I spent this week talking to two financiers and two buyers, and the landscape has shifted. The new sweet spot for horror and thrillers is $10-15M…a significant jump from where we were just 18 months ago. Action films are climbing even higher into the $30-50M range. Even companies that built their reputation on sub $5m dramas are now chasing bigger, more theatrical projects.

This is why I'm hearing more and more that projects are too small. That's creating a massive gap in the independent space. While the majors scale up, there's suddenly room for nimble indie filmmakers to own the micro-to-low budget lane that used to be overcrowded.

If you've been looking to make contained thrillers or elevated horror, you're positioned perfectly for the current market. The buyers want theatrical-worthy concepts that can scale: think bigger set pieces, higher stakes, and stories built for the big screen. The money is there. The appetite is real. Now's the time to aim higher. And if you can make your story contained and keep a bigger portion of the budget for talent, even better. With the American Film Market just around the corner, expect a buzzing marketplace where fully-packaged projects with big names steal the spotlight.

Recently In The Stage 32 Writer's Room

Last week in the Writers' Room, members met with Sandy Shenkman, co-producer of NUREMBERG. The project was shelved for ten years, even with Russell Crowe attached. Sandy's takeaway? The script is still the thing that opens doors. NUREMBERG got made because the writing was undeniable. Quality still wins. Even if you have to wait for your moment.

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Andrew Kersey, literary manager at Kersey Management. Andrew will hear pitches from Writers’ Room members and share insights from his decades-long career in the industry.

If you would like to join the Writers’ Room, access weekly events, submit to dozens of open writing assignments, and attend exclusive pitch tanks with industry executives- click HERE for a free trial!

This Week’s Exciting Announcements!

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight a WGA screenwriter and Stage 32 member who just recently signed with Zero Gravity!

Len Uhley - Screenwriter!

Len has written over 260 episodes for numerous animated and live action television series, from Action Adventure (Ben 10, X-Men, Thunderbirds are Go!, Transformers, Young Hercules, Static Shock) to Comedy (Scooby-Doo, Duck Tales, Ozzy & Drix, Stone Age) to Preschool (Stillwater, The Octonauts, Miles from Tomorrowland, Rusty Rivets, Strawberry Shortcake) to Bible Adventure (Friends and Heroes, Superbook, The VeggieTales Show). He wrote two home video features for VeggieTales (a DreamWorks Classics title), as well as three features for Universal Home Entertainment (Land Before Time VII, An American Tail III and IV). Len was the recipient of the 2014 Writer's Guild of America Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award, was nominated for a WGA Writing Award in 2011, and shares five Emmy Award nominations. His first video game title, Final Strike Games' "Rocket Arena," was released by EA Originals in 2020.

November Write Club is LIVE, in partnership with Arc Studios!

Every November, creatives from all over the world come together on Stage 32 for a month of motivation, accountability, and community. It’s our biggest and most feel-good creative challenge of the year! This week, I've authored a blog on what to look for in collaborators. Whether you're a writer looking for a producer, a director seeking a cinematographer, or a producer building a team, here's what you should actually be looking for.

You can read my full blog and join in on the weekly challenges for free prize giveaways by clicking HERE!

Stage 32 CEO RB Botto is heading to the American Film Market to speak on Low Budget, Big Vision: Strategies for Independent Filmmakers – Saturday, November 15th at 5:00 PM.

If you're an indie filmmaker trying to bring your story to life without studio money, this session is built for you. RB will break down practical strategies, creative problem-solving tactics, and the unconventional thinking that separates working filmmakers from dreamers.

Plus, we’re hosting a FREE webcast open to everyone on November 19th at 11am PT featuring renowned producer Ethan Erwin, whose films have grossed over $1.5 billion dollars worldwide. With credits including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Book of Eli, Unknown, The Gunman, The Nice Guys, and the CBS cult hit TV show Moonlight, Ethan brings over fifteen years of experience as both a writer and producer. He’ll break down how projects actually get made in today’s industry—essential insight for any writer looking to understand the path from script to screen. This is a can’t-miss conversation.

Click here to register for FREE now!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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