Six Degrees of Connection on Stage 32: Part One

When speaking of my recent victories - I wrote and produced an award-winning 48-Hour Short Film called "Livin' with Lisa," co-produced an all-female-cast-and-crew short film, and just wrapped production on the most involved proof-of-concept short film I've ever produced - there is only one constant in every one of those victories. Relationships.

"Exactly how connected do I need to be to be successful in the industry? Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon connected?" Sort of. The "Six Degrees of Separation" theory is based on the idea that you are connected to every person in the world by only six other people. The theory starts with the notion that you have forty-four (44) friends. If each of those friends has forty-four (44) other friends, each of whom has a friend with forty-four (44) other friends - continued on for six connections - then you have access to potentially 7.62 billion people. Here is a fantastic video explaining the science behind it and how the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game came to be. But what about Six Degrees of Stage 32?

The key to unlocking the interconnectedness of the industry is similar to the mathematical conclusion. The science, and my experience, suggest looping in a few random, loosely associated connections while cultivating a close network of friends. Easy, right? While it is compelling to try to have one type of association over another, both are equally important to be connected and thus supported in the industry. This stands to reason for your Stage 32 connections as well! And it's precisely the reason my recent producing projects were so successful. Let's see just how far down the "degrees of connection" I had to go to make our recent EPIC short film, "Sanctuary"! Be sure to follow our announcements, updates, and behind-the-scenes.

This is part one of a series on the Six Degrees of Connection with Stage 32. Today we're looking at how you can elevate your virtual connections...

1ST DEGREE: DIRECT CONNECTIONS THROUGH IN-PERSON MEET-UPS

Nothing beats non-verbal communication, or as we learned in Will Smith's Hitch (2005), "90% of what you're saying ain't coming out of your mouth." Of course, most of us would love to network at a film festival or a monthly meet-up. In lieu of that, however, we utilize the incredible virtual Stage 32 platform to keep us energized, informed, and encouraged. So, how do you make those connections in person? Through Stage 32 in-person meet-ups! That's where "Sanctuary" the short film's story begins.

Our Story: During one of the last in-person Stage 32 meet-ups (January 2020), one connection among dozens would fatefully become one of the most important creative relationships of my life. It started not with the conversation at the meet-up but afterward when he reached out to schedule a coffee date.

Garrett showing off his sense of humor.

In fact, I do not recall Garrett Adams being the most impressive person I met that evening. He was reserved and more than a little awkward. Luckily, he was easier to talk with one-on-one over Starbucks. We discovered that we're both from the DC/Baltimore area and recently moved to LA. We both went directly into the workforce right after high school. And as filmmakers, we both wanted to do more than make films - we wanted collaborations where everyone felt supported, valued, and included. BINGO!

Plus, Garrett made it clear that he would be making the film with or without my help. When people are driven by purpose, it makes it easy to listen. When those same people show they are moving forward with or without you, giving them something on their journey is even easier.

After our first coffee meeting, it was clear that Garrett wanted a producer for his next short film - a common request by many young directors who have yet to learn that a producer is not a parent nor a savior. I was skeptical, but I also wanted to demonstrate my prowess as a creative producer (a.k.a. a writer/producer; if this sounds familiar, definitely check out the upcoming Webinar on "How to Build Your Career as a Multi-Hyphanate"). So, we made an agreement that involved a minimal investment of time, which we both felt was mutually beneficial. I would help Garrett start to deduce his budget by helping him find a location. In exchange, Garrett would allow me to work with him and the writer on tightening the script to make sure it felt like something we could show to get others attached (including actors).

Garrett and I attending other networking events in Los Angeles.

I made the agreement partly to combat this perspective on what a producer does (if you don't know, check out this upcoming Webinar with Michael Wormser) but also to show that an experienced producer can do so much more than scheduling and budgeting. Luckily, Garrett was keen to learn and appreciated my time and effort. Similarly, I was grateful that he both had a clear vision of what he wanted yet was willing to listen to the input of others before making a decision. Even now, I can't help but smile at how fortunate I am to have met and worked with someone like that!

This was our first challenge together, brought about by seizing the momentum of a connection. The magic of this moment was, in essence, an exchange of knowledge and experience - like what we do every day on Stage 32. That is to say, if all we ever did was learn from each other and then wish each other well, we still would have parted ways just as fortunate. But, instead, our continued effort outside of networking created the working relationship.

Garrett on the process trailer video village as we film "Sanctuary" the short film, along with Tiffany our Script Supervisor, and Castor, one of our 1st ACs.

My Advice: Make time for in-person networking locally or when attending more significant events, like film festivals. Make as many connections as possible, but remember it takes two to tango. If they are not reaching out to you afterward, you may have to put in extra effort to work with them as time goes on. If they do reach out to you, like Garrett did, use your best judgment to determine if what they want is in alignment with your goals. Finally, if your connection leads to an agreement, be upfront about your abilities, your expectations, and clearly set their expectations as well.

DID YOU KNOW that Stage 32 has a "Meet-Up" Section? If you're planning an in-person meet-up, post it HERE so your online connections can become your local community!

Let's Meet Up! Because we believe in the importance of in-person as much as virtual connections, Stage 32 wants to meet you! Emily J. (Blog Editor) and I are hosting a Stage 32 Meet Up on December 15th in Los Angeles at The Phoenix in Beverly Hills. To attend, simply RSVP HERE to let us know you're coming!

And if you're not in Los Angeles, consider putting together a meet-up of your own. Once set up, let us know how it goes!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below! Who have you met through a Stage 32 in-person meet-up? We'd love to hear your story!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Emily at blog@stage32.com, and let's get your post published!

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