Screenwriting

Hello, Stage 32 Community! I’m currently writing to you from the Austin Film Festival where I’m working to tell as many creatives as I can about Stage 32 and all the cool things happening here on the platform! If you’re attending AFF this year, be sure to stop by our table at registration and say hi to me and our Community Manager & Writer's Room Producer, Kay Ross. We’ll also be hosting our 11th Annual Rooftop Bash at the Speakeasy on Friday, October 25th, which you can RSVP to attend by cli...

Giving up. It’s a phase, I believe, that all good writers grapple with at some point. "It’s too hard." "I’m not good enough." "Maybe I should have been a banker." These are all thoughts that have crossed my mind (except the banker part) at one time or another throughout my many years as a writer. Thoughtful, calculating, creative, innovative, imaginative – all qualities that make a great writer - can harvest overthinking, and insecurity, and make us question our very worth as writers. Scree...

There are sooo many incredible Horror movies. It’s really hard to pick ten favorites. And my “10 Favorite Horror Movies” list changes a lot. I recently watched some movies that could be on this list one day. Here are my favorite Horror movies, why they’re my favorites, and one screenwriting tip from each movie. You can use some of these tips for other genres. And SPOILER ALERT- the below contains spoilers about the films!!! 10- THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS The People Under the Stairs is o...

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. First up, in this video from It Was A Sh*t Show, they’re sharing an in-depth vi...

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! Joining a platform like Stage 32 can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. While we’re incredibly proud of all of the resources, events, and unique perks that we offer our members, we know that it can take time to get your footing and know where to look to find what you’re most in need of. That’s why the Stage 32 team works so hard to reach you with the information that you need and be a constant source of support. Starting with this helpful guide s...

I remember when I first dove my toes into screenwriting. I was working in retail at the time and going to school full-time. At the time, I was lucky that the software I had recently purchased for writing my novels also allowed me to format screenplays. Shortly after that, there was a project I was working on collaboratively with another writer. They introduced me to a second program because it allowed for more open collaboration. Over the years, I’ve played with different pieces of software a...

The writer’s job is never easy, in part because it’s secretly more than one job: it’s three. You need to be a talented writer on the page, a collaborator and idea generator in the room, and a riveting salesperson in a pitch. Pitches can make or break a career – they can be the tool that opens doors or leaves your ideas gathering dust in a pile. So how do you take all the work you’ve done on your project, and present it in a way that will get someone to buy it? 1. Be A Great Storyteller...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, in this video essay from Just an Observation, he’s analyzing one of the best antagonist characters in cinema, Kathy Bates' Oscar-winning performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery. As he points out, Kathy Bates delivers an unhinged performance filled with contrasting parts of Annie Wilkes' personali...

Horror is debatably one of if not the most misunderstood genres in film and television. Outside of "beloved" intellectual properties, it arguably has one of the most hardcore, savvy, and devoted audiences, but… what quantifies a proper Horror film? Tropes? Jump scares? Demonic creatures? Monsters? A psycho with a machete? How about all of the above? Let's dive in and break down a few subgenres highlighting the best and most diverse stories that will leave your minds twisted and your skin crawlin...

As an artist, you’re called to show up in the world. Whether it’s on stage, making a pitch, submitting your screenplay, putting on an art show, you make yourself vulnerable to others over and over again. Making art is a unique process. The initial stages of creating are deeply personal, but, eventually, you need the attention of your audience to bring your creative work to life. Though it began as something private, your art only achieves its purpose and full potential when it impacts someone...