Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week’s featured video comes from Vanity Fair: Rian Johnson Breaks Down a Scene From “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”. If you love mysteries, this is a quick masterclass in building a story that feels layered and fun without making the audience work overtime. Johnson breaks down a mid-investigation scene with Father Jud (Josh O’Connor), Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), and the local chief of police Geraldine (Mila Kunis). On paper it’s a clue scene. In practice, it’s doing what great scenes do: deepening character, sharpening relationships, and quietly setting up what’s coming next.

A few great takeaways:

• Character is the engine. The whole film depends on the audience being on Jud’s side, and Johnson talks about how vital casting and empathy are to making that work.
• World-building lives in the details. The devil-themed bar is funny, specific, and packed with story, the kind of production design that tells you who these people are without a speech.
• Clarity is generosity. The flashbacks and visual “support beams” are designed to help the audience track the mystery and feel smart, not confused.
• And even with an outline, you have to stay flexible. Johnson reminds us that when characters start talking back, it’s usually worth listening.

One of the biggest reasons writers stall is not because they do not have talent. It’s because they are trying to do everything “the right way” before they let the work breathe.

Sometimes the right move is the bold move. The human move. The move that gets your script into the hands of someone who can actually say yes.

And that ties into a piece of advice I have shared before: do not be afraid to pick up the phone.

If you have material you believe in, you can call a company and simply ask, “What is your submission process?” That’s it. No monologue. No pitch over voicemail. Just a straightforward question.

You will hear everything, “We don’t take scripts,” “Who is your rep,” “Send it over,” “Here’s a release,” and sometimes you will get radio silence after. That’s part of the game. But here is the thing, a lot of folks are hungry for great material and they want to find it before everyone else does. That’s also why executives are increasingly specific about what they are looking for. They want the thing that moves the needle for them, not the generic script that has been passed around and rejected ten times already.

So, here’s my question for you: When it comes to getting your work out there, what holds you back more, the fear of being told “no,” or the fear of being ignored?

Drop your answer in the comments, and if you have a strategy that has helped you get your project into the right hands, share that too. You never know who you might help today.

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

Vanity Fair | Rian Johnson Breaks Down a Scene From “Wake Up Dead Man”

RBWalksIntoABar | Calling To Submit Your Script

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