Ask Me Anything with Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto: The Current State of the Industry - Now Available On-Demand

Happy Friday, Creative Army!

Since 2011, Stage 32 has been at the forefront of the global entertainment community, working every day to connect you to the resources, relationships, and real-world insight you need to move your creative journey forward. Whether you’re a writer, director, actor, producer, editor, or composer, our goal has always been to give you unprecedented access to industry leaders and decision-makers—and keep you informed on where the industry is headed next.

Recently, I hosted a brand-new Ask Me Anything: The Current State of the Industry. It was one of our most dynamic and expansive AMA sessions to date, filled with pressing questions from creatives around the world who are actively navigating today’s evolving film and television landscape.

And now, the entire session is available to watch on-demand—completely FREE.

Click here to watch the full AMA replay!

We covered it all. Here’s just a taste of what I answered:

• What’s the current state of streamers? And yes, we talked about potential consolidation and how it could impact both content and creatives.
• Will the $10–$15 million feature film market make a comeback? Spoiler: There are signs of life.
• Is YouTube becoming the new entertainment industry power player? And what does that mean for the future of film culture?
• Do short films still matter? Absolutely—and I’ll tell you why.
• What beats need to be in your pitch? I break down the must-haves and share my personal pitching strategy.
• Thoughts on Robert Rodriguez & Eli Roth offering fans profit participation? We dove into how it might change independent film finance models.
• Is influencer culture starting to merge with traditional entertainment? (This one sparked a serious conversation.)
• How do international creatives use Stage 32 to collaborate or break into the U.S. market?
• How do you network as a composer? Or if you live in the UK? (We got tactical and real.)
• What’s the best way to attend markets like Cannes or AFM? (With intention—and a plan.)
• How do you protect your script if it’s part of a potential film slate? What rights do you keep if a sequel is made without you?
• What are the top 3 features on Stage 32 to connect with industry pros right now?

And that’s just scratching the surface.

We also tackled some deeper topics, like:

• Facing a fear of failure
• Being attacked on social media—how to handle it
• Choosing the right social media platform for YOU
• Why networking is still the most powerful tool in your arsenal

Plus, I shared some behind-the-scenes stories about producing in Costa Rica and Colombia, thoughts on the upcoming California tax credit incentives, and yes—we even discussed SINNERS and its effect on the traditional studio model.

And as always, I closed with a few rapid-fire questions (yes, we got personal) and ended with what I hope was a whole lot of encouragement.

Stage 32 is a community built for you—and by you.

Whether you’re just getting started or pushing through your next big breakthrough, this AMA is for YOU.

Watch the full AMA replay here!

And if you know someone who could benefit from this conversation—especially a creative trying to navigate this rapidly shifting industry—send them this link. Forward this blog. Post it. Tag your people. Spread the knowledge. Tag @Stage32 and @rbwalksintoabar if you share it on Instagram or X.

Because like I always say—we’re all in this together.

Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep creating.

See you in the lounges and at the next AMA.

Cheers,

RB

Founder & CEO, Stage 32

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