As recently announced in Deadline, Mark Wheeler's management company has opened their doors exclusively to our community and we're excited to announce we've partnered with Pathfinder Media- who will develop and package the winning script of our Film & TV Comedy screenwriting contest!

Direct Manager Access

Mark Wheeler is a global entertainment executive and franchise builder with over 15 years of experience across comics, video games, film, and television. As co-founder of Pathfinder Media, he has managed top creative talent. His clients include director Todd Biermann (IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY, MYTHIC QUEST) who is partnering alongside Mark and Stage 32 to discover and package his own remarkable talents with a Stage 32 writer. Wheeler is dedicated to bridging storytelling and technology to shape the next generation of open, creator-driven entertainment ecosystems, and he + Todd will work directly with Stage 32 through the Stage 32 Film & TV Comedy Screenwriting Contest. And they're serious about finding their next great project by personally reviewing all the semi-finalist loglines and all top 10 finalist scripts from our global community of 1.3 million creative professionals.

Think about that for a moment. A manager and the top director on his roster are committed to building new bridges exclusively for Stage 32 writers who are ready to make people laugh across the globe.

Pathfinder's Track Record

This isn't just any manager looking for content. Pathfinder Media's recent track record speaks to their ability to get their client's work, package talent, find financing, and deliver projects that audiences actually watch.

Mark client's have worked on:

• Movies like: America: The Motion Picture (Netflix), Destroy All Neighbors (Shudder), The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony), Waking Life (Fox), etc.
• TV Shows like: Mythic Quest, It's Always Sunny, Archer, Legit, Broad City, Grown-ish, The Mick, Marvel's Hit Monkey, Dice, Alone Together, Blood Drive, Grey's Anatomy, Duster, George & Tammy, High Potential, et al.

Pathfinder Media is a leading management company, and they're not offering empty promises: they're providing access to their proven infrastructure.

A Truly One-Of-A-Kind Opportunity

Director Todd Biermann made a statement that should give every emerging writer hope: "I'm not interested in being a judge who hands out a certificate. I want to find writers with authentic comedic voices and develop projects that I'm genuinely excited to help develop, direct and produce."

This philosophy is revolutionary in an industry increasingly closed to new comedic voices. With our initiative, Stage 32 is giving writers the chance to shoot your shot, and Pathfinder is committed to finding their next break out hit!

Why This Partnership Is Different From Every Other "Opportunity"

Numerous contests, fellowships, and programs promise industry access. Here's what makes this fundamentally different:

• Direct Access Todd Biermann and Mark Wheeler aren't just lending their names. They're personally reviewing submissions and selecting winners. Your logline won't disappear into a sea of readers; it goes directly to decision-makers no matter what.
• Commercial Viability Focus Winners are selected based on both creative merit and commercial viability. This isn't about artistic statements. It's about finding scripts that can actually get made and seen.
• Joint Packaging Commitment Stage 32 and Pathfinder Media will jointly package developed projects for production. This means you're not just getting notes: you're potentially getting a produced film or series.
• Proven Track Record Stage 32's recent successes with Neighborhood Watch (Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and No Address (Billy Baldwin, Patricia Velasquez) demonstrate our ability to connect writers with real production outcomes.

The best part? The contest is now open for submissions. You can submit here.

What "Development and Packaging" Actually Means

We're talking about Pathfinder Media's established development and packaging process. Here's what that looks like:

• Script Development: Professional-level notes and revisions with industry mentorship
• Industry Mentorship: Direct guidance from a manager with active studio relationships
• Packaging Support: Connecting projects with appropriate talent, directors, and financing
• Representation Pipeline: Integration into Pathfinder's active roster

This isn't theoretical development. It's preparation for actual production.

The Stage 32 Advantage: Why They Chose Us

Pathfinder and Todd Biermann didn't randomly select Stage 32 for this partnership. As Biermann noted, "Stage 32 has the infrastructure to surface talent at scale, and Pathfinder has the development muscle to get it ready for buyers. To me this isn't a contest — it's an opportunity to support talent and launch careers."

Our track record of connecting emerging writers with real opportunities, combined with our global reach and curated community, made us the logical partner for this new comedy initiative.

Let's Make Them Laugh

The focus on the comedy stories isn't arbitrary. It reflects current market demands:

• Streaming platforms actively seek original comedy content
• New Comedic Voices are wanted by every studio, sales company, and producer
• Long-term potential makes comedy film franchises and series attractive to financiers

You're positioned perfectly for current market opportunities combining several rare elements:

• Established Manager Access: Direct pipeline to proven filmmakers
• Exclusive Platform: Available only to the Stage 32 community
• Personal Review Process: Your work is seen by actual decision-makers
• Production Commitment: Development aimed at actual filming
• Global Scale: Worldwide talent search through the largest creative community
• Proven Success Model: Based on Pathfinder's track record of discovery

These elements rarely align. When they do, careers are made.

The Path Forward: What This Means for Your Career

If you're selected for this opportunity, you're not just winning a contest. You're joining a development pipeline with a proven track record of commercial success. You're getting the kind of attention that can move a career into overdrive.

But even if you're not selected, your participation in this process demonstrates the kind of strategic thinking that separates professional writers from hobbyists. You're positioning yourself within a community that attracts this level of industry attention.

And that's not all. Four additional judges will be reading all top 10 loglines and meeting with finalists. Those jurors include:

• Jack-Henry Kay, Manager, Levity Live (client credits incl. THE MACHINE, JACKASS FOREVER, THE MINDY PROJECT)
• Andrew Kersey, Literary Manager, Kersey Management (client credits incl. VACATION FRIENDS, MAC & DEVIN GO TO HIGH SCHOOL)
• Colleen Labella, VP of Development & Production, Shoot to Midnight (RUSSIAN DOLL, SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE)
• Brad Kessell, Producer, Gold Circle Films (CHAMPIONS, PITCH PERFECT, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING)
• Vicky Zamarripa, Creative Executive, Groundswell Productions (LOVE THE COOPERS, ALICE & JACK)
• Brandon Tamburri, Director & Producer, Joke Zero (PLAN B, THE NATIONAL LAMPOON RADIO HOUR)

And if you select the optional add-on mentorship opportunity, you could win a mentorship with the VP of Comedy at 3Pas Studios Jordan Rubio (ACAPULCO), Co-Head of Development & Production at Elevate Entertainment Joe Wiggins, Literary Manager Val McElroy of Epigram Entertainment (FUBAR), and Producer Ryan Cunningham (BROAD CITY).

These are actionable opportunities to make meaningful connections in this industry!

The Bottom Line: Opportunity Meets Preparation

Neighborhood Watch's Sean Farley didn't know his Stage 32 connection would lead to a theatrical release starring Jack Quaid. James Papa didn't predict his Stage 32 relationship would result in No Address with Billy Baldwin. Richard Zelniker couldn't have thought that 3 years after his contest win, he'd be linking back up with an Executive Producer, who Stage 32 set him up on a general meeting with after winning a contest, to direct Vortex.

Success in this industry often comes from positioning yourself in the right place when opportunity strikes. With Pathfinder Media's exclusive partnership, Stage 32 has become that right place.

These comedy execs are personally reviewing Stage 32 submissions. They're looking to create an ecosystem where fresh comedy voices can thrive.

Is your voice ready to be discovered? If so, click here to submit now!

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 blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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