I had lunch with a producer on Friday who's worked on major sci-fi franchises for studios like WB and Netflix. Their big takeaway? Whoever has the audience has the leverage.

Theaters used to have it. Netflix has it now. But YouTube? YouTube has more leverage than anyone.

Here's the shift: it's not enough to own content anymore. You have to own the distribution or the channel. More and more production companies are financing, producing, and distributing their own content to reach audiences directly where they live and consume media.

That's why proof of concepts matter more than ever, especially now. We're seeing a resurgence in the independent film market. While the studio system contracts, companies like A24, NEON, and Row K are aggressively investing in independent movies. They're betting on filmmaker-driven stories with built-in audiences, and they want to see that writers and filmmakers can execute their vision before they write the check.

Recently In The Stage 32 Writer's Room

Last week, we hosted a pitch session with Jorge Garcia Castro, co-founder of Altered LA. He heard pitches from four writers and offered some of the clearest market advice I've heard in a while: find your niche and find the execs that are the right match. It's not about pitching everyone. It's about pitching the right people who are already looking for what you're making. That targeted approach, combined with proof you can execute, is what's opening doors right now.

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 Stage 32 Member who is both a writer and a working motion graphics designer!

Tom Firestone - Screenwriter!

Tom Firestone graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, earning a BFA in Film. He is currently an IATSE motion graphics designer with a passion for storytelling. Tom has worked for such companies as Lucasfilm Ltd., Netflix, FX, A&E Networks and NBC.

In 2002, Tom and his writing partner, Martin Meunier, sold the pitch “Antonius” to Walt Disney Feature Animation and developed the project with executives for one year.

As a motion designer, Tom has contributed digital content and animation for “The Blacklist” (100+ episodes), “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Person of Interest,” the Ridley Scott-produced Netflix heist series, “Kaleidoscope” and most recently, season 12 of “American Horror Story” and season 2 of “Tokyo Vice.”

Why Now Is the Time for Writers to Take Control of Their Careers (And Who Can Help You Do It)

If you’re a writer, director, talent, cinematographer, and/or a creative who wants to tell your own stories, now is the time to research distribution channels and emerging technologies that can empower you to do exactly that.

You can still sell your projects to studios and buyers and let a producer “take it from here.” That path isn’t going anywhere. But you also have the possibility—maybe for the first time in Hollywood history—to create your own niche.

No one is expecting you to become an entrepreneur overnight. But here’s where it gets interesting for everyone: producers are exploring new territories. New tax incentives abroad and domestically. New technologies (not just AI) to make productions more affordable. More than a dozen physical producers have told me the same thing in recent months: the cost of production is going down. Budgets are shrinking. Writers need to adapt to this new reality.

Selling a Script Is Just the Beginning.

This is exactly why writers need champions—people who believe in their work and provide career guidance. Selling a script is just the beginning. What comes next? How do you position yourself? How do you build leverage in a market that’s more fragmented than ever?

In this context, I’m recommending anyone who’s feeling lost, who needs guidance on how to navigate the market or where to take their project, to book a career development call with one of our executives.

I’ve personally been supported by great mentors throughout my career, and I can’t recommend enough the power of having someone help you navigate the industry with clarity, strategy, and insider knowledge.

Here are three executives currently offering Career Development Calls on Stage 32:

Austin Sokol – Producer, Tooth Hurty Media

Austin has spent over a decade working with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Seth MacFarlane, and CAA. He’s a Producer at Tooth Hurty Media, where he develops film and TV projects that all share one requirement: they have to make you laugh.

His current slate includes a scripted comedy series at FOX (announced in Deadline), a TV series at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin, projects with George Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures, a documentary with A24, and series with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Studios, Snap Inc., and more. He’s worked alongside comedians like Jordan Klepper and Chris Smith, and previously ran Sacha Baron Cohen’s Four by Two Films during the release of BORAT 2 and WHO IS AMERICA?
Austin also created and hosts a bi-weekly speaker series at Yale called the Very Distinguished Speaker Series.

What he’s looking for: All genres of feature film and TV scripts.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH AUSTIN!

Eric Fineman – Creative Producer & Development Executive (new!)

Eric is a creative producer and development executive with over a decade of experience across film, television, and animation—from studio blockbusters to original IP. His credits include award-winning and franchise-defining projects like SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, VENOM, PIXELS, and GOOSEBUMPS.

Currently, he’s producing a feature adaptation of the best-selling novel THE WEDDING PEOPLE for TriStar Pictures, as well as a slate of projects with Netflix, Fox, Hulu, Sony, and more. He’s served as Head of Development for filmmakers Speck & Gordon (BLADES OF GLORY, HIT MONKEY), Senior Vice President at Pascal Pictures (PROJECT HAIL MARY, LITTLE WOMEN), and Vice President of Production at Columbia Pictures.
Eric is passionate about discovering unique voices, shaping great stories, and helping writers break through.

What he’s looking for: Writers who create layered, unforgettable characters and take risks with their storytelling—whether it’s a bold new world or a fresh twist on familiar mythology. All genres of feature film and TV scripts.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH ERIC!

Sean M. Butler – President & Co-Founder, Cultivate Entertainment Partners, Sr. Literary Manager at Citizen Skull

Sean is the President and Co-Founder of Cultivate Entertainment Partners and Stoked Sports, where he develops and manages a diverse slate of talent and projects across film, television, audio, and sports. Known for championing underrepresented voices and hybrid talent, he bridges the gap between entertainment and culture with a global lens. He also serves as a Senior Literary and Talent Manager/Producer at Citizenskull, where he represents upper-level showrunners and writers.
His upcoming projects include KILLER BEE with Dewanda Wise, the Lawrence Taylor biopic, ROCKY TOP COLLEGE with Megan Good, and HARRIET TUBMAN DEMON SLAYER. He co-created and executive-produced Showtime’s hit basketball docuseries ALL THE SMOKE and the acclaimed Audible Original MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy. His scripted TV credits include Dead Places (AMC+), SNAP (AMC ALLBLK), and Nowhere Man (Amazon Prime).

Earlier in his career, Sean worked at Scott Rudin Productions, The Weinstein Company, and agencies including ICM Partners, Innovative Artists, and Paradigm, collaborating with elite filmmakers like Boaz Yakin, Sofia Coppola, and Thomas Vinterberg. He has sold content to nearly every major buyer, including HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, AMC, Sony Pictures Television, Lionsgate, and more.

What he’s looking for: Unique voices and market-ready stories. All genres of feature film and TV scripts, currently reading Drama, Comedy, Horror, Thriller, Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, True Story, Biopic, Holiday, Unscripted, and Reality.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH SEAN!

The Bottom Line

The industry is changing fast. Distribution is democratizing. New technologies are making production more accessible than ever. But none of that matters if you don’t know how to position yourself, package your work, or navigate the market strategically. That’s where mentorship comes in. That’s where having someone in your corner, someone who’s done it before, makes all the difference. If you’re ready to take control of your career, book a career development call. These executives are here to help you figure out your next move.

And if you want more recommendations, our team is here to help. You can contact me and the team at success@stage32.com anytime.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at success@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .