Trending Lounge Discussions

This sounds huge for Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures, Geoff Hall! I think the next James Bond movie is going to be a giant hit globally. I'm looking forward to seeing it! I'm looking forward to seeing After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101, and Project Hail Mary too!

Warners seems to keep losing dance partners and Sony has deep relationships with Amazon on hardware sales. Only the shadow knows what really happened here but sounds like a big win for Sony.

Sam Sokolow do you think Sam, that this sounds like Warner Bros has a long-term terminal business problem?

Maurice Vaughan I must admit to feeling a side swipe when I heard that Denis Villneuve was attached to the new Bond movie. I think that the casting of Bond will be very important. They have to get that right, above all else.

Two MPA members consolidating their distribution strategies. Since the consent order restricting the studios from monopolistic practices was (without explanation) set aside by the DOJ a couple years ago, they have gone off the hook buying every viable streamer and coordinating efforts to stifle access to anything but studio content, now on a global basis. This might maybe something that should be looked at under RICO. Whatever it means for Amazon & MGM, at the end of the day it means nothing to consumers or independent filmmakers, except noting yet another incremental move to control market share.

I get my inspiration from life. Shakespeare wrote, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." I have had the good fortune to travel the world and observe many stories that were interesting enough to share through my writing. WTS, I have also been given the opportunity to write a script from another era as witnessed by a WW2 resistance fighter. Observations of human nature interacting with environment. Different decades, different stories, universal themes.

Addenda. Put yourself in a new situation. One example. First mom died when she was 84 and later dad when he was 90. During those months when I and my siblings had plenty to think about, my imagination ran completely wild with ideas related to what can go wrong with funerals and inheritances.

Talia Frank,

I pull my inspiration from places most people overlook — old comic book ads, patent filings from 1913, forgotten poetry, and conversations with chickens (really).

But deeper than that, it comes from contrast. I grew up around darkness, instability, and pain. I survived things I don’t often talk about. So now I create worlds filled with humor, hope, absurdity, and music — because those are the things I needed most as a child.

My musical, animated, and film work all spring from one idea: joy can be revolutionary. That doesn’t mean ignoring the hard stuff. It means laughing in the middle of it. Singing despite it. Offering kindness when the world offers none.

I get encouragement from dear friends, including a Holocaust survivor named Inge who calls me a genius (I disagree, but she’s very persuasive). I write songs faster than most people make coffee, and every single one is a small spark against the dark.

So where does it come from?

Somewhere deep. Somewhere scarred.

And now… somewhere free.

I love the conversations with chickens. Good title too. I'd go to it. It will make big bucks bucks bucks.

Jon Shallit, thank you. I am an American from California now living on a small farm in northern Germany. While I am primarily a songwriter, I have also developed four TV series, four films, and a stage musical.

Hi, Vahagn Karapetyan. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know that I moved your post from the Producing Lounge to the Introduce Yourself Lounge since you're introducing yourself and looking for a FX artist for your project. Let me know if you have any questions.

You could also make a post on the Job Board (www.stage32.com/find-jobs).

Hello, Vahagn. Are you looking for a VFX or an SFX designer? Because the title says 'SFX' (Sound Effects), but your text talks about 'VFX' (Visual Effects).

Thanks Maurice Vaughan, Peace Today is a mix of Dutch and English productions, so don't get confused!

Willem Elzenga congrats from me as well - no small feat you've signed up for, but sounds like you have the deep personal motivation to drive you through the tasks :)

what platform are you using for podcast distribution? I read that Spotify is making a big push to increase video podcast content. cheers

You're welcome, Willem Elzenga. Thanks for letting me know. I'm looking forward to watching the videos.

Hi Willem,

Really inspiring work! I’m a writer based in Pakistan, currently exploring projects around social change and human stories. Would love to connect and see if there’s any way I could contribute.

AI is going to be big time Sebastian, I am already enjoying all its possibilities. We use YouTube with video and Spotify solely audio. I'll ask the team if they're ready for video podcast on spotify, thanks for the tip.

You're welcome, Yaşar Taşbaş. I think there's room for both too. Original movies and comic book films. I agree about more variety in comic book movies. There's a lot of unique comics out there. What's your favorite comic book movie?

Maurice Vaughan ı think "the dark knight" and "winter soldier"

Watchmen.

The Dark Knight and Winter Soldier are two of the best comic book movies in my opinion, Yaşar Taşbaş. My favorite is Blade.

I had said for a while that comic book-related shows are better suited for streaming. While the spectacle involved in big-screen adaptations can be fun, comics are, at their soul, storytelling ventures.

Areale Hanks Welcome here Areale!

Hey Wyman Brent , "the good ship Stage 32," Hahaha, okay sure. Let's take off then. I enjoy writing for business and creatively. Like I was telling Maurice Vaughan, I'm currently writing a hybrid novel based on the Devil's Punchbowl a post civil war period piece. There's so many genres to explore. But I'm also into music production and concept art, where I sync my music to multimedia graphic designs. I enjoy this also and it helps me avoid writers block and burnout. I do read the profiles, but tell me more about your songwriting endeavors, do you write for a specific genre of music or do you just go with the flow of what you feel? Do you work for a big corporation, a pro, or do you have your own company you're trying to develop and build out?

Areale Hanks, you are a very busy person. I would be interested to know about your hybrid novel. What exactly is a hybrid novel? Your mention of the civil (okay post) war made me think of my direct connection to the civil war. My great grandmother was born during the civil war. She held me on her lap when I was a baby. She was over 100 years old at the time and I think I was over 100 days old at the time. As for art, I was an artist when I lived in California. I would sell my abstract art at shows in San Diego. I am a writer in the sense that i have written out the various TV series and films I want to get out there. Regarding music, I am strictly a one person show on a farm in northern Germany. I do not have one style of music. I write across almost every musical genre. I find songs just pop into my head fully formed. I also find lyrics from mid-century comic books, old patent applications, even from an 1873 book of etiquette. All of my songs are written out in no more than five minutes. It has to do with my being on the extreme spectrum of creative synesthesia, and having ADHD with hyperfocus. Now maybe you can tell me more about your projects. I am including a link to a few of my songs if you ever get a chance to check them out. Best wishes for every success.

https://wymanbrent.bandcamp.com/

Wyman Brent hybrid novel meaning it's a novel written with screenplay elements to give the reader a cinematic experience, with narration of visuals and atmosphere building well keeping other elements that provide an emotional experience by allowing the reader to also understand the characters outside of dialogue. For example, with inner thoughts, journal entries, song lyrics. Mostly to challenge the depths of my writing style. I've heard and have seen that some people are liken to myself and have a fascination for period pieces as long as it tells a good story or possibly something someone can relate to. I find creative arts are a form of therapy and can help with cognitive improvements, attention, memory, language processing executive functioning, problem solving and mental flexibility. It's understandable why music/song is known as the universal language. I started posting some of my concept art on this platform as I work. But, I'm also working on scaling my slate and this requires a lot of footwork. I'm interested to hear your work. Are your project pieces archived here as well? Have you gotten any major placements? I can see you have a large body of work and that is great news.

Areale Hanks, thanks for the explanation regarding hybrid novels. I am always open to learning something new. I would like to write a hybread novel slice by slice. As for slices of history, I grew up in the south and was born a short drive from Appomattox Court House where the Civil War ended. I read a lot about the Civil War as a child. Then as I got older I started reading a lot, and I mean a lot, about World War Two. My fascination is what mostly led me to first visit Europe back in 1990. I ended up making the move permanent back in 2008. I am deeply connected to history in my own way. I am a gentile, but I founded the first Jewish public library in Lithuania since 1943. My library will be 14 this year. Now I am living on a small farm in northern Germany in a 135 year old house with a 125 year old barn, and a 71 year old tractor. As for my work, I do have loglines posted here. I have written everything out and have it stored ready for presenation if the opportunity ever comes up. As for my music, I have had zero placements so far. However, I only started creating in April of this year. I am not discouraged. I am reaching out to established musicians and up-and-coming ones as well. All in good time. I would enjoy hearing more about your writing and other projects.

Welcome to the community, Richard Sundquist. I hope you're doing great and enjoying summer!

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Writers, filmmakers, producers, and more. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32 had a live Community Open House the other day. The recording will be available to watch soon (www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-june-community-open-house-...). It'll also help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry pros.

Thank you, I look forward to watching it.

Alexandra Stevens, I had hundreds. Unfortunately, they were all stolen while I was off in Lithuania. However, I had people like Paul Newman, Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, Mick Jagger, Prince, and so many others. One of my favorites was meeting Evel Knievel. He gave me an autograph and a medal that he had hadmade. The mjost personal was from author Ray Bradbury when I got to visit his home and sit and drink tea with him. I had Sigourney Weaver, Talia Shire, Charlton Heston and lots, lots more.

This is horribly hypocritical of actors complaining about their paycheck when SAG pretty much tells producers what their talent is worth with their "Premium Talent" and "A-List" talent labels that is completely based on successful films and not a complete film history of that talent. Was she a seat filler or had time dulled the shine of her star? Of course there is no way to tell but then she and her agent didn't have to take the gig. As a producer, I don't care what you think you're worth. I have to balance a budget with garnering possible audience attention. NFL players don't get paid for what they were in their prime. They get paid at their present condition. Having a big mouth and commenting on things that one should keep to themselves isn't a winning strategy either and while we can only speculate how many more ticket sales could have been sold for a Jane Fonda film, her behavior, which many considered anti-American, probably didn't help sales either.

With all the incredibly talented but completely ignored talent out there, I think actors that have managed to be in the limited numbers of films produced per year, should shut up and be thankful for their opportunities.

Philip David Lee that’s certainly a different way of seeing things and food for thought.

Wyman Brent oh gosh, what a huge loss not to have them anymore!!!

Alexandra Stevens, you are right. However, it was long ago and I got over it finally with years of expensive therapy with a clown from Ringling Brothers, and spending time with a therapy elephant. Okay, maybe not, but it would be funny. I would have liked to still have the autographs, but I never got too attached to things.

My (minority opinion) advice is to skip the contests and go the writer/director route while you write your next dozen screenplays.

You wouldn’t expect to sell your first painting for $10k or the first wooden bowl you carved or first ceramic cup for a princely sum.

Yet somehow we (myself included) think our short story - which is what a script is - deserves that consideration. and even for that sum, if we are being honest, the time we put into our story works out to a fraction of what we would have earned slinging packets for Amazon, yet here we are…

for today, celebrate your victory. you have earned it!

for tomorrow, start your next script, or expand your story into a novel.

it is easier to sell 1000 copies of a book for $10 than it is to option a script for $10k

And selling 1000 copies of a book is no small thing.

best of luck to you in all you do.

Congrats to you. I hope to see you on the big screen (and/or small screen).

James, sound advice, but hard to swallow after "raising the baby" for the past many months!

way to go. congrats

Congratulations and I still remember the feeling of finishing my first screenplay.

That's great advice, Ashley Renee Smith. "Make sure people think about you at least 8 times a year.”

I stay top-of-mind by doing things like being active in the Stage 32 Lounges and Blogs, staying in contact with people, and pitching projects on social media (like First Page Friday).

Tiffany's the best! Wonderful advice, one of our favorite Stage 32 educators!

Agreed, Sydney S - Tiffany is brilliant and so generous with her knowledge. She always gives advice worth listening to and does so here again.

Ashley Renee Smith & Sydney S - took Tiffany's Pitch Deck Development Lab recently & can confirm her generosity AND practical substance of guidance and info and time.

Here's one of my favorite filmmaking quotes, James Martin: “Filmmaking is the ultimate team sport.” — Michael Keaton

Love that Maurice. It's so true. Filmmaking is always a collaborative dance. And it needs not always be orchestrated as a corporations, governments and the military tend to be -- as command higherarchies. They can also hybridize forms of authority which are more shared than commanding.

Film making is the ultimate colloboartive project.

That's a great quote too, James Martin! "Filmmaking is always a collaborative dance."