RB's Stage 32 News, Notes, Discussions and Other Fun Stuff (April 1, 2016)

 STAGE 32 NEWS

I Challenge You to Challenge Yourself - Let's Get Networking  I hear from so many Stage 32 members and other film creatives who feel as if they have nothing to share on social media. Or that they simply cannot make an immediate impact. I'm here to tell ya, it's just not true. Click here and listen to my Networking Challenge challenge now!

Empty Mailboxes and Phones That Do Not Ring - Silence is defined as the absence of any noise or sound; stillness. However, for a freelancer it is the most deafening (and terrifying) noise one can experience. The absence of your ringtone, text tone, or email notification tone going off for a lengthy period of time segues into the five stages of a grief-like state for a freelancer. To read about what to do for our fellow freelancer that helps them through the stages, Click here

Six Steps to Rewarding Professional Relationships - Feeling like a stranger in a strange land can be disconcerting, especially when the strange land includes your chosen or hoped-for profession. How do you find your way beyond the boundaries and challenges that all professions include? How do you become a cultural insider? To find out Mark McIntire’s tips, click here. 

STAGE 32 EDUCATION

What It Takes To Get Your Project Set Up at Amazon/Netflix, Studios and TV (Cable, Network & Reality) (APR 5) – In this 90-minute webinar your host Aimee Rivera will go over the steps to set up a project in various different film and television mediums. She will go over everything you need to consider - audience, domestic vs. international, commercial vs. niche. She will then go into an overview of the current marketplace and what's selling in film and television.Aimee has worked with Cindy Cowan Entertainment, Amazon Studios, Exclusive Media - Rush, End of Watch, The Woman in Black, Prospect Park (Salem, Unstoppable, Wilfred), Village Roadshow Pictures (Lego Movie, Sherlock Holmes) and more. She will go over what she learned from each company that helped shaped the knowledge she acquired on getting projects set up. 

What you will learn in this webinar:

• Steps To Set Up a Project
• Overview of the current marketplace
• What projects are positioned for Amazon/Netflix medium
• How to Set Up a Project For a Studio: Sony
• Working With Cable Networks
• Creating for Broadcast Networks
• Reality Television
• Other Alternatives For Your Project:

To see a detailed list of topics you will learn and register for this webinar, click here!  (early bird special ends April 1!)

Attaching “A” List Actors to Your Film - Separating Your Project from the Pack! (Apr. 7) Anyone who has ever tried to produce and cast a feature film is aware of the quagmire that attaching “A” List level talent represents. On one hand, you need the star power of a “name” actor in order to acquire funding and on the other hand you need the money in order to acquire the name talent. In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Attaching “A” List Actors to Your Film: Separating Your Project From the Pack, Franco Sama will outline specific steps and strategies that will insure that the “A” Lister’s will at least read your script giving you an advantage over everyone else trying to secure talent but cannot. Franco Sama has Executive Produced an impressive array of over twenty (20) independent feature films including most recently, “Guns, Girls and Gambling” starring Gary Oldman, Christian Slater and Dane Cook which is quickly becoming a cult favorite; this film was released into theaters on December of 2012 and, in January 2013, acquired a worldwide distribution deal from Universal Pictures.

What you will learn:

• A bullet Proof method for insuring that the agent/manager puts your script into the hands of the “A” Lister and that they READ IT!
• Do not underestimate the fact that even the top “A” Lister’s want to work all the time and will often sign on to lower budget independent feature films if they are attracted to the material.
• How to turn an “LOI” (Letter of Intent) into an “LOC” (Letter of COMMITMENT)!
• Making the offer – How to make it, when to make it and under what conditions.
• The Offer – We will Dissect an example of an actual, physical offer to an “A” List Actor.

And Much, Much more! Click here to register now!

10 Essential Elements to Incorporate Into Writing Your Rom Com (On Demand) - Your instructor, Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom has spent her career working in development and production. She helped to found Animal Kingdom – and there, she co-produced Destin Daniel Cretton’s SHORT TERM 12, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at SXSW 2013. She was also an incremental part of seeing films like David Robert Mitchell's IT FOLLOWS, Justin Tipping's KICKS, and Joachim Trier's LOUDER THAN BOMBS move into production - and optioned David Carr’s THE NIGHT OF THE GUN. In this 2 week intensive Stage 32 online course, your host Amanda will outline the 10 essential elements no rom com can survive without, helping you realize how to turn that bad date into legendary Hollywood fodder! (Because everyone knows that Pretty Woman is totally plausible and actually really happened!)

The objective of this course is:

• To give you the tools you need to write a funny, heartfelt, PRODUCIBLE romantic comedy – so that you can see your name in lights (and let’s be real… get paid!)
• To learn how to identify your voice and perspective as a writer – and realize what differentiates you (in a good way). And to have a succinct answer to the ever-elusive question of: what is your brand?
• Learning how to write a great script that turns into a great movie – and what the pitfalls are along the way.

For more information Click here: 10 Essential Elements to Incorporate Into Writing Your Rom Com

HAPPY WRITERS PITCH SESSIONS

Pitch Rachel Crouch – April 2 10:00 - 12:30 PM PDT

Specializes in sci-fi, comedy, horror and thriller (features & TV).

A Midwest native and Hoosier alum, Rachel Crouch originally pursued acting on moving out to LA. After a couple years – and an internship at Miranda Bailey’s former company, Ambush Entertainment – she realized her real passion was in working with writers and developing stories. For over 2 years Rachel has been working in development at Cold Iron Pictures. Cold Iron Pictures is a boutique film financing company that embodies the spirit of independent film making. They look for innovative scripts, auteur directors and cast-driven projects.

Pitch Daniel Seco – April 3 10:00 - 12:30 PM PDT

Specializes in comedy, drama, coming of age, thriller, action (features & TV).

Daniel Seco previously worked as an assistant for a motion picture literary agent at CAA. He also worked at Resolution where he started as an intern before working in the mailroom, as a floater, and in the motion picture department for a talent and literary agent. He currently works at Writ Large which is a leading management and production company! Their clients include Writer/Producer Max Landis (Chronicle, American Ultra), Writer/Actor Kelvin Yu (Cloverfield, Bob's Burgers), and Director/Producer Daniel Sackheim (Game of Thrones, House M.D., Life)

Pitch Benjamin Scott - April 6th · 2:00 - 4:30 PM PDT

Specializes in sci-fi, action, intellectual horror/thriller features and all types of TV pilots.

Scott co-founded the independent production company Infinite Cre8tions Inc. Since 2003, he has produced live events, commercials and shorts for Amp3 PR, Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Fundraiser, MyReel.com, Vision movies, Plug LA Daily, Chill Promotions, and The Production Group Studios. He wrote, produced and directed the award winning pilots, The Munchies, American Surf Design, You be the Judge, and the sitcom The Au Pairs before working as the VP of Development for Eclectic Pictures on Playing For Keeps with Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Dennis Quaid.  

 STAGE 32 SUCCESS STORIES

• Editor hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Requested
• Script Supervisor hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Actor hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Script Request
• Black Salt received the Cinemax/HBO schedule for the Black Salt Minifeature release and will announce the dates next week
• Camera Operator hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Casting Director hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Director hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Editor hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Actor hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Director of Photography hired through Stage 32 Jobs
• Screenwriter hired through Stage 32 Jobs  

 POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS

• ACTING: Casting and auditions!
• ACTING: Do You Know What Your Headshot Says About You?
• ACTING: Favorite Actor in the 70's??
• ACTING: Training at home
• ACTING: What would you say is the best way to practice!
• ACTING: Representation?
• ACTING: Casting Directors Reveal the Most Sought-After Actress in Network Television
• ANIMATION: Nice summary of how to pitch your project
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: Play About the Homeless
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: What are my options for publishing a short story?
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: Is freelancing a waste of time
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: New to this!
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: Character creation and plot creation software
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: Play formatting.
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: My second novel was just released in an audio edition
• AUTHORING & PLAYWRITING: Hello Renaissance People
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Composition in Storytelling
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Golden Hour… App?
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Tips on using the 7d to capture some great movies
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Film school or not ????
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Roger Deakins
• COMPOSING: Link to composing Tutorials
• COMPOSING: Producer - Composer Contract Templates
• COMPOSING: Original scores
• COMPOSING: Japanese Bands
• DEVELOPMENT: Based on an existing IP? Nope.
• DEVELOPMENT: 30 for 30
• DISTRIBUTION: QUIVER by Sundance
• DISTRIBUTION: Like Starting Over Redemption Alley
• DISTRIBUTION: Need Advice on my indie feature distribution offer!
• DISTRIBUTION: Theatrical Release Patterns by Month and Genre '11-'15
• FILMMAKING / DIRECTING: NEW OLIVER STONE INTERVIEW via THE TALKS
• FILMMAKING / DIRECTING: RB's April Challenge (one day early)
• FILMMAKING / DIRECTING: Cannes’ Producers Network Highlights Rio, Palestine
• FILMMAKING / DIRECTING: Los Angeles Local Short films: Wish to share?
• FILMMAKING / DIRECTING: Transfer (1966) - David Cronenberg
• FINANCING / CROWDFUNDING: Tips to get the most out of Crowdfunding
• FINANCING / CROWDFUNDING: Crowdfunding!
• FINANCING / CROWDFUNDING: How to fund a book
• FINANCING / CROWDFUNDING: Wise advice
• ON SET CREW: Integrating Time Code Into My Location Sound Kit: Where to begin?
• ON SET CREW: Interview
• POST-PRODUCTION: DaVinci Resolve 12
• POST-PRODUCTION: The Coen Brothers a.k.a Roderick Jaynes on Editing (and other cool stuff)
• POST-PRODUCTION: Getting projects as a new freelancer
• POST-PRODUCTION: Best Film Editing Sequences
• POST-PRODUCTION: Excellent Resource for Video Editors "Inside The Edit"
• PRODUCING: Join me for a Next Level Webinar here Thursday!
• PRODUCING: Desire Suggestions For US Locations That Can Double As A Non-US Desert Location
• PRODUCING: Tips on licensing recorded music for film use?
• PRODUCING: Co-Ventures
• PRODUCING: Producers Becoming Publishers to Become Producers
• PRODUCING: Finding documentary stories
• PRODUCING: Legal Counsel
• PRODUCING: Low budget production design tips?
• PRODUCING: Need advice
• PRODUCING: Investing for a Short Film
• SCREENWRITING: Who Here is Writing a TV Pilot Comedy?
• SCREENWRITING: Is this too weird?
• SCREENWRITING: Films for the Faith Based Audience
• SCREENWRITING: Turning down (paid) spec assignments...yay or nay?!
• SCREENWRITING: When your read request goes nowhere.
• SCREENWRITING: I'd like to know more about *pitching*
• SCREENWRITING: Close to Finishing Second Feature
• SCREENWRITING: Pilot length
• TRANSMEDIA: Twitter Amplifies Voices and Brings People Together
• TRANSMEDIA: How to Use Transmedia for a Classic Novel
• TRANSMEDIA: If Big Media wants to thrive in the digital era, it needs to remember its past and move beyond its present.  

 STAGE 32 PLANNED AND PROPOSED MEETUPS

•  Las Vegas, Nevada
• Los Angeles, California 
• Los Angeles, California 
• Los Angeles, California 
• Madison, Wisconsin 
• Pitman, New Jersey 
• Redondo Beach, California 
• Salt Lake City, Utah 
• Vancouver, Canada 

  TIPS

• 10 TED Talks to Make You a Better You
• 6 Takeaways From Producing an Indie Sensation
• Joe Swanberg’s 3 Tips About Indie Filmmaking and Money
• Why Documentary Filmmakers Must Take Care of Legal Business Early and Often
• 5 Reasons All Actors Should Do Stage Crew
• Screenwriting - Writing Characters: Go Beyond Stereotypes 

Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you.

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