Posted by Richard "RB" Botto

Welcome to the weekend, everyone. Hope you all had a terrific week.

In this edition of the Weekend Blog, under ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: a look at the biggest challenges filmmakers at the AFI FEST faced in getting their films completed; at AFM, indies feel the studio squeeze; 4 indie directors talk shop; the WGA East/West announces their choices of the 100 funniest screenplays; Keira Knightly takes a pay cut for a meaty role; top actresses are fighting back over equal pay rights; this year’s most celebrated documentaries are breaking tradition; Daniel Fleetwood, the first to see the new Star Wars film has, sadly, passed away; Hollywood’s business management firms are getting a youthful makeover; CBS Studios and ABC make streaming moves; a look back at the Sony hack one year later and much, much more.

Under VIDEOS this week, a look at the cinematography in Inception, Bryan Cranston offers acting advice and a breakdown of every James Bond gadget…ever.

Looking for financing, distribution, documentary and independent filmmaking, cinematography, screenwriting, acting and content licensing legal info? Look no further than the TIPS section.

And, of course, we have the usual collection of all things going on around Stage 32 under STAGE 32 NEWS, STAGE 32 EDUCATION, POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS, STAGE 32 MEETUPS and STAGE 32 SUCCESS STORIES.

As always, I welcome remarks and healthy debate on any of the content below in the Comments section. Let’s get talking.

Hope you all have a terrific and creative weekend!

Cheers!

RB

 STAGE 32 NEWS

This Saturday 11/14 Stage 32 and the Producers Guild of America's Women's Impact Network are teaming up again to shine a spotlight on women working within the industry and women-centric projects! Stage 32 CEO and Founder Richard 'RB' Botto and the Stage 32 Happy Writers President will be joined by Sophia Dilley, the Director of Development & Production at Route One Entertainment, Erika Weinstein, the Director of Scripted Programming at AMC and Grace Ledding, a Producer at Agile Entertainment for an expert panel on the current marketplace, women-centric projects and pitching, moderated by Carrie Lynn Certa (PGA & W.I.N. Committee Member). To see more about the last Stage 32 and PGA Women's Impact Network Event, click here: Stage 32 & PGA Women's Impact Network Pitch To W.I.N. Event

RBs Stage 32 News Notes Discussions and Other Fun Stuff November 13 2015

In our quest to make sure every screenwriter gets the exposure they deserve, and by popular demand, we created our Stage 32 Happy Writers Annual Comedy Contest for our comedy writers! We want to give the freshest comedic voices a shot at getting heard by people who can make a difference in your career. In addition to the incredible prizes we have lined up for the top 5 winners of each category, all of the finalists will have their loglines sent to our roster of over 400 executives we work with! To read more about this contest, see the list of awesome prizes and to submit your script, click here: Introducing the Stage 32 Happy Writers Comedy Contest

 

In a continued effort to make Stage 32 as useful a resource as possible, we've vastly improved the interface for posting and uploading your loglines and screenplays! Also, we've added the ability to assort your loglines in any manner you see fit. For an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to update your loglines and screenplays, click here: Post and Sort Your Loglines and Screenplays

 

Stage 32 November 30-Day Write Club: It’s on! We’re here to support and motivate each other to “get it done” –– whatever “it” is for you –– in a wholly directed and intentional way. In the weeks ahead we’ll have Stage 32 Write Club Check-in blogs every Sunday, starting on November 8, to monitor everyone’s progress in the comment sections. Share how you are doing, share the highs and lows, offer help to fellow writers, and share motivational quotes and tips. Plus, at the end of the month Stage 32 will give away well-earned “kudos,” including swag, free or major discounts on various services and offerings, to those who reach their goals –– an extended push forward with whatever may be next for you. For more information on our Stage 32 30-Day Write Club, click here: Stage 32 November 30-Day Write Club: It’s On!

 

Many of you have asked where you could get Stage 32 gear, and, by popular demand, we are excited to bring you the new Stage 32 store! We have over a dozen items for you to chose from including shirts, hats, totes, notebooks, coffee cups, water bottles and shot glasses (inspired by our fearless leader)! Whether you're heading to class, to the set, to the gym, or simply just lounging around, we have something for all! To see the range of products available, click here: Stage 32 Store

 

STAGE 32 EDUCATION - UPCOMING CLASSES AND WEBINARS

Tuesday 11/17 Stage 32 Next Level Webinars presents How To Attach Top Talent To Your Independent Film hosted by Tatiana Kelly & Jim Young, award-winning independent producers who have worked with actors such as Bradley Cooper, Zoë Saldana, JK Simmons, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, James Franco, Lily Tomilin, Cuba Gooding JR, Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons! In this webinar, Tatiana and Jim will teach you how to break through an actor’s fortress and get them interested in your project. You will learn how to determine what to offer talent based on your budget, how to be strategic about what agencies you’re making offers to, what to keep in mind at the script stage and early in the casting process and how to get past the dilemma of getting talent without money and getting money without talent.
You will leave this webinar knowing:

  • Why talent is the key to unlocking your green light.
  • What level of talent you need depending on your project.
  • Ways to break through an actor’s “fortress”.
  • How to build a team that has some clout.
  • What to keep in mind during the script stage and early in the casting process to help you attach talent.
  • How to determine what to offer an actor.
  • Why you should be strategic about what agencies you’re making offers to.

To read more about this webinar, see a video from Tatiana and Jim and to register, click here: How To Attach Top Talent To Your Independent Film

 

Thursday 11/19 Stage 32 Next Level Webinars presents How To Sell Your TV Series hosted by Conrad Sun, TV Lit Manager and Development Executive at Meridian Artists who represents TV writers in all genres for shows such as Blindspot, Two Broke Girls and Bojack Horseman! Knowing how to pitch is only half the battle – in this webinar Conrad will explore exactly how the TV space works for both broadcast and cable networks. You will learn who all of the important players are, such as agents, producers, writers and executives, so you can know who to target and how to approach them. Lastly, Conrad will examine previous shows in order to gain an understanding of what it takes to create a successful TV series in the current marketplace, allowing you to make sure you're setting yourself up for success.
You will leave this webinar knowing:

  • The general TV landscape.
  • The Players in TV landscape.
  • The three season of Broadcast Network television.
  • Four Approaches to setting up a TV show.
  • The concept of a TV package.
  • How individuals get paid once a TV show is set up.
  • The current marketplace and odds of having a hit TV show.

To read more about this webinar, see a video from Conrad and to register, click here: How To Sell Your TV Series

 

 STAGE 32 SUCCESS STORIES

 

POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS
 
 
STAGE 32 PLANNED AND PROPOSED MEETUPS 
 
 
 
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

 

 VIDEOS

 

 TIPS

 


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As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

 

Stage 32 November 30-Day Write Club: Halfway There - Week 3
Bouncing Back From A Terrible Audition
 
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