Screenwriting : 11th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest -- who submitted? by Jaz Lagrimas

Hi Jaz Lagrimas. I submitted my debut short film, "The Misstep," to the 11th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest, and I wanted to share a bit about the vision behind it with you all.

Logline

A distracted woman stumbles into the wrong apartment, triggering a surreal journey where she meets her identical self, who reveals that overcoming her ADHD holds the key to her ultimate transformation.

The Film & Vision

"The Misstep" is a surreal thriller and a proof of concept for a feature film I am developing. My vision was to move away from conventional storytelling and lean into "subjective realism." I wanted to translate the internal "noise" of neurodivergence and ADHD into a visual, sensory experience, turning an emotional truth into a cinematic language that the audience doesn’t just watch, but feels. Rather than explain, I wanted to evoke. To trust that feeling can be just as powerful as logic.

Small Crew, Big Heart

Because I self-funded this as a private equity project on a very low micro-budget, I had to be extremely strategic. I assembled a small but incredible "dream team" of just 8 people. Despite the intense conditions—including a 14-hour shoot that went until 3 AM—every single person gave 100%. I am so happy with the final result; it proves that when a team is aligned with the vision, you can achieve the impossible regardless of the budget.

How Stage 32 made this possible:

Honestly, I am a writer-director today because of Stage 32 Education. I truly could not have done this without this amazing community. I am a businesswoman from my background, and I began my filmmaking career two years ago as a screenwriter on Stage 32, but I learned the craft of directing and producing right here through Stage 32 Education and through the community. I am grateful for that. I hope The Misstep finds its way and you all enjoy it. Thank you for this opportunity.

"What is meant for you will always find you."

Thanks for this opportunity to share! As a lifelong examiner of relationships (since my mom made me her marriage counselor when I was 12), I heard the startling stat last year that 1 in 4 young adults seek romantic fulfillment from AI. That sparked my curiosity and I started writing tAInted love.

Short description: At a carefully curated California dinner party, connection feels effortless until a sudden blackout reveals that several guests are malfunctioning AI companions designed for frictionless love. As the illusion of perfect compatibility fractures, the humans in the room are forced to confront what vulnerability really costs. Darkly funny and quietly unnerving, tAInted love explores intimacy, loneliness, and what we sacrifice when love comes without risk.

I submitted my short film Nub City about two "down-on-their-luck" guys who take out a life insurance policy that pays in full if one of them loses a limb. The premise is a bit silly and outlandish, but the subtext is an examination of how the "have-nots" feel like they're out of options and must resort to extreme measures just to get a leg up.

Hi Jaz! My fellow Stage 32 member, as well as co-creator, -director, and -star Sean Kael Williams and I submitted our pilot "Under Pressure."

​​Ryan Callaghan is the last person who should be in the wellness industry. A former Marine with a hair-trigger temper and PTSD, Ryan has returned home to Dallas to manage his late mother’s legacy: a failing massage and wellness studio. Between financial debt, frivolous lawsuits, and conflicting personalities, however, day-to-day life is a disaster and Ryan is a ticking time bomb. "Under Pressure" is a grounded workplace dramedy concerned with the invisible burdens we all carry. It is about the ways we cope when life gets heavy, and finding peace in the middle of the chaos.

Stylistically, we’ve been hugely inspired by shows like "The Bear," "Adolescence," and "The Studio," all of which use long, uninterrupted takes to pull viewers directly into the sensory experience of the characters. We adopted this immersive approach to allow the pressure to build organically in real time, as well as allow our characters' humanity to shine through.

We believe "Under Pressure" speaks to this exact moment in time—when everyone seems to be holding their breath, trying to stay calm, and praying they don’t explode.