This started with a comment on Stage 32 and ended with a short film called Sol Rise.

It began on a post by our friend Sebastian Tudores, directed at Juliana Philippi and me:

“I need to get you two together to sing on film.”

I had casually mentioned that I used to sing with the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and Juliana had shared that she’s a singer as well, so naturally, he ran with it.

The Debate

That afternoon, I turned to my wife and said, “Honey, this guy seems nice… I don’t think he’s crazy, or at least, I hope not. He seems nice. But I’m done with singing on stage, so no, I’m not singing on film.”

She patiently replied, “Maybe this is your way into film. Don’t shut it down before you’ve had the call.”

I answered with, “What are we doing for dinner?” That’s subtext.

The First Conversation

Fast forward to our first meeting. Sebastian read my mail in my response to his comment on the post and did a spot-on impersonation of me pretending to be amenable to the idea. After I was jokingly put in my place, we started chatting.

It is a rare and beautiful thing when you meet someone the very first time, and it’s as if you’d known them forever. That’s exactly what happened. Juliana spoke about her love of dance, specifically tango, and her long-held dream of starring in a film where she could fully express that passion. Sebastian shared what he had been developing and the joy of making a mutually respected connection.

Still, I’ll admit, I quietly questioned what I was doing there. I’m a science fiction and fantasy writer. This wasn’t my lane.

The Moment Everything Shifted

Deep down, we all knew where this was going. It was then that Sebastian said, “We need to make something together.” My internal response? They need to find someone else.

And then, with conviction, Juliana said, “I want Leo to write it.”

I froze.

Sebastian followed with, “We can either hijack Leo’s Homeless script or create something new.”

What is happening? I thought to myself.

They left the decision up to me.

Choosing the Unknown

Homeless was ready. It had already won awards.

But there’s something in me that finds deep joy in helping to bring someone else’s dream to life, even when it isn’t my own. I was being pulled into a direction outside of my comfort zone and genre and yet, I wasn’t kicking and screaming. I wrestled with imposter syndrome for a bit, but eventually, it gave way to something else: peace… and even excitement.

I chose the dance film.

Finding the Heart

In the days that followed, I thought about what the core of the story would be about. What battles do we as creatives fight? What do we sacrifice? What do we prioritize?

What do we value?

And the lingering question of: When will my dream come true? Usually, what pulls us away from working towards our dream is obligation. In one of our calls, Juliana had mentioned the pull of family. I thought of my father who passed away from Alzheimer’s years ago.

That’s where the story found its heart.

What began as a short film will be developed into a feature, one that will confront the quiet, internal battle creatives face every day: the angst that all of us as creatives inwardly battle - daring to hope for a dream that seems impossible in the face of all the things that stand against it.

Things Got Real

I sent them the script and chugged some Pepto. Imposter syndrome is a nasty bug. I waited patiently for their reaction but with each response, my fears were replaced with confirmation.

And just like that, Sol Rise was born.

Here’s the logline: A gifted tango dancer who sacrifices her career to care for her father with dementia is pushed to the margins of her world - until an unexpected invitation to a high-profile diplomatic gala offers her one last chance to reclaim her future.

My only request? A cameo.

I’ve always loved the idea of doing Stan Lee-style appearances in my films. So, when the short releases, you’ll catch my worldwide debut as Ray the Fruit Vendor, a small tribute to my father, whose nickname was Ray.

A Creative Partnership and a Full Circle Joy

Working with Sebastian and Juliana has been both a joy and a stretch, in the best way.

Juliana brings a rich, soulful gravitas to her acting and dance. She carries a quietly powerful presence in front of the camera that is both compelling and grounded.

Sebastian possesses a studied depth of character, paired with a genuine generosity of spirit that draws out the best in everyone he collaborates with.

Together, they balance intensity with trust. Our mutual respect has grown into a deeply trusted creative partnership, and a meaningful friendship.

To add to this joy, my daughter Mackenzy, an actor, auditioned and was cast as Alma, the sister to Juliana’s character, Soledad.

In the weeks that followed, Sebastian and I went over the script and delved into the characters, exploring depth, refining nuance, and shaping the emotional core.

I loved this process and look forward to doing it again in the future. I believe we will.

A Word from Juliana:

"As I think back, to how this amazing film project took seed, it was just the vibe...the energy of Sebastian Tudores and Leonardo Ramirez, and how I just vibed, every time I read one of these guy’s posts. I have learned to speak from the heart, and that’s really it. I was myself, in the words I shared, and it carried what it needed to...and now, we are here.

I am preparing to interpret Soledad, this woman who has been like a dormant seed, tackling the most intense winter, hiding her magic, with tango...there’s nowhere to hide. I am so happy and grateful for my work, my instrument and these two outstanding professionals, who are just...the best to work with on such a beautiful, intimate and human story." ~Juliana

A Word from Sebastian:

"A writer, an actor, and a producer/director walk into a... Stage32 Lounge. And all three were also lounge moderators at the time. And if you've been on the platform for a while you know that, in itself, engenders trust. Once we met on Zoom to brainstorm possible projects, everyone was very relaxed and open (at least on the outside) - because of the trust. And the more we shared, the more my admiration and respect grew for my colleagues.

The dynamics of our 'passion' matched beautifully the roles we each chose to play in making the project happen. Like a jazz trio. And, as we developed, I think we each sensed the theme crystallize and, more importantly, that each of us has a specific connection to it. As a director I am grateful that we can therefore speak the same language, and as a producer I welcome the kind of momentum that symbiosis creates for a project.

And as we now embark on the crowdfunding, the rest of the casting, the assembly of the crew, the building of our audience base, etc., I am confident that what we're doing is just enlarging the jazz band - more excellent players, same meaningful theme." ~Sebastian

Back to Leo ~

More Than a Platform

Here’s what this has all led to.

We met right here on Stage 32.

It’s easy to look at Stage 32 as a place to pitch or push for the next opportunity, and yes, it can be those things.

But this didn’t come from that.

This came from something else entirely-

a comment…

a conversation…

a willingness to connect and nurture that connection.

It came from choosing to see how we could support one another, not from asking what we could get.

And in the end, we each received more than we expected. I know I did.

I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I surrendered to someone else’s dream, and in doing so, found something I didn’t even know I was looking for.

We didn’t rely on a pitch, a consult, or a webinar. Those things absolutely have value, and we've used them many times before in our time here on Stage 32. Lifelong learning matters, and I’m even working toward Stage 32 Certification in Line Producing currently.

But this came from spending real time here in the community, the lounges and blogs. From seeing each other. From being present. From being open. From choosing to build something real, together.

All my life, I’ve sought meaningful creative relationships. I’ve never wanted to work with anyone that I couldn’t consider a friend.

For the first time, I feel like I’ve found them, all in one place.

So, here’s my encouragement to you:

Be present in the Stage 32 Lounges.

Connect with other creatives.

Right now, in the lounges, there are people sitting just a few clicks away, with real hopes, real dreams, and stories worth telling.

Find them.

…and build.

It’s time to hope again.

If you want to keep up with the progress of this project, we'll be sharing here in the Stage 32 Lounges and you can click here!

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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