Hi Everyone! I am freaking out. I just received an email from Stage 32 letting me know the executive I sent my first 10 pages to wants to meet with me. This is my first feature script, and I would love to hear any tips for going into this meeting.
Screenwriting : Meeting Request by Alex Hastings
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Congratulations!
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Congrats!!!
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Get ready to answer the question ‘what else have you got’. Enjoy it. Find out what they want to do with the piece and WHEN. If all goes fine in the chat, ask them what’s on the table in terms of an offer.
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This is amazing!!
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Great advice David Taylor!
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Great job! now you get into the thicken.
Congrats....
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Congrats! Best wishes on your success. Have confidence, you don’t need luck when you’ve got talent!
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Alex, when an executive asks to meet after reading your first ten pages, they’re not evaluating your script anymore—they’re evaluating you. These meetings are less about performance and more about clarity, posture, and whether you can talk about your story without collapsing into nerves or over‑explaining.
A few things tend to matter most in these conversations:
- Know what your story is actually about. Not the plot—its identity. The spine. The thing that doesn’t change no matter how many drafts you write.
- Be able to talk about your protagonist cleanly. What they want, what’s in their way, and what the story forces them to confront.
- Hold the room without performing. Executives aren’t looking for hype; they’re looking for someone who can stay grounded while discussing their own work.
- Answer simply. The biggest mistake writers make is giving long, wandering explanations. Short, clear answers signal confidence.
- Stay curious. Ask them what stood out in the pages, what they responded to, what they’re curious about. It turns the meeting into a conversation instead of an audition.
You don’t need to impress them. You just need to show that the clarity on the page is the same clarity you bring into the room. That’s what executives trust.
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Yay!!! Congratulations!! First, calm down.
Thank you, everyone! Your responses have been immensely helpful.
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Just be you and have a good conversation. You know your material, you know your characters. You got it, Alex. Congratulations!
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woo hoo! you got this!
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Be as real and authentic as possible. Stay open, stay receptive — but never lose your strength or your vision.
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Congrats!
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Baron, that was very informative advice.
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congrats Alex Hastings - keep us posted on the journey!
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Just be open and honest with where you are and how far along your project is. Its the quickest way to get the best help.