Posted by Richard "RB" Botto

Welcome to the weekend, everyone.

A short opening today as I head toward Santa Barbara to speak at FestForums. If you’re attending the conference, please do say hello! All the details can be found here.

Needless to say, I have a plethora of interesting and diverse content for you to sift through again this week. Look forward to your thoughts in the Comments section below.

In the meantime, have a terrific and creative weekend!

Cheers!

RB

 STAGE 32 NEWS

This New Casting Software Will Save You Time, Money and Stress

Holding auditions for models and actors is expensive and time consuming. Securing a location, hiring a photographer / videographer, and renting equipment can cost upwards of $1000 for the day – not to mention the time spent actually running the casting, reviewing each image and video, and uploading all of the files to a central location. Those days are over.  Our very own Stage 32 member Drew Doyon founded a new platform UpCast, which is an innovative casting platform that digitally connects talent and productions throughout the entire casting process. Instead of submitting outdated headshots, UpCast lets actors and models submit live photos and videos so that productions can see what they look like today – not two years ago. Click here for the entire article now!

RB and Tarantino Walk into Santa Barbara

We're thrilled to announce an exciting new relationship for the filmmakers in our Stage 32 community - this weekend we will be in Santa Barbara working with leading festival conference FestForums! FestForums is a NYC and Santa Barbara based interactive conference and networking event for film festivals and filmmakers addressing cutting-edge technology and talent. FestForums brings together festivals and events of all sizes for collaboration and professional development. If you are looking to network and learn from some of our industry's biggest festivals including TIFF, Tribeca, San Luis Obispo, Austin Film Festival, SXSW, Newport Beach, Seattle, Palm Springs and more - look no further. They'll all be in one place at one time for FestForums! Plus, Quentin Tarantino will be presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to actor Bruce Dern. You don't want to miss this! Click here to get all the details!

32 Ways to Grow Your Following on Social Media for Actors And Filmmakers

Building an audience is important for any actor or filmmaker. Every acting job you get, each day on set or piece of content you create is an opportunity to build your audience. In honor of Stage 32, Click here for the 32 ways you can grow your following on social media.


STAGE 32 EDUCATION

Constructing Your Screenwriting Career: A Breakdown Of Breaking In

Most screenwriters who have been at it for any length of time know the mechanics of writing a screenplay. But not everyone knows the specific steps one must take to go from screenwriter hitting the keys in off hours to become a working screenwriter working within the industry structure. Lee Jessup author of the best selling book Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide To A Screenwriting Career and career coach for professional and emerging screenwriters will set correct expectations for the construction of a screenwriting career, and identify the various paths and opportunities available to writers eager to break into film or television.

In this three part series you will learn:

  • Week 1: Preparing yourself for the industry
  • Week 2: Breaking into Film
  • Week 3: Breaking into TV

To read the full details of the topics you will learn, click here!

10 Essential Elements to Incorporate Into Writing Your Rom Com

We’ve all been there… scrolling on Netflix and HBO Go (and heck, even Hulu Plus) searching madly for a great rom com that we haven’t seen before, because let’s face it: what else do you want to watch when you’re on your couch eating cheese doodles and artisanal ice cream (thank god it’s organic) and wishing to god you weren’t single, or that your husband, well… maybe wasn’t your husband. And, realizing that nothing good has been made in the past ten years (other than About Time), you settle on watching The Wedding Planner or Runaway Bride for the umpteenth time.

I kid, I kid. But, seriously! There aren’t enough good rom coms. You should be writing them!

In this 2 week intensive Stage 32 online course, your host Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom 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!)

What you will learn in this two part series:

Part 1 – THE SET UP ELEMENTS

  • A strong lead
  • The love interest
  • The best friend.
  • A great hook.
  • Inherent conflict

Part 2 – THE PLOT ELEMENTS and THE CRUCIAL ELEMENT

  • The cute "meet".
  • The “Benny and the Jets” Moment.
  • The break apart
  • The epic moment
  • A FRESH VOICE

For a breakdown of the above elements and to register for this On Demand video, click here!


HAPPY WRITERS

Pitch Opportunities:

  • Josh Bachove - Producer - Saturday, November 19th · 10:00 - 11:40 AM PST  Specializes in drama, comedy, and action features.
  • Julia Verdin - President & Manager, Rough Diamond Productions & Management - Saturday, November 19th · 2:30 - 4:10 PM PST Specializes in all genres of features.
  • Brandon Hill - Director of Acquisitions, Good Deed Entertainment - Sunday, November 20th · 10:30 - 12:10 PM PST Comedy, Horror, and Thriller features & TV pilots.

HAPPY WRITERS CONSULTING SERVICES - Have you completed your script? Need advice on what to do next? Do you want an executive to review your script and give you feedback? Happy Writers provides consulting services where you can have a Development executive, manager, agent, producer of your choice and give you feedback on your work. If you are interested in these services, click here!


SUCCESS STORIES


STAGE 32 MEETUPS


 POPULAR AND INTERESTING LOUNGE DISCUSSIONS


ENTERTAINMENT AND INDUSTRY 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...

 

10 More Days of Writing! What's Your Routine?
This New Casting Software Will Save You Time, Money and Stress
 
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