so my name is Tony
I am a at home truck driver by day and I just started writing screen plays because in my 20's I was trying to be an actor and was homeless and had no future. I gave up on my dreams because I had to so I could survive. now I am 49 and closing in on 50th and saw a Facebook thing that told me I could have a mentor if I joined. well I took a risk and did. turns out it is probably a scam but I am still writing my first screen play using a Coursera class that is all peer review (which scares me to death) but I am making a choice to try the road not taken and seeing if I can make something that entertains people and helps young people dream of things that help them grow and survive. my goal isn’t moeny or fame. those things just come if I am successful with my goal. I survived my life because people like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg made things that gave me hope and joy when I needed it most. not Academy movies but movies that entertained and gave hope.
so that is what I want. I want to write and create something that helps someone have joy in life even for just a couple hours.
1 person likes this
Hi, Tony Sterago. Happy Holidays! Glad you decided to follow your dream! What's your favorite Steven Spielberg movie?
1 person likes this
well I could be generic and Say E.T. but as a kid it was amazing. as i grew... Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. but then Saving Private Ryan, terminal, hook, catch me if you can, and Ready Player One all of these really spoke to me and got me through some hard times but I guess catch me if you can gave me the true feels. I child lost and abandoned and found by the father he never wanted but needed. it really keep the darkness in my soul away and hope that there was a father out there for me that wouldn't turn me away.
3 people like this
Sounds great…I hope you’re successful in your quest. Happy Holidays!
2 people like this
Steven Spielberg has a lot of phenomenal films, Tony Sterago. It's hard to pick a favorite. My favorite is Jurassic Park. I need to find and read the script. I like the other Jurassic Park movies, but the first is the best in my opinion.
2 people like this
Beverly thank you you as well may I add you to my network
Maurice yes he has a great amount of work and I can never really pick just one but they all speak to me at different points in my life.
3 people like this
Welcome to the amazing community. Best wishes! and Happy holidays!
2 people like this
Hi Tony, welcome to the community!
Your story is incredibly inspiring. There is no such thing as a 'midlife crisis' when it comes to creativity—it’s just the right time for your voice to be heard. I also took a risk on this path, and I just recently signed my first co-writer agreement for a sci-fi pilot called 'THE PHOENIX.' It proves that taking that 'road not taken' really can lead to amazing places.
Don't let the peer reviews scare you! We all started somewhere, and the fact that you want to create work that gives people joy and hope, like Lucas and Spielberg did for you, is the best motivation there is.
I’m glad you didn't let the fear of a scam stop you from joining us. This is a great place to find genuine support. Looking forward to seeing your progress!"
2 people like this
thank you all so much. I am still working just making the best choices i can make with all the very little if any at all Information I have
2 people like this
Hello, nice to meet you.
I hope you have great holidays and a happy New Year.
2 people like this
You're welcome, Tony Sterago. Peer reviews can be helpful. They might see things about your story that you didn't.
2 people like this
You're very welcome, Tony! Honestly, making the 'best choices you can' is exactly what screenwriting is all about, even for the pros. Don't worry about having 'little information' right now—the more you write and engage here on Stage 32, the more that picture will clear up. Just keep focusing on that goal of creating something that gives people joy. We're all rooting for you!
2 people like this
Hi again Tony! How are ya? You have any big holiday plans?
2 people like this
yes Maurice Vaughan Maurice peer review is great when you feel like you can trust your peers I just get this sinking feeling that my Works being screen captured and used so it just scares me
Salisu Abdullahi yeah I'm going to just keep doing the best I can and I'm going to keep at it as best as I can it is all I can do I'm trying to condense currently my page is 11 to 25 into 11 to 20 because that's what the class assignment requires for this project and I'm having some problems with rider duet making sense I'm also having an issue with what's it called structure because page 3 is overlapping with page 4 making it unintelligible I think it's just a formatting thing but I'm not a computer guy so I don't know I'm hoping chat GPT can help me fix it
Elle Bolan not really any big plans I've got to work Tuesday and I've got some doctor's appointments tomorrow and some VA benefits stuff I've got to work on but then just spending time with family on the 24th and 5th and working on this as best I can so yeah that's kind of where I'm at at the moment I'm trying to find extra money to join the writers room like you suggested but just the annual subscription plus the subscription for writer duet and the subscription for chat GPT so I can use the projects and keep everything organized and one subscription after another my wife is a little scared but I've been working 6 days a week and just getting about half a day then I'm spending writing on Saturday night and some Sundays before I go back to work Monday morning at 1:00 a.m. Central Time so yeah I'm just trying to fit my life around this new desire and as far as holiday plans they're just another current complication to my life being what I needed to be. I'm kind of wishing I was still in my twenties so I could be skinny and maybe find a gay sugar daddy
2 people like this
Hi Tony welcome!
2 people like this
Vital Butinar thank you and welcome to you as well
2 people like this
@Tony, I completely understand! Life doesn't get cheaper just because we have dreams, does it? And the holidays throw a monkey wrench at us all.
The good thing is, everything in its own time and on your schedule. Don't rush to join in on every suggested path. Sometimes those are just things to keep in mind for when you can or when you're ready. This is your journey. It won't do you or your writing any good to place undue pressure or stress on yourself.