In March, my daughter passed on a free trial membership to a platform called "Stage 32 Writer's Room." I wasn't looking for anything like this because, frankly, I didn't even know it existed. I've spent my entire adult life in education and the medical field, so all of this was new to me.

Where I Started: Before Stage32

In 2023, I was exhausted: traveling cross-country to help care for my dad with dementia, while still working full-time and homeschooling our son. It was emotionally and physically draining, and I ended up with a full-blown case of pneumonia. After being ordered to bed, I got bored pretty quickly (once the antibiotics kicked in). I had always wanted to write a story based on a failed relationship I experienced, focusing on the beauty and redemption of a happy ending. I had never found the time, but during those two weeks, I wrote the rough draft of what would become both our short proof of concept and feature film script.

I emailed it to my daughter, who's a full-time working actress, to get her opinion (and she's brutally honest!). An hour later, she came to my room and said, "Where's this been, Mom? This is as good or better than most of the scripts I see every week!" By October 2024, we were ready to make our short, which we filmed in one day, incurring only costs for insurance and feeding the cast and crew. The movie bug bit me hard. I thought if it could be that easy to make the short, we should be able to crank out a feature without any problem. But, as we say in writing, "Little did I know..."

As we started researching and talking with potential directors, DPs, actors, and any other "industry" people, I realized that I could make another movie like our short, but it would need to be of a certain calibre—especially since this wasn't my full-time occupation.

So, I met with myself and had to decide whether to treat this endeavor as a hobby with certain likely results or as an industry-standard quality film with different results. Since I already had business experience, I decided to treat our project like a real business, not a hobby, but I was very aware that I had knowledge gaps specific to this new industry.I had a lot to learn: Enter Stage32!

Right Place, Right Time

From the first post, "What's your logline?" I knew I was in the right place. I'm experienced in pitching and high-ticket sales, and I understood that there were nuances and vocabulary I needed to master to succeed. I came to Stage32 with a fully formed pitch deck, pitch, budget, and timeline, all of which were great in concept but lacking in execution for this industry—I needed to learn more!

So, I took the plunge and started engaging. I jumped in headfirst to the Writer's Room Lounge, asking lots of questions, and consumed content as quickly as I could. Maurice, Pat A, and the whole Stage 32 Success Team, along with Geoff, Ashley, Kay, and many others, have helped me learn, grow, and understand Stage 32. They've been incredibly patient and understanding, and I'm so grateful!

Key Takeaways I Wish I'd Understood When I First Joined:

1. Put yourself out there and make connections (including the free webinars and sessions).

Share your wins and learning (like I'm doing now) and meet people. This is a game that's 99% connections and 1% luck! So, show up “front row” and don’t be afraid to ask questions. This allows you to grow and your project to be visible. You never know how a single conversation can change things.

2. Utilize the Stage32 team, free webinars & members.

There’s so much collective wisdom here, so... ask questions, put your thoughts and ideas out there, and get some feedback. Silos are where dreams go to die! You can find the details about these resources in Stage 32 emails, regular lounge posts, and on the Stage 32 Education page.

Stage 32's Head of Community, Ashley Smith, has her monthly Community Open House Webcast coming up next week! It's entirely free and gives you an opportunity to ask specific questions live and possibly win a free educational webinar from Stage 32.

You can sign up for free by clicking HERE.

3. This process takes much longer than in other industries.

Coming from a medical background where urgency is the norm, in comparison, the film industry is all about patience. I’m beginning to understand that this is a hurry-up-and-wait kind of field. You’ll do something urgently, then wait months. That’s apparently quite normal.

4. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

I know this goes without saying, but it's true! I've encountered several scammers wanting to "fully fund my movie" or asked me to pay them to help develop my film. I reached out to the Stage 32 Team, and they addressed the issues right away, even writing a blog post on what development means in response to some of my questions and concerns. Thank you, Ashley! The moral of the story is that Stage32 can’t monitor private messages, so report issues if you encounter them! Always email Support@stage32.com if you run into any suspicious accounts or interactions.

5. Explore different services to find what works for you.

I've pitched three times to executives so far, receiving two requests for meetings and one script request. This opened doors to people I would have never met—worth its weight in gold! You can find the full list of services by clicking HERE.

But it's even better to email the Success Team at Success@stage32.com with details about your projects and your goals, so they can give you curated suggestions and advice.

6. Take your time selecting your "experts" and know what you want.

If you're purchasing a service, there are many options. I did one full script coverage early on that was incredibly helpful, highlighting aspects I now realize were newbie learning curves (like the existence of software that formats scripts—professionals often won’t read scripts if they’re formatted incorrectly). After taking the great advice, I was able to move from a "PASS" rating to a "CONSIDER" in just a few months.

7. If a lab or course description says "advanced," believe them.

I’m currently taking Stage32's Finance & Profitability Lab with Jeanette Milio. It’s amazing and incredibly complex! She’s diving deep into structuring deals, and my business background helps me keep up. I would be lost if I didn’t understand a good bit of business finance. But… what an incredible gift to have someone so seasoned guide me through this more advanced process.

Suppose you email the Education Team directly at Edu@stage32.com and tell them about the topics you want to learn more about and your current experience level. In that case, they can provide specific suggestions for upcoming classes, as well as options from their 3500+ hour on-demand education library!

8. There’s no "right" way to make films, but there are likely more "optimal" ways to make MY film.

Do I want to do it just for the sake of doing it? Do I want it in theaters, streaming, or tucked away to never see the light of day? Each option requires different levels of business planning, and once I define what this film is, I can backtrack into the process and budget based on my final vision.

9. Keep stretching yourself.

I love the opportunities here to try new things. This week, I’m scheduled to pitch in the Pitch Tank session. That’s exciting (and maybe a little scary), but if we make it fun and engaging, it becomes all about learning, not self-judgment.

10. Don’t quit!

This journey will be longer, harder, more expensive, and bigger than I ever imagined. But I have four kids watching me, "adult." Will I give up on my dreams, or will I pace myself and ultimately reach my finish line? I'm committed to creating a film that makes a difference in this world. After all, I wrote it for my kids and their friends, and it’s going to be a powerful story that helps them navigate life. I'm constantly reminding myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and I have to pace myself accordingly.

In closing, thank you, Stage32, for offering me these opportunities to grow, expand my network, and work toward my dream. I’m grateful!

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!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .