Stage 32 Success Stories

Expand post

The fact that I got my second month-in-a-row "double recommend" from Stage 32 for my script "Corpus Delicti" inspired me to plan a road trip to Los Angeles to meet some folks and just generally take in a little bit of LA. So, here's my offer to fellow Stage 32 LA peeps. Let's have a get-together Monday, 8/25/25, starting around 6:30 p.m. at Fantasia Billiards in downtown Burbank. I'll buy a domestic beer for the first five Stage 32 folks who show up! I still look like the guy in my avatar photo, so there's that anyway.

LA's a big place, and I know it's a weekday, but doing this on a weekend isn't an option for me.

I'm making this offer to say thanks to cinema, Hollywood, the idea of Hollywood, and to the people in that place who were (and are) instrumental in giving me so much that I truly enjoy about life.

I'm hoping that like-minded folks - people who love movies and the people who've made them - show up and we tip a drink to both. It's not that Hollywood is dead, but it has changed, or so it appears. Life is change, I know. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm showing up as a fan of life, the movies and the folks who make them, rather than as a writer trying to break into the business. I've learned over the years there's a subtle difference in the mind set.

Another LA person gave me the idea for meeting at Fantasia Billiards. The joint's website had photos of reasonably priced food and a decor and vibe that reminded me of the scenes from The Hustler shot at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Ky. Considering that The Hustler and Color of Money are easily in my top 20 of favorite films, I was hooked.

As a youth, one of the things I loved about movies was their ability to transport us to a different place, to take us out of the little community we were in, and give us a glimpse of other, almost always, more interesting places. The vibe that came out of those scenes shot in Louisville, the subtle southern sin found in a place like Louisville, interested the kid in me. Years later, in business, I spent many, many nights in Louisville, and stayed at the Seelbach. You should have seen the smile on my face!

The other thing about movies that I'll forever be grateful for is how they provided "models" for us. I don't mean "role models." I believe role models should be found closer to home. Rather, in the studio era and new Hollywood of the 70s and 80s, Hollywood gave us models that, as a community, we could rally around. And, that providing of "models", folks we look up to, continues today. Two of the more influential characters from my early years were McQueen's Hilts in The Great Escape and Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. Both were strong, independent thinkers, yet each had a caring for the community of which they were a part, and for which they would sacrifice their own self-interest.

So, I chose Fantasia Billiards in Burbank because it rekindled a memory about how I felt about the scenes from the Seelbach Hotel shot in Louisville, KY in 1961, featuring my favorite actor of all time - Paul Newman. Gawd, I love the movies!

So Stage 32 folks, what little thing from your youth caused you to fall in love with the movies? Show up at the Fantasia and tell us about it, and if you can't make it, tell us about it in the comments. :)

I had such a great meeting with Whitney Davis and wanted to share how impressed I am with her approach. She’s truly a champion for the projects she’s passionate about—thoughtful, driven, and deeply invested in helping writers move their work forward.

Whitney not only gave me constructive feedback on...

Expand post

View all All comments

Minh Nguyen

2
2 people like this
- Justin Groats
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

I wish you the best for your project Justin.

Andrew Carroll

3
3 people like this
7 months ago

Congratz! Nicely done!

Daniel Ezekiel

Congratulations!

Julien Samson

Good !

Wendy Kay

That's awesome! Congratulations!

Maurice Vaughan

1
1 person likes this
- Kyna Wright
7 months ago

Congratulations on being chosen as a semi-finalist, Kyna Wright!

Nambasi Lukaiya

2
2 people like this
- Kyna Wright
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

Congratulations Kyan Wright

Congrulation

1
1 person likes this
- Emily Schooley
8 months ago

Hi, Emily Schooley. Congratulations on all your accomplishments! It's a great feeling using what you've learned and experienced to help others! I'll keep you in mind for script feedback....

Expand comment

Reni Biufamo Von

8 months ago

Wow, https://reivonbifamoartistrevue.bandcamp.com/follow_me

Emily Schooley

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

Thank you so much Maurice Vaughan !

7 months ago

You're welcome, Emily Schooley.

1
1 person likes this
- Kenny Powell
7 months ago

Congratulations on signing a Shopping Agreement and getting a Double Recommend, Lori Peters and Kelsey!

Ugur Kayikci

Tebrikler, umarım bir gün senaryomun sinemaya uyarlanması için de anlaşma imzalarım.”

Debbie Elicksen

Wow. That's fantastic Lori Peters. Fasten your seatbelts! Things are happening.

Christopher Cote

Congrats, Pablo!! That's wicked!!

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Muhammad Abed Baryal
7 months ago

Congratulations, Pablo!

That's such great news, Pablo!

Nelson Amador

oh yeah for sure, speaking of that, I actually just drew a concept new logo for the Mariners and it's on my deviant art page. I can show you in a DM or so.

Abdellah Bousri

“Step into the thrilling world of ‘Warathat Al-Dam’ – a cinematic journey of suspense, drama, and unforgettable characters. Witness the story of power, legacy, and betrayal, crafted with precision fro...

Richard Lasser

I haven't heard back from him so I don't know

Paulinus Patrick

Congrats

Congratulations

Meggy Thuo

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Lauren Hackney
7 months ago

Wow, congratulations

Lauren Hackney

Congratulations! And here's to many more!

Junaid Ahmed

2
2 people like this
- Wendy Kay
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

Thank you everyone

You're welcome, Junaid Ahmed.

Congratulations again on the Double Recommends, Mark Furney! I hope the meet-up goes great!

Our dad told us to see TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze when we were kids. We went to the store before the mov...

A. S. Vieira

2
2 people like this
- Leonardo Ramirez
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

Congrats!!!

Anthony Moore

Congratulations!!!

Sydney S

Congrats!!

Leonardo Ramirez

That’s awesome Mark Furney ! Congratulations!!

Jennifer Ford

2
2 people like this
- Vanessa Chattman 2
- Maurice Vaughan
7 months ago

Congrats, Mark! That’s a fantastic achievement—Corpus Delicti sounds like a gripping story. Wishing you continued success!

2
2 people like this
- Vanessa Chattman 2
- A. S. Vieira
7 months ago

Congratulations on the great meeting and Whitney sending your projects to producers, A. S. Vieira! Hope you sell them!

Kelvin Thornton

Congratulations. I hope it all works out for you. Any move forward is a good move indeed.

Jon Casey

Thanks Chris Ross Leong — I feel like I’ve met you before! Your name sounds really familiar. Maybe we were connected on social media in the past or something....

4
4 people like this
7 months ago

Thanks Banafsheh Esmailzadeh — would love to see your work! I always love reading fellow screenwriters work.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thanks so much Jon Casey! I have some of my screenplays uploaded here on the website :D will be glad to give yours a look, too!

Hello everyone! I hope you’re well. I have 3+ screenplays for sale — for production. Inquire within. Looking for production companies / producers / executive producers, etc. now. Email down below. One...

2
2 people like this
- Vanessa Chattman 2
- Jon Casey
7 months ago

Thanks, Jon Casey. Congratulations on getting a Multi Million dollar offer lined up for your screenplay, Clint Eastwood (incredible actor and director!) mentoring you, and all your accomplishments! I...

Stage 32 Success Stories

4 people like this

25 people like this

2 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

13 people like this

1 person likes this

2 people like this

2 people like this

5 people like this

1 person likes this

1 person likes this

13 people like this

1 person likes this

1 person likes this

1 person likes this

6 people like this

3 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

14 people like this

1 person likes this

1 person likes this

15 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

1 person likes this

2 people like this

3 people like this

21 people like this

2 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

2 people like this

6 people like this

2 people like this

3 people like this

22 people like this

3 people like this

4 people like this

3 people like this

4 people like this

2 people like this

Top Contributors

CRAFT AND BUSINESS

GENERAL DISCUSSION

PROMOTION