Producing

The place for all producers to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on raising funds, setting a budget, on set strategies and all other topics related to producing a film, television or theater project

Bring Your Questions: Join Us for the FREE Stage 32 Community Open House

Bring Your Questions: Join Us for the FREE Stage 32 Community Open House

Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:00pm PT

You have questions. You're curious about how to actually make the most of your time on Stage 32, how to use the resources here successfully, how to build genuine relationships that lead somewhere meaningful, and how to move forward with real intention. How to find the right collaborators, producers, financiers, reps, distributors, etc.

That's exactly what this FREE event is designed for.

Our Community Open House is a live, fully interactive conversation hosted by me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community here at Stage 32. It's a genuine gathering where you get to show up, share what you're working on, ask the questions that have been on your mind, and get direct guidance tailored to where you actually are in your journey.

Whether you've attended one before or this is your first, the conversation is different every single time. It's shaped by the members who take the time to join, be present, and bring their real questions to the table. Your voice, your goals, and your curiosity make each Open House uniquely valuable.

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-september-2026-community-open-house-webcast

We'll cover the tools and features on Stage 32 that most consistently create momentum for members, and we'll talk about what's happening on the platform that you don't want to miss out on. September lands us in a genuinely exciting stretch of the year. We're coming off Venice and Toronto International, in the middle of New York Film Festival, heading into Austin Film Festival, and gearing up for our annual November Write Club campaign. There's real opportunity to position yourself for what's ahead, and we'll talk about how to do exactly that.

We'll close with a live Q&A focused entirely on you, your questions, your projects, and your next steps. And if you can't join us live, don't worry! Registering guarantees you the full recording so you can watch it anytime, from anywhere.

Come as you are. Bring your questions. Let's have a real conversation.


Liked by Kevin La-Rose and 3 others

Terri Morgan
Looking for funding?

Saw this article in the Hollywood Reporter about how some films and tv series are getting funded these days. Thought it might be of interest. Seems brands are interested again.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/brands-hollywoo......

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The Pillsbury Doughboy Is Coming for Hollywood
The Pillsbury Doughboy Is Coming for Hollywood
Studios may be strapped, but big brands are rolling in dough. How companies from Gap to General Mills are luring A-list talent and keeping an ailing industry afloat.
Teddy Hayes

Interesting thing is, it has always been about selling products for TV. I think because of the streaming channels and their approach of storytelling via series that some people were lulled into a plac...

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Zoltan Zoltan

Interesting shift. I think the timing is important too bringing a brand into the conversation early enough can potentially make them part of the financing strategy rather than simply a product placement opportunity later on. Curious to see how much this model grows in independent film.

Mari Bengston

The whole point is to get people to watch and remember the ad...then to get them to take the next step and buy the product. They have the watch and remember with producers like Brian Grazer making int...

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Kevin La-Rose

Interesting. Thank you for sharing. it really lends to the idea of producing your own content with collaboration or associate a brand(s) if you want to.Since brands are just doing their own content.

John Patterson
Pitching vs Reading

I can’t seem to overcome my pitching difficulty. My script has received three separate Double Recommends, which is wonderful. So I get mostly good marks once producers actually read it, but my effort to describe it in a few minutes often falls flat. I took a pitching course and that has helped but I...

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John Patterson

Mari Bengston Thanks for the list suggestion,. I will incorporate it in my next (gulp!) pitch.

Darrell A Pennington

John Patterson yes it is. That's one of the reasons I decided to take on this additional approach with the ebooks.

Sometimes, I think professionals can very understandably get jaundiced, cynical, even...

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Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations on the Double Recommends, John Patterson! The Know It All sounds interesting.

Did you watch this free pitch webinar called "Pitching Tips from the Pros: Your Blueprint to a Successful P...

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John Patterson

What an interesting idea Darrell A Pennington i am going to give this some serious thought. Thanks for the suggestion.

Maria Restivo Glassner

Maybe just keep sending it in lol. Skip the pitch if it's not ur strong suit, and develop a deck that speaks for itself. Probably poor advice but a patch for the time being.

Federica Genova
Hello Everyone

Hello Everyone!

Hello, my name is Federica Genova. I am a Graphic and Production Designer based in Los Angeles and currently working at Embr Entertainment, a production company specializing in vertical micro-series. We are looking for new projects to bring to life, as well as partners and investors w...

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Federica Genova
Federica Genova
There are three responses to a piece of design-yes,no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for. Italian Graphic & Production DesignerLos Angeles, CA. Digital illustrations, Abstract Art & Typography.
Sandra Isabel
HollyShorts check-in! Who experienced the Stage 32 magic yesterday in LA?

Hey Producing Lounge family!

Did anyone make it out to the Stage 32 11th Annual Short Film Program showcase at the TCL Chinese Theatre in LA yesterday?

Between the red carpet energy, the incredible finalist lineup (Tainted Love, Kite, Selfless, Vital, The Interview, and To Bite a Dog), and the post-sc...

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Meriem Bouziani
Production Fundamentals

Hello, creatives!

I hope you're doing well.

I’m writing this post inspired by yesterday’s live AMA with RB in the Writers' Room.

One piece of advice that really stood out to me was that, as screenwriters, we should also learn the basics of film production. He encouraged us to engage more in the Product...

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Teddy Hayes

Glad to be able to share what I have learned over the years. Although I started out as a writer in a production company in New York over 40 years ago, and then evolved into a producer, I am still tightly focused on storytelling because without the writing everything else falls down.

Meriem Bouziani

I think that, as new screenwriters, it's often wiser to start with contained stories. Bigger projects with larger budgets can come la...

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Meriem Bouziani

I completely agree that writing is the foundation. Even the best production can't save a story if the writing isn't stron...

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Maria Caeiro

Hi, Meriem Bouziani During my screenwriting classes, I became aware that it would be very useful to know a little bit of everything about the art of cinema. That’s why I watch so many webinars and pla...

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Meriem Bouziani

Yes, exactly. That's what RB said. We need to understand the entire filmmaking process, not just screenwriting. Learning only screenwriting is simply not enough.

Good luck Maria Caeiro...

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Jack Vincent
The Accidental Producer

As I was stumbling into this business five years ago and building my network within it, I noticed that the probability of actors getting roles just because they had the talent, or screenwriters having their scripts picked up just because they were great, etc, was low. Very low.

Then I read that the t...

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Jack Vincent

zoltanZoltan Zoltan I totally agree… and in the process, we build contacts as we build our reels.

Jack Vincent

Adam Delmonico An industry friend, director, told me early on that waiting for public funding is a motivation killer. That was enough for me to shoot my first short with my own funding. It could beat...

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Jack Vincent

Darrell A Pennington Thats a great approach. you build credibility as you polish your craft. Good luck with it.

Jack Vincent

Thomas Lee Getting noticed is certainly a challenge. I also think that showing people you hustle is as important as showing them your craft.

Mari Bengston

Here's the funny thing I have found. A-listers don't always get the opportunities that people think that they do. Pick one A-lister and watch their "in development" section on IMDb Pro. You will see a...

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Teddy Hayes
Producing

Hello fellow media people — great to be here among creators who understand that new ideas and new IP deserve space to grow.

I’ve spent the last forty years writing, producing, and directing in New York and London, working across film, theatre, music, and long‑form storytelling. These days, my main fo...

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Isla Scriptworks

You’ve built an impressive body of work, and the Devil Barnett universe sounds especially interesting for screen adaptation. I’d love to connect and learn more about what you’re developing. I work acr...

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Teddy Hayes

Yes perhaps. I am in the process of pitching my DEVIL BARNETT franchise, so if I find an agent or a producer who can sell it as a film series I am sure the buyers will be bringing on script writers, so one never knows what can turn up.

Zoltan Zoltan

Great introduction, Teddy. An 11-book universe developed over three decades gives you something many screen projects have to build from scratch a deep world and a lot of existing material to draw from...

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Teddy Hayes

Hiya Zoltan, I just used Chester Himes as a model. He wrote nine books in his Harlem detective series from which Hollywood made 2 films. So I just approach each book as if it were a series and write t...

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Judith Marie-Ange Edmorin

Hi Teddy, I went on your website and you are the definition of a multi-hyphenate! What an inspiration. It’s also amazing that you’ve built such a prolific body of work around the Devil Barnett franchi...

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Jackie Letkowski
Producers, what would you ask a veteran in the film industry?

Ashley Renée Smith posts an intriguing discussion: What are the most important questions you would ask an award-winning producer, WGA screenwriter, actor, or author who talks to industry professionals every day? Check it out here: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/What-Would-You-Ask-a-WGA...

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Perry Ritthaler
Perry Ritthaler

Worked really hard making the script and trailer, any feedback would be kindly appreciated. https://bluesman.ca/movie-pitch/

Shadow Dragu-Mihai

Perry Ritthaler Here's some direct feedback: 1. You lead with a trailer. So people will look at that first. No one is requesting a pitch deck if that trailer isn't fantastic and answers questions abou...

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Ian Milne
Producers Should Always Take Time to Say "Thank You"

Hi Everyone! This felt timely as I head off to travel for a field shoot, and thought I'd share...

I'll start by saying that most of my creative producing work is done in an office or edit bay with a regular team of players (maybe 6-12 people) who I work with every day. But often my projects will have...

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Don Dushime

I believe making people feel seen starts with genuine appreciation. I try to listen carefully, acknowledge people's contributions, and always say thank you when someone takes the time to help or suppo...

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Cielo Dine

"As a screenwriter from the Philippines, I always make sure to deeply respect every collaborator's time and talent. Expressing genuine gratitude to the people who read my scripts, offer feedback, or c...

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Hannah Collins

Beautifully said. In creative work, people remember how you made them feel just as much as the work itself. A simple, genuine “thank you” can build trust, strengthen collaboration, and create relation...

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Pamela Turner

I'm not a producer or filmmaker but I write screenplays. And when someone takes the time to give me advice, I'm all about thanking them.

Teddy Hayes

Ian, I fully appreciate what you say. I am from the old school, and have been around now for over 40 years and I am convinced that nothing works like a little honest humanity especially in a business where insincerity, insecurity and callousness is too often the order of the day.

Ashley Renée Smith
Guillermo del Toro, Jordan Peele, and Damien Chazelle on the Art of the Pitch

Hi Producing Lounge Fam!

Pitching is one of those skills nobody teaches you AND everyone has to learn. Whether you're pitching a studio executive to greenlight your project, going directly to financeers as an indie filmmaker, or working to attach high-profile talent, the ability to walk into a room a...

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Jack Vincent

These are golden, Ashley Renée Smith. I've pitched in a lot of industries for over 40 years now (really!) and what resonates with me most here is Greta Gerwig's, and if the concept and character align...

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James Lagrimas
How To Work the American Film Market (AFM). Webinar with Alexia

Ever walked into a room full of buyers, sales agents, and financiers and had no idea where to start? You're not alone. AFM is one of the biggest opportunities in independent film — but showing up without a strategy is one of the fastest ways to leave with nothing but a badge and a stack of business...

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