Introduce Yourself : Hey peeps! by Marie Phillips

Marie Phillips

Hey peeps!

Hi, fellow dream machines! 

I’m a UK-born, Spain-based songwriter and screenwriter working on my first feature -  a gritty supernatural drama that explores love, loss, surrender and fate. It’s not a love story wrapped in sugar  -  it’s got dust in its lungs, gold in its veins, and goodbye in its bones.

I’m here to connect with fellow creatives, learn from the oh-so-wise ones, and (if Lady Fate sees fit) find the people who can help get this story from page to screen, before my brain fries and my laptop hands in its notice and jumps out the window.

Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Marie Phillips. Nice to meet you. Welcome to the community. Stage 32 had a live Community Open House the other week. You can watch the recording here (www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-community-open-house-webcast-1). It'll help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world.

Stage 32 also has a blog about navigating the platform and making connections: www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Congratulations on starting your first feature script! I suggest checking out Stage 32's Script Services when you're ready to get feedback on your script (www.stage32.com/scriptservices).

Libby Wright

Nice to meet you!! What a great description of your script!

Marie Phillips

Libby Wright thank you, Libby. You working on anything right now, or in marinade mode? i love marinade mode, its where all the good stuff grows. :)

Marie Phillips

Maurice Vaughan Thanks so much for the warm welcome and all the great resources! I’m diving into the Community Open House video as we speak - loving how much there is to explore here. Definitely planning to check out Script Services when my screenplay’s ready for some honest feedback (fingers crossed my laptop survives that long! Pah). Appreciate the guidance — it’s a lot to take in, but I’m here for the ride!

Libby Wright

I have several differnt projects at different phases. I have a script I've completed and I'm currently shopping to sales agents to produce.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Marie Phillips. It is a lot to take in. I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. If you ever have any questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know. We have badges on our pictures. Or you could email support@stage32.com.

Geoffroy Faugerolas

Welcome to the community! You're in the right place for everything you mentioned! I'd recommend looking into joining the Writers' Room as well. You can join with a free trial and access incredible resources, Q&As, webcasts, a library of content, pitching opportunities....

Emilia-Maria

Oof, this sounds like my cuppa tea! I've been working on a TV series for the past year - pricrastinated most of the year, and deleted a lot, but getting there

John X. Ingram

Hi Marie, wishing you the best of luck on your script! Do you feel like your songwriting has influenced your screenwriting in some way? Is there a more lyrical style to writing perhaps, or have you separated them completely?

Marie Phillips

Libby Wright sounds exciting! Wishing you loads of luck :)

Marie Phillips

John X. Ingram oooo, that's a juicy question! yes, I think songwriting definitely influences it at times. In high stakes, dramatic scenes, i think and feel musically, and can hear the score, which makes it much easier to write. Also with monologues, i do think the more poetic side of me pours into those. BUT i struggle with "smaller", less dramatic scenes and seem to spend longer thinking those through and scratching my head. hahaha What about you? What are you working on at the mo?

Marie Phillips

Emilia-Maria Thanks! Oh, don't even get me started on procrastination. hahaha it took me 6 months from the inception of my idea to starting to write it. And the same as you regarding a TV series - outlined the first season last year, spent 6 months ruminating, then abandoned it when i got my current idea. Yikes. I do think that ideas percolate, though and actually, in the months i waited before starting to write the feature, it evolved in my mind and I added a new character and plot line to it that made it 100% better. So i'm definitely not about rushing ideas : ) That's my story and I'm sticking to it hehehe

Marie Phillips

Williams Clack Thank you ever so kindly :)

Libby Wright

I'm a songwriter and musician too. I find that I am hearing a soundtrack the whole time I'm writing. Sometimes, I'll hear a song come up and write a whole scene or montage based on it! How about you?

Marie Phillips

Libby Wright Yes! To all of this. I actually think I couldnt have created some of the more climactic scenes without music. Do you write "suggested song" in your scripts? It's a thorny issue, isn't it, but if the writer knows that a particular piece of music absolutely nails the tone of the scene, isn't it alright to suggest?

Libby Wright

Marie Phillips that's a tough issue. The way I'm playing it is just keeping it in my own personal files. when we get the funding to make the film, I'll be able to communicate with the team.

Emilia-Maria

Marie Phillips Oh goodness, hahah! I'm finally getting back to having dozens ideas for this one, limited series I'm writing, but I have so many stories at the back of my head xD I feel like, if I get this one off the ground and potentially running, I can have more time writing all the other projects I need to get on paper!!

Ashley Renee Smith

Welcome to Stage 32, Marie Phillips! I’m Ashley Renee Smith, Head of Community here, and I have to say—your intro stopped me in my tracks. That line about your script having dust in its lungs, gold in its veins, and goodbye in its bones? Absolutely stunning. I hope you’ll keep us posted on your progress in the Screenwriting Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting) and the Filmmaking Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/directing)—you’ll find so many creatives there who are passionate about stories.

If you ever need help navigating the community or want curated support, our Success Team is just an email away at Success@Stage32.com. So glad you’re here!

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