Screenwriting

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

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 billionaire who controls her rise, forcing her to confront the predatory industry behind it.”

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

You might even consider a game adaptation Meriem Bouziani if your world has enough missions, environments, and lore; games can handle huge multi-location stories without losing anything. With Earth, Oziross, and the ISS each offering unique challenges, the structure already fits a campaign-style format. A game can carry all the depth plus leave room for a TV/Anime series or film later.

I have a romcom right now that can be either-- and I've written the feature script and looking at writing it as a limited series. But I admit-- for me I normally know offhand if something is deep enough for a limited series-- like my serial killer/psychic ex-FBI agent or if it's just deep enough for a feature itself with possible IP going forward.

That’s a great idea

Thank you very much for suggesting it Dwayne Williams 2

I've actually thought about that before, or even about developing VR simulations based on my different sci-fi worlds.

For The Silent PFC War, players could experience the story through different characters, confront Dreln as the main antagonist, or explore the entire Ozirossian planet and uncover its secrets.

Yes Cynna Ael

I think the more experience we gain in writing, the more we develop an instinct for shaping a story — whether it should become a movie or a TV series.

Thank you very much for sharing your journey.

This is a great question—and one I wrestle with myself. There’s a strong pull toward streaming series these days, so I think the real question to ask is this:

Does your story need the emotional catharsis that comes from a contracted, contained runtime—something that might lose impact if you stretch it out—or is it a story that works just as well (or better) in an episodic form?

Not every story thrives as a series, and not every story reaches its full power as a feature. The trick is figuring out whether yours truly belongs in streaming or as a standalone feature.

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 hours to create one from scratch- including pictures. It's not hard to do, but it's timeconsuming if you don't have major drawing skills- I do not.

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

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?

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.

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 following along as the highlight dances across the text keeps my attention in just the right way—every time.

Maybe you could help me out.

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

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 all the titles you have listed in your credits, you are more likely far more qualified to judge your own work. As a writer, you should know that you write for yourself and hope that you can build a fan base off of your inspired creative thoughts. Just go for it. On other sites for producers looking for screenplays, I only submit the first 10-30 pages for them to judge if they want to read the rest, but the work is finished. I think you're already on the right track, just remember that what you finish with should be something that audiences will want to revisit every year. A one and done viewing of a film is a failure. Make it memorable and make it part of a family tradition and you'll be fine.

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.

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

mythic sci-fi drama that explores humanity’s lost history and the legends written in our DNA.

Materials completed:

Pilot Script

50-Page Show Bible

Full Pitch Deck

Storyboards + Music Direction

Season One Draft (with arcs through Season Four)

The Phoenix is built for HBO-level storytelling — cinematic, character-driven, and deeply

mythological.

If you manage or produce genre content and love stories with scale, mystery, and heart, I’d love

to connect.

Congratulations on blowing your week 1 goal out the water and finishing BoFS's first draft, 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 lol). But as it stands, very excited for the table read and how the actors will view the characters as well as the story developments, and also who’s coming back and who’s new (some actors I really hope will come back since they were perfect for their characters). Also wanna see if anyone will get some of the truly epic multilingual puns I cooked up lol

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

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

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 search profiles for projects. That and networking are how I sold four short scripts to a producer. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and select “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to “Loglines” and click “Add/edit loglines” to the right of “Loglines.” You can also post your script on your profile this way: www.stage32.com/loglines (near the top where it says “Add a Logline”)

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32 is having a free Community Open House on November 25th. It'll also help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry pros. It's a fully interactive event where the community gets to guide the discussion. You can sign up here: www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-ho...

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 get support for your goal and projects. Week 3's blog came out Monday. There's three prizes you could win this week! www.stage32.com/blog/november-write-club-week-3-how-to-make-a-strong-fir...

Congrats Juliana! My granddaughter's name is Juliana, so I know you'll be a success!

Steve Dini Oh Steve, I'm smiling so so much right now! Thank you!

Congratulation Juliana Philippi and all the best !!!

Priya Mistry Thank yo u so much Priya : ) same, same, same to you!

Congratulation Juliana Philippi

By the way, I would make this film truly satirical. And to add a little twist, if I ever do this project, I would probably do two things. First, make the lawyer a dwarf. Second, the main character would actually be the lawyer, while the one who “starts” the story — the person who supposedly dies, but in reality does not — is a very clever older man who’s tired of his nagging wife and his enemies. He decides to get revenge on everyone. He fakes his death, leaves some inheritance to his wife in the will, so she thinks he’s gone, and for his enemies, he leaves debts.

A good idea is to do it through businesses: he bequeaths companies with huge debts to his enemies, almost pushing the owners to the brink of seizure. And his lawyer, the dwarf, wins the case. Then… the older man lives somewhere, for example, on an island, drinking cocktails. At the end of the film, the lawyer comes to him, and they relax together, celebrating the success of their operation.

I think this is a fantastic idea and it could be absolutely hilarious!

From a real legal perspective, I doubt something like this would actually be possible — if transferring debts in a will were allowed, a lot of people would take advantage of it. :D

But if the film manages to creatively bend or reinterpret the legal rules, this could turn into a really entertaining and clever story. :)

As I’m saying, if this were actually possible, the film wouldn’t really work — unless it were a documentary showing how it all happens. But here’s the thing: in reality, this is impossible. Yet if it’s played out in a way that the lawyer manages to make the debts transferable through inheritance, I think it would be very engaging. The audience would be genuinely curious to see how he achieves it and what decision the court will make.

I think this sounds Hilarious!! Damn wouldn't that be great to be able to that?

This sounds like a British comedy I haven't seen yet. And I've seen some weird British comedies.

Hi, Phoenix Black. I got an email about signing up for IMDbPro again. Thanks for the info. I'll try it. I hope you sell your scripts and get the funding and resources to make your films!

Thanks mate! Right back at you!

Maurice Vaughan If you’re part of any member organisations ask if they have discounts to IMDB pro. I got a 30% discount. Often there’s a one month free promo so you can save all your queries and do a blast in one month. Note: it used to be great for finding emails but not any more.

You're welcome, Phoenix Black. Thanks. I'm not part of a member organization, but thanks for the info.

OMD, this insight is incredible, I'm definitely bearing this in mind. thank you Phoenix for this information

Maurice Vaughan Yeah, that’s probably what I’ll have to do. Though, I’m not sure what qualifies as too personal if I borrow from my personal life to write my scripts. It’s a work in progress, like most things.

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 with you or you’re a psychopath and they can’t get that from a one pager. You can put a poster for your script as your background. On the other hand, a bit cheekily, you can add accolades or visuals to a written pitch that you couldn’t do in an in person.

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 volleyball auto-bio docu-drama. I attend a monthly Table-Read and got another script request there. It just takes perseverance and a willingness to talk with people and willingness to keep learning new things about the film industry.

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.

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-- This character has that Paul Mescal vibe, or this one is pure Connie Nielsen, etc. I think when you have those concepts in your head-- it's so much easier to write the characters themselves. Their dialogue then is specific to that person, not generic because you "hear" those actors in those roles- living the life of your characters. As for budget- honestly, I try to keep most of my fantasy style stories beween $15-30mm and my horror is anywhere from $5-28mm depending on the SFX, VFX, and practical magic, but I include how much is needed in my pitchdeck or lookbook.

Thanks, Libby Wright. I'm thinking about writing the script or one like it. Thanks!

Title: Tom Turkey Strikes Again Logline: Many people have the Elf on the Shelf, but you grew up with Tom Turkey, the Friendsgiving Perky. This year is Dina's turn to host and the only person she wants to give Tom Turkey to is Jake, who hates her guts for something that wasn't her fault. But with the joy of friends, families, and the little resin turkey- Dina might just show the true colours of what friendship and love are all about. Gobble gobble.

Cynna Ael sounds like such a great story! What would the genere be?

Probably a holiday Romdramedy. It seems to fit where my writing is lately in my mind. Got to love the drama with the comedy. I see it kinda like The Good Witch in vibes. That feeling of joy, eccentricities, and finding love even when everything says, "No, not now."

Cynna Ael sounds like a movie my daughter and I would love to watch together!

That's great, Warren Foster! Stage 32 has two written pitch examples (one for a show and the other for a movie). Stage 32 also has a verbal TV pitch beat sheet and a verbal feature pitch beat sheet. You can get them by emailing success@stage32.com.

Here's three Lounge posts with pitch advice:

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitch-Advice

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-44

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Why-Pitching-Matters-And-How-to-Mak...

The Pitch Practice in the Writers’ Room is the best pitching resource in my opinion. Pitch Practice is every Thursday night at 5:30 P.M. PST/8:30 P.M. EST. You can sit in and listen to members practice their projects and give them feedback. You can pitch your project too, but you have to sign up. The hosts, Noel Thompson and John Mezes, take names during Pitch Practice for people to pitch the following week. You have to sit in and listen at the practice one or two times before you can pitch.

The Pitch Tank in the Writers’ Room is an incredible pitching resource too. The Pitch Tank is where you pitch your script to an executive and get feedback. The Pitch Tank is once a month.

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Write a 2 Page Pitch for Your Television Series" (www.stage32.com/education/products/free-stage-32-webinar-how-to-write-at...).

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Create a 2 Page Pitch For Your Feature Film" (www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-create-a-2-page-pitch-for-your...).

Stage 32 also has a free pitch webinar: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...

Hey Maurice Vaughan, thank you!

You're welcome, Warren Foster. Hope the meetings, pitches, and collaborations go great! Keep us posted on them.

The best writers steal ;) It's great to read as many top-rated scripts as you can and really soak up what you can from working writers.

Hi Warren Foster Great to meet you! That's a smart and proactive mindset. Consistently engaging with the community and deepening your craft during slow periods is how you build the foundation for success!