Bring Your Questions: Join Us for the FREE Stage 32 Community Open House
Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:00pm PT
You have questions. You're curious about how to actually make the most of your time on Stage 32, how to use the resources here successfully, how to build genuine relationships that lead somewhere meaningful, and how to move forward with real intention. How to find the right collaborators, producers, financiers, reps, distributors, etc.
That's exactly what this FREE event is designed for.
Our Community Open House is a live, fully interactive conversation hosted by me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community here at Stage 32. It's a genuine gathering where you get to show up, share what you're working on, ask the questions that have been on your mind, and get direct guidance tailored to where you actually are in your journey.
Whether you've attended one before or this is your first, the conversation is different every single time. It's shaped by the members who take the time to join, be present, and bring their real questions to the table. Your voice, your goals, and your curiosity make each Open House uniquely valuable.
Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-september-2026-community-open-house-webcast
We'll cover the tools and features on Stage 32 that most consistently create momentum for members, and we'll talk about what's happening on the platform that you don't want to miss out on. September lands us in a genuinely exciting stretch of the year. We're coming off Venice and Toronto International, in the middle of New York Film Festival, heading into Austin Film Festival, and gearing up for our annual November Write Club campaign. There's real opportunity to position yourself for what's ahead, and we'll talk about how to do exactly that.
We'll close with a live Q&A focused entirely on you, your questions, your projects, and your next steps. And if you can't join us live, don't worry! Registering guarantees you the full recording so you can watch it anytime, from anywhere.
Come as you are. Bring your questions. Let's have a real conversation.
1 person likes this
Hi Michael - you are the right person at the right time for me. I am a senior citizen, Indian immigrant (84) living in L.A. I spent 50 years in Engineering Management, Marketing, International Busines...
Expand commentHi Michael - you are the right person at the right time for me. I am a senior citizen, Indian immigrant (84) living in L.A. I spent 50 years in Engineering Management, Marketing, International Business, Budgeting & Finance. Now I am trying to be a screenwriter! I was inspired by the true story of a close friend of mine and my wife who came to the U.S. and soon suffered an unimaginable series of tragedies - losing her husband, then her daughter, followed by terminal cancer.
As a novice writer, it took me a year to learn the ropes, and after numerous changes to the screenplay, I feel it is finally as good as I can make it.
But that is my opinion. I really would like to hear it from a seasoned, accomplished person in Hollywood. Am I wasting my time and money barking up the wrong tree? I have submitted my screenplay to over 50 contests and festivals. I won three awards, was declared a finalist and a semi-finalist in 5, and got an "Honorable Mention" in 2. I was "not selected" in a dozen of them. I got "professional analyses" from 10 industry experts. So, you can see I have tried everything. Where do I go from here?
Vijay Jeste Sometimes the story, especially ones from the heart, though endearing, aren't the ones that make it to the silver screen just because we are passionate about them. The contest awards addre...
Expand commentVijay Jeste Sometimes the story, especially ones from the heart, though endearing, aren't the ones that make it to the silver screen just because we are passionate about them. The contest awards address the quality of the writing, not the marketability of it as a film. That's the hard truth none of us want to believe.
Michael, thanks for doing this. I'm looking forward to this. The perspective from someone who has seen the process from the agency side, studio side, and now development side is incredibly valuable.
A...
Expand commentMichael, thanks for doing this. I'm looking forward to this. The perspective from someone who has seen the process from the agency side, studio side, and now development side is incredibly valuable.
As someone developing character-driven genre projects, I’m curious about how you evaluate the difference between a project that is simply “well written” and one that feels like it has the potential to become something buyers actually champion.
Appreciate you taking the time to share your insight with the community.