Congratulations, Stage 32!

There’s a celebration going on in another corner of the online screenwriting and filmmaking community: Stage 32. From a post by its co-founder Richard Botto:

Seven months ago, when we launched Stage 32, our wish was to make the world a little smaller for those whose calling was to create. Talent knows no borders and exposure shouldn’t be limited by geography. We wanted to eliminate all excuses, all the reasons one makes when pulling the plug on a life-long dream. We wanted to spark creativity, drive desires, and ignite the collaborative process. We wanted to set fire to inspiration. We wanted everyone to work. Seven months ago, we swung the doors open, expecting (hoping?) our idea would appeal to a small group of creatives. But then something wild happened … The first adapters ran with the concept, they told their peers, the small group forming into a larger, stronger community …

A community 50,000+ strong, with participants from over 180 countries …

What is Stage 32? You can read their mission statement here. A key excerpt:

Every day, there are thousands of talented individuals searching for like minded souls with which they can collaborate. They join writing or acting classes, theater groups, and on line forums. They act in student films, direct and submit short subject films to festivals, and enter screenplay contests. They take the first step and fight for the second. They search for answers to the never ending “hows” and “whys.” Some take pride in bucking the relentless frustrations and challenges, many more succumb to them. Almost all wonder: “How can I make my dream a reality? How can I increase my odds and give myself the greatest chance to succeed?”

Welcome to Stage 32 — a community for you, built by you. The Stage 32 community is strictly for people working in or with a desire to work in film or theater. It’s a place to gather, to discuss and develop projects, to join actor with director, director with producer, producer with cast and crew. Here, you can grow your contact list and build a pertinent network in rapid fashion. The more you participate, the greater the results. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

I am always happy to promote outfits that create opportunities for filmmakers — and especially writers.

So congrats, Stage 32 and continued good luck!