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When developing a television series, a series bible is one of the most valuable tools in your arsenal. It’s your blueprint, pitch deck, and creative roadmap all in one, helping you clearly define the world of your show, your characters, and the overarching themes that make it compelling. Whether you’re aiming to sell your show, secure a spot in a writer’s room, or simply refine your storytelling, understanding how to craft a strong series bible is essential. Why Writing a Series Bible is an Es...

Hello, Stage 32 Creatives! I'm Sandra Isabel Correia. Today, I want to share my unexpected journey on Stage 32. This vibrant community for filmmakers, screenwriters, and creatives has been more transformative than I ever anticipated. My Background I spent part of my childhood in a theater owned by my father in the 1970s and 1980s in a village in southern Portugal. I remember choosing films with him for the theater, and they are still vividly in my mind: Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, Bru...

Whenever I’m asked to critique or fix a script, the first thing I want to know is: what’s the theme? Not the story, not the plot- the theme. The theme in a movie is its underlying central idea or message, explored through story, character, imagery, music, and design. Theme is the foundation, the beating heart, the thing that makes your story about something instead of about nothing. Without theme, ninety minutes of a bunch of people muttering about their problems is just ninety minutes of a bu...

As a writer, I wanted to improve my storytelling and gain more experience. When I reached out to one of Stage 32’s great leaders, K. Ross, asking, "What can I do to improve my writing?" her advice was simple and clear- make a film. Of course, like many writers, I didn’t have millions of dollars to make a blockbuster film. Heck, I didn’t even have hundreds! So, I had to get creative. I joined a 48-Hour Film Festival Group to kick-start my filmmaking journey. Step 1: Find a Crew The closes...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. Crime stories have long been one of the most popular genres in the world, and f...

Sometimes, someone comes along who suddenly propels you into an inspirational state that you never felt before. I worked with someone called, Shibu Thomas, who wrote a screenplay and asked me if I would become script consultant and editor. I read the script and edited it for him, but the story was so intriguing and so clever, I was happy to continue to help him work on it. He then made pitches to producers and received great feedback, he had very good written critiques from professionals in...

Happy Valentine’s Day, Stage 32 Community! Romantic comedies have always held a special place in cinema. From the golden era of When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman to modern hits like Crazy Rich Asians and Palm Springs, the rom-com genre has evolved to reflect the changing dynamics of love, relationships, and storytelling. But what makes a romantic comedy successful in today’s market? How have audience expectations shifted over the years? And most importantly, how can screenwriters craft c...

Hello, Dear Readers! Some of you may remember me from back in the day when I was writing semi-monthly Stage 32 blogs in an emotionally confusing effort to both inform and subvert the discourse that’s always underway in this community. For those who don’t know me, my credentials include the decade I worked as a development executive in the trenches of indie Hollywood, as well as ten years spent serving clients on every strata of Hollywood’s power structure as a script doctor and script consult...

My wife, Carolina, and I made a film, Expressway to Your Skull. It's not even close to the first film I've made, not even the first film my wife and I made together, but it ended up being the most challenging film to cross the finish line and the one we are most proud of. I want to share some of this story with you here and hope you can take something positive from our experience. THREE DAYS IN. I had accumulated seven days of vacation time at work, so I scheduled and budgeted a seven-day...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! As you know, Stage 32 Certification was a dream of mind for nearly a decade and is near and dear to my heart. Since launching just over a year ago, we’ve welcomed over 40 film commissions and other organizations who are now utilizing Stage 32 Certification to train below the line professionals in support of their film incentives and rebates. Many more will be announced soon. Today, we’re thrilled to announce some truly groundbreaking news that represents another...