Happy Wednesday, Creative Army!

One of my favorite parts of festival season is the energy that comes from people coming together in the same place, at the same time, all focused on storytelling, collaboration, and opportunity.

That’s why I’m excited to share about Stage 32 Lodge: Monday on Main St in Park City, Utah, during the festival!

This is one of those events that has become a true networking staple over the years, where Stage 32 Members can go for great conversations over a drink, introductions that turn into relationships, and ideas that move from “maybe someday” to “let’s follow up.”

Stage 32 Lodge: Monday on Main St.

• Where: The Cabin, Park City, UT
• When: Monday, January 26
• Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM MST

Eat, drink, mingle, and connect with industry professionals from across the film and television landscape in a relaxed, upscale environment right in the heart of the festival.

Click here to RSVP now!

Kicking Off With an Industry Panel

This year’s event opens with a 30-minute industry panel:

PROTECTING YOUR SCREENPLAY OR FILM AS YOU SHOP IT TO HOLLYWOOD

Before the networking begins, we’ll dig into one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of the business. How to protect your work while you’re sharing it, pitching it, and putting it in front of decision-makers.

Why The Stage 32 Lodge Matters

Festivals are about more than screenings. They’re about proximity. Being in the room. Having conversations that simply don’t happen online in the same way.

Great networking events give you:

• Access to people you might not otherwise meet
• Context for who someone really is beyond their title
• The chance to build rapport while talking business

My biggest advice is to go in curious, not transactional. Ask questions. Listen more than you talk. Focus on connection first and opportunity second. Don't jump into a pitch unless specifically asked about a project.

Make the Most of It With Stage 32

One of the smartest things you can do at a festival is prepare for what happens after the event.

If you meet someone at Stage 32 Lodge: Monday on Main St:

• Connect with them on Stage 32 that same day
• Send a thoughtful follow-up referencing your conversation
• Stay engaged by supporting their work and sharing updates

Stage 32 makes it easy to turn a quick festival hello into an ongoing professional relationship, long after Park City clears out.

Click here to RSVP now!

Exciting Stage 32 Highlight

We also want to congratulate one of our Stage 32 Executives, Apoorva Guru Charan (JOYLAND), on her film, TAKE ME HOME, which will be screening at the festival on January 26th.

Apoorva Charan is an LA-based Producer who's feature producing debut, JOYLAND premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, the Queer Palm, and Best International Film at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film was Pakistan's entry to the 95th Academy Awards, the first film from Pakistan to make the shortlist, and has screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, TIFF, and BFI London Film Festival.

More About Take Me Home

Liz Sargent’s intimate debut drama, TAKE ME HOME, examines the shifting demands placed on a unique and uniquely vulnerable, family in a Florida suburb. Working with a terrific ensemble, the writer-director details the struggles of Anna (newcomer Anna Sargent, the director’s sister), fellow adopted sibling Emily (Ali Ahn), and devoted father Bob (Victor Slezak), who is succumbing to dementia.

If you have a film screening at Sundance, let us know all about it in the comments!

Will You Be There?

If you’re planning to be in Park City next week, let us know in the comments. Start networking now with other attendees and make the most of every moment once you arrive.

And join in on the great conversation in the Filmmaking Lounge, where members are sharing their festival tips and what they're most excited about!

Click here to jump into the conversation now!

Cheers,

RB

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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