As recently announced in Deadline, Erika Alexander's production company has opened their doors exclusively to our community and we're excited to announce we've partnered with Color Farm Media - who will develop and package the winning script of our Diversity Talent Accelerator screenwriting contest!

The Rarity of Direct Producer Access

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), Coraline ("American Fiction), and Meredith Lockhart (“Swimming with Sharks”) - and her 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, prestige projects for global audiences and her team will work directly with Stage 32 through the Stage 32 Diversity Talent Accelerator 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. These producers are committed to building new bridges exclusively for Stage 32 writers who are ready to bring fresh, diverse visions to the screen.

Why Color Farm's Track Record Matters

This isn't just any production company looking for content. Color Farm Media's recent track record speaks to their ability to package, finance, and deliver projects that audiences actually watch:

• John Lewis, Good Trouble: An award-winning documentary, praised by film critics
• The Big Payback: Important stories from diverse creators
• Consistent development pipeline: Active projects across multiple studios and streamers, in multiple formats - narrative, documentary, podcasts, etc.

When Color Farm Media develops a project, they're not offering empty promises: they're providing access to their proven infrastructure.

A Truly Worldwide Opportunity

Erika Alexander made a statement that should give every emerging writer across the globe hope: "We're not just opening doors, we're walking through them together and ensuring our contest winner gets real development, real mentorship, and a real shot at getting their story to screen."

This philosophy is revolutionary in an industry increasingly closed to new voices. While other producers rely exclusively on agency packaging and established relationships unless they are reading and meeting writers through Stage 32, Color Farm actively seeks undiscovered talent from everywhere. Diverse success is their business model.

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 Producer Involvement Erika Alexander isn't just lending her names. She's 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 Color Farm Media will jointly package developed projects for production. This means you're not just getting notes: you're potentially getting a produced film.
• 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 Color Farm 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 producers with active studio relationships
• Packaging Support: Connecting projects with appropriate talent, directors, and financing
• Production Pipeline: Integration into Color Farm's active development slate

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

The Stage 32 Advantage: Why They Chose Us

Color Farm didn't randomly select Stage 32 for this partnership. As Erika Alexander noted, "Stage 32 shares our vision and has spent over a decade proving that world-class training can break down the traditional barriers that keep talented voices on the sidelines."

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

The Diverse Sweet Spot

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

• Streaming platforms actively seek diverse, inclusive content
• New Voices are wanted by every studio, sales company, and producer
• Awards potential makes diverse stories attractive to financiers

You're positioned perfectly for current market opportunities.

Why "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Isn't Hyperbole

This opportunity combines several rare elements:

• Established Producer 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 Color Farm'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 incubator, 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:

• Luca Borghese, Producer, AGX Films (BEAU IS AFRAID, SPACEMAN, NYAD)
• Bethany Cerrona, Producer, Jay Silverman Productions (YALE, CAMERA, SAVING PARADISE, OFF THE MENU)
• Sydney Foos, Creative Executive & Producer (FIRST REFORMED, VOX LUX, DARK WATERS, SHIRLEY)
• Alex Pelham, Literary Manager, 831 Entertainment (client credits incl. SWIPED, UNPREGNANT)

And if you select the optional add-on mentorship opportunity, you could win a mentorship with Oscar-nominated Executive Producer Jiarui Guo (THE BRUTALIST), Producer Michael Peterson of Oscar-winning production company Phoenix Pictures (BLACK SWAN, SHUTTER ISLAND), Emmy-nominated TV producers Whitney Davis (MIKE, TRUE LIES) and Nicole Tossou (THE NIGHT AGENT), and Literary Agent Daniela Gonzalez of Good Fear Content.

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 Color Farm's exclusive partnership, Stage 32 has become that right place.

These diverse producers are personally reviewing Stage 32 submissions. They're looking to create an ecosystem where new 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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