This week, I’ve been challenging myself to try new ways of reaching potential collaborators.
I had to be honest with myself: I can’t keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results. That’s not growth, it’s just repetition. Sometimes the work isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about adjusting your approach and staying aware of how people’s expectations, interests, and communication styles are constantly shifting.
What works when approaching one person isn’t necessarily going to work for another. And if we’re not taking the time to evolve how we reach out to someone we genuinely want to connect with, then we’re not really building relationships in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
One of the questions I hear often on Stage 32 is:
“Why can’t I send the same DM or comment to multiple people? Copying and pasting makes it faster to share my project.”
I completely understand the impulse. We’re all busy. Rewriting the same information over and over again can feel inefficient. But this isn’t really about efficiency, it’s about intention.
Copying and pasting the same message to dozens of people, or dropping the same pitch across multiple unrelated threads, is spam. It’s no different than a bot blasting messages into the void, and that’s not how you want to be perceived by potential collaborators, partners, or buyers.
If you value someone, your approach should reflect that.
Your project details don’t change, and it’s perfectly reasonable to have a clean, concise version of that information ready when the time is right. The part that should change is everything around it. Your opening. Your tone. Your curiosity.
Engage with people as people first. Ask about their experiences. Ask what they’re working on. Take time to understand what excites them creatively before you ever talk about yourself. Invite them for a virtual coffee with no agenda other than conversation. Even high-level professionals will often make time for that when they feel respected and genuinely seen.
This kind of approach takes more effort, but it builds something real. It shows that you’re not just looking for what someone can do for you, but that you’re interested in who they are.
For me, this week’s growth has been about pausing, re-evaluating, and asking myself:
How can I approach this connection with more intention, more openness, and more respect?
What’s one way you’ve adjusted your outreach or networking approach to build more authentic creative relationships? Or, what’s something you want to try differently moving forward?
Share what’s helping you grow, or how you're challenging yourself. You never know who might need to hear it.
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Congratulations on challenging yourself to try new ways of reaching potential collaborators, Ashley Renee Smith! Fantastic points!
I used to bring up my projects or ask for jobs, script reads, etc. when I met people, but I learned to build relationships first. And a lot of times I don't even have to bring up my projects, ask for jobs, etc. The person will ask what I'm working on, offer me a job, and so on.
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"Hi Ashley! This post is so timely. I’ve realized that being a screenwriter is not just about the script; it's about the people behind the stories.
I’ve started approaching networking by sharing the 'why' behind my project 'SECOND BODY'—which is to explore the blessing of our own identity. Engaging in the Lounge with professionals like Maurice Vaughan has already taught me that a simple, honest conversation about themes and personal stakes is far more valuable than a cold pitch. Moving forward, I’m focusing on 'listening' to what other creators are passionate about before sharing my own goals
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Research, research, research. You need to know WHO you are reaching out to in order to make it count. I have a saying here "think in 3D" - the person on the other end is a real human being, 3 dimensional with a real life. Not an avatar. Give them the respect of the research and the relationship will go so much farther.
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Great post, Ashley Renee Smith. What worked for me, was the momentum.
When I was still playing in a rock band, I drove home in the middle of the night after a gig.
on national Dutch radio I often listened to a night time radio show. Two times they interviewed
major directors from The Netherlands.
When I came home I immediately emailed them with the message I just heard them on the radio and I wanted to share ideas…. and they both sent a swift response.
They helped me to focus my career.
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The shift for me came when I started applying what I call the onion method: when you peel back layers. I don't lead with my pitch or my project. I lead with curiosity. I ask questions. I listen. I learn about who they are, what excites them, what challenges they're facing, what they're proud of. And only after I've built that foundation do I ever talk about business. What's helped me the most is doing the homework first. Before I reach out to anyone, I look at what they've worked on recently, what they've said publicly about their process or priorities, and what gaps might exist in their current slate. Then I craft something that shows I actually paid attention. It takes longer, but the response rate is night and day.
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Maybe it is about finding ways to provide what your audience needs.
For example": I'm looking for a UK based collaborator to market my book for a potential TV series. Now I don't have a script, but I'm after a London-connected person.
I'm finding your pitch suggestions, courses, and offering just don't match, and to be honest, a bit US centric.
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Great questions! I hadn't considered these questions yet.
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I'm going to try to attend more Zoom meetups because I rather enjoy them; the main reason I typically don't attend is because they happen during work hours.
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This is such a great reflection, Maurice Vaughan, and you articulated it perfectly. When you approach people the right way, they'll ask YOU.
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Hashem Alsqaf, this is such a thoughtful and grounded takeaway, and I love how clearly you’ve articulated the shift you’re making.
You’re absolutely right, screenwriting isn’t just about the pages, it’s about the people who connect to why those pages exist. And I really appreciate you calling out listening as an active practice. When you engage with what others care about first, you’re not only building trust, you’re also learning where your story naturally fits into the larger creative ecosystem. That kind of curiosity is felt, and it sticks.
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Amanda Toney, say it louder for the people in the back! Lol!
I also love that this calls out something that often gets lost online: there’s a full, real life on the other side of the screen. Research isn’t about flattery or strategy; it’s about empathy. And that’s what turns a cold reach out into the beginning of a real relationship.
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Frank Van Der Meijden Momentum matters because it creates relevance. You gave them a clear “why now,” and you approached them as peers in conversation, not as someone asking to be handed something. That’s why they responded and why the relationship turned into something meaningful instead of transactional.
Also, I love that you pointed out the impact it had long-term!
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Geoffroy Faugerolas The “onion method” is a perfect way to frame it, because it acknowledges that real relationships aren’t built in a single exchange, they’re built layer by layer, with trust and curiosity doing the heavy lifting. Yes, it takes longer. But the payoff you described: better responses, deeper conversations, and relationships that actually go somewhere, is exactly the point.
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Trevor Learey, I really appreciate you being this honest and I want to clear up one important misconception right away.
Stage 32 is fully global. We have members, executives, educators, and active industry professionals from over 190 countries, including a strong and very active presence in the UK, Europe, and beyond. Many of our UK-based producers, writers, execs, and development professionals are working across book-to-screen adaptations, international co-productions, and broadcaster and streamer pipelines right now.
If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend reaching out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com. Let them know about your goals, that you’re specifically looking for UK-based or London-connected collaborators, and tell them about your book. They can help identify UK-based executives and producers aligned with adaptation and development and point you toward the best opportunities and next steps.
One of the biggest advantages of Stage 32 is that you don’t have to guess your way forward alone. When your goals are specific, as yours are, our team can help you be equally strategic in how you connect.
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That makes total sense, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. Work-hour conflicts are such a real barrier, and you’re definitely not alone in that.
I’m really glad to hear you enjoy the Writer's Room Zoom webcasts when you can make them. There’s something about seeing faces, hearing voices, and having real-time back-and-forth that makes connections click in a different way than text alone. Even popping into one occasionally can make the community feel a lot smaller and more human. And honestly, the fact that you’re thinking about how you want to engage, instead of forcing yourself into something that doesn’t work with your life, is already a really healthy and sustainable mindset.
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Ashley Renee Smith Thank you for your advice. I will fire off an email over the weekend.
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thank you for this thread Ashley Renee Smith - how we connect (network) bears increasing importance as we live and operate within an increasingly ... I'll call it 'impatient' social dynamic. We're made to feel that we have to move so fast and produce so much that it's not surprising that sometimes we confuse 'relationships' with 'transactions' -and your thread here is SO critical because I believe the ones that 'make it' are the ones that find and execute ways to manage and control the tempo and vector of their choices, to have control of their 'intention' as you've said. And I've read some great advice on that in this thread from some very wise people :)
Going back to my 7 Habits facilitating days (sometime in the 18th century lol), Covey's Public Victory habits would nicely summarize this advice::
- think win-win, as in 'what's in it for US, not just for ME' (habit 4)
- seek first to understand, than to be understood i.e., listening (habit 5)
- synergize, where your contribution plus the other's contribution compounds, doesn't just 'add up. where 2 + 2 is 5 or 6 or 26! :)
And, of course, the important part is that these need to be respected and used sequentially. Can't jump to great synergistic results if you haven't established the win-win
One of my favorite quotes from Covey: "With people, fast is slow, and slow is fast" if you want to build a relationship with impact.
Lastly, I'll confess for me it's been a struggle lately to live these habits out - but I need to remember that, ESPECIALLY, when things get crazy and busy and... crazy, I need to double down on this path.
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Ashley Renee Smith, this topic connects so much with what I’m experiencing right now as the new Euro/UK co‑host of The Coverage Report with Kay Ross. Stepping into that role has opened a whole new way of connecting and interacting with filmmakers I already know, welcoming new ones into the space, building fresh networks, and learning from receiving and giving coverage notes. It’s been a reminder that creative growth isn’t just about the work we make but about the communities we grow through.
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Sebastian Tudores, I really appreciate you taking the time to articulate this so thoughtfully. You’re naming something so real about the pace we’re all being pushed into right now, that sense that speed and output get rewarded while depth quietly erodes if we’re not paying attention. I think many of us are feeling that same struggle. The fact that you’re aware of it and recommitting, especially when things get busy and chaotic, says a lot.
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Sandra Isabel Correia, this is such a beautiful reflection, and congratulations again on stepping into the Euro/UK co-host role with Kay. That’s a meaningful shift, not just in responsibility, but in perspective.
What you’re describing really gets to the heart of this conversation. When you move into a role like that, the work naturally becomes more relational. You’re no longer just creating or receiving notes in isolation, you’re holding space for dialogue, trust, and growth on both sides of the exchange. That kind of listening and stewardship changes how you show up creatively. It sounds like you’re building something that’s as much about connection as it is about craft.
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Thank you, Ashley Renee Smith. You are right. It's how we grow :))
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So much great advice here Ashley Renee Smith. But I think you nailed it in one sentence, "If you value someone, your approach should reflect that." My preference in any collaboration is to establish a relationship first. If these are people that I feel whose company I would enjoy, the next step comes organically. Years ago, when I was in the music industry, everything was a "what can you do for me" mentality which comes across as disingenuous and self-seeking. And to my detriment, I went down that road. But as I got older, I found how wonderful a thing it is to be with people we enjoy - be yourself. I want to enjoy people so I start there. After that comes mutual respect. If that's there, it's gold all around.