Hi everyone! I’m Fabio, author of AKA Montana. The Rise and Fall of an Italian Drug Lord.
My book is a true-crime story based on my real-life experience spanning New York, Ibiza, Australia, and South America. The book is performing well on Amazon (4.8 stars) and I am actively taking steps toward screen adaptation. In fact, a distribution company has already expressed interest, requesting a completed script and budget.
I am looking to connect with an experienced screenwriter interested in collaborating on a book-to-screen adaptation into a feature film. If you have experience in true-crime or drama screenwriting and want to discuss a potential collaboration, please drop a comment below or send me a direct message. Let's connect.
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Hi Fabio!
Congratulations on the success of AKA Montana and on already attracting interest from a distribution company. Having a real-life true-crime story s gives the project an especially interesting foundation for a screen adaptation!
As you get familiar with Stage 32, this Navigation Guide is a useful starting point for understanding the platform and finding the right people and resources: https://www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-p... Screenwriting Lounge
https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting
This could be especially helpful for connecting with screenwriters, discussing adaptation techniques, and potentially meeting writers experienced in true-crime and drama.
Producing Lounge https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing A useful community for conversations around packaging, budgeting, attaching collaborators, financing, and moving a screenplay toward production.
The Writers' Room may also be valuable as you move further into the film industry. RB's State of the Industry AMA is now available on-demand, and new members can currently access the Writers' Room with a FREE first month: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip I'd also recommend registering for Stage 32's FREE September Community Open House. It's designed to help members understand the platform and the different opportunities available: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-september-2026-comm...
For additional guidance on finding the right resources for your adaptation, you can reach the Stage 32 Success Team at success@stage32.com .
I'd be interested to know: what qualities are most important to you in the screenwriter who adapts AKA Montana?
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Hi Fabio, congratulations on the momentum with AKA Montana and on having a distribution company already express interest. That’s an exciting position to be in. Your story also sounds very cinematic, especially with the international settings and true-crime foundation. Wishing you the best in finding the right screenwriter to help shape the adaptation.
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Hi, Fabio Amato. Great to meet you. Congratulations on the 4.8 stars on Amazon and the distribution company requesting a script and budget! You could search for a screenwriter and other people in the industry in the Browse Members section (www.stage32.com/people).
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Amazing news, Fabio Amato, and congratulations on all the progress. Keep us posted as things move along!
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@Dwayne Williams Thank you so much for the warm welcome! To answer your question: since AKA Montana is a fast-paced, gritty true-crime story, I’m looking for a screenwriter with experience in crime/thriller drama who knows how to adapt a dense real-life story into a cinematic feature script for a realistic budget.
@Charmane Wedderburn Thank you for the kind words! If you happen to know any writers in the Writers' Room who specialize in true-crime adaptations, I’d love a recommendation.
@Maurice Vaughan Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check out the Browse Members section.
@Richard "RB" Botto Thank you RB! Really appreciate the encouragement. I’ll keep the community updated as things move forward!
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That's definitely a movie I'd be interested to watch, good luck! What is your budget?
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Hey Fabio Amato great to hear from you! What inspired you to write AKA Montana?
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That's a strong position, with a well reviewed book and a distribution company already interested in a completed script and budget. For an experienced screenwriter, the appeal is the combination of a true story with a proven audience and a distribution company already waiting. What's your timeline for the adaptation, and are you looking for a writer to work on spec or with upfront payment?
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@Lauran Childs Thank you! We are currently defining the budget structure based on the script requirements, focusing on an efficient independent production model suitable for our distribution partners.
@Pat Alexander Thanks Pat! It's actually my own true story—from washing dishes to running a $100M empire across NY, Ibiza, Australia, and South America, followed by prison and redemption. I wanted to share the reality behind that world.
@Samantha Rivera Thank you Samantha! Great questions. For the timeline, we are looking to have the first draft ready within the next 6 months. Regarding compensation, we are open to discussing structure (upfront vs. deferred/spec with backend participation) @Lauran Childs Thank you! We are currently defining the budget structure based on the script requirements, focusing on an efficient independent production model suitable for our distribution partners.
@Pat Alexander Thanks Pat! It's actually my own true story—from washing dishes to running a $100M empire across NY, Ibiza, Australia, and South America, followed by prison and redemption. I wanted to share the reality behind that world.
@Samantha Rivera Thank you Samantha! Great questions. Regarding the timeline, I don't have a rigid deadline—my main priority is taking the time to do things right and find the best approach for the adaptation. As for compensation, we are open to discussing the structure (upfront vs. deferred/spec with backend participation) depending on the screenwriter's experience and track record.
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Hello Fabio, I'm Abraham. I work around original screenplay writing, Novel to script adaptations, Script editing and polishing, Formatting and rewrites myself. I send you a connection. Kindly accept and let's discuss the best way to work together. Thanks.
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Welcome, Fabio! Having distribution interest already is a promising starting point. Best of luck finding the right screenwriter to bring the story to the screen!
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You're welcome, Fabio Amato. Hope the Browse Members section helps! Stage 32 also has free in-person Meetups that are great for networking. They're in the Browse section (www.stage32.com/browse). If you don't see a Meetup near you, keep an eye on the Meetups page, and you could start your own Meetup.
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You're welcome Fabio Amato! And it's always great to collaborate. Stage 32 really does have endless collaboration opportunities. Best of luck with the adaptation!
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Hi Fabio Amato I hope you'll join us at our upcoming webcasts in the Writers' Room. Sign up for a Free Month of the Writers’ Room: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip
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@Abraham Lith Hi Abraham, thanks for reaching out! I've accepted your request. Feel free to send me a direct message so we can chat more about your background with book adaptations.
@Zoltan Zoltan Thank you Zoltan! Appreciate the support.
@Laura Hammer Thanks Laura! I'll check out the Writers' Room options.
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Fabio Amato, welcome to Stage 32!
My name is Ashley Smith, and I’m the Head of Community here at Stage 32. Thanks so much for jumping in for Introduce Yourself Weekend and sharing about your book AKA MONTANA.
The fact that your true-crime memoir has strong Amazon reviews AND has already caught the interest of a distribution company (with a request for a completed script and budget) is a genuinely exciting starting position for adaptation. True-crime is such a compelling space right now across both film AND streaming, and stories rooted in real global experiences like yours (New York, Ibiza, Australia, South America) have real market appeal.
Dwayne Williams already shared some excellent resources with you above, and I want to second all of them, especially reaching out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com. Given the specific position you’re in (existing distribution interest, needing both a screenwriter and a completed script/budget), Success Team is genuinely your strongest first step. They can help you strategize the full path forward, connect you with vetted Stage 32 Executives who specialize in adaptation and true-crime, and offer curated guidance on finding the right collaborators for your material.
I also want to add one thing to what Dwayne mentioned: consistent engagement in the Lounges over time is one of the most powerful ways to build genuine relationships with writers, producers, and collaborators who might be a fit for your project. When members are curious about you and your work, they will ask, and those organic conversations lead to real, lasting creative partnerships that often go so much deeper than a one-off collaboration inquiry.
Welcome again, Fabio! I’m rooting for AKA MONTANA and everything you build next!
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@Ashley Renée Smith Thank you so much Ashley! I really appreciate the warm welcome and advice. Reaching out to the Success Team sounds like a great next step, and I'll definitely email them to help navigate finding the right screenwriter. Thanks for the support!
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Glad to hear it helps, Fabio Amato!