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.
1 person likes this
Really enjoyed reading this. As someone who designs pitch decks, I couldn't agree more with the idea that a deck isn't there to explain everything, but to get people to press play on th...
Expand commentHenry Hereford
Really enjoyed reading this. As someone who designs pitch decks, I couldn't agree more with the idea that a deck isn't there to explain everything, but to get people to press play on the story. The actor headshot comparison was spot on.
What resonated with me most was that you articulated something I've been trying to explain to clients for a long time. A good pitch deck isn't about cramming in information. It's about creating enough connection, curiosity, and emotional investment that someone wants to turn the next page and eventually read the script.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. This was one of the most thoughtful takes on pitch decks I've read in a while.
1 person likes this
For me, the pitch deck is actually the first thing I want to see before I even look at the script. A good deck should quickly give me a sense of the story, tone, visual style, world, key characters, a...
Expand commentFor me, the pitch deck is actually the first thing I want to see before I even look at the script. A good deck should quickly give me a sense of the story, tone, visual style, world, key characters, and who's involved. I also like when it incorporates elements of a lookbook so I can immediately understand the feel of the project.
What I don't want is page after page of text explaining the industry or over-explaining the project. Know your audience. If you're pitching investors, you may need a little more information. If you're sharing with producers, the deck should be a concise introduction that gets us interested enough to have the next conversation.
The real discussion happens on Zoom, over the phone, or in person. The deck is there to spark interest and provide a clear overview before diving into the script.
In my experience, many investors don't even read the script. They want to understand the vision, the team, the marketability, and eventually see the finished product. The pitch deck is often the first step in that process and can be incredibly important in getting someone engaged enough to learn more.
I agree 100% with your opinion. Joshua Young. As we know "A picture is worth a thousand words." :))
Hi Sean Hussey, thank you; this is such a clear and grounded producer perspective, and it really resonates with what I’ve been seeing too.
I’m completely with you on the balance: the script carries the...
Expand commentHi Sean Hussey, thank you; this is such a clear and grounded producer perspective, and it really resonates with what I’ve been seeing too.
I’m completely with you on the balance: the script carries the weight, the pitch deck carries the clarity. A deck can amplify intention, but it can’t manufacture it. And I love how you put it: the deck helps you see the movie, but the script is what convinces you it’s worth making. And yes, I’ve also seen those gorgeous decks attached to scripts that weren’t ready. It’s like the saying we have in Portuguese: “Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs"; sometimes the visuals promise more than the story can deliver. And the other one: "A picture is worth a thousand words," but only when the words are already doing their job.
I really appreciate your insight here and your %. It’s a good reminder that the script is the engine and the deck is the amplifier, and the magic happens when they’re speaking the same cinematic language.
Hi Kelly Needleman, thanks for sharing. For me, the split also lands around 75–80% script / 20–25% deck. But I’ll be honest: in the cases where I see the pitch deck first, it’s often the only thing th...
Expand commentHi Kelly Needleman, thanks for sharing. For me, the split also lands around 75–80% script / 20–25% deck. But I’ll be honest: in the cases where I see the pitch deck first, it’s often the only thing that tells me whether a story has real market potential or not. It can be the deciding factor in whether I even want to read the script. I’m a very visual person in my sensibilities, so the deck hits me immediately. If the tone, visuals, and positioning feel aligned, I’m curious. If not, I usually pass.
When the script is good, we have real potential.
When the script needs work, I shift into my practical exec side and look at what can be developed.
And I’ve seen exactly what you mentioned:
– stunning decks attached to scripts that weren’t ready
– and scripts that were undeniable even with the most minimal presentation
So yes, the script opens the door.
The deck shows what’s waiting on the other side, in my opinion :)