Screenwriting

What’s a problem you've been struggling with in your outline/script lately (a scene, dialogue, etc.). If you figured out the problem, post how in the comments. If you haven't figured it out yet, let us know what the problem is. Someone might be able to help.

I need to know if this is now common practice or not.

responded to a network request that offered their services to producing one of my scripts. I sent him the script and got this in response:

Document received with thanks.

You should be hearing back from me in 24 hours with either a PASS or a CONSIDERATION for your script. But your project looks good so far from the first 5 pages.

Please be informed: my production services involve developing the material. I’ll work with you from development, to production and then post-production. I’ll acquire the casts and the crews and the funding for the project. Everything a producer must do.

You’ll obtain your writer’s credit, and for your financial commitment, you’ll obtain an Executive Producer’s credit.

My flat fee is $4,400.

The fee is only payable after the script evaluation if your project gets a consideration. Once we both agree on the script to develop, we’ll sign an NDA and make the payment for the facilitation of the project development. This fee helps facilitate acquiring a pitch deck, budget lists and so on.

Be rest assured, Production is guaranteed. Do let me know if this works for you.

Thank you

I do not have the money to proceed regardless.

Happy Friday! Just wrapped up an incredible week connecting with 20 executives with some fascinating insights on what's hot right now:

TV: Crime dramas and mysteries with unique POVs are in high demand

Features: Split between low-budget horror/thrillers ($1-5M) and mid-budget A-list projects ($25M)

Big trend: Romance is making a major comeback!

This is just a taste of what we discuss in the Writers' Room (https://www.stage32.com/writers-room) - unique sneak peeks, insider intel, industry news, and hearing first about which executives are being added (like the head of dev behind The Night Agent) or what they're looking for.

And if you're not a member of the Writers' Room yet, you won't want to miss this Wednesday at 4pm PT - Alice Coulthard, Head of Development at Superbe Films, joins our Exec Hour to talk about her journey from acting to development and how to write for actors. Since packaging and talent attachment is how projects actually get made... this is essential viewing!

Keep writing and be on the lookout for this weekend's pitch sessions. There are 9 executives participating this Saturday and Sunday with only a few spots left:

Mike Griffin is a manager and producer at Luber Roklin Entertainment which was just announced in Deadline and was named to Variety's One To Watch list. Mike packaged and sold many TV shows and films including LADY DANGER starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Carlton Jordan & Crystle Roberson for Amazon Freevee announced on Deadline. Mike worked with Mel Gibson on developing the Oscar winning HACKSAW RIDGE starring Andrew Garfield. Previously, Mike signed Stage 32 writer Joey Velazquez as a client and they are packaging Joey's script.

https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions/Pitch-Mike-Griffin-Sunday-June-8th-2025

Jessica Schwartz is a Development Executive and Producer currently serving as Head of Development at Roundtable Entertainment, where she oversees both scripted and unscripted content. She has experience pitching, selling, and developing with major platforms including Netflix, Warner Bros., HBO, Peacock, Hulu, Apple, CBS, Amazon, E!, and Lifetime.

From Jessica: ""I am currently looking for horror /comedy, genre bending thrillers, and potentially rom coms right now. My strengths are very much so in structure and how to tailor the pitch to different buyers and in pitch deck design.""

https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions/Pitch-Jessica-Schwartz-Sunday-June-8th-2025

And if you're looking to get feedback from a literary manager who started at CAA, Allen Eckhouse is a Narrative and Literary Manager at Logical Talent Management and has been in entertainment for over a decade. LTM represents top-notch screenwriters across all genres, styles, and formats. Additionally, LTM works with literary authors, podcast creators, board game designers, and other content generators to help bring their projects to life. Allen is known for developing unique pitch concepts and making them come to life for places like Dreamworks, Amblin, Blumhouse, and Illumination Entertainment.

Allen's clients write across all genres and have worked on hits such as the Emmy-nominated Disney/Nat Geo series GENIUS, MAX's THE GIRLS ON THE BUS and THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS, HBO's Emmy-winning show VEEP, Emmy-winning show CONAN, Disney's DUCK TALES, Issa Rae's Emmy-nominated show INSECURE, IL TALENTO DEL CALABRONE for Amazon and QUIZ LADY for Hulu.

https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions/Pitch-Allen-Eckhouse-Saturday-June-7th-2025

Happy writing!

Debating the relative value of screenplay contests is a common occurrence here on Stage 32. What I want to know, however, are some actual, objective, real-life experiences from y'all of POSITIVE screenplay contest experiences.

Give us the what, when, how, etc.

I'll start: In 2023 I dusted off an old feature screenplay, THE SURFACE OF THE DEEP, and entered it into the San Francisco International Film Festival. This was my first time submitting a screenplay anywhere. It achieved a Quarter Finalist placement. Yes, I did not immediately get an agent or sell the thing but I did get a ton of encouragement to start writing again.

Hey everyone! I wanted to congratulate our fellow community members who had scripts requested through Stage 32 pitch sessions over the last 2 weeks. We are thrilled for the opportunities for the following writers to have their scripts requested by various producers, Wayfarer Studios, Marathon Management, Vision Entertainment, Red Wagon Entertainment, Kersey Management, and more! Please join us in congratulating your fellow writers for their accomplishments!

Congrats to:

Lee Matthias

Lindsay Eleanor Smith

Margaret Doner

Erin Elizabeth Keefer

Frank Fortin

Sabrina Mansfield

Kevin Tavolaro

Sunil Dhokia

Frederic Chast

Maria Glassner

Linda Butorac

Tom Morgan

Mark Glentworth

Brandon Feldman

Robert McCunney

Pamela Wendtland

Franquita Oliver

Alexander Shaida

Matt Lavery

Julie Georgina Shackman

JR Rodriguez

Stefan Alexander

Mark Stouffer

Brenda Boddy

Stefan Alexander

Ronald L. Ecker

C.C. McLoughlin

Stefan Alexander

Sally Smith

Denise Hicks

Erin Rothwell

Edward Richards

Alejandro Leopardi

Steven Bogart

Sally Smith

Ronald L. Ecker

Stefan Alexander

Sean Plemmons

Stefan Alexander

Rhiana Yazzie

Sholanda Coleman

Mark Williams-Abrams

H. S. Almahse

Ryan Vincent Logsdon

Ryan Vincent Logsdon

Dane McCauley

Leora Randall-Tavori

Skyler Thomas

Sean Plemmons

Michael Kearney

Tom Morgan

Sally Smith

Angelo Raza

Steven Bogart

Shana Burton

Nadira Pankey

Edward Richards

Catherine Bosley

Richard Owers

Julie B Rockett

Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"

Catherine Bosley

Jill Hoppe

Andrew McKee

Daniel Nadell

Heidi Stock

Tom Morgan

Thomas Newman

Susan Lander

Richard Turner

Anrea Boessler

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander

Daniel Turkewitz

John Park

Richard Owers

Catherine Bosley

Levi Feeney

Stefan Alexander

Margaret Doner

Mary Ann Rotondi

Sam Tahhan

Nancy Ostertag

Autumn Cavender

Logan Ludwig

Stefan Alexander

Sohrab Homi Fracis

Marc Prey

Stefan Alexander

Michael Karp

Georgia Long

Lori Lee Peters

Julie Georgina Shackman

Vin Morreale

Michael Karp

Marilyn Marchetti

Tanasha Allwood

Cassidy Fritsch

Amanda Laden

sonya dunn

Plus! We had 24 meeting requests from producers for our writers! Congratulations to the following writers!

Erika Clark

Tom Morgan

Mark Glentworth

Brandon Feldman

Robert McCunney

Stefan Alexander

Edward Richards

Sally Smith

Andrew McKee

Daniel Nadell

Heidi Stock

Tom Morgan

Stefan Alexander

Oliver Vanicsek

Michael Karp

Youmna Soliman

Karen Slade

Rodney Lawrence Bernardo

Georgia Long

Julie Georgina Shackman

Michael Karp

Marilyn Marchetti

Tanasha Allwood

Toni D'Antonio

Excellent article on the Horror Genre:

As horror films multiply and diversify, the label is collapsing under the weight of what it’s being asked to describe.An oft-repeated mantra among film distribution professionals is “Drama is not a genre”.

By that, they don’t mean that films cannot be dramatic, nor that there are not films you could call “a drama”. In fact, it’s the reverse - too many films could be classed as a drama, thereby making the term of little use.

The main function of a genre descriptor is to quickly convey to the audience what they should expect from a movie.

You say comedy, they expect to laugh.

You tell them it’s a romantic comedy and they expect to have their heartstrings exercised.

You say western and they have a clear idea of the setting of the movie.

And for a long time, horror brought forth a pretty narrow set of expectations.

However, times are changing and the horror genre of 2025 is not what it once was.

On Tuesday I was part of an event called “The Business of Fear” with Jason Blum and other senior figures from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, where we unpacked trends across modern horror. I wanted to share the key points here to ensure the topic is open to all and to continue the discussion in public.

Full article here https://stephenfollows.com/p/has-the-word-horror-stopped-being-useful

As a lifelong Kevin Smith fan, I just about jumped out of my seat reading this news — according to Deadline, a Dogma sequel is officially in the works and was quietly being pitched during Cannes this year! (Read the full article here: https://deadline.com/2025/06/kevin-smith-dogma-sequel-cannes-1236413955/)

Dogma is one of my favorite movies of all time; smart, irreverent, packed with heart, and a stellar cast that leaps off the screen even 25 years later. When I found out Kevin had arrived in Cannes and was screening the film there only 48 hours after I left, I won’t lie, I was heartbroken. But the silver lining? I’m seeing the 25th Anniversary theatrical screening tonight, and I couldn’t be more excited.

What other 90s/2000s scripts do you think deserve a sequel?

Well, 2025 has been a good year as I/We enter the halfway point of the year. Three scripts written. Two outlines ready to be written and two pitches ready to be outlined. I also, turned eleven scripts into novellas which will be turned into audiobooks. So far, so good...

Now, I just need to sell something.

I need the morale; I need the money.!

I think I've covered most bases to get this done: Wrote award-winning scripts, networked, created book versions, etc.

What else is left for a lowely screenwriter to do?

Any suggestions / insights?

Where do I get pitch advice?