More than 100 new executives have joined Stage 32 in less than a year. Your global community of producers, managers, agents, and development executives is growing rapidly, fueled by the rise of the independent producer and a more dynamic international market. Now more than ever, creatives and executives can work outside of the system and are less dependent on the same five companies for permission to make content. It's inspiring to see executives build their own slates and get their first producing credits after years of hard labor. And many are finding scripts on Stage 32 that they end up developing, setting up, and/or producing. With more than 80 success stories in 2025 and many more in the pipeline, both executives and writers are benefiting from more curated submissions and targeted recommendations from our team.

But as important as it is for writers to strategically target executives matching their genre, budget range, and tone, writers also need to consider factors beyond what’s publicly listed—including timing, an executive’s current development slate, their relationships with specific talent or financiers, and where they are in their career trajectory. And on the flip side, it is equally critical for executives to have a clear mandate. The more clearly writers can communicate what kind of project they are hoping to make, the easier it will be for our team and them to find the right match. The most savvy writers can also read between the lines. For example, if a producer worked for 15 years in the studio system, they will be more likely to look for bigger budget films than an indie producer who’s done 10 movies under $10m. Or if you see that a manager doesn’t represent any filmmakers (writer/directors), then chances are, representing auteurs is not an area of the business they focus on.

This shift toward strategic matchmaking also means writers can optimize their time more effectively. Rather than blindly pitching dozens of executives who aren’t the right fit, seeking out clearly articulated mandates allows you to self-select based on genuine alignment. The result: fewer rejections based on mismatch, more conversations with executives who can actually champion your work. In an industry where a writer’s time and energy are perpetually constrained, precision beats volume every time. Targeting executives with well-defined mandates will dramatically improve your success rate and save you from the exhausting cycle of pitching to the wrong fit. This is where our success team comes in.

This Week in the Writers' Room

The Executive Hour returned with special guest Kristy Grisham! Kristy served as Executive Producer for CHERRY, starring Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo, which sold to Apple TV+ for just under $50M, and producing the Adam Driver & Anne Hathaway Military Drama ALONE AT DAWN from Ron Howard and Amazon MGM Studios. Kristy made herself available for a full live Zoom to answer career advice questions and help writers navigate the industry.

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 a Stage 32 Writer's Room Member and Writer who just signed a shopping agreement with a Producer here on Stage 32!

Frank Fortin - Screenwriter!

Congratulations to Frank who signed a shopping agreement with producer Justin Kohlas for his limited series SOMETHING IN THE AIR about the East Palestine train disaster that happened in Ohio.

A Writer's Room member and Double Recommended writer, Frank pivoted to screenwriting after a career in journalism and non-profit communications. He's now developing character-based pilots and features in which the protagonist faces overwhelming odds to achieve justice.

We've Officially Announced Our Search For New Blood Contest Finalists!

Fresh off the release of the hit thriller PARALLEL, starring Aldis Hodge and Danielle Deadwyler, Mammoth Pictures founders Kourosh Ahari and Alex Bretow are partnering with Stage 32 to find the next undiscovered horror writing talents. The producers, who've built a company making prestige horror/thriller films for international markets, will work directly with Stage 32 through the Stage 32 Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest.

Our Finalists will receive a Career Momentum prize package valued at $1,500, including Career Development, a Writer Branding Workshop, and an Education package, and will have their logline featured in a Stage 32 Look Book sent to over 2,500+ top entertainment industry executives, giving their work unparalleled exposure!

This Contest Launches Careers

Previous Winners Making Waves:

Travis J. Opgenorth (2024 Winner) - Script optioned by Broken Time Entertainment and signed with Persistent Entertainment after Stage 32 introduced him to nearly a dozen industry pros.

Tanya Klein & Jim Cirile (2023 Winners) - PSYCHOPATHY set up for production with $1.5M budget, Lucas Heyne directing.

Christina Pamies - Signed by "Billion Dollar" Literary Manager Jake Wagner, then hired by StudioCanal to adapt BAGHEAD (now streaming on Shudder/AMC+).

Kevin Bachar - Winning script became THE INHABITANT (2022), produced by Lionsgate and released on Hulu.

Career-Changing Representation:

• Richard Doyle (Australia) - Signed with literary manager Will Rosenfield
• Glenn Forbes - Secured representation with Infinity Management International
• Alyssa & Griffin Devine - Signed with HG5 Entertainment, writing 2 scripts with 1 going into production
• Frank Ponce - Signed with 3 Arts Entertainment, script picked up by Atlas Entertainment, sold Evel Knievel series to USA Network
• Diana Wright - Signed to The Cartel and Abrams Artists Agency
• Jonathan Jordan - Signed by major agency Verve, script currently in production
• Greg Mania - Signed with Cohn/Torgan Management, published NPR Best Book of 2020

The Stage 32 Difference: Winners receive meetings with managers, agents, and producers - not just a trophy. Real careers launched, real movies made, real representation secured.

Need help navigating the industry? Contact success@stage32.com

Stage 32 has hundreds of opportunities. Reach out to our success team at any time for personal guidance and career advice.

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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