Authoring & Playwriting

For all the authors and playwrights in our community, a place to discuss, share content and post tips and advice.

A FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event!

A FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event!

What a Film Commission Is, What They Do, and How They Benefit Productions

Film Commissions are one of the most underused free resources in our industry, and most creatives have no idea what they actually offer.

They exist in cities, regions, states, and countries across the globe, and their entire purpose is to support productions like yours. Yet most filmmakers either don't know they exist, assume they only matter when a tax incentive is involved, or aren't sure what to ask for. The result? Productions move forward without ever tapping into location directories, permitting assistance, local government connections, and community resources that are sitting there, ready to use, at no cost.

This FREE Stage 32 webcast, taught by Marjorie Galas of AFCI, gives you a clear picture of what a film commission actually is, how it's structured, and the full range of services it provides. You'll learn when to reach out, what to ask, and how to use AFCI's global directory to find the right commission for your project, wherever you're filming.

By the end of the session, you'll understand why a film commission should be your first call, before you lock your location and before you roll camera.

This session is for you if you're:

  • A producer or filmmaker at any stage of your career
  • A content creator developing projects for film, TV, or streaming
  • A production coordinator or line producer managing logistics
  • A screenwriter or director looking to take a project into production
  • A student or emerging creative breaking into the industry

And if you know someone who could use this, share it with them. This is exactly the kind of knowledge that changes how someone approaches their next production, and it's free for everyone.


Kat Spencer
What If You Never Started?

Sometimes I think the hardest part of writing isn't finishing. It's beginning.

Every book starts with a single decision to write the first page, heck, even the first line, even when we don't know where the story or the journey will lead.

Looking back, is there a book you almost never started? What fin...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

I think I wouldn’t know myself very well if I didn’t start any of my books (or scripts, or comics). Gosh that’s a wild thought lol

Screenwriter. Actor

Hello,

My name is Hassan Al-Zahrani, and I am an aspiring screenwriter and actor from Saudi Arabia.

I have written an original feature film screenplay titled The Last Promise. It is a cinematic action thriller with strong emotional stakes, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. The story is pl...

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A Brief Project Update

A sincere thank you to everyone who has reached out regarding THE LOVE LETTER AFTER FORTY YEARS.

I truly appreciate the interest, encouragement, and professional conversations I've had with editors, developmental editors, screenplay consultants, and other creative professionals here on Stage 32.

At th...

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Snehil Mishra

All the best Hiro Yamamoto Looking forward to see it on the big screen.

The Evolution of Cyberpunk Novels: Balancing Philosophical Depth with Mega-Budget Adaptation Potential

As an author currently finalizing the architecture for a major cyberpunk literary franchise ("WHY I LIVE"), I often look at how the genre is evolving on the page. Audiences today are no longer satisfied with just "high-tech, low-life" aesthetics. They demand profound spiritual, existential, and phil...

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Debbie Croysdale

The seed of the plot, & universal moment with all the dramatic elements mentioned, I would flip to become a “contained” script. (Mega budgets being thin on the ground.) Many good scripts die in the “r...

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Screenwriter and actor

Hello,

My name is Hassan Al-Zahrani, an aspiring screenwriter and actor from Saudi Arabia.

I have written an original feature film trilogy titled The Last Promise, a high-concept action thriller with strong emotional drama, cinematic action, and franchise potential.

I am currently looking for produc...

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Anna Henry
Proofreading question

Question for published authors... I am a fan of the work of an author whose book series has been published by a well-known publishing house in Kindle edition for a few years. The publisher employs a well-known professional editor who works on these books. The writer is not world-famous; the fan base...

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Anna Henry

Lauren Hackney OK so the publisher is Harlequin, which is not like some no-name publishing house. In my defense, I am preparing to teach a lab on writing romance! And I think we all know I am not the...

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Lauren Hackney

Anna Henry I work in children's publishing with a commercial fiction division. So personally, I've never worked in digital commercial fiction but I do have those Teams in my workplace. I would be poin...

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Judith Marie-Ange Edmorin

Anna Henry That's great about the list! And you're absolutely right that it's worth correcting, especially if the book is going to print. As for your pathological love of writers, we definitely need m...

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Debbie Seagle

I love this Anna Henry. You are the "pathological" reader every author dreams of! I can't imagine that an author would be anything but appreciative if you reach out to them. Who doesn't want to improv...

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Suzanne Bronson

I am always surprised when I find even one typo. That a book made it through all the stages, and made it to hardback and I find the wrong spelling of a word. Here when it should obviously be hear. Tha...

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Rosemary Zibart
Have play need actor

A 50 minute one-person play of mine was accepted into a mid-coast California one-person play festival. But I need an actor. If you're interested in learning more, please contact me.The role portrays Benjamin Disraeli who began his career as a flamboyant playboy and ended up British prime minister.

Snehil Mishra

what a career!

Snehil Mishra

Do I need to mention, "Pun Intended"

Suzanne Bronson

Hi Rosemary Zibart have you posted it the jobs tab? That's a good way to find someone in your area.

Seeking Literary Representation and Publishing Industry Connections

I am currently in discussion with a thoughtful and highly professional screenwriter regarding potential future adaptation possibilities for the novel.

The experience has reinforced my appreciation for the quality of people within the Stage 32 community, and I have found it to be an excellent place to...

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Beverly Thompson

I too have found very helpful advice from several of the screenwriters on this platform. I'm just going to struggle with the payments required to achieve an adaptation of my novels for TV.

Seeking Literary Representation and Publishing Industry Connections for THE LOVE LETTER AFTER FORTY YEARS

I am currently seeking literary representation for my novel, THE LOVE LETTER AFTER FORTY YEARS, while continuing to revise and strengthen the manuscript for the international publishing market.

At this stage, I am primarily interested in connecting with literary agents, publishing professionals, or i...

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Luca Mancini
How do I make a film idea from scratch with no budget? How can I pitch it to Hollywood?

I have a film idea about AI. Let me introduce myself: I’m Luca Mancini, an Italian amateur filmmaker living in Italy. I want to make my first film, so I’m asking the community for help....

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Looking to Connect with a Developmental Editor / Story Consultant

I am currently revising my novel, The Love Letter After Forty Years, an international contemporary romance and women's fiction project spanning four decades between Japan and the United States.

The manuscript is complete at approximately 195,000 words, and I am actively working to streamline it towar...

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40年目のラブレター【第1章・第2章】|朝比奈 結
40年目のラブレター【第1章・第2章】|朝比奈 結
【あらすじ】 1984年、ニューヨーク。 和菓子職人を目指す日本人留学生・山本恒一は、大学の図書館で作家を夢見るアメリカ人女性リズと出会う。…
Kate James

First, congratulations on completing such an ambitious and emotionally rich project. A story that spans four decades and bridges cultures between Japan and the United States sounds both...

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Erik Fenyes
Pitching a powerful European True Story / Generational Drama

Hi everyone,I wanted to share a story with the Stage 32 community that is not just a script to me, but my own lived reality. It has already touched many readers, and my main purpose in bringing it to the screen is to give hope to anyone currently trapped in a similar, seemingly hopeless situation. I...

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