Hi! My name is Scott Olsen, I’m a screenwriter based out of the commonly believed to be fictional, Central Jersey. I have gravitated to storytelling my entire life but have only fully committed to screenwriting throughout this past year. Most recently, I won the ‘Comedy Teleplay Spec’ award for my script “Skip Skampi’s”, an episode of the Emmy-Award-Winning comedy, ‘Abbott Elementary’ at the Austin Film Festival.
I have a few short scripts under my belt that I would love to bring to life, but my current focus has been working on my first feature-length script. I feel the story, based on my real-life experience of running a local movie theater and saving it from permanent closure during the height of COVID, is not only timely, but offers a glimpse into my passion to blend heart and humor in all that I write.
I’d really love to connect with fellow artists in the 'hungry' stage of their journeys, as well as those more settled into their careers where guidance and, even mentorship, might be of interest to them!
No matter where you fall on this vast spectrum, only reach out if you're willing to be stuck with as eager of a peer and collaborator as you've probably ever had. Hope to talk soon!
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Hey, Scott Olsen. Congratulations on winning the ‘Comedy Teleplay Spec’ award and all your success! Abbott Elementary is hilarious! I need to get caught up on it. I crack up when the characters look at the camera.
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Thank you Maurice, I really appreciate you saying that! I've been a big fan since day one and had such a great time writing for these amazing characters!
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You're welcome, Scott Olsen. Who's your favorite Abbott Elementary character?
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Great to e-meet you Scott Olsen ! congrats on the wins so far! and I'm just a little bit north of you in Essex county. Same taxes though so that's... cool hahaha
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Congrats on the Austin Film Festival win, Scott—that's a significant accomplishment! Your theater survival story sounds like it has strong emotional stakes and commercial appeal as well. I actually saw a writer friend named Ryan Cunningham last night who said he met you at AFF-- small world! Always great meeting fellow writers with pals in common! Welcome to the community!
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Maurice Vaughan I really love Janine while watching the show, but I found writing for Ava & Melissa to be the most fun!
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Hey Sebastian Tudores , thank you for your kind words! Oh I'm in and out of Essex County all the time. I'm in Somerset and have family in Bergen County. As much as I love Jersey, I still wouldn't wish these taxes on my worst enemy! haha
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Hey Pat Alexander ! I really appreciate you saying that about my win in Austin, as well as my theater story, thank you! It's incredibly close to home for me (obviously) so every ounce of encouragement I get, really does mean a lot.
You're friends with Ryan?!?! I must have had a few hundred conversations while at AFF and Ryan may very well be the nicest guy I met the entire trip! You keep very good company, my friend!
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My favorite is a tie between Gregory and Janine, Scott Olsen. I'm looking forward to getting back into the show. I really wanna see the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode!
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Great to see you here, Scott Olsen! This is such a fantastic introduction, and congratulations again on your Abbott Elementary spec win at Austin Film Festival. That’s a huge accomplishment, and it says so much about your voice and comedic timing. Also, as someone who grew up going to small, local theaters, the story behind your feature already has my heart. There’s something so special about writers who honor the places and communities that shaped them.
If you’re looking to connect with writers and filmmakers who are in that same “hungry” stage, or those a few steps ahead, you’ll find a lot of them hanging out in the Screenwriting Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting), Filmmaking Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/directing), and Producing Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing). They’re great places to build relationships, ask questions, and start conversations about your feature.
And when you’re ready to move your feature forward, the Success Team can help match you with execs and resources aligned with your goals (Success@Stage32.com).
Also, I'm hosting our free November Community Open House soon, it’s a great way to meet creatives across every discipline and get a deeper sense of how to navigate Stage 32:
https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community...
Really glad you’re here, Scott. It was lovely to meet you at AFF!
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Scott Olsen I hear ya'! haha we'll have to try to connect one of these times
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Absolutely, Sebastian Tudores , that would be great!
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Ashley! It’s so great to hear from literally THE first person I met at AFF last year! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words on my win, but also for those regarding my story. It has been a passion of mine to put on paper, and hopefully on-screen, from the time I was hired as a teenager right up until I returned in my 30’s.
There really is almost an overwhelming number of resources and ways to network on Stage 32, so I really appreciate you pinpointing something as beneficial as the links to the Lounges. I will absolutely check them out!
I actually just saw a notice about your Open House event on the 25th and have every intention of stopping by to check it out!
Thank you again for everything, Ashley Renée Smith , I’d still be wandering around the lobby of the Omni looking for registration if not for your help last year! I couldn’t be happier to have found my way to Stage 32!
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Welcome, Scott! Great to have you here. If you ever want to exchange insights or need support along your writing journey, I’m here and happy to connect. :)
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Scott Olsen, this absolutely made my day. I’m so glad our paths crossed at AFF, and it’s been such a joy to watch you dive deeper into your storytelling and celebrate this well-earned win. Hearing how long this project has lived with you, from your earliest experiences to now, makes it even more meaningful to see you getting recognition for it.
I’m thrilled the Stage 32 Lounges feel like a good next step. There’s a lot here, but once you find your rhythm, the connections and conversations become incredibly energizing. And yes, I would love to see you at the Open House on the 25th. It’s designed for exactly that purpose, to give you a sense of where everything lives and how to make the platform feel more like home.
And I’m still laughing about the lobby of the Omni. You were absolutely not the only one wandering that maze. I’m just glad I was standing in the right spot at the right time.
Welcome again to Stage 32, I’m really excited to see where your journey goes from here.
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Ashley Renée Smith I'm so glad to have made your day any better and begun paying off my debt for all of your pro bono mapping assistance! I have a feeling you are the unofficial face of AFF Navigation for more than a few attendees these last few years!
I’m looking more and more forward to the Open House and diving even deeper into everything Stage 32 has to offer! Hope to talk soon!
-Scott
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Congratulations @scottolsen! Bravo!!
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Nice to meet you Scott Olsen ! I placed as a screenwriter in AFF last year and this year, and wasn't able to go either time! Congrats on winning and attending. I'd be happy to connect, too. Always fun to chat about the industry and how to navigate it.
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Congrats on winning the Comedy Teleplay spec award! Well done!
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Thank you, Jack Binder ! "Blankman" is as early of an influence on my writing as I can think of so I truly appreciate you saying this!
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Great to meet you Dustin Richardson and congratulations on placing at AFF these past two years! I'm sorry you couldn't make it, but I can't imagine back-to-back selections happened by accident. I have no doubt you're writing will bring you to the festival sooner than later. I'd love to chat sometime, are you working on anything exciting right now?
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Thank you, Haley Mary ! I really appreciate you reaching out with such kind words!
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Thanks Scott Olsen ! I'll message you.
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Scott Olsen Thank you! Love a Blankman shout out.
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This sounds as if it would make a great feature: "based on my real-life experience of running a local movie theater and saving it from permanent closure"
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Thank you Michael Thorn , I've spent a long time finding the right angle on writing about that time in my life, so it really goes a long way whenever someone shows an interest!