Exclusively on Stage 32, one of the best and longest running independent production companies in Hollywood has opened their doors to our community. Millennium Media has spent decades turning action franchises into global box office events that have grossed billions worldwide. Now the studio is partnering with Stage 32 to find the next great action/thriller writer! This year's winner won't just take home a trophy. They'll sign a shopping agreement and go straight into development and packaging with Millennium Media!

Hey Stage 32 Community!

We're proud to announce the Stage 32 + Millennium Media Action/Thriller Screenwriting Contest! Millennium Media are partnering with Stage 32 this year in a contest designed to fast-track the winning script from contest discovery to professional development and production!

Direct Producer Access

Fresh off their wrapped production on GUNS UP (Kevin James & Christina Ricci), Millennium Media are partnering with Stage 32 to find the next undiscovered action-thriller writer. Millennium Media, who recently released THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD (Salma Hayek, Ryan Reynolds, & Samuel L. Jackson), TILL DEATH (Megan Fox), Amazon’s JOLT (Kate Beckinsale) and Lionsgate’s THE PROTÉGÉ (Maggie Q & Michael Keaton), will work directly with Stage 32 through the Stage 32 Action/Thriller Screenwriting Contest.

Here's how our partnership works: Millennium executives will personally review all Semi-Finalist loglines, with the door open for script requests along the way. They'll read all Top 10 Finalist scripts themselves and any other standout projects they find, judging the Grand Prize winner on both creative merit and commercial viability. Once a winner is selected, Stage 32 and Millennium develop and package the project together — with Millennium taking it out to market.

Think about that for a moment. A leading independent production company is committed to building new bridges exclusively for Stage 32 writers who are ready to thrill audiences across the globe.

Millennium Media's Track Record

Millennium Media is one of the longest-running independent film companies in Hollywood — a full-service studio that finances, produces, and sells films worldwide, with its own production facility, Nu Boyana Studios, in Bulgaria.

The studio is best known for their work on THE EXPENDABLES franchise, THE FALLEN franchise, THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD franchise, MECHANIC RESURRECTION, and the successful reboot of RAMBO: LAST BLOOD. On the prestige side, Millennium has also backed Rod Lurie's THE OUTPOST, TESLA (Ethan Hawke), and BLACKBIRD (Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet). Coming up next: the fourth installment of THE EXPENDABLES, THE BRICKLAYER (Nina Dobrev, Aaron Eckhart, Clifton Collins Jr., Tim Blake Nelson), and THE PIPER (Charlotte Hope, Julian Sands).

That track record is exactly why this contest matters. The genre thrives on intensity — a gripping, suspenseful plot, real character development, big set pieces, and a twist that keeps an audience pinned to their seats. Audiences can't get enough of high stakes action — and Millennium has built a business on knowing exactly what that looks like on screen.

A Truly One-of-a-Kind Opportunity

"Millennium Media has built its reputation on producing high-level action franchises that resonate with audiences around the world," said Jonathan Yunger, President of Millennium Media. "As the marketplace continues to evolve, we are on the hunt for the next generation of writers who can deliver fresh and unforgettable stories. Through our partnership with Stage 32, we're excited to tap into their wide network of talented, emerging writers and discover stories that, together with our robust studio and production capabilities, have the potential to become the next great action or thriller film.”

In an industry increasingly closed to new voices, this commitment is revolutionary. With our initiative, Stage 32 is giving writers the chance to shoot their shot, and Millennium Media is committed to finding their next break out hit! If you've got an action/thriller story that needs to be told, this is the moment. No other Action contest opens more doors — and with Millennium Media reading directly, the path from page to production has never been shorter.

Why This Partnership Is Different

Many contests, fellowships, and programs promise industry access. Here's what makes this fundamentally different:

• Direct Access Millennium isn't just lending their name, they're personally reviewing submissions and selecting winners. Your logline won't disappear into a sea of readers; it goes directly to decision-makers no matter what.
• Commercial Viability Focus Winners are selected based on both creative merit and commercial viability. This isn't about artistic statements. It's about finding scripts that can actually get made and seen.
• Joint Packaging Commitment Stage 32 and Millennium Media will jointly package developed projects for production. This means you're not just getting notes: you're potentially getting a produced film or series.
• Proven Track Record Stage 32's recent successes with Neighborhood Watch (Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan), No Address (Billy Baldwin, Ashanti) and The Vortex (Billy Gardell, Jamie McShane) demonstrate our ability to connect writers with real production outcomes.

The best part? The contest is now open for submissions.

You can submit here!

What "Development and Packaging" Actually Means

We're talking about Millennium's established development and packaging process. Here's what that looks like:

• Script Development: Professional-level notes and revisions with industry mentorship
• Industry Mentorship: Direct guidance from a Producer with active studio relationships
• Packaging Support: Connecting projects with appropriate talent, directors, and financing
• Production Pipeline: Integration into Millennium Media's active pipeline

Skip the theoretical and prepare for actual hands on development.

The Stage 32 Advantage: Why They Chose Us

Millennium Media didn't randomly select Stage 32 for this partnership. Stage 32 has the infrastructure to surface talent at scale, and Millennium Media has the development muscle to get it ready for buyers. This an opportunity to support talent and launch careers. Our track record of connecting emerging writers with real opportunities, combined with our global reach and curated community, made us the logical partner for this new initiative.

"This partnership with Millennium Media opens doors for international storytellers who might otherwise never reach the gatekeepers," said Richard "RB" Botto, CEO of Stage 32. "By connecting writers from around the world with producers who actively champion diverse narratives, we're building a more inclusive pathway to production, where talent and vision matter more than geography or industry connections."

Action Stories For Global Audiences

Millennium's focus on big, commercial action/thriller storytelling isn't arbitrary — it reflects exactly what today's market is buying:

• Streaming platforms and international buyers are actively chasing original action/thriller concepts because audiences can't get enough
• Productions that can shoot efficiently overseas — like at Millennium's own Nu Boyana Studios in Bulgaria — are wanted by every studio, sales company, and producer
• Franchise-caliber action IP with global reach is exactly what makes a project attractive to financiers

You're positioned perfectly for current market opportunities combining several rare elements:

• Established Access: Direct pipeline to an established production company
• Exclusive Platform: Available only to the Stage 32 community
• Personal Review Process: Your work is seen by actual decision-makers
• Global Scale: Worldwide talent search through the largest creative community
• Proven Success Model: Based on Millennium Media's track record of discovery and pipeline of results

Stage 32 Contests Launch Careers

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.

"Stage 32 isn't about a quick win and a pat on the back. They're serious about opening doors." - Travis J. Opgenorth, Contest Winner

What This Means for Your Career

If you're selected for this opportunity, you're not just winning a contest. You're joining a development pipeline with a proven track record of commercial success. You're getting the kind of attention that can move a career into overdrive.

But even if you're not selected, your participation in this process demonstrates the kind of strategic thinking that separates professional writers from hobbyists. You're positioning yourself within a community that attracts this level of industry attention.

And that's not all. These additional execs are all interested in finding Action/Thriller scripts, too! They will read and judge the Top 10 finalist scripts and meet with any finalists whose writing they enjoy!

• Marco Amato, Head of Development, SABi Productions (HIERARCHY)
• Katie Splete, Creative Executive & Producer (BLINDSPOTTING, DIDI)

And if you select the optional add-on mentorship opportunity or you're a Top 10 finalist, you could win a mentorship with Literary Manager Andrew Kersey, Development Executive Janet Jeffries of Lawrence Bender Productions (DJANGO: UNCHAINED, PULP FICTION) , or Producer Chapman Maddox (IN THE GREY)!

These are actionable opportunities to make meaningful connections in this industry!

The Bottom Line: Opportunity Meets Preparation

Stage 32 has spent over a decade turning contest entrants into working writers — landing them representation, sales, options, staffing, and produced credits. Neighborhood Watch's Sean Farley didn't know his Stage 32 connection would lead to a theatrical release starring Jack Quaid. James Papa didn't predict his Stage 32 relationship would result in No Address with Billy Baldwin. Richard Zelniker could never have thought that 3 years after his contest win, he'd be linking back up with an Executive Producer, who Stage 32 set him up on a general meeting with after winning a contest, to direct The Vortex.

Success in this industry often comes from positioning yourself in the right place when opportunity strikes. Stage 32 has created an ecosystem where fresh voices can thrive. Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Is your voice ready to be discovered?

If so, click here to submit now!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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