RB's Stage 32 News, Notes, Discussions and Other Fun Stuff (December 19th, 2014)

Posted 11 years ago by Richard "RB" Botto

Welcome to the weekend, everyone.

Earlier this week, bowing to the threats of the hackers, Sony announced that they were pulling The Interview from theatrical release, an act of cowardice and surrender.

Making matters worse, later in the week, Sony also announced they were pulling The Interview entirely. No VOD, no DVD’s, nothing. First Amendment, freedom of expression be damned.

As if all this wasn’t enough, it’s now speculated that Sony’s decision was rooted in the financial much more than in the political. One news outlet is reporting that the only way for Sony to recoup their investment through an insurance claim is to dump the film entirely, a total write-off needed to qualify.

One pathetic decision after another by the Sony brass… I have all the latest information and more under ENTERTAINMENT NEWS.

Also in this edition of the Weekend Blog:

All the latest Oscar race news
The Hollywood Reporter’s Director’s Rountable
An awesome look at Hollywood’s toxic addiction to franchises
Making a living as an independent filmmaker
An oral history of Boogie Nights (remarkable piece)
See which films made the National Film Registry (Dude!)
YouTube faces a new challenge
A 96 minute filmmaking masterclass with Alfred Hitchcock

Plus much, much more.

Under TIPS, I have screenwriting, filmmaking, distribution and acting 411. And under VIDEOS, a bunch of new trailers.

Plus, STAGE 32 NEWS, SUCCESS STORIES, MEETUPS, and POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS.

As always, I welcome remarks on any of the content in the Comments section below.

Enjoy, and have a terrific weekend!

RB

STAGE 32 NEWS
We're thrilled to announce that the newest and, by far, the best version to date of the Stage 32 app is now available for download. This version improves upon and introduces a myriad of features that will make it easier than ever to network, share content, search for jobs, participate in the Lounge, search for connections and much, much more. Additionally now you can share all your photos through the app. To find out all of the new features the app contains and to download it for FREE, click here: Introducing The New Stage 32 App - 8 New Features!

Make sure you are checking your site updates everyday as we are introducing a new deal of the day for our 10 Days of Holiday Cheer. To see what deals have already been announced and to keep up with the daily deal, make sure to check your site updates every day. You can also see the deals here: Stage 32 Site Updates

We have some very exciting educational opportunities coming up in January, so make sure to keep your eye on your Home Page as we announce them. Gear up your creative New Years' Resolution calendar and get ready to learn!

STAGE 32 SUCCESS STORIES

POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS

ACTING: French accents?
ACTING: Actors beware!
ACTING: 10 Things I've done to help myself as an actor that you can do too!
ACTING: Books on how to audition for film and TV. Any Suggestions?
ACTING: Quick Pick me Up
ACTING: Getting judged on your first lead role
ACTING: Response to Job Posting
ACTING: Getting started
ACTING: Emotion based acting
ACTING: Monologue for Demo reel?
ACTING: Good Acting Studio recommendation
ACTING: Acting
ANIMATION: Cgi and animation is a lot of work
ANIMATION: Seeking Advice For Developing Feature-Length Animated Films
ANIMATION: Animation Roundtable: 6 Top Filmmakers on 'Frozen' Lessons and Why Sequels Are "Killing" the Industry
ANYTHING GOES: How to Deal with Negative People
ANYTHING GOES: Criticism Vs Constructive Criticism and the Joys of Politeness.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Looking to upgrade personal equipment. Suggestions?
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Shooting shorts on iPhone, Galaxy (Android) or any smart devices
CINEMATOGRAPHY: LED lighting color and concerns
CINEMATOGRAPHY: How Producers Look @ Cinematography Reels When Considering DPs
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Cinematographer
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Advice for aspiring cinematographers?
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 9 Cinematography Tips for Diretors with no space and no budget
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Christmas Gifts for DSLR Videographers
COMPOSING: Plugin Thursday! - Randy's Celeste
COMPOSING: FANTASTIC advice from Lukas Kendall on how to become a film composer
COMPOSING: Los Angeles Recording Scene
COMPOSING: PC Vs Mac
COMPOSING: Hans Zimmer on Interstellar
COMPOSING: 'Gone Girl' Composer Atticus Ross
COMPOSING: Music ideas
COSTUME DESIGN: Ten tips for a beginning costume designer.
COSTUME DESIGN: 17 Costume designers reveal their favorite TV and film fashions.
COSTUME DESIGN: 50 Movies with Ingenious Costume Design
CREW: Making something with no budget
CREW: Now, this is cool. Time Lapse of building a TV set
CREW: Tips on How to direct actors and film crews
DEVELOPMENT: I need help with locations for a film shoot. A cemetery, anywhere around LA down to San Diego area
DEVELOPMENT: Looking for investment from the public for your film project on STAGE32 or other
DISTRIBUTION: Who Needs Theatrical?
DISTRIBUTION: What is going to happen to The Interview?
DISTRIBUTION: Want to distribute your own movie ... on your own?
DISTRIBUTION: Digital Distribution
EDITING: Editing Fights Scenes. Jackie Chan Shows how its done
EDITING: Tutorial: How To Sync Sound Automatically in Premiere Pro
EDITING: Best Film Editing Sequences
FILM FESTIVALS: Dear Film Festival Reject…
FILMMAKING: Sony pulls the movie "The Interview" following threats.
FILMMAKING: The Master of 'in-camera' editing and chasing the MacGuffin
FILMMAKING: If you read only one end of the year article on the state of the movie biz
FILMMAKING: Best Picture Oscar or National Film Registry induction?
FILMMAKING: 8 Things You Must Know About the Film Business Today, from James Schamus
POST-PRODUCTION: Request for tips
POST PRODUCTION: 13 steps of post production
PRODUCTION: Copyright: Frenach Law
PRODUCING: Documentary production delays
PRODUCING: How do, I get started, producing?
PRODUCING: Will the internet over take major production companies?
SCREENWRITING: Exodus: gods and failings - where has the "spectacle" gone?
SCREENWRITING: Treatment pitching and/or help
SCREENWRITING: HACKERS vs. WRITERS
SCREENWRITING: Screenwriting for Features vs. Screenwritiing for Television
SCREENWRITING: Artistic creativity vs compulsory paradigms
SCREENWRITING: Character Ages
SCREENWRITING: Setting your script
SCREENWRITING: Does anyone do "treatments" anymore?--(When?)
SCREENWRITING: How will screenwriters do CIA interrogation scenes now?
SCREENWRITING: Pitch Or Coverage?
SCREENWRITING: How to find the energy to write after an 8 hour work day.
SCREENWRITING: Written vs Skype Pitching
SCREENWRITING: Question on a very specific problem
SCREENWRITING: Go for the Jugular
SCREENWRITING: Concepts need to have You in them
SOUND EDITING: How To Score Your Own Film With Logic X

STAGE 32 PLANNED AND PROPOSED MEETUPS

ASTORIA, NY: Astoria, Queens, NY - Meet Up?
BOSTON, MA: Stage32 Boston networking meet up!
BREVARD COUNTY, FL: Brevard County Florida meetup
BUFFALO, NY: Buffalo Meet Up
FAYETEVILLE, NC: Stage 32 Meet & Greet in Fayetteville, NC
HOLLYWOOD EAST, CT: Meetup for Hollywood East – CT?
HOUSTON, TX: Howdy y'all
JENKINTOWN, PA: Connecting with Filmmakers in Jenkintown, PA & Montco
LAS VEGAS, NV: Vegas Networking Meetup
DUNDEE, UK: Meet up/social in Dundee, Scotland
MONTREAL, CANADA: Montreal Meetup in December?

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

VIDEOS

TIPS

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