THE STAGE 32 BLOG Subscribe
Welcome to the Stage 32 Blog. Browse the archive, browse by tags, or search to get started...
Search Stage 32 Blog
There are now 4176 blog posts for you to enjoy. Search them all by tags below.
Acting, Advice, Cinematography, Coffee & Content, Composing, Contests, Distribution, Featured, Filmmaking, Financing, Inspirational, Networking, Producing, Screenwriting, Success Stories, Tips, Trending,Recommended Articles
Insider Intel: Stop Pitching Blind- Why Matchmaking Is the Most Underrated Tool in Your Career
Making Your Own Super Micro Budget Feature
Stage 32 Now Certifying Houston, Texas!
How Networking Can Be a Game-Changer for Screenwriters
The 10 Pillars Of A High Achiever
The Skill That Will Change Your Career: Training Your Reading Brain
Coffee & Content: Why Every Creative Choice Should Make You Feel Something
Insider Intel: The End of Overall Deals?
Insider Intel: What The Spec Market Is Actually Looking For Right Now!
Coffee & Content: Why the Creative Process Is Meant to Change & Challenge
The Importance Of Balancing Self-Criticism & Inspiration
I don’t know when inspiration happens to you, but for me, it’s in the wee small hours of the morning before my mind and emotions become the loudest voices in the room. It’s when I first awake, when I am not quite “all there”. It’s in the magic original minutes before the myriad of daily concerns rush back into my consciousness. That’s when my inspiration manifests and when anything seems possible. In those moments I can see the path ahead clear…
How To Discover Your Theme In Your Script
Trying to rigidly adopt a writing process and methodology can be a heartless exercise. I beat myself up for years because my execution of the story did not match the guidance of the best teachers. Not that I am criticizing anyone for working that way. In fact, I say more power to you, but it isn’t always a method that has worked for me. I finally had to surrender to my own instincts, my Voice regarding my methods and process. Some writing teachers advise you to determine your the…
How to Find Your Creative Voice - Part 2: Working with Your Voice
We’ve talked about activating, listening, and preserving our Voice as a path to personal success. But what exactly is our ‘Voice,’ and how do we work with it in more detail? Your Voice is Not a Muse or a Brand Wiki-how says, “Muses were goddesses to whom poets prayed for the gift of divine inspiration.” No point in praying to your Voice. You’d just be praying to yourself. I’d suggest that great works of art are not our Voice either. Art is…
How to Find Your Creative Voice and Keep It - Part One
I remember the first play I submitted to a theatre in Toronto. The dramaturge called me in to “talk.” He was merciless and heartless, and yet that meeting was a gift. It made me face the truth, and it awakened my Voice. “Predictable,” “one dimensional,” “hackneyed,” “cliché upon cliché,” and “worse and worse”, were just some of the comments the dramaturge wrote in the margins of my beloved script. He …
How to Use Your Audience’s Imagination to Tell Your Story
Rule 1: Never tell the audience what they already know. Rule 2: Knowing what to leave out is as important as what to leave in. The crux of this blog is "Never dramatize what the reader can imagine for themselves," at least for on-screen drama. Novelists may need to give this some thought. But for screenwriters letting the audience fill in the blanks of the on-screen story with their own imagination is infinitely more effective and powerful than walking them through something …
How to Use Your Audience’s Imagination to Tell Your Story - Less Is Definitely More
Rule 1: Never tell the audience what they already know. Rule 2: Knowing what to leave out is as important as what to leave in. The crux of this blog is "Never dramatize what the reader can imagine for themselves"; at least for on-screen drama. Novelists may need to give this some thought. But for screenwriters letting the audience fill in the blanks of the on-screen story with their own imagination is infinitely more effective and powerful then walking them through something …
How to Find Your Creative Voice - PART 2: Working with Your Voice
Please refer back to part one of “How I found my (creative) Voice” which provides context for some of what follows… We’ve talked about activating, listening and preserving our Voice as a path to personal success. But what exactly is our ‘Voice’ and how do we work with it in more detail? Your Voice is Not a Muse or a Brand Wiki-how says, “Muses were goddesses to whom poets prayed for the gift of divine inspiration.” No point in prayi…
How to Find Your Creative Voice (and keep it)
Defining Moments I remember the first play I submitted to a theatre in Toronto. The dramaturge called me in to “talk”. He was merciless, heartless, and yet that meeting was a gift. It made me face the truth and it awakened my Voice. “Predictable”, “one dimensional” “hackneyed” “cliché upon cliché” “worse and worse”, were just some of the comments the dramaturge wrote in the margins of my beloved scri…
How I Partnered with Producers of The King's Speech & What I Learned Along the Way - Part 3
Part 3 -In The Steps of a King If you've already read part Part 1 and Part 2 of my series, than you know I was fortunate enough to partner with the producers of The King's Speech and The Tudors to write a series called Magna Carta. As much as I love history, I didn't know much about King John. It wasn't until I picked up a book at the local library that the history of the King began to tug at me. He wasn't the nicest guy, I learned. From all accounts, he was rather evil. And while the …
How I Partnered with Producers of The King's Speech & What I Learned Along the Way - Part 2
Part 2: Facing Illusions - A Hard Truth Last week I shared the first leg of my journey with you all, including how I pitched a show called the Magna Carta to the producer's of the King's Speech. This week in Part 2, I want to share what I learned from my collaboration with the producers of The King's Speech and The Tudors. It has a little something to do with not loving rewrites.My experience led me to some powerful insights that changed not only my approach to my work and craft, but al…
How I Partnered with Producers of The King's Speech & What I Learned Along the Way - Part 1
Part 1: A Simple, Powerful Insight Are you a writer, creative, producer, director, actor, or filmmaker?Have you struggled to find your "voice?" Is it speaking to you? If it isn't speaking to you, how can you find it? What is it and what good does it do? If you've struggled with this, my personal experience may help you. There was a time when I couldn't find the voice within. Once I discovered it, it quickly led me from obscurity to a partnership with the producers of The King's Speech…
Register / Log In
