Two Paths, One Script: How Do You Choose?

When it comes to producing features, there are generally two viable paths: go straight to studios (buyers) and get them to front the money, or make it independently and sell later.

Some projects are obvious. If your budget is under $3M, it wouldn't make sense to approach studios who want big talent and big projects, whether for theatrical release or direct-to-streamer. But many projects fall somewhere in between, and it's becoming harder to figure out which path to take.

In my recent conversations with producers actively packaging and selling right now, a pattern is emerging: studios want bigger and bolder, while the indie world is thriving with smart, elevated genre projects and rom-coms. The line gets blurry when most of these indie projects end up on streamers anyway after being acquired following a successful film festival run (or not).

For producers who believe they have gold in their hands, it may make more sense to take the risk and make the project without a buyer or pre-sales, fully relying on private equity for a bigger payday when buyers fight for distribution rights. But this isn't a guarantee. The upside is massive if it works. The downside is you're gambling everything on acquisition.

So here's my question for you: How do you decide which path is right for your project?

This Week in the Writers' Room

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 @ 9 AM PT: The Pitch Tank returns with special guest Nikia S. Adams!

Four writers will have the opportunity to pitch Nikita S. Adams, a powerhouse executive, producer, and literary agent with 25+ years shaping bold stories across TV and film. She’s developed and sold projects to HBO, Amazon, MAX, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Television, including HBO’s LIFE SUPPORT starring Queen Latifah. Most recently, she led TV development at Folding Chair Productions under its overall deal with Warner Bros. Nikita’s career spans BET, New Line Cinema, 20th Century Fox TV, and Hallmark, before running development at Jamie Foxx’s Foxx/King Entertainment and Forest Whitaker’s Junto Films. She later crossed into representation at Paradigm and A3, championing talent, creators, and brands like the NBA Players’ Association, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and The Ruff Ryders.

If you would like to join the Writers’ Room, access weekly events, submit to dozens of open writing assignments, and attend exclusive pitch tanks with industry executives- click HERE for a free trial!

This Week’s Exciting Announcements!

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight a Stage 32 Executive who is Executive Producing a new FX series with Halle Berry!

Nicole Tossou - Executive Producer!

Congratulations to Stage 32 Exec Nicole Tossou, who is executive producing MOTHER DOOM with Halle Berry's HALLEHOLLY and Project X.

Based on a short story by Sean Lewis FX’s MOTHER DOOM centers on Riley who has been retired from the Special Forces for twenty years but when her son is killed in the line of duty she goes back into her past to find his murderer and get revenge.

Nicole Tossou is a dynamic producer with 15+ years of experience developing innovative scripted and unscripted content. She recently served as Head of Television at Project X Entertainment, where she currently executive produces The Night Agent for Netflix, an untitled medical drama for Amazon, and an untitled action thriller for Hulu. She oversaw multiple projects in development with Sony Pictures, UTV, and 20th Century Studios under Project X's first-look deal.

We've Officially Announced Our Diversity Talent Accelerator Semi-Finalists in Partnership with Color Farm Media!

The Grand Prize Winning screenwriter will receive:

• Color Farm Media Diversity Talent Accelerator placement for script development and packaging with Color Farm Media
• Career Accelerator Prize Package ($4,000 value), including script development, career consulting, writer branding, and comprehensive education resources
• Personal Mentorship Track with dedicated 1:1 career development sessions from our success team
• Industry Marketing Campaign promoting the winner to our exclusive roster of 2,500+ managers, agents, producers, and executives
• Strategic Partnership where Stage 32 and Color Farm Media executives collaborate to prepare your project to take directly to market

Our Finalists will receive:

Our Finalists will receive a Career Momentum prize package valued at $1,500, including Career Development, a Writer Branding Workshop, and an Education package, and will have their logline featured in a Stage 32 Look Book sent to over 2,500+ top entertainment industry executives, giving their work unparalleled exposure!

But that’s not all! Everyone who makes the Semi-Finals will receive a Career Breakthrough prize package valued at $1,000, our Quarterfinalists will receive a Career Elevation prize package valued at $500, and all Entrants will get a prize package valued at $100!

Congratulations to the talented creatives who have made it to the semi-finals!

This Week In The Stage 32 Community!

Some of the most valuable learning on Stage 32 doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens inside the conversations. And right now, there’s an excellent one unfolding in the Screenwriting Lounge that every writer should take a moment to jump into.

Laura Notarianni, a Producer and Development Executive with over 15 years of experience working at companies like Untitled Entertainment and Boat Rocker Media, is leading a thoughtful discussion on why beat sheets trip up so many screenwriters and what executives are actually looking for when they read them.

Laura breaks down a common disconnect she sees in active development: writers often understand their stories instinctively, but struggle to clearly communicate structure, character intention, and emotional movement on the page in a concise, usable way. And in real-world development, that clarity matters. Beat sheets aren’t just about listing plot points, they’re about showing how characters evolve, where emotional turns land, and why each moment earns its place in the story.

She also poses questions that are worth sitting with, and responding to:

• Do you think about character arcs at the beat-sheet stage, or later in the process?
• What’s hardest for you when translating emotion and character into beats?
• Have you found tools or frameworks that help bridge the gap between structure and feeling?

This is exactly the kind of conversation that helps you sharpen your craft and build genuine relationships with working industry professionals. Reading it is useful. Engaging with it is where the real value lives.

If you’re serious about leveling up your writing in 2026, take a few minutes to jump into the Screenwriting Lounge, read Laura’s post, and add your perspective. These discussions don’t just make you a better writer, they make you a more visible one.

Click here to join the conversation now!

Need help navigating the industry? Contact success@stage32.com

Stage 32 has hundreds of opportunities. Reach out to our success team at any time for personal guidance and career advice.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at success@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .