OTT & Transmedia

What happens when you discover that a world-class athlete has an extraordinary talent nobody knows about?

Is that a documentary? A television series? A live experience? A digital franchise?

I believe it can be all of those things.

Hey Stage 32! I'm Adam Unger, founder and CEO of All Star Encore, a sports and entertainment company built around revealing the unexpected sides of extraordinary people.

My own journey has been anything but conventional. I was drafted by the New York Yankees, played professional baseball, became a trained opera singer, graduated from Penn Law, and built a career as a sports and entertainment attorney.

In January 2026, I brought those worlds together.

I conceived and produced a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Yankees legend and jazz guitarist Bernie Williams alongside internationally acclaimed opera tenor Jonathan Tetelman.

We sold out all 2,780 seats.

But what excited me most wasn't the concert itself.

It was the realization that we had uncovered something much bigger.

What if we could build an entire entertainment universe around the extraordinary talents and untold stories hiding in plain sight?

That's what we're building at All Star Encore.

We have relationships with professional athletes, musicians and entertainers, a growing pipeline of live experiences, and opportunities to develop original documentaries, unscripted series, short-form digital content, branded entertainment and licensable formats.

Here's where I need the Stage 32 community.

I know how to find these stories, bring extraordinary people together, and create compelling live experiences.

Now I want to connect with people who know how to transform those experiences into valuable, repeatable, commercially successful intellectual property.

I'm especially interested in meeting:

Executive producers and showrunners who have created and sold original unscripted formats.

Studio and content development executives who understand how to build entertainment franchises.

Distribution and streaming executives with relationships across networks, platforms and digital media.

IP and transmedia strategists who know how to develop one compelling concept across multiple formats, audiences and revenue streams.

Entrepreneurial creative partners who want to help build a company, not just work on individual projects.

I'm not looking for someone simply to film our next concert.

I'm looking for someone who can help build the next hundred stories, and create an entertainment business that owns or controls the properties behind them.

I'm open to strategic partnerships, advisory relationships, co-development opportunities, and potentially bringing the right person into a meaningful leadership role.

If you've helped take an original entertainment concept from idea to distribution, licensing or franchise, I'd genuinely love to hear how you did it.

And here's a question for everyone:

If you could discover a secret talent or entirely unexpected side of any famous athlete or entertainer, who would you choose?

That's the kind of story I want to tell.

Everybody has a song in them. We're building the platform to help the world hear it.

Adam Unger

Founder & CEO | All Star Encore

Inspired by an incredible true story, The Black Boy's Gift: Dusts of Gibraltar follows George Weah’s relentless rise from the war-torn slums of Monrovia to the absolute pinnacle of global football. Stranded in poverty but blessed with a raw, undeniable athletic grace, George survives intense trauma at home only to face a cold, hyper-tactical, and often hostile European system. The movie's real anchor is his relationship with a young, visionary French manager, Arsène Wenger, who takes a massive career risk on the unknown African striker. Wenger doesn't just coach him; he shields him from systemic racism and acts as a surrogate father, building a bond that culminates in the historic 1995 Ballon d'Or ceremony where Weah shatters the glass ceiling for African athletes forever.

A universe where karma becomes code, prayer becomes frequency, and time bends to consequence.

What if you spent 10,000 years in the Echo World while the world outside barely moved?

That is just one of the questions explored in SAMSARAVERSE. I've shared quite a few stories about my SAMSARAVERSE characters here on Stage 32. Perhaps it's time to introduce some of them visually. After bringing this universe to life across three volumes, I'm excited to share a cinematic introduction to ten characters, each carrying a different philosophical question. This trailer brings together some of the illustrations and visual concepts. 

No heroes. No villains. Only karma and consequence.

Watch SAMSARAVERSE: Character Trailer 01

https://youtu.be/hHatSf1wI24

I've always been fascinated by one simple question: What if? Inspired by Marvel's What If...?, I wanted to explore my SAMSARAVERSE characters beyond their original storylines by placing them in everyday, real-world situations. While the main saga is serious, philosophical science fiction, these non-canon experiments use dark comedy and satire to explore human behavior, greed, power, and the consequences of our choices. Previously, I imagined the Karma Broker as a political advisor. This time, he meets a corrupt president who believes everything can be bought, negotiated, or taxed. Here's another SAMSARAVERSE dark comedy sitcom!

Disclaimer: All characters and political situations in this satire are fictional. 

INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PRIVATE OFFICE - MIDNIGHT

President BARTHOLOMEOW GREEDWIS, 77, a short, round-bellied man with a desperate gray comb-over and a badly dyed black mustache, sits behind a desk the size of a small country. He signs copies of his autobiography, My Life of Sacrifice. Nine hundred pages. Mostly photographs of himself. His assistant enters.

ASSISTANT: “Mr. President, the hospitals are asking for emergency funding.”

GREEDWIS: “Again? Didn't we give them something last month?”

ASSISTANT: “A motivational poster, sir.”

GREEDWIS: “Exactly. They need to learn gratitude.”

The assistant leaves. Suddenly A tall figure in crimson robes appears beside the desk. An ancient golden mask covers his face.

(The KARMA BROKER opens his Ledger.)

GREEDWIS: “Who are you? And why aren't you bowing?”

KARMA BROKER: “I’m here to discuss your karma.”

GREEDWIS: “Is that a new ministry?”

KARMA BROKER: “No.”

GREEDWIS: “Good. We're already running out of relatives to appoint.”

(The Broker looks at his Ledger.)

KARMA BROKER: You've accumulated a considerable burden.

GREEDWIS: “Excellent. Put it under national debt”

KARMA BROKER: “That's not how it works”

GREEDWIS: “Everything works that way if you control the finance minister”

KARMA BROKER: “ I'm a merchant. I trade burdens and bargains”

(GREEDWIS suddenly becomes friendly.)

GREEDWIS: “A businessman! Sit down. Coffee? Champagne? Government contract?”

KARMA BROKER: “None of those.”

GREEDWIS: “You're difficult to impress.”

KARMA BROKER: “I have your records.”

GREEDWIS: “Ah. Then you're from the tax office.”

KARMA BROKER: “No.

GREEDWIS: “Thank God. Those people are terrifying.”

(The Broker turns a page.)

KARMA BROKER: “You've diverted billions in public funds.”

GREEDWIS: “Allegedly.”

KARMA BROKER: “You built six luxury resorts with money allocated to hospitals.”

GREEDWIS: “Medical tourism.”

KARMA BROKER: “The resorts don't have doctors.”

GREEDWIS: “Neither do the hospitals. We're consistent.”

The Broker pauses.)

KARMA BROKER: “You sold a protected forest to your largest campaign donor.”

GREEDWIS: “ Sustainable development.”

KARMA BROKER: “He cut down every tree.”

GREEDWIS: “Very sustainable. No trees left to cut next year.”

(The Broker makes a note. )

GREEDWIS: What's that?”

KARMA BROKER: “An additional entry.”

GREEDWIS: “For what?”

KARMA BROKER: “That sentence.”

GREEDWIS: “Fine. Can I transfer my karma to somebody else?”

KARMA BROKER: “Only through a bargain they knowingly accept.”

GREEDWIS: “My vice president.”

KARMA BROKER: “Has he agreed?”

GREEDWIS: “He agrees with everything!!.”

KARMA BROKER: “Does he understand what he's agreeing to?”

GREEDWIS: “Of course not. That's why he's my vice president.”

(The Broker shuts his Ledger for a moment.)”

KARMA BROKER: I see.’

GREEDWIS: “What about the taxpayers? They're used to carrying things”

KARMA BROKER: “You've already given them enough”

GREEDWIS: “So you're familiar with our economic policy”

( Suddenly, GREEDWIS's phone rings)

GREEDWIS: “One moment. It's my son”

(He answers.)

GREEDWIS: “Yes, darling. Of course you can be Minister of Education.”

(A pause.)

GREEDWIS: “No, you don't need a degree.”

(Another pause.)

GREEDWIS: “Neither did the last one.”

(He hangs up.)

KARMA BROKER: “Your son owns seventeen companies funded by public contracts.”

GREEDWIS: “He's very hardworking.”

KARMA BROKER: “He has never held a job.”

GREEDWIS: “Exactly. He's a job creator, not a job taker.”

(The Broker slowly opens his Ledger again.)

KARMA BROKER: “Let me offer you a transaction.”

GREEDWIS: “Finally! I knew we'd get along.”

KARMA BROKER: “Return what you've stolen. Surrender the wealth you gained through those bargains. Give up your protection. Accept what follows.”

(GREEDWIS stares)

GREEDWIS: “No cash back?”

KARMA BROKER: “No.”

GREEDWIS: “At least a complimentary pen?”

KARMA BROKER: “You have stolen enough stationery.”

(GREEDWIS folds his arms.)

GREEDWIS: I don't like your business model.”

KARMA BROKER: “You're not required to.”

GREEDWIS: “My people love me, you know.’

(Outside, thousands of protesters chant for his resignation.)

KARMA BROKER: “They seem upset.”

GREEDWIS: “They're celebrating.’

(A brick crashes through the window. GREEDWIS ducks.)

GREEDWIS: “Enthusiastically.”

(The Broker glances at the brick.

KARMA BROKER: “It says, "RESIGN."

GREEDWIS: “A spelling error. They meant "RE-SIGN."

KARMA BROKER: “ Re-sign what?”

GREEDWIS: “ My next presidential term.”

(The Broker looks at him for a long moment.)

KARMA BROKER: Remarkable.”

GREEDWIS: “Thank you.”

KARMA BROKER: “Not a compliment.”

(GREEDWIS rises and walks toward a giant portrait of himself.)

GREEDWIS: “History will remember me as the greatest president this country has ever known.”

KARMA BROKER: “History remembers more than portraits.”

GREEDWIS:” Not if you hire the right historians.”

KARMA BROKER: “You can buy historians. You can buy monuments. You can even buy a thousand biographies.”

(GREEDWIS smiles.)

KARMA BROKER: “But you can't buy the memories of every hungry child.”

(For the first time, GREEDWIS falls silent. He thinks. Then his face lights up.)

GREEDWIS: “What if I give the children free copies of my autobiography?”

(The Broker stares at him.)

KARMA BROKER: “Nine hundred pages?”

GREEDWIS: “With photographs.”

KARMA BROKER: “Haven't they suffered enough?”

(The Broker closes his Ledger.)

KARMA BROKER: “My offer remains open. For now.”

GREEDWIS: “Wait. Before you go, can I ask one thing?”

KARMA BROKER: “Go ahead.”

GREEDWIS: “If I appoint you Minister of Karma, can we call this a misunderstanding?”

KARMA BROKER: “The position is already taken.”

GREEDWIS: “By whom?”

KARMA BROKER: “The Masked Minister. He operates in the Echo World.”

GREEDWIS: “Excellent! Does he accept campaign donations?”

KARMA BROKER: “He specializes in false mercy.”

GREEDWIS: “My God. He sounds perfect for my cabinet.”

(The Broker sudenly disappears.)

(GREEDWIS looks around the empty office. Then presses the intercom.)

GREEDWIS: “Get me the finance minister.”

(A pause.)

GREEDWIS: “I think we've discovered an untapped industry.”

(Another pause.)

GREEDWIS: “Karma.”

(He smiles.)

GREEDWIS: “Find out if we can tax it.”

CUT TO BLACK.

POST-CREDITS SCENE:

3 YEARS LATER

INT. ECHO WORLD WHITE VOID - UNKNOWN TIME

President BARTHOLOMEOW GREEDWIS, opens his eyes.

He's dead.

Official cause of death: cardiovascular complications. His office blamed the opposition for weaponizing cholesterol. GREEDWIS looks around the endless white void.

GREEDWIS: “Where am I? Is this a private hospital?”

(A tall figure emerges from the white void. Dressed in a black three-piece suit, long overcoat, top hat, and gloves, he carries an elegant cane. A cracked golden mask conceals his face. Perfectly composed and polite THE MASKED MINISTER.)

MASKED MINISTER: “Welcome to the Echo World.”

GREEDWIS: “Ah! You must be the minister my friend mentioned!”

MASKED MINISTER: “I've been expecting you.”

GREEDWIS: “Excellent. But why is everything white? where are the dancers and welcoming committee? And is there a presidential suite?”

MASKED MINISTER: “There are no presidential suites here.”

(GREEDWIS looks around the endless white void.)

GREEDWIS: “Then where's the door?”

MASKED MINISTER: “What door?”

GREEDWIS: “The VIP entrance. Surely I don't have to use the same door as ordinary citizens.”

MASKED MINISTER: “ I can offer you freedom from suffering.”

(GREEDWIS's eyes widen.)

GREEDWIS: “Wonderful! Is it free?”

MASKED MINISTER: “There is a price.”

(GREEDWIS smiles.)

GREEDWIS: “Of course. Can I charge it to the taxpayers?”

MASKED MINISTER: “.....”

CUT TO BLACK.

SAMSARAVERSE: THE KARMA BROKER WILL RETURN

“Every choice has a consequence. Unfortunately, some customers demand a refund.”

Happy Friday everyone. This is my first post in the transmedia forum where I'm told there is a lot of activity. I'm 8 episodes into a series of themed videos trying to discovery the limits of AI generated work. I was a stubborn 2D animator before all of this and a reluctant 3D animator. I'm willing to dive in and try new tools as an indie so I won't waste your time with slop. I hope you'll react to, and comment on your view of the work I've done cast against what you've seen thus far. Has anyone else had success with AI gen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgikIYZlYIw&pp=0gcJCU0KAYcqIYzv

One of the most exciting things about modern storytelling is that a project no longer has to live in only one format.

A strong idea can begin as a book, expand into a series, continue through short-form content, music, games, interactive experiences, podcasts, animation, or even a community built around the world itself.

That raises a question I’ve been thinking about:

At what point should a creator start designing a project as a transmedia property instead of a single film or series?

I’m especially interested in how creators protect the core identity of the story while expanding it across OTT platforms and different forms of media.

What makes an expansion feel meaningful instead of forced?

And for those who have worked in transmedia or digital-first distribution, which format do you think is currently the most underused?

I’d love to hear how everyone here thinks about building stories that can travel across platforms without losing what made them special in the first place.