The Future of Film School is Here | Stage 32 Launches Global Entertainment Career Certifications

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Hey, Creative Army!

For those of you who have been here for a while, you know how important education is to me. My dream 12 years ago was to build the world's biggest educational library for people working in television and film and we've accomplished just that, programming over 3,000 hours in the last decade.

Now, we take the next step in our evolution, fulfilling another dream of mine 7 years in the making. I'm very proud to announce, the future of film school is here.

Over the last 7 years the Stage 32 team has spoken with executives from over 100 film commissions, executives from streamers, various guilds and production companies, and film students and graduates - many saddled with enormous student loan debt. We've discussed the changing environment of global production and expansion, the dearth of quality people to fill available jobs on set, and the overwhelming need to find skilled workers available around the world available to work right now. The result of all these conversations has led us to this moment.

Today, with the support of numerous film commissions and guilds worldwide, I am thrilled to introduce Stage 32 Certification. You can access the brand new portal here. 

The Current Global Film & TV Production Problem

• There is more global production happening around the world and not enough qualified people to do the jobs.
• Film commissions are offering massive incentives, but cannot support the crew needs with local talent causing those incentives to lose value and attractiveness. 
• There are millions of people who are trying to work in film and television production, but lack the skills. They do not know where to turn beyond interning. But this is not a quick path to a working, paying career.
• With the exception of becoming more expensive and exclusive, traditional film schools have not changed since the 1970's. 
• Traditional film schools do not teach enough below the line skills which translate to opportunities to forge a meaningful career in the industry.
• Most traditional film schools do not present post-graduation opportunities to secure work.
• Traditional film school is leaving students with massive debt often in the $100,000-$300,000 range.

The Solution - Film School Online at a Fraction of the Cost

• Stage 32 will offer Certification Courses in multiple above and below the line disciplines that will give people the universal skills to work on film or TV production as it exists in the current moment.
• Taught by World-Class Stage 32 Educators who have worked on some of the top films & television shows, Stage 32 Certification is designed to teach the fundamentals to assure they are ready to step into a working situation immediately.
• Over a dozen film commissions are working with Stage 32 and dozens more are planning to work with Stage 32 certification in 2024 to cater training to their areas, allowing for people to be hired quickly and help these commissions meet the demands for projects in the pipeline.
• All Stage 32 Certification holders will be entered into a focused database accessible by film commissions, streamers, production companies and other organizations. They will know who is qualified to work in every skill set and hire through the Stage 32 certification portal.
• Both Stage 32 Individual Certifications and Master Certifications are at a fraction of the cost of traditional film school.
• Stage 32 Certification is all inclusive. There are no applications to apply and no one gets denied.
• Stage 32 Certification will be recognized world wide.

Details Regarding Stage 32 Certification

Stage 32 Certification courses will be taught by highly experienced experts in their fields across the entertainment industry, including Paramount’s Director of Production Maegan Philmore, ViacomCBS Senior Production Finance Manager Shalonda Ware, former head of production at eOne and Carsey Warner Courtney Conte, the legal team at the prestigious Los Angeles-based entertainment firm Ramo Law, Wrapbook’s tax incentive expert Ryan Broussard, film producer and DGA member Korey Pollard and more.

This new certification program is available NOW, right here on Stage 32! Inaugural courses focus on bedrock production skills such as Production Accounting, Cost Reporting, Production Management & more! Each course requires you to take a test at the end that you must pass in order to be entered into the Film Commission & Production Company Database. To see them all for yourself, click HERE! 

There are 2 types of certifications available:

Individual Certifications - these are individual courses and focus on a particular skill set in which you will watch the course and be tested at the end in order to receive your certificate. Once you receive your Stage 32 Certification you will be listed in a database that is accessible by film commissions, streamers, production companies and other organizations who are looking for talent for productions coming to their area. You will also receive a Stage 32 Certification badge on your profile page and which will be prominently displayed next to every post you make on the platform. We will also provide you with your own graphics to promote on your social media channels and resume oriented platforms like LinkedIn.

Current Individual Certifications include:

• Budget creation
• Call sheets
• Content distribution and sales agency agreements
• Cost reporting
• Crew agreements
• Feature film financing agreements
• Final delivery elements
• International co-production agreements
• Investor agreements
• Option/purchase/shopping agreements
• Payroll accounting and management for film and TV series
• Production accounting 101
• Talent attachment agreements. 

Master Certifications - these are a group of courses that make up a master knowledge of a particular disciple. You will need to take all the courses in each Master Certification and pass a test in each course in order to be master certified. Once you receive your Stage 32 Master Certification you will be listed in a database that is accessible by film commissions, streamers, production companies and other organizations who are looking for talent for productions coming to their area. You will also receive a Stage 32 Certification badge on your profile page and which will be prominently displayed next to every post you make on the platform. We will also provide you with your own graphics to promote on your social media channels and resume oriented platforms like LinkedIn.

Current Master Certifications include:

• Production Accounting Master Certification
• Production Management Master Certification
• Line Producing Master Certification
• Producer Key Legal Agreements Master Certification

More About The Film Commission & Production Company Database:

All course graduates - whether you are individually certified or master certified - will be listed in a new database accessible by regional film commissions and production companies hiring in the hundreds of fast-growing production hotspots around the world. Over a dozen international and domestic film commissions, including Costa Rica, Cyprus, Slovakia, Canacine Mexico, Houston, Nevada, Oregon, Dallas, Montana, Louisiana Baton Rouge, Central Pennsylvania, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, and the Location Managers Guild International are all officially in support of Stage 32 Certification and we are in talks with over 50 commissions and other organizations to come on board for 2024. With the new Stage 32 Certification database, film commissions, streamers, production companies & other organizations will be able to easily identify, report on & hire qualified people in their areas to support and work on incoming productions.

Once you Become Certified - Stage 32 Certification Badges:

Once you've completed a certification course, your Stage 32 profile page will update with a "certification badge". This badge will be visible on your profile, as well as your posts and comments, showcasing that you're certified and included on the commission database. For those of you who are actively looking for work and growing your resume, it will help you stand out and let those who are hiring for key positions identify you and your abilities quickly. 

Stage 32 Certification Badge & Coursework on your Stage 32 Profile:

Stage 32 Certification Badge on all your comments throughout the site:

Global Film & TV Production Summit- FREE!

Finally, to kick off the certification program, we will be holding a FREE Global Film & TV Production Summit on Thursday, Oct. 19, featuring a keynote address by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Cassian Elwes. The free virtual summit features top executives from the entertainment industry converging to explore the ever-evolving landscape of production. Speakers and panelists include Elwes on “The Brave New World of Producing”, plus production executives from Hulu’s Emmy-nominated The Bear, HBO/MAX Catalyst Studios and Ramo Law; Screen Ireland and Costa Rica commissions; the Co-Founder of FilmUSA; the Location Managers Guild International and more.

I couldn't be more grateful to everyone who generously gave of their time to help mold this program over the last 7 years. I would be remiss (in a gigantic way) if I didn't shine a light on Stage 32's Managing Director, Amanda Toney, and our Director of Education, Sam Sokolow, who worked tirelessly and put in a Herculean effort day in and day out to make this dream a reality. I cannot say enough about their passion, drive, desire and dedication. I've been in awe, and they deserve every accolade. None of this would be possible without them.

So there you have it. A new day has dawned and we're moving with the times. You have heard me say time and time again that we're not stopping here at Stage 32 until everyone who has a desire to work in film and television gets their shot. And Stage 32 Certification is another step in that mission. Let's seize the day together.

As always, if you have any questions on Stage 32 Certification (or any of our education, for that matter). Never hesitate to reach out to Sam and his team at edu@stage32.com. They're always happy to hear from our members.

Thank you for reading and for the support.

Much love.

RB

Check out our BRAND NEW Stage 32 Certification Portal HERE!

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