Posted by Richard "RB" Botto

Greetings from sunny Cannes! Welcome to the weekend, everyone. 

This will, again, be a quick intro. We’re still out here wall-to-wall with meetings and events. It’s been amazing to connect with so many Stage 32 film creatives! Over 250 attended our rooftop party and we've now learned that 33 Stage 32 members (that we know of) have films at Cannes! You can see all of our Cannes video updates on the Blog. (https://www.stage32.com/blog)

One other quick point – It’s Introduce Yourself Weekend! If you’re new to the site, we do this the 3rd weekend of every month as a way to put your networking into overdrive. So whether you’re a new member or a vet, head over to the Introduce Yourself section of the Lounge and make a post! But be sure to contribute to other member posts as well! You never know when you’ll make a life or career changing connection! Be active, be visible!

As always, I welcome remarks and healthy debate on the content below in the Comments section!

Have a terrific and creative weekend!

Cheers!

RB

 STAGE 32 NEWS

Live From Cannes - Talking Stage 32 Member Success & Cannes News - We wanted to share a Cannes update. So far we have met hundreds of Stage 32 members from all around the world, 32 which have films screening here at Cannes, and that are competing, which has been so inspiring!  Listen to RB's update from the Variety party in Cannes and get the news on amazing things going on here!

10 Reasons To Release Your Feature As A Web Series - You can now shoot a movie on a phone. You can edit like a pro on a laptop. You can share your work with a few billion people with just a few YouTube clicks. The revolution is here. So why are we stuck on old business models? Why do we still think the best way to further our indie careers is to make a low budget feature, do the film festival circuit and be discovered and signed like it’s 1999?  Click here for the 10 Reasons to Release Your Features As a Web Series!

It’s Not Hard to Take Charge: A Woman’s POV on Directing Films - As woman, I'm sometimes asked why I picked a male dominated business to be in. My response is always the same, “Besides nursing and teaching (with the exception of university, then the workplace mostly consists of males), most professions are already male dominated.” They stop and think about it and then say, “You’re right.” Any woman that wants to have a professional career of her own must always compete among the men. So I have had to learn to adjust myself, to not only compete against them, but also work alongside them. Click here to read Dawn Cobalt's advice on how to deal with a cast and crew as a woman on set.


STAGE 32 EDUCATION 

The Tools You Need To Attach “A” List Actors to Your Film (On Demand) - Independent feature film producer Franco Sama boasts a remarkable and extensive history in public speaking, public relations and a decade of independent film development, production and financing. In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, The Tools You Need To Attach “A” List Actors to Your Film, Franco will outline specific steps and strategies that will ensure that the “A” Lister’s will at least read your script giving you an advantage over everyone else trying to secure talent but cannot. In this 90-minute online webinar you will learn specific tools you need - from LOIs to LOCs, Pay or Play, Deferred Payments, Back-End Point Deals, Credit Currency (and so much more!) in order to give your project the chance it deserves in A-list talent's hands. You will also learn negotiating perks that will help you stand out from the pack of scripts the talent may be considering. Review all of the amazing topics in this Webinar and register here!

Crowdfunding Your Indie Film or Creative Project the Right Way (May 24) - We've brought back Indiegogo’s Film/Creative Campaign Strategist John T. Trigonis to revamp his Tao (Way) of crowdfunding to encompass the ever-changing landscape of online fundraising for film and creative projects, and this webinar will provide you with the basics of running a successful and memorable campaign, as well as show those who have crowdfunding some advanced tactics to raise even more, all gently infused by the philosophy that makes Trigonis’s advice work wonders –– Taoism. True success in crowdfunding comes not from a short-lived stint with crowdfunding, but commitment to crafting a memorable community experience. For more information on this Webinar and to register, click here!

Short Film Master Class - Learn To Take Your Idea From Concept To Post-Production (June 6) - Jason Mirch is a feature film and television producer and consultant based in Los Angeles, California. Most recently, Mirch founded Destructo Productions and is currently producing a feature film based on the New York Time best selling memoir Odd Man Outby Matt McCarthy. This intensive 5-week course will give students the tools and techniques necessary to produce a world class short film. Each week will be dedicated to a different aspect of the short filmmaking process, including, concept development and writing of your short, budgeting and scheduling, understanding and drafting production agreements, pro-tips on directing actors, and how to get the most out of the post production process. You are strongly encouraged to come with ideas for a short film, which will be developed over the course of the 5 weeks, so by the conclusion of the class, you should have a screenplay ready for production! To review the entire course topics and to register, click here!


HAPPY WRITERS PITCH SESSIONS

Executive Mentoring Program

Your choice of executive will call you for an hour long private one-on-one call to mentor you and answer any questions you have about your projects, the industry, any everything in between. Not sure which of your ideas to pursue next? Wondering which of your projects has the best chance in the marketplace? Get these questions and more answered from our exclusive list of experienced, hand-selected executives. The executive will mentor you on how to make sure you are positioning your scripts correctly, how to perfect your pitch and story ideas that will give your script a competitive edge. This is your hour, and you can ask the executive any story-related or business strategy question you have to make sure you are heading in the right direction.  Executive Mentoring Programs do not come with a script read. Purchase Executive Mentoring Program - On Sale $175.00

Pitch Amanda LorberDevelopment, TBS Original Programming (Saturday, May 21st · 2:30 - 4:10 PM PDT)

Amanda Lorber is from South Florida, but don’t hold that against her. It wasn’t her choice! Amanda graduated from New York University’s TISCH school of the arts with a BFA in dramatic writing and film production. While under the tutelage of many great professors and several intern coordinators, Amanda completed a multitude of screenplays and short films, including a filmed musical that took place in New York City's Lower East Side and later premiered at The Sunshine Cinema. TBS is an American basic cable and satellite TV channel owned by Time Warner. In 2015, TBS announced an overhaul and rebranding of their channel complete with new, original programming! Click here to register! 


 STAGE 32 SUCCESS STORIES


 POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS


STAGE 32 PLANNED AND PROPOSED MEETUPS


 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Cannes: How to Handle a Festival Bomb

Cannes: Amazon, STX Trigger Fest's Power Shift

Why Cannes Programmers Are Stubborn About the Future of Cinema – And Potentially Right

Amazon Studios Takes Cannes ‘On Its Own Terms’

European Union Mulls 20% Content Quota for Netflix and Amazon Prime

Actress Roundtable: Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington, A-Listers on Nudity, Network Fights and the "Diva" Label

Robin Wright Demanded Equal Pay for 'House of Cards'

Benderspink Dissolving Production-Management Company After 18 Years

Audiences Want More Diverse Film Casts, Despite Studio Fears

TV’s New Normal: How Shorter Runs, Fewer Episodes Are Revitalizing Primetime

Time Inc. Chases Digital Celebs With ‘Instant’ Video Publication

Berlin Film Market’s Selects Mexico as First Country in Focus

New Rebates and Facilities Look to Boost Chilean Filming 


 VIDEOS

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis: ‘Thelma & Louise’ Had Little Impact on Hollywood’s Gender Problem

Are Movies With Too Much Realism Boring?

The Ins and Outs of a Screenwriter Pitch Meeting 


 TIPS

2 Essential Tools for Powerful Film Performances 

Invaluable Aaron Sorkin Screenwriting Tips 

10 Zero Budget Filmmaking Tips 

11 Pro Tips for Short Movie Making 


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

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