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Behind the Scenes: Part 1: The Making of ALIX from Catalyst Studios with Producer Lemore Syvan

Today, we are launching part 1 in a 3 part series to take you behind the scenes of making the hit international feature film ALIX, made by an incredible group of Stage 32 members. Over the next couple of weeks we're going to hear from the producers, director and actors in the Stage 32 community on the Stage 32 blog, in the community through AMA's (Ask Me Anythings) and on Social Media. We do hope you tune in and follow this unique peek behind the curtain of a groundbreaking international…

Celebrate the February 2025 Stage 32 Community’s Successes

Hello, Stage 32 Community! February is in the books! It might be the shortest month of the year, but from what we’ve been seeing, you all are packing as many success stories, meetings and requests into that truncated time frame as possible. We’d expect nothing less from this community! And without further ado, behold our monthly salute to some of the fantastically talented members of the Stage 32 family and their successes in these past few weeks. Sharing the successes of t…

Collaboration vs. Exploitation: A Filmmaker’s Decade of Lessons

I’ve been a filmmaker for nearly a decade, a journey filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Along the way, I’ve experienced the thrill of true collaboration and the sting of exploitation. A recent incident brought these dynamics back into sharp focus, reminding me how my perspective on them has evolved over time. If you’ve worked in a creative field like filmmaking, you’ve likely brushed up against both: the rare magic of a creative partnership and th…

Confessions of a Script Doctor

Good day to you, Stage 32! Many of you know me as a regular blogger here, but I’m also a development executive with more than twenty years of experience and a screenwriter with more than 70 screenplays under my tires. More than half of these screenplays were written under other writers’ names, working under the most explicit conditions of secrecy and anonymity. Yes, dear reader, I am a script doctor. Presumably because of the secrecy and compromise involved, I get the impre…

Coffee & Content: The Power of Persistence & Facing Rejection Head-On

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, we are exploring The Brutalist, the latest ambitious project from filmmaker Brady Corbet. This deep dive from Frame Voyager dissects the film’s creative journey, from production delays and budget challenges to its groundbreaking use of VistaVision, a format rarely used in modern cin…

Follow The Yellow Brick Road To Your Goals!

It was a sunny Sunday morning, May 9th, 1970. I just sat down for breakfast at a quaint little restaurant in Hollywood. I was going to the MGM auction for a second day. The day before I had snagged a cool prize and it only cost me $20.00. I loved looking for movie props and memorabilia from the golden age of film. My budget was $100.00, so as you may have guessed, you can’t buy much with that. Still, you must remember it was 1970 and one hundred bucks was like a thousand back then.…

Red Carpet Roll-Out: March 2025's New Executives & Education at Stage 32!

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! At Stage 32, we are dedicated to helping creatives like you take your career to the next level. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, connect with industry professionals, or develop your next project, we’ve got exciting new education and executive mentorship opportunities designed just for you! This month, we’re rolling out cutting-edge courses and interactive labs led by Emmy-winning producers, top literary managers, and wor…

Redefine Love in Your Creative Process: 5 Key Tips

February often highlights love, although it is not always a simple story. Love can be a grand adventure or a lesson in letting go. It is not just something given or received; it is something created. Whether through the connections we build, the stories we tell, or the art we bring to life, love takes many forms. This month I am sharing five ways to see love through a different lens. Love Beyond the Obvious "The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return…

A Stage 32 Success Story: How I Networked, Sold My Short Script, & Watched It Come To Life!

About a year and a half ago, I wrote a blog for Stage 32 to share that my short horror script, “Bad Clown” was in pre-production, thanks to a connection I made here on Stage 32 (you can read it HERE). To quickly recap, I met Christine Jansen, owner of Beautiful Darkness Productions through a Stage 32 Lounge Post. She then messaged me and requested to read my short script. I was excited and grateful, but like always, didn’t count on anything major happening.  …

Ditch “The Cat” and Double the Stakes: How “Clone Characters” Can Elevate Your Screenwriting

“That’s me in ten years if something doesn’t change.” These words aren’t spoken aloud, but written into John’s features when he finally meets his idol, Chazz, a robe-wearing, Hefner-like man-child still living with his mom (“Ma! The meatloaf!”). In Wedding Crashers, Chazz (Will Ferrell) serves as a clone character: a cautionary example of who John (Owen Wilson) could become if he stays on his current trajectory. According to writer/direc…

Stage 32 Certification: Ladders Are Meant To Be Climbed

Hi, Everybody! I’m the Head of Certification here at Stage 32. Stage 32’s Certification program is the brainchild of our CEO, Rich “RB” Botto, and I’ve had the privilege of working with RB, our Managing Director Amanda Toney, and the truly amazing Stage 32 Education team to help bring this program to life. Like so many endeavors, creative and otherwise, what started as an idea led to meetings and then designs and then execution and then to launch. Now,…

Coffee & Content: Reinvention & Relationships - The Keys to Longevity in Hollywood

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. For years, Matthew McConaughey was the ultimate rom-com star. If you needed a leading man with charm, a mischievous grin, and an easygoing Southern drawl, he was your guy. But then, something changed. In this video essay from FilmStack, they’re exploring McConaughey’s professional reinv…

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