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Master Builder was started in 2002
by writer-director Zoje Stage.
We create screenplays and films
that express the complexity
of the human condition.
May stands off by herself, watching as the movers unload her things.
24 August 2010: Zoje's directing reel is now available here and on YouTube.
28 May 2010: Zoje is the guest writer on the Kid In The Front Row blog, discoursing on her theories about gender inequality in film, and beyond.
26 March 2010: THE MACHINE WHO LOVED Official Website is now up, and become a fan on our Facebook page for the most up-to-date news.
22 Jan. 2010: We are thrilled to announce that "The Machine Who Loved" is officially in development. Check back soon for additional updates.
11 Jan. 2010: Zoje is the featured independent filmmaker in today's Little Theatre blog.
26 Oct. 2009: Meet a NYFA Artist: Zoje is the featured artist in today's New York Foundation for the Arts' newsletter.
6 Oct. 2009: We are back on YouTube - please join us to see short films and excerpts of our work.
31 Aug. 2009: Thanks to everyone who came out to see "Tea Ceremony..." tonight - it was a good crowd and a fun show!
20 July 2009: "Tea Ceremony at the End of the World" has been invited to screen as part of the Emerging Filmmakers Series at the Little Theatre (Rochester, NY), Aug. 31 @ 9:15pm.
The staged reading of "The Machine Who Loved"; The audience Q&A; Zoje receiving her award from Eric Cubitt and Marilyn O'Connor 
(photos by Gerry Szymanski)
17 May 2009: We would like to thank Eric Cubitt, Marilyn O'Connor, and the cast of the reading of "The Machine Who Loved" for all of their support. We would also like to thank the enthusiastic audience who came out to see the show. Thanks for making this such a great experience!
14 May 2009: Check out our new "The Machine Who Loved" T-shirts - plus other cool stuff with Craig Mrusek's great logo!
17 April 2009: RochesterTalent.com and the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival presents a reading of "The Machine Who Loved" - Sat. May 16, 2:00pm at the Memorial Art Gallery Auditorium. Tickets are $12 each, $8 for students/seniors.
4 April 2009: "The Machine Who Loved" has won the 2009 Screenplay Live! screenwriting competition. Zoje will be directing the staged reading of her screenplay as part of the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival (since renamed the 360/365 George Eastman House Film Festival).
12 Nov. 2008: Zoje was named "Best Hollywood Hopeful" in the Rochester City Newspaper's "Best of Rochester 2008."
25 Sept. 2008: Watch our new short film: Tea Ceremony at the End of the World.
1 Aug. 2008: "The Machine Who Loved" finished in the top 7% - out of 5,224 entries - in this year's Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. (Zoje has twice been a semifinalist in the Nicholls with her scripts "The Opposite of Secret" and "Monster.")
20 June 2008: Zoje is in New York City to attend NYFA's celebration for the 2008 Fellows, being held tonight at Exit Art.
2 June 2008: We are thrilled to announce that Zoje has been awarded a 2008 Fellowship in Playwriting/Screenwriting from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Previous NYFA Fellows include Spike Lee, Todd Haynes, Tamara Jenkins, Mira Nair, Julie Taymor and Tony Kushner.
5 Oct. 2007: "Happy Walter" is screening tonight at 7:30pm as part of the Directors Chair Film Festival. The films can be watched either live at the television station, or on Channel 57 (Staten Island Community Television). Zoje will be in the studio for the Q&A with the filmmakers.
26 Aug. 2007: "Happy Walter" has been accepted into The Directors Chair Film Festival (Oct. 4-7). This unique festival will screen its selections on Staten Island Community Television, and will feature live interviews with the filmmakers.
25 June 2007: "Happy Walter" is screening tonight at 7pm at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater in New York City. This marks our first ever theatrical booking.
13 March 2007: "Happy Walter" will premiere tonight at Film Kitchen (Pittsburgh, PA). The reception begins at 7pm, followed by the screening at 8pm.
8 March 2007: A preview of "Happy Walter" appears in this week's Pittsburgh City Paper.
20 Dec. 2006: Happy Walter has been invited to screen at Film Kitchen (Pittsburgh, PA) on March 13, 2007 at the Melwood Screening Room. (Check back later for more details.)
16 Nov. 2006: St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY) is participating in the United Nations Philosophy Day by holding day-long free events that explore this year's theme of "Philosophy and Popular Culture." "poetica.cinema./trilogy." will be playing today as a thirteen-hour looped installation (8am - 9pm). Zoje will also be part of the roundtable "Passions and Emotions: Ancient, Modern and Postmodern" that will take place from 4:35-5:55pm. During that time "Best of Luck" will be screened, followed by an open discussion on the Philosophy of Rejection.
28 June 2006: The "poetica.cinema." trilogy has been invited to screen in November during the UNESCO program at St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY). This will mark the premieres of both "poetica.cinema./new york." and "poetica.cinema./erotica." - as well as being the first time the Trilogy will screen in its entirety.
3 April 2006: "Best of Luck" will screen tonight at Flicks on Fairbanks (Winter Park, FL).
22 Feb. 2006: Zoje's first New York City screening is happening tonight as part of NewFilmmakers @ Anthology Film Archives. "Best of Luck" will screen in the shorts program at 7pm. "Bewilderness" will be the feature presentation at 8:20pm.
21 Feb. 2006: Zoje has been awarded a Strategic Opportunity Stipend to cover her travel expenses to attend her screenings at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City. The grant is awarded by the New York Foundation for the Arts in collaboration with the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester.
19 Feb. 2006: Zoje is featured in the New York Times as a preview for her New York Screening of "Best of Luck."
19 Feb. 2006: Zoje is featured the the New York Post as a preview for her screenings at New Filmmakers @ Anthology Film Archives.
10 Jan. 2006: Tonight's program at Film Kitchen (Pittsburgh, PA) includes three of Zoje's short films:"Against Her Skin," "poetica.cinema." and the premiere of "Mt. Hope." Zoje will be in attendance and will answer questions following the films.
5 Jan. 2006: The Pittsburgh City Paper features a preview of "Mt. Hope" and "Against Her Skin."
25 Oct. 2005: We are thrilled to reveal our new logo, created by graphic artist/illustrator Craig Mrusek!
7 Oct. 2005: "Best of Luck" has been invited to screen alongside "Bewilderness" at the Anthology Film Archives (New York, NY), slated for early 2006.
29 Aug. 2005: "Against Her Skin" premieres tonight at 9:15 pm at the Little Theater (Rochester, NY) as part of the Emerging Filmmakers series.
25 July 2005: "poetica.cinema." screens tonight at 9:15 pm at the Little Theater (Rochester, NY) as part of the Emerging Filmmakers series.
5 May 2005: "poetica.cinema." screens today at the National Association for Poetry Therapy 25th Annual Conference (St. Louis, MO).
19 April 2005: "'Voices in Wartime' may prove to be one of the most startlingly literate documents of war every created for film." - from The San Francisco Bay Guardian
12 Feb. 2005: "Voices in Wartime" is scheduled to be released in theatres this March/April. This documentary explores war through poetry, and includes an animated montage of poems from the "Poets Against the War" website. Zoje's poem "I See You" - along with other pieces by such writers as Ursula Le Guin - will be featured in this segment.
20 Dec. 2004: "Avi & Sylvan" premieres tonight at 9:15pm at the Little Theater (Rochester, NY) as part of the Emerging Filmmakers series.
10 Feb. 2004: "Best of Luck" premieres tonight at Film Kitchen (Pittsburgh, PA). Reception at 7pm, films at 8pm. Zoje will be present for a Q&A following her screening.
Zoje Stage/ Master Builder
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