Your Stage 32 Success Story Starts Here: Join Our FREE June Community Open House!
Wednesday, June 10th at 12:00 pm PT!
Every success story begins with a first step.
If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our Summer Community Open House Webcast happening Wednesday, June 10th at 12:00 pm PT!
Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-june-2026-community-open-house-webcast
Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply ready to stop creating in isolation, the Stage 32 Community Open House is your moment to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.
This free live event isn’t a presentation; it’s a fully interactive session led by you and guided by Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32. You’ll have the opportunity to share your goals, ask questions, and tell us exactly what resources or support you’re looking for right now in your creative journey.
Ashley will walk you through the most powerful tools and features on Stage 32, including how to build a strong profile that acts as your virtual business card—clearly showcasing your skills, interests, and creative voice. You’ll learn how to participate in the free Stage 32 Lounges in a way that positions you as someone others want to collaborate with, including how to make a compelling post, contribute to ongoing conversations, and stay consistently active in a way that builds visibility and trust.
You’ll also learn how to keep up with the latest industry news, platform updates, and community insights through the Stage 32 Blog, and how to access Stage 32 Education, Certification, and Script Services.
This session will close with a live Q&A tailored specifically to your needs—whether you’re a writer, director, producer, actor, editor, or someone who wears multiple hats.
If you can’t attend live, don’t worry, registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere!
Wherever you’re starting from, this is your launchpad. Join us and take that first step with intention.
I really like this point.
Sometimes the best feedback is not the easiest feedback. If an idea keeps returning to my mind after some time, even when I initially resist it, I try to pay attention.
The amo...
Expand commentI really like this point.
Sometimes the best feedback is not the easiest feedback. If an idea keeps returning to my mind after some time, even when I initially resist it, I try to pay attention.
The amount of work required is not always a sign that the note is wrong. Sometimes it means the story is asking for something deeper.
Sometimes feedback can be great, but when you get feedback from two different consultants on the same exact document, and one says they love your protagonist, and the other says they don't like your p...
Expand commentSometimes feedback can be great, but when you get feedback from two different consultants on the same exact document, and one says they love your protagonist, and the other says they don't like your protagonist. Or, one really likes your dialogue, and the other says your dialogue sucks. The arbitrary opinions can be so arbitrary. So whose input/notes do you use? Which one is correct?
I’ve always believed that a screenwriter should be like an eagle facing a storm.
An eagle doesn't run from the storm. It spreads its wings and uses the power of the storm to rise higher.
Feedback works...
Expand commentI’ve always believed that a screenwriter should be like an eagle facing a storm.
An eagle doesn't run from the storm. It spreads its wings and uses the power of the storm to rise higher.
Feedback works the same way.
Even criticism that feels subjective, unfair, or based on a misunderstanding can still teach us something. At the very least, it may represent how a certain segment of the audience will react to the material.
When multiple readers point to the same issue, I pay very close attention. But I also remember that no consultant, analyst, judge, or reader is perfect. Writers must listen carefully, learn what they can, and then make their own final decisions.
One of the most valuable things a writer can do is expose a screenplay to different readers, competitions, and festivals. The goal isn't just validation. It's growth.
No feedback should discourage a writer. Every storm carries the potential to help us fly higher.
I think this is one of the hardest parts of receiving feedback.
When two people give opposite notes, I try not to ask which solution is correct. I try to ask whether both reactions are pointing to the...
Expand commentI think this is one of the hardest parts of receiving feedback.
When two people give opposite notes, I try not to ask which solution is correct. I try to ask whether both reactions are pointing to the same underlying question.
Sometimes the contradiction is not in the story. Sometimes it is in the interpretation.
I believe feedback is worth taking when it identifies a problem, even if the suggested solution isn't the right one. When multiple readers stumble over the same scene, character motivation, or pacing...
Expand commentI believe feedback is worth taking when it identifies a problem, even if the suggested solution isn't the right one. When multiple readers stumble over the same scene, character motivation, or pacing issue, it's usually a sign that something needs attention.
That said, I trust my instincts when feedback pushes the story away from its core intent, theme, or voice. The goal isn't to please every reader, it's to make the story the strongest version of itself.
The best notes don't tell me what to write; they help me see what I've actually written.