This week, I gave myself a simple but uncomfortable challenge: reach out and connect with at least five creative professionals I didn’t already know, people I respect and genuinely want to learn from.
Even after years in this industry, and even with a role that requires me to be social and visible, networking is still a practice. It doesn’t get magically easy. It gets intentional. No matter your role, writer, producer, director, actor, composer, VFX artist, editor, production designer, etc., at some point, you will need mentorship, perspective, advice, or simply someone who understands the season you’re in. And for many creatives, being proactive about connection doesn’t come naturally.
The only way through it is to start.
Introduce yourself in Stage 32's Introduce Yourself Lounge- https://www.stage32.com/lounge/introduce_yourself
Send the network request.
Follow up with a message. But here’s the key: don’t make it about you.
Don’t pitch. Don’t lead with your project. Ask about them. Ask what they’re working on. Ask what excites them this year. Ask what they wish they’d known when they were earlier in their careers.
And mean it. People in this business can feel inauthentic outreach immediately. If the subtext is “What can you do for me?” they’ll lean away. But if the energy is curiosity and a long-term connection, it shifts everything. Treat them like someone you’d actually want to know beyond a transaction. If the conversation flows, then you can ask if they’d be open to a Zoom coffee or, if local, an in-person one.
This week, I pushed myself to reach out. I had a few wonderful Zoom and phone conversations. We talked about films and series we love. I heard fascinating insights about where the industry is heading. I got to share why I believe spaces like Stage 32 matter. It reminded me that growth is relational.
So in that spirit, I’m curious, what are you doing this week to challenge yourself creatively or professionally? How are you hoping to intentionally grow this year?
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Congratulations, Ashley Renée Smith! Great tips for networking! I'm rewriting a feature script this week that's challenging me, and I hope to grow in other areas (filmmaking, cinematography, etc.) to get better as a writer and navigate the industry better.
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My challenge is slowing down enough to actually hear what's happening in people's lives. In this business, everything moves fast and everyone's incredibly busy, so it's easy to jump straight to "What are you working on? Can we collaborate?" But taking the time to ask what else they are doing—what excites them, what they're learning, what they're struggling with—is such a simple way to show we see them as humans, not just contacts. That shift in energy changes everything. When you're genuinely curious about someone beyond what they can do for you, the conversation actually becomes worth having.
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Love this, Ashley! So true. Intentional connection is such a game changer. Inspiring to see you leading by example :)
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Love this, Ashley. I’ve been challenging myself this year to be more intentional about relationship-building without an immediate ask attached to it. Just focusing on learning from other creatives’ journeys and building genuine connections first. It’s a great reminder that long-term growth in this industry is just as much about community as it is about craft. Appreciate you starting this conversation!
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Congrats on the networking Ashley Renée Smith, and it's true, it's hard. I have to try getting back into it, myself.
My main challenge for the week is pulling myself out of yet another bout of dooming ^^; which admittedly is due to burnout from day job as well as slowing Lunar Window's ending down being much trickier than it looks (though in fairness it helps that I'm going to keep it largely intact as it was and most of the editing work has been finished, so I'm actually very close to being completely done). My other challenge is getting back to my big goal, working on 21 different projects for the year lol.
I am honestly amazed by the inspirational knowledge and insight from Stage 32 creatives Ashley Renée Smith . I've connected with people who have lit a fire & offered collaborative ideas and insights. This is an amazing platform for networking.