitch your idea with a galvanizing synopsis or at least logline.

Marziyeh Gholampour

Thank you all so much for your helpful guidance — I really appreciate the time you took to respond.

Without going into story details, the project explores the connection between the inner world and the...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Marziyeh Gholampour. I suggest refining the outline. It's easier to write a script if I do the heavy lifting in the outline. If you want to collaborate with a writer, you could make a...

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Mike Boas

Faith based films tend to follow certain formulas. Here’s a webinar I found useful.

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-write-and-direct-your-faith-based-feature-film...

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Philip Sedgwick

Next step is difficult to discern without more information... as in, intuitively pick someone to consult with, execute an NDA, and see what gets recommended with what you have.

Liked by Meriem Bouziani and 9 others

Pat Alexander
Semifinalists Announced: Stage 32 + Zero Gravity Management Action/Thriller Contest

Congratulations to the Semifinalists in this year's Action/Thriller Contest! Let's show our support for the semifinalists, and if you placed, let us know more about your script!

Check out all the semifinalists here:

(https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/5th-Annual-Action-Thrille...)...

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Chris Watt

Great news to wake up to.

My feature film screenplay, MORGAN’S WAKE, is a semifinalist in the Action/Thriller Competition.

Congratulations to all the other semi finalists!

Logline: A retiring hitman is...

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David Appleby

You could have blown me down with a feather when I got the news!

David Appleby

Vicarage Road - "He swapped the SAS for Sunday Service - now his redemption is ravaged by Revelation"

A former SAS soldier turned priest is dragged back into the world he escaped when a high-tech ident...

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Meriem Bouziani

congratulations to all of them.

Dale Janda

MY screenplay, HANCOCK PARK, is a semifinalist.

Congratulations and good luck to all who made the list!

Liked by Bill Albert and 16 others

Justin Groats
I made quarter finalist in a contest

I’m not sure if this means anything, because I was at the very bottom of the quarter finalists mark, and I’m not sure if many other people participated and didn’t even make the quarter finalists-

but, I made it there, still not sure if it means a lot other than it didn’t make it to semi finals

Michael Dzurak

Nice, Justin Groats. It's always a great feeling. Congrats and best going forward!

Dwayne Williams 2

Congratulations Justin Groats! Winning or placing in any competition is a great achievement and worth celebrating!

Jim Boston

DAMN RIGHT it means a lot, Justin! Great job...and here's to more and more success!

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Congratulations! That’s still a major achievement!

Liked by Darrell Pennington and 13 others

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
Breaking your own heart

Lol so BoFS has an absolutely devastating climax that I feel I pulled off well… so much so that I’m still reeling from it. I’ll refrain from spoiling, but it’s one of those cases where I broke my own heart. The only other times this happened was when I was writing my novel Seed’s climax as well as a...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you Juliana Philippi, I think so, too. Lol and I really do wonder about potentially expanding the series into a heptalogy after all… but of course I’ll have to see how SiR at least turns out. Tr...

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Alex Hunter

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh you need to take a deep breath and get your writing out there - you'll enjoy it!

David Taylor

Yes. Three days ago, was the last time, a cry/laugh at the same time. It's a good tool.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thanks Alex Hunter, it’ll be a while until any of it is ready, but I’ll try :)

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

That’s awesome David Taylor, and very true.

Liked by Priya Mistry and 12 others

Phoenix Black
Week #3 - preparing and staying focused

It’s time consuming but I’ve created a master list of companies and managers I’d like to reach, which script/s they’d resonate with and why, notable films, 2 line personalised email hook, contacts - that last part is the grind. If I contact/meet them I add it there to keep on track. Anyone I come ac...

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Priya Mistry

Hey , Phoenix Black . Great job. Sorting out what will work for you will provide more clarity and possibility. Good luck !!!!!!

Elle Bolan

I'm incredibly jealous of how organized this is. I mean that to be complimentary.

I'm about to start this kind of research and would love to know how you use chat gpt to help with your research, what...

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Göran Johansson

I wish you good luck. Last year I went through various lists on the internet, lists with production companies. Most refuse to accept scripts from us who have no agent. Or the companies have no email address on their web site. But I found about 100 to write to.

Phoenix Black

Goran, I'm in exactly the same spot. Can't find contacts to email them. The vast majority won't read queries if not from a manager. The few I do find (IMDb Pro used to be better with contact) I get no reply. But still, we trudge on!

Göran Johansson

Nice that you liked what I wrote, The first list I used was wikipedia's list with production companies in USA. In many cases Wikipedia included links to the individual companies. In other cases wikipe...

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Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 3 others

Alex Gutenberg
Is "branding" yourself by genre actually necessary?

Curious to hear opinions from writers and producers here.

Is it better for an early-career screenwriter to stick to one clear lane (e.g. thriller only) to build a recognizable brand - or is it fine to develop concepts across different genres if the ideas are strong (thriller, animation, comedy)?

Wha...

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Alex Gutenberg

Pat Alexander Maurice Vaughan Thanks a lot for the thoughtful breakdown, honestly one of the clearest explanations I have seen on this topic. Really appreciate you taking the time.

My situation: I am...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Alex Gutenberg. Ok, you're a through-line writer (not sure if that's the official term). I've heard of writers and filmmakers doing that.

I say go with your gut for your animation conce...

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Wyman Brent

I speak as someone who writes scripts, but is primarily a songwriter. I have written more than 450 songs across genres. I follow where the muse takes me. It would be so limiting if I said I was only going to write country or jazz or blues or whatever.

Alex Gutenberg

Thanks, Maurice Vaughan . I really appreciate the clarity and honesty - this kind of straight feedback helps a lot.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Alex Gutenberg. Glad it helps! And it's Stage 32's November Write Club. It can help you reach a goal(s), it's a chance to connect with writers, directors, producers, etc., and you can...

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Maurice Vaughan
How Stage 32 Script Services Make You A Better Writer

In today’s blog, Rosalind Winton talks about how the industry feedback she got through Stage 32 Script Services made her a better writer.

What's one way Stage 32/Stage 32 Script Services made you a better writer? Share it in the comments below/the blog comments.

www.stage32.com/blog/how-stage-32-sc...

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Liked by Jim Boston and 5 others

Juliana Philippi
November Write Club Week 3 Progress: A new screenplay! Christmas Is Early

Ahoy! 

I cannot believe it…it's almost the end of NOVEMBER?! Time is flying, soaring, and vanishing. 

First off, thank you Stage 32 for putting me as a Spotlight Member in the Writer's Room newsletter! As I read on, then I saw my name in this section, I thought…WHAT!!! Thank you so much, I am baffled...

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Juliana Philippi

Elle Bolan Heart emoji : ) Thank you!!!

Maurice Vaughan

Ahoy, Juliana Philippi! Congratulations on being a Spotlight Member, finishing your goal way sooner than expected, and submitting A Texas Carol to its first OWA! I like title and twist on A Christmas...

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Juliana Philippi

Maurice Vaughan Thank you Maurice!

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Juliana Philippi. Hope your script moves forward in the OWA! Have a great weekend!

Meriem Bouziani

That’s awesome, congratulations to you,

and good luck with your pitch sessions.

Liked by Arthur Charpentier and 2 others

Zarya Rowland Bintz
The Witcher

Anyone else notice how bad the writing for the newest season of The Witcher is?

Elle Bolan

I think the newest season suffered for a lot of reasons. Particularly I felt the actor chemistry felt lacking. Which is understandable considering the transition the show made.

Zarya Rowland Bintz

I think the biggest problem is the writing. I'm wondering if it was written during the writer's guild strike by a scab or it's AI. It's truly dreadful, like I didn't even want to finish watching it. T...

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Arthur Charpentier

Hi! I can't say anything about the script. I haven't watched the third season of the series yet. I'll just note that TV series are created for the sake of making money, not for the sake of art.

Shazz K

i just couldn't go past the fact that Henry cavil is not playing the lead. so didn't watch it

Liked by Jim Boston and 8 others

Michael T Gregory
Ripped off by fake “agent”

Anyone else out there ever been ripped off by an online person representing themselves as an agent. I have. The biggest disappointment was I’m so certain my work is worthy, I couldn’t believe she wasn’t real. She was professional, knew the processes, and totally suckered me. 

The biggest disappointme...

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Alexandra Stevens

Michael T Gregory so very sorry to hear this. I can see why it feels even more bitter because your work is worthy of an agent. I can see also then how that could have made you more open to this frauds...

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Michael T Gregory

Thanks for the feedback. Hindsight being 20-20, I would’ve done lots different. Do you notice there aren’t any agents on this platform?! Hmmm

Suzanne Bronson

Hey Michael, this is Suzanne from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Acting to Screenwriting, as it fits much better there. Let me know if you have any questions, and all the best to you!

Billy Kwack

Hi Michael, a few times with financers

Michael Dzurak

Hello Michael T Gregory, a bit of advice that I've heard in shortlisting potential contacts: "There's no humility in showbiz." If they're being shady about their credits, they don't have them. So if y...

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Liked by Marie Hatten and 18 others

Pat Alexander
Stage 32 x Mammoth Pictures Search for New Blood -- who submitted?

Let us know if you submitted and tell us more about your scripts!

Anthony Martinez

a ***widowed***

Jules East

I’ve submitted Painted Face- an American Dad got possessed by a Chinese opera ghost when he purchased a colonial house in San Francisco.

Painted Face is a supernatural horror thriller about the Dubline...

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Lindsay Thompson

I submitted my dark comedy-horror script The Bridges to the Stage 32 + Mammoth Pictures “Search for New Blood” Screenwriting Contest!

Logline: A sarcastic suburban couple must figure out what’s turning...

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Anna Blackblum

Submitted!

I entered the competition with my supernatural horror feature THE SHADOW VERSE, inspired by true events drawn from childhood experiences and generational folklore.

Recent highlights:

• Winn...

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Vanessa Chattman 2

Congratulations Anna!

Liked by Arthur Charpentier and 5 others

Geoffroy Faugerolas
Webcast with Alice Coulthard

We just had a WONDERFUL Q&A with Writers' Room members as we welcomed Alice Coulthard, Head of Development at Superbe Films, to discuss her journey from actress to producer and how to write projects that attract talent. I wanted to share a few key takeaways from the session:

• Every character is the...

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Luke Cheney

How can I find this video? There is no search feature under the Webcasts portal (I do have a Writer's Room membership)

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