Screenwriting

If you’ve been dreaming of writing the next great romantic comedy, there’s never been a better time to learn directly from someone doing it at the highest level. On Monday, April 21st at 11:00 am PT, Stage 32 is thrilled to offer you exclusive FREE access to 30 Minutes with Mahtub — a live Ask Me Anything event with rising TV writer and rom-com powerhouse, Mahtub Zare Mochanloo. This event is part of Stage 32’s mission to connect our global community of creatives with working industry profes...

What’s up, Creative Army! It’s been a wild start to 2025 for the entertainment industry as a whole. And I know many of you have been feeling it, too. Between my travel schedule, the LA fires that hit close to home, the ongoing M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activity reshaping the business, and the powerful resurgence of independent film, I’ve been on the ground, in the meetings, and having conversations with industry leaders every single week. And let me tell you… there’s a LOT happening rig...

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 video essay from Film Stack dives into the fascinating career of GARY OLDMAN, an absolute master of transformation. He’s played everything from Dracula to Churchill, Beethoven to Sirius Black. But there was a ti...

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the very individual process a professional creative must go through in order to be present for their “tribe” or be strong enough to lead a team. Especially since doing the work for yourself, BY yourself is essential. It is the foundation of everything else we create. Consider for a moment when you visit a doctor. It is certainly their job to help analyze what ails you and suggest a plan to heal you, expecting them to do all of the work is ineffective at...

You’re ready to pitch your TV series idea. You’re there, in the room or on Zoom, you’re nervous as hell but you know your stuff, you’ve got this, you draw a deep breath, you say that much-practiced logline and end with “it’s X meets Y!” Someone somewhere told you to use “comps”, so you picked two shows or films that bear some resemblance to your show and put them together. They told you to pick comps that were profitable to show your project will be too, but what does “profitable” even mean in t...

Branding and Your Personal Narrative There is perhaps one assignment that we don’t consider using our talents for very much, and it’s rewriting our personal narrative. You really should consider it as your most pressing deadline because people who are interested in purchasing your screenplay or investing in your film will want to know who they are dealing with. Who are you, and what is the why behind what you do? I had to write numerous scripts before I understood these questions and could an...

There comes a point in every creator’s journey where the weight of it all feels unbearable. You’ve poured time, energy, and your very soul into a project, only to be met with roadblocks, failures, and moments where quitting seems like the most logical option. The world doesn’t see the sleepless nights, the doubts, the financial strain, the countless rejections. But you do. And that’s exactly why you have to keep going. The Breaking Point is the Turning Point The projects that matter most are...

CASE STUDIES IN DISGUISE Quietly in the background, decades of independent production has given me something of incredible value; project case studies and laser-focused insight. This cumulative past experience now reveals just how much consideration my films have had locked into them from the get-go. (Left to right) Sean O'Grady, Kim Michelle, and Kathleen Murtagh in a production still from Al Carretta's 2024 feature 'It Starts In This Room'. In Autumn 2024, I released my 23rd (Thirst) a...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or just taking time to dream up your next big idea, I’ve got some fresh inspiration to keep that fire lit. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. First up, let’s talk about the start of something great. I’ve always believed the first few moments of any project are crucial. You’ve got one shot to hook your audience, and how you deliver that opening can make all the difference....

In over 15 years of working in the entertainment industry, I’ve learned that there will be many ups and downs in a dream pursuit. There will be obstacles, and good days, and opportunities, and rejections. The High Achiever (a.k.a. you!), needs a game plan through it all. The High Achiever needs to handle all of these moments intentionally and carefully, in a way that effectively keeps them on the path to success. That’s why I developed the 10 Pillars of the High Achiever. Here are the 10 pillars...