Filmmaking / Directing

I too work from home and most mornings, I walk along the local beach barefoot. My walk normally happens for about 45 minutes sometime between 6 am - 8 am. I find it a fantastic way to start and plan my day. I agree Ashley Renee Smith spending time in nature is a daily habit worth cultivating.

Ashley Renée Smith this is another good one I couldn’t wait to dive into but had to head out to work. What intentional changes have I made to challenge myself to grow creatively? For me it’s been:

Engaging in the Stage32 discussions you host or present a call to action too. Especially the 24hr QA forum engaging us with directors, producers, filmmakers etc.

During these threads I’m able to pick up gems of real world application of screenwriting and navigating the industry as an emerging scriptwriter.

Engagement is often a challenge for me because of my schedule and work/life balance but some how seem to make it work through my ambiversion.

Through thread engagement and introverted-style webinars I was able to address known and unknown challenges with loglines, structuring my pilot, and discovering brand identity.

The creative growth and the impact Stage32 l Netflix is creating was evident this week.

So I said all this to say being in the community is like a breath of fresh air given the “world” I currently reside in. It’s good to be apart of the network and I look forward to the journey that unfolds.

Ashley Renée Smith Love this—such a simple habit but so powerful. It’s easy to forget how much stepping away actually fuels creativity instead of slowing it down.

For me, I’ve been trying to do something similar in a different way—giving myself a little space away from the script to just observe and think. Sometimes the best ideas don’t come when I’m forcing them, but when I’m just sitting with the story and letting it breathe.

That reset really helps in seeing things more clearly and bringing more honesty into the writing.

Love this! I try to sit in the sun several times a day to take deep breaths. We need it so. I’ve been laying in bed until I’m ready to get up, letting my husband take over morning duties with the kiddos. It allows me to calm and soothe before the often chaotic day ensues, lol.

I'm trying to write a short based on a true story. Most of the story conveys the character's emotions as he travels to his destination. It's very difficult to get inside another person's head. I start writing at 4 AM, and I'm outdoors a lot, so that's not an issue for me.

Peter D. Marshall Great breakdown—this really highlights how context isn’t just background, it’s active storytelling.

What I like most here is how each example shows context shaping character decisions, not just atmosphere. That’s where it becomes powerful—when environment, culture, or history actually drives behavior.

Personally, I feel environmental setting and personal relationships are two of the most impactful ones. If done right, they can carry the entire story without needing heavy exposition.

Also a good reminder as writers: if you remove the context and the story still plays the same way, then the context isn’t being used to its full potential.

Great breakdown—this really highlights how context isn’t just background, it’s active storytelling.

What I like most here is how each example shows context shaping character decisions, not just atmosphere. That’s where it becomes powerful—when environment, culture, or history actually drives behavior.

Personally, I feel environmental setting and personal relationships are two of the most impactful ones. If done right, they can carry the entire story without needing heavy exposition.

Kenny Luongo This is a really smart approach—building tone and language through controlled short-form before scaling up makes a lot of sense, especially for something rooted in psychological tension.

I like that you’re focusing on testing specific elements individually—perception, structure, realism—rather than trying to prove everything at once. That kind of clarity usually leads to a much stronger pilot later.

As someone working in storytelling and direction, this definitely resonates. Would be interested in taking a look at the mini deck and understanding the tone you’re aiming for.

Hi Mia, feel free to add a job posting in the job board as well to reach more creative executives!

Thank you, I shared the opportunity there too. Best Regards

Mia Balventy This sounds like an ambitious and interesting idea building two connected universes for different audiences is a strong concept.

At this stage, you might find it helpful to clearly define the core concept, tone, and how the two universes connect, as that will make it easier for potential collaborators to understand the vision.

Also, sharing a bit more about the story world or characters could attract the right people who align with your direction.

Wishing you the best as you build your team excited to see how it develops.

Abhijeet Aade Thank you for your message, I really appreciate your insight.

the vision is already clearly defined and in motion. For both kids and adults, the core mission is Better World Building. Each audience has its own dedicated space and experience, designed specifically for them while still being part of the same larger ecosystem.

For kids, it lives through Kistemo (https://www.kistemo.com/ ) — a story-driven universe focused on creativity, imagination, and early leadership through characters and immersive storytelling.

For 18+, it expands into Better World Times ( https://www.betterworldtimes.us/) — a more advanced, immersive experience combining media, live studio formats, talent, storytelling, and real-world impact.

Both are designed as immersive story universes where talent, entertainment, and purpose come together — not just as content, but as a live-building experience where the audience is part of the journey.

The structure, tone, and connection between both are already established — right now the focus is execution and aligning with the right creative minds to build it at scale.

Appreciate your support and excited for what’s coming.

— Mia Balventy

Mia Balventy That sounds like a really well-thought-out and ambitious vision, Mia. I like how you’ve clearly separated the experiences for different audiences while still keeping them connected under one larger ecosystem—that’s not easy to pull off.

Kistemo as a foundation for younger audiences and Better World Times for a more mature, immersive space feels like a smart expansion path, especially with storytelling at the core of both.

As a filmmaker and writer, what excites me most is the idea of building this as a live, evolving universe rather than just static content—that opens up a lot of creative possibilities in terms of format and engagement.

Would definitely be interesting to see how this scales and how different creatives can contribute to shaping that world.

Brially-Michaël MÉfumes Welcome, Brially-Michaël this is a strong and clear creative identity.

I like how you combine thriller elements with character-driven storytelling, especially the idea that the real danger comes from within the characters themselves. That always adds depth and tension.

The mix of mystery and dark romance also sounds like a compelling space to explore, especially across different genres.

Curious—do you start more from character or from concept when building your stories?

Hi Abhijeet Aade ,

​In the majority of cases, I start with the concept and the worldbuilding. I love creating the 'rules' of a universe first.

​However, there are times when a specific character provides the spark. For instance, in one of my other projects, 'Le Seigneur des Âmes' (The Lord of Souls), the entire story grew out of a character inspiration.

​But generally, my foundation is definitely worldbuilding. I find that once the world is solid, the characters naturally find their place and their conflicts within it. How do you find the balance between a grand concept and personal character arcs in your own work?

Great to connect! What's your favorite thriller? Did a specific project inspire you to become a writer?

Hi Geoffroy Faugerolas

Thank you very much for the question. In fact, I don’t have a favorite thriller in the strict sense, because I’m fascinated by everything that falls under the thriller genre. Both in my own works and in those that already exist. To answer your question, I’ve been passionate about cinema since I was very young. I became a writer and started writing my own novels before moving into screenwriting. I have a deep passion for everything related to thriller, mystery, and suspense — including forbidden or toxic dark romance.

Brially-Michaël MÉfumes Hi,

That’s really interesting I like the idea of building the rules of the world first, especially how that naturally shapes conflict and character behavior.

For me, I tend to start more from the character side, but I’ve realized that the “world” still plays a crucial role, even in grounded stories. It might not be a constructed universe, but it’s the emotional and social environment the character exists in.

So the balance usually comes from letting the character drive the story, while making sure the world consistently challenges or reflects their internal state. That way, the external and internal journeys feel connected rather than separate.

I think when both are aligned, the story starts to feel more organic.

Would love to hear more about how you develop those rules in your worldbuilding process as well.

Working out what a script is saying is so key to unlocking its potential. The overriding theme should inform the journeys for all the characters somehow - whether in big or small, positive or negative ways, they should all have a relationship to that theme. That's what really lifts a script and takes it to the next level.

Christina Pickworth Absolutely, I agree with that.

I’ve been realizing how once the core theme becomes clear, it naturally starts shaping every character’s choices even in subtle ways. It almost acts like an invisible thread connecting everything.

That’s something I’ve been exploring more in my current project as well, especially making sure each character has their own relationship with that theme rather than just supporting the main arc.

Really appreciate you sharing that perspective.

Huneyn Ja'afri I get what you mean sometimes it feels like the chaos gives you something to react to, and when things go quiet, that external push disappears.

But I like what you said about those quiet moments being a space to reflect. I’ve found that’s often where the deeper layers start to reveal themselves not necessarily new ideas, but a clearer understanding of what’s already there.

And that shift you mentioned, where it leads you to something completely different, is interesting too almost like the process is guiding you somewhere unexpected.

Appreciate you sharing that.

Amanda Toney Thank you, I really appreciate that.

That’s interesting about music it can definitely unlock something different creatively. I’ve had moments where it shifts the emotional tone of a scene completely.

This week I’ve been focusing on refining my feature project Pie & Coffee, mainly working on emotional clarity and making sure the character choices feel honest and earned.

What kind of music usually sparks ideas for you?.

Joshua Young That’s a great way of putting it the “incubation effect” really captures that phase perfectly.

I agree, it’s interesting how much emphasis is placed on the initial draft, while this quieter stage is where the deeper work actually starts to take shape. It’s less visible, but probably more defining.

What you said about scripts being “correct” but not felt really resonates that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to move away from in my rewrites. Letting the material sit and then coming back to it almost as an audience does change how you see everything.

Appreciate you sharing that it’s a perspective that doesn’t get talked about enough.

Great question, Naveen. It's hard for projects to cut through the noise. Everyone's distracted. Audiences are tightening their belt. Free platforms like Tubi are rapidly growing. I don't think quality is an issue -- look at the success of vertical dramas. I think it's an issue of relevance.

Hello Geoffroy Faugerolas , Thanks for the response. I totally agree that vertical dramas are getting bigger and better these days. Also I just want to add one point here, i think there are no new stories around the globe maybe perspectives exists. If we show a regular story in a different perspective and scale, movies are working at some points. For that we need Screenplay skill and vision of the Director. We experienced it in few cases in India. I hope you understand my point here.