For many, the Emmy Awards were too predictable and sugar-coated. For others, it was a successful night that will hopefully turn the tide for a segment of the industry that has been lagging behind for the past two years.

Perhaps I have a tendency to see everything through an international lens, but among the Canadian and UK winners, it's hard to ignore that Hollywood is becoming more and more global. And that's a win in itself. Los Angeles will continue to be a beacon for artists around the world.

What's particularly striking is how streaming platforms have accelerated this shift. Netflix, Amazon, and Apple aren't just buying international content…they're actively developing it with local talent while maintaining global distribution strategies. The old model of remaking foreign hits for American audiences feels increasingly antiquated.

And speaking of international territories, among TIFF, Venice, and Telluride, there seems to be a resurgence in quiet acquisitions. Less splashy deals but more quiet deal-making as European, Asian, and South American producers and buyers play a bigger role.

This festival circuit also reveals something else: audiences are hungrier than ever for authentic stories that don't feel focus-grouped to death. The films generating real buzz aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest marketing budgets: they're the ones that feel genuine, whether they're coming from Toronto, Rome, or Colorado.

Recently In The Stage 32 Writer's Room-

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ben Orell to our live Writers' Room webcast. As Head of Development and Production at More Coffee Please, OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder's TV/film company, Ben listened to three pitches from Writers' Room members and shared priceless insights about the market. The key takeaway? The buyers' mandates dictate what projects go out to market, but writers should still find a way to make their project feel original and subvert expectations.

It was inspiring to hear what buyers are currently looking for (feel-good comedies are back!) and delve into what makes a solid pitch.

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 the winner of our 5th Annual TV Drama Screenwriting Contest, who is already meeting with 10+ executives, including ABC and other buyers!

John Norton- TV Writer & Contest Winner!

John Norton is a screenwriter and playwright, originally from Rhinebeck, New York. A life-long theatre kid, John's plays have been performed all over the country with his most recent work, TRIGGERED, receiving the Kennedy Center's Citizen Artist Award. John then made the cross-country move to Los Angeles, where, in 2024, he graduated top of his class from Loyola Marymount University with an MFA in Screenwriting. While at LMU, John's feature screenplay THE LARSON EPISODE won both ScreenCraft's Drama Competition as well as LMU's inaugural MFA Screenwriting Competition. When he's not pounding the LA pavement in search of representation and his first script sale, John spends time with his German Shepherds and hosts a pop-culture trivia podcast.

Diversity Talent Accelerator Screenwriting Contest!

We're also thrilled to announce the opening of our Diversity Talent Accelerator Screenwriting Contest in Partnership with Erika Alexander's Color Farm Media.

Erika Alexander - beloved for her iconic acting roles as Maxine Shaw (“Living Single,” NAACP Image Awards as Outstanding Actress/Comedy Series), Detective Latoya (“Get Out”), Cousin Pam (“The Cosby Show”), Perenna (“Black Lightning”), Linda Diggs (“Wutang: An American Saga”), Barb Ballard ( Run The World), and Meredith Lockhart (“Swimming with Sharks”) - and Erika's production company Color Farm Media are partnering with Stage 32 to find the next undiscovered diverse writing talents. Erika has built her company on diverse, prestigious projects, and her team will work directly with Stage 32 through the Stage 32 Diversity Talent Accelerator Screenwriting Contest.

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

Want any advice on your writing, your career or which of our 3,000 execs you should work with? We want to hear from you! Email us at Success@stage32.com any time!

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!

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