Every writer on Stage32 has likely felt that mix of hope and anxiety when submitting a pitch. We polish our concepts, rehearse our delivery, and present something we truly believe in. And sometimes… the feedback is glowing, the scores are high, and still—the project isn’t requested.
It stings.
And for some, it plants doubt.
Not just in the project, but in the platform, in the executives, even in the industry as a whole.
But here’s what many forget:
A pass doesn’t mean failure.
And a no doesn’t erase the quality of your work.
In fact, it may just mean you were seen by the right person at the wrong time.
Personally, I’ve submitted 20 original projects over the past weeks.
6 have already been reviewed.
5 were officially passed.
Only one was accepted so far.
Did I feel discouraged? Yes—briefly.
But instead of giving up, I took one of the rejected projects, refined it from scratch, and resubmitted it… only to see it passed again.
And still—I’m not stopping.
I have 14 opportunities left, and even if every single one gets rejected…
this is only the beginning.
Rejection is not the end.
It’s part of the process.
It’s how we reshape, reframe, and return stronger.
The truth is:
Most successful careers didn’t start with a “yes.”
They started with resilience, repetition, and showing up—even when the response was silence or rejection.
So to every writer feeling discouraged:
Don’t underestimate the impact of your presence here.
You never know who’s reading, who’s listening, or who might remember your name when the right story lands on their desk.
Keep pitching. Keep showing up.
Because the most valuable eyes in this industry… often aren’t the ones who say “yes” right away.
— H. S. Almahsen
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“Sometimes finding the right director is about building mutual creative trust. Besides Stage32, I’ve also seen some filmmakers connect through forums like Reddit (e.g. r/Shortfilms), or through listin...
Expand comment“Sometimes finding the right director is about building mutual creative trust. Besides Stage32, I’ve also seen some filmmakers connect through forums like Reddit (e.g. r/Shortfilms), or through listings on FilmFreeway and even select Discord communities. I believe patience and clarity in your vision always attract the right creative partner — eventually.”
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Bravo!
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Thank you so much, Susan. Your encouragement means a lot to me. Wishing you continued inspiration in all your writing and storytelling journeys!
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Your efforts and determination made it happen — REQUEST. Congratulations, H.S. Almahse!
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Hi Sylvia,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to celebrate this moment with me.
Hearing encouragement from talented writers like you truly adds to the joy of the journey.
I’m i...
Expand commentHi Sylvia,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to celebrate this moment with me.
Hearing encouragement from talented writers like you truly adds to the joy of the journey.
I’m inspired by how this community uplifts each other — and I hope to cheer for your next milestone too!
Warmest regards,
H. S. Almahsen