Screenwriting

Hi Everyone,

I’m thrilled to join the Stage 32 community! I’m a science fiction author from Hungary, and I’m here to represent my high-concept dystopian project, "2084".

About the project: It’s a near-future political thriller where a global AI surveillance system uses humanity’s digital footprints to decide who is "worthy" of survival. Think Blade Runner meets 1984, but with a modern AI-driven twist.

The story is based on my completed novel (available in English), and I have a polished 3-page treatment ready for the screen adaptation. I’ve spent significant time refining the world-building to ensure it resonates with a global audience. I’m currently looking to connect with producers, managers, and fellow writers who are passionate about elevated genre storytelling and international co-productions.

I’d love to hear from you: What are you working on in the sci-fi space right now? Any tips for a European author looking to bridge into the US market?

Looking forward to connecting!

(Feel free to check out my profile for more details on the project!)

Árpád Váczi

I received a less than stellar feedback on a written pitch that I take issue with. This person gave me a low score because of the setting of my story. Most of the story takes place in a surgical aircraft. The reader "found the concept of surgeries taking place on airplanes a little bit too tough to buy". He went on to say that the environment would be difficult to sterilize and there is the issue of turbulence.

Since this is not written under the guise of fantasy, doesn't he think that I researched the topic? China has engineered medical surgical planes. Just because it's not in the United States, doesn't mean it does not exist. What this tells me is that this person, when dealing with a topic unknown to him, can't take a few seconds to Google it before judging.

Another issue I have with this person is his comment about a "sterilize" environment. My first thought was doesn't he realize surgical tents are set up during wartime for seriously injured troops right near battle areas, They don't book a flight on Spirit Airline to fly wounded soldiers to the nearest cleanest hospital. If military medics can sterilize tents on the battle field, I think that doctors can manage sterilizing an area on a aircraft for surgery.

Am I being too judgmental for thinking that this person should do a little research before providing feedback?

Anna Henry is an independent producer through her company, Idle Hour Entertainment, which focuses on projects with international appeal and showcasing diversity in writers and stories. Anna is also a sought-after script consultant, and teaches screenwriting for television on Stage 32, including through Stage 32 & Netflix’s Creating Content for the Global Marketplace Initiative. Anna began her 20-year career as a television development executive at CBS, ABC and Nickelodeon. After freelancing as a creative consultant to production companies, she served as head of development at a literary management and production company. As a manager and consultant, her clients have worked on shows and set up projects at virtually every broadcast, cable and streaming television network. She is currently pitching several projects she developed with writers, some of whom she met right here on Stage 32.

Her next lab on writing a historical fiction / period pilot script starts this weekend. https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-8-part-screenwriting...

I am excited to answer your questions about writing for television! You can ask me about the elements of a successful series, pilot structure, creating characters and world, the craft of writing pilot scripts, pitching for television and the state of the industry.

Ch6 Pg 11

EXT, CASTLE GARDEN - NIGHT

Garerit, still cloaked in his enchanted invisibility cloak, crouches in the moonlit garden. He gazes up at the towering structure, where a single window remains lit- the Princess's chamber. Garerit clenches a small pouch in his the magic beans he had taken earlier.

Garerit inspects the small, shimmering bean in his palm. It pulses with a faint golden glow, humming softly with hidden energy.

Garerit (Thinking): "If these beans truly hold magic, then this should do the trick.”

Garerit kneels by the tower's edge and presses the bean deep into the soft earth. He quickly covers it and steps back.

A faint tremor ripples through the earth. Tiny cracks form in the soil. Garerit stumbles back, eyes wide.

With a sudden burst, a thick, twisting vine shoots out of the ground, spiraling and twisting upward along the tower wall! Its leaves spread wide, forming natural footholds. The beanstalk stretches higher and higher, wrapping itself around the side of the tower. It stops just below the Princess's window.

Garerit grips the vine and begins his ascent, carefully stepping on the thick leaves. The tower walls are too smooth to climb otherwise—this is his only way up. A cool night breeze sways the beanstalk slightly as he climbs higher.

Ch6 Pg 12

EXT, CASTLE GARDEN - NIGHT

Under the pale moonlight, Garerit climbs a thick vine that has sprouted from the magic bean he planted below. The vine coils around the stone tower, reaching the window outside Princess Elaine's room. Garerit moves with practiced ease, careful not to make noise.

Garerit crouches on the window ledge, his magic cloak draped over his shoulders. The moonlight streams through the window, illuminating the chamber's elegant yet lonely decor.

Princess Elaine, a young woman with sorrowful eyes, sits on a luxurious, ornate bed under the moonlight, gazing at the night sky. Her long, flowing silver hair drapes over her shoulders as she absentmindedly touches her flowing white gown. A small candle flickers on a nearby table, casting a warm glow alongside a gilded mirror. Her expression is distant and pensive. Garerit observes her with awe.

Garerit (Whispering): "Princess Elaine?”

INT, ELAINE"S ROOM - NIGHT

She turns her head toward the window as the sound of rustling leaves reaches her, eyes narrowing. She looks at the dark figure in surprise.

Elaine: "GASP! Who's there?”

 Garerit (VO): "A friend.”

Garerit peeks through the windowsill with a mischievous grin. Elaine stood up quickly, startled by his sudden appearance.

Elaine (Softly): "Who are you? How did you find your way up here?”

Garerit (Grinning): "I'm Garerit, just a simple tailor, but a clever one. I used a little bit of magic."

Garerit steps down from the windowsill with a graceful bow. Elaine, though startled, watches him carefully, unsure of his intentions, but curiosity flickers in her gaze.

Garerit: "I heard a tale of a princess cursed to live as a white deer. Thought I'd see if it was true and meet her myself.”

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 and managers, MACRO Television Studios, Zero Gravity Management, Veritas Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, and more! Please join us in congratulating your fellow writers for their accomplishments!

Congrats to:

Pamela Wells

Dolf Van Stijgeren

Sabrina Zhang

Rhian Morgan

Crystal "Xperience J" Judkins

Cara Reinard

Ritchie Johnston

Jeff Rosenberg

Jason Ginsburg

Gabriel Eby

Bongo Jack Hooper

John Park

Alexander Naffah

Soodeh Chenari

Alex Mehta

Nazli Pinar Unlu

Sohrab Homi Fracis

Brad Baldwin

Rachel Amy Ritchie

Rosemary Zibart

Erik Bianco

Laura Harbin

Steven M Statharos

Skyler Thomas

Howe Compton

Marc L Ellis

Robin Clarke

Juan Rodriguez

Benita Cullingford

Dona Paulin

Mitchell Parod

Jacob Ornellas

Dragan Veselinovic

John Park

Daniel Turkewitz

Matt Friedman

Lara Koski

Adrian Pasqualini

Peter Marshall Smith

Dr. Rebecca Rosenblat

Dragan Veselinovic

Steven Statharos

John Park

Scott Liapis

Liz Montgomery

Luigi Monteleone

Alex Gutenberg

Nadia Meirovich

Craig Sultan

Nina Van Wijk

Adam Reiver

Brian Deininger

Liz Montgomery

Vodi Trotter

Joseph J. Zielinski

Cole Mueller

Charles Lobosco

Sikandar Sidhu

Katie Hennicke

Wendy Bednarz

Dylan Bennett

Selma Karayalcin

Delaney Bishop

John Park

Ray Raghavan

Eric Christopherson

Cara Reinard

Plus! We had 34 meeting requests from producers for our writers! Congratulations to the following writers!

Steph West

Jason Ginsburg

Gabriel Eby

Excellence Mazakala Kisonga

Steven M Statharos

Alex Trierweiler

Andy Maycock

Steven M Statharos

Kevin P Ryan

Wendy Bednarz

Kenneth Gildin

Sohrab Homi Fracis

Lindsay Eleanor Smith

Juliana Philippi

Carole Ryavec

Daniel Eric Finkel

Cara Reinard

ISA – International Screenwriting Association

I never used this website to get notes on my scripts, because I focused on submitting them to the industry mandates for feature and series projects this website offers. It’s a cool service that I think you need the paid subscription for, coming at $10 a month. This subscription includes waivers, like about two or three per year, you can use to enter screenwriting contests for free. Basically, you’ll get back your subscription fee over time. It’s nice.

The one issue I have with this site is that I never heard back after submitting a project to an industry mandate. Like absolutely nevery never, not once – no Yes, no No, no Maybe, no I like to learn more, no Who do you think you are? Just plain silence … … … Ahhhh, refreshing … …

Even if the project seemed to be a perfect fit. You possibly need attachments to your projects: like actors, composers, directors, sizzle reels, and so on, which the form provides options for.

Other than that, they provide a lot of helpful resources like articles, videos, interviews and a nice little YouTube channel with tips and tricks from business insiders.

Stay tuned for Part III, and if you wish, join my network :-)

Roadmap Writers

Use it, but do so with caution, because it may not be totally up-to-date.

You’ll find a lot of the execs on Roadmap you’ll also find here on Stage 32. There are similar offers like reads, partial reads, consultation calls, but you can also buy packages. Like mentoring packages for multiple script reads with notes and a set number of calls included. Expensive stuff, you guessed it. Unfortunately, most of the time, paying for reads, notes and consultations is the only way to get them.

When I had a consultation call with a literary manager, she recommended Roadmap Writers because she found them to be very supportive. However, when I followed her suggestion – asking them for a list of matching managers, agents, and producers for the project she had consulted me on – I didn’t hear back, followed up, aaand... didn't hear back.

Stay tuned for Part IV (I love Roman Numerals)