Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week, I want to share a fascinating video essay from Frame Voyager: The 80s Film That Took Research Too Far.

In 1983, WarGames hit theaters. On the surface, it was a teenage hacker thriller starring Matthew Broderick. But beneath the popcorn thrills was a story so grounded in real research that it rattled the President of the United States. The film’s production design was so convincing that it outshined NORAD’s actual war room. And the story, about a teenage hacker accidentally nearly triggering nuclear war, felt chillingly possible at the height of the Cold War. President Ronald Reagan watched it at Camp David and was so unnerved that he asked his national security team a simple question: “Could something like this really happen?”

The answer: yes. Within weeks, the government was reevaluating its cybersecurity and passing directives that would define U.S. cyber law for decades. All because of a movie. This is the power of story. When research, craft, and cultural moment align, the impact can ripple far beyond the box office.

During my last Happy Hour Q&A in the Writer’s Room, a member asked me a great question: “How do I know that the market is right for my script?”

You have to listen to what the market is saying, but you can’t be afraid when the market isn’t saying anything. Writers often make the mistake of either chasing the market or shelving an idea because it doesn’t feel “hot.” Both approaches are dangerous. The market plays months, sometimes years, ahead, just like the stock market. If you try to chase it, you’re already too late. Think about rom-coms: after a few bombs, everyone swore the genre was dead. Then one hit, and suddenly studios couldn’t get enough. Now, rom-coms are back on every platform.

The same thing happened with crime thrillers and con-artist movies. Everyone told me, “Don’t bother, nobody’s buying.” But one executive said, “That’s nonsense. Here’s what’s actually moving right now.” I pushed forward, and guess what? Meetings followed. You just never know.

The real mistake is bringing the wrong script to the wrong place. Don’t pitch a horror movie to a company that only makes action thrillers. Don’t ignore what executives are actually mandating. That’s why on Stage 32, we push our executives to get specific, so you know what they truly want and not just a vague “send me everything.”

At the end of the day, your job isn’t only to master the craft. That’s the baseline. Your real job is to understand the business. To know who’s buying what, where, and why. That’s what separates a writer who has scripts sitting on a hard drive from a writer who gets meetings.

As writers, filmmakers, and creatives, we don’t control the market any more than the filmmakers behind War Games controlled Cold War politics. But we do control how well we understand the world we’re creating for and whether we’re prepared when the moment comes.

What do you think? Do you pay attention to market trends when you create, or do you write first and worry about the market later? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear how you’re navigating the balance between creativity and business.

And if you need help figuring out where your script fits into the marketplace right now, drop the Stage 32 Success Team an email at Success@Stage32.com.

As always, here at Stage 32, we love to share stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them! You can keep up with all of our content by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

Frame Voyager | The 80s Film That Took Research Too Far

RBWalksIntoABar | Is The Market Ready For Your Script?

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