Stage 32Reviews 102

Its so clear that they used inside people or paid people to give reviews. Listen people, Im ready to take a huge jump and say buh bye to these pricks. Its time to make a move and start something new. I know Im going to be insainly successful soon, so whos with me on just creating our work into film and super trooper-ing the hell out of this thing? Im in Raleigh NC and Im ready to friggen explode against all the odds. Find me if youre in with me. Im Trent. Not too many around. Other clue, Apex address, real estate is in the way. See you soon!

Pitched in 2016. Got a script request. Sent script. Crickets. Followed up after two months... "exec been too busy to read". Five months... "exec still too busy". Meanwhile, the exec is doing more and more pitch sessions... if the guy is too busy to read, he should probably stop taking more pitching sessions until he's caught up. They've also been known to send the wrong feedback to the wrong people, and they rarely answer emails. Such a waste of money. You're much better off finding a pitching service where you control when and how you send your script and follow up after.

I have signed up and paid for a couple of the webinars and two written pitch sessions. The last webinar was "How to land meetings without an agent or manager". Like the previous webinar, this was a complete joke. Earth shattering stuff like "If an agency or company has a no unsolicited material policy, then you'll need to find another way". If an agency or company is open to unsolicited material (about 1% at best) try cold calling or send a query letter. Wow, more stunning information! No matter what the webinar subject they market, you can find dozens of videos on YouTube for free, which cover the exact same subjects. As for the written pitches, received e-mails from Joey that the executives received the pitches but passed. However, no proof whatsoever that they ever even received the pitches. Just a short e-mail from Joey saying they passed.

I pitched 3 scripts to a dozen executives. What struck me was the huge variety in the comments I got. The marking scheme is haphazard to say the least. Sometimes a pitch would get 4/5, and others a paltry 1/5. Some said the pitch was clear and interesting, other that I needed to learn how to pitch clearly if I was going to succeed.
One pitch led to a script being requested, with the comment "this is a smart, intelligent pitch with an intriguing premise". The exact same pitch was dubbed "typical of the unprofessional work of a beginner" by the next executive.
One executive told me to make the main character's aim clear. So I added "Her aim: a fresh start." In my pitch. I pitched it again to another executive who said that sentence was ungrammatical and this was one of the reasons she was rejecting it.

I may be wrong, and perhaps some people break in through Stage32, but my impression is this is a way struggling executives make a little extra cash and offload their frustrations on to beginners.
Because, of course, you get no right of reply.

If you are just starting out and looking to get some initial feed back on your screenplay, Happy writers on Stage32.com is a good place to start. Its cheap and there are a variety of "professionals" on there to give you their unbiased and sometimes very biased opinion of your work. Make no mistake as a writer, you need to experience both because you will anyway, and its better you get used to it now. Don't get caught up in the hype about getting chosen, if you research the "success" stories and testimonials you'll see most of those individuals never advanced beyond the first stage and are still out here with the rest of us and the ones that do. You guessed it, are already established and working in the industry way before Happy Writers became a thing. Also forget about customer service, the Happy writers crew are terribly unresponsive, on my very first purchase I did not receive my feed back when I was promised and after several emails I had to call them out on my page just to get them to respond. They have a very bad habit of claiming they sent your feedback out but never actually do so you will have to watch them. Otherwise, buy a couple of pitches get your feed back, tighten up that script and move on to the Black List where REAL executives actually hire good writers. Not a bunch of Assistants and producers that have not done anything for years like whats on Happy Writers.

Over a year I pitched several screenplays through Happy Writers and never received any serious feedback. I sensed the Executives where just there to pick up a few extra bucks listening to pitches with little intent of seeking valuable scripts. They know how to exploit aspiring writing and the success stories--if any-- are few and far between. Can't remember a single success story. If a screenplay writer want to seriously pitch his work, I suggest saving your money avoiding Stage32 and attending events like Scriptfest where you actually have face time with agents, producers and talent scouts. Paying Stage32 is a ripoff.

I cannot get enough of Stage 32, and thank god for that. This is a platform that has been called LinkedIn for film creatives by no less than Forbes Magazine, but it really is so much more than that.

I am a screenwriter and a filmmaker. I've been at both of these pursuits for 10 years. I paid my dues as a PA and have delivered coffee on set just to gain experience. And I did get that experience, but my career wasn't moving along.

A colleague invited me to Stage 32 in 2012. I'll admit I was skeptical. 4 years later, I have completed 2 paid writing assignments I secured through connections made on the site and I was hired by a producer to shoot a feature film which will begin shooting this fall.

I see people complaining about Stage 32's Happy Writers service. Let me tell you mine. Late last year, I pitched to Circle of Confusion. This was my 7th pitch session, of which I had received 3 reads. Not bad in my opinion. My script was requested by the manager at Circle. A week later he requested more of my work. 5 weeks later, I was signed. I would have never had the opportunity without this service. And everything was handled ultra professionally by Erik of the Happy Writers. Those complaining - I'm looking at the dude who complained about not getting feedback in 14 days where the site explicitly says 2-3 weeks are likely impatient amateurs. I have also used the Happy Writers for coverage on my screenplays and the feedback has always been spot on and helpful.

More rewarding, I've made some incredible connections and even found a mentor on Stage 32. It's just an incredible platform filled with creative and friendly people. It truly has changed my life.

Deny the cynics and see for yourself!

Dan

Happy Writers at Stage 32 may not be an outright SCAM but it's as close as it gets. For a $45 fee, you pitch your script to a movie "executive" who may or may not "request" your screenplay. This reader provides a "report" on the pitch, based --more often than not in my experience-- on fourth-rate (read: joke) analyses and their own dubious, creative accomplishments. These experts almost always "pass," and one out of five pitches is not responded to one way or the other. In fact, I have never heard anything back from the few scripts that were requested. Happy Writers $300 coverage sessions are even worse. I've learned nothing of value from them, and it is difficult to understand how these story analysts can possibly know more about narrative structure than I do (or anyone else for that matter). AVOID.

They have over 400,000 members and they generate between

$1 mil. - $5 mil.in Revenue for 5 - 10Employees

Dreams for sale?
About 1-2% will make any serious success, money or connections.
They won't let you sell your projects directly to the 400,000 - that's THEIR job.

Left on my own accord after a reprimand for connecting members IN MY network about my Pinterest and Patreon sites for a project... but I was getting lots of sales, email and contact about the classes and contests that help them raise the 1-5 million...
If it works for you, great. Otherwise you're just making them richer.

This site was a godsend to me. As a struggling writer who couldn't seem to make connections that matter, I used this site to network with industry players who (eventually) began to read my work. This led to me getting a paid option and further assignment work. Further still, I used the Stage 32 Happy Writers to land my manager at Benderspink which also lead to me landing my agent at WME. I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer above who said that the Happy Writers seems like a money grabbing scheme. Never before was I able to actually pitch to these executives. And, as I said, it paid off with full representation. I also use the Happy Writers coverage services because I get to pick the executive that gives me notes. That in itself is amazing.

Everything about this network is top notch. The people who run it and work for the company are hands on and truly care. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention their incredible webinars who are taught by people who actually have done something in the business, not no names that places like The Writers Store and other so-called screenwriting sites offer.

Obviously, I'm a big fan. This side made my career

Stage32 is a wonderful site that presents people with networking opportunities and to gain insight into the industry. The site is very clean and user-friendly. I highly recommend for anyone looking to network or learn more from those within the industry.

Now Stage32 bought Happy Writers which incorporated into their site. Also another great idea to give writers an opportunity to present themselves in various fashions. But beware that this also costs money and can be used as a money making scheme. I have had coverages done where the feedback was riddled with blatant lies. That included feedback given as if the person didn't read the script or take the time to pay attention to some or all of what they were reading.

One, in particular, where it specified I should invest in Final Draft as my script didn't have any page numbers. Funny thing is I enter all my scripts into Final Draft 9 which automatically formats and puts the page numbers on which was displayed in the PDF file I sent to them.

With anything, there will always be glorified success stories but beware of some of the underlying hidden dangers that can be brought about whenever money is involved.

That is just my honest feedback of my experience with using all that Stage32 has to offer.