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How Networking Can Be a Game-Changer for Screenwriters

Hello, Stage32 Creative Community! I hope you are all good at these challenging times of creativity. Today, I'd like to talk about networking and how it can change the game for screenwriters. I am a communicator, but occasionally, I am not! I am not typically extroverted or introverted. It all depends on how I feel about the situation and the day. What did I do to achieve a balance between my two sides? Before I share it with you, I'd like to talk to you about something that became t…

Tapping Into Your Animal Instincts When Creating

The Calling . . . It was the summer of 2000, Y2K didn’t destroy the World and most of us were seeking our next big quest. I was in corporate sales and spent much time in the subways commuting and connecting. One of the most profound connections and lessons I’ve ever learned happened on the platform of 53rd & Lexington. You could feel a unique energy from the street level. A faint drumbeat resonated from the platform 3 levels down. Before I had a chance to notice, the dr…

Talking Business: Navigating US-Mexico Film Collaborations

Welcome back to TALKING BUSINESS: Insights from the Independent Film Industry, hosted by Stage 32 Thought Leader and Business Consultant, David Zannoni, from Freeway Entertainment and Zannoni Media. In TALKING BUSINESS, David brings you in-depth conversations on the behind-the-scenes of the filmmaking business with industry veterans. In today’s sixth episode, David is talking with Larissa Calva Ruiz, a US and Mexico qualified lawyer currently with Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz…

Small Beginnings and Forever Learning

As much as I have loved screenwriting, I’ve always had a bug in the small of my stomach for acting. Even when I was in orchestra and band in high school, I remember walking into the theater class and perusing the movie posters hanging on the walls of the theater. My mouth would drop, and I’d take it all in. “How cool would this be?” I’d ask myself. But, alas, I was committed to band, and a huge commitment it was. I had relationships with people I loved and w…

Announcing the 5th Annual TV Drama Screenwriting Contest

Hey friends! BIGGEST TV Drama Screenplay Contest in the World is Back! Ever dreamt of seeing your TV Drama script come to life on the big screen or streaming on flat-screens in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! Our Grand Prize Winner will win a Career Accelerator prize package valued at $5,000 that includes script & career development, writer branding and an education package and will be flown to LA to meet industry professionals …

Coffee & Content: The Power of Supporting Fellow Creatives

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week, we’re taking a deep dive into how Nolan kickstarted his career with Following, a micro-budget noir thriller feature film shot on weekends with friends, using natural light and…

Stunt Performing: The Art of Falling

Being pushed and shoved. Getting punched and kicked. Just another day in the office. Being hit by a car. Getting blown up. Just another day in the office. Yes, I am talking about the, for many years, overlooked unsung heroes of the entertainment industry: Stunt actors. I have been privileged to have been part of that unique group of people. Some call us daredevils. Others call us adrenalin junkies. Still, others refer to us as fools. We are none of these. We are actors, and the risks …

Embrace Your Desire to Be the Best: The Art of Pursuing Excellence

We all have that inner spark; the yearning to be the best at what we do, whether it’s in the creative world, business, or any other field. It’s a driving force that pushes us to exceed our limits and transform dreams into reality. But while the desire for greatness is often seen as a source of inspiration, it can also feel like a heavy burden. So, how do we embrace this desire without allowing it to overwhelm us? The Power of Aspiration At the heart of every great accomplis…

Collaboration vs. Exploitation: A Filmmaker’s Decade of Lessons

I’ve been a filmmaker for nearly a decade, a journey filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Along the way, I’ve experienced the thrill of true collaboration and the sting of exploitation. A recent incident brought these dynamics back into sharp focus, reminding me how my perspective on them has evolved over time. If you’ve worked in a creative field like filmmaking, you’ve likely brushed up against both: the rare magic of a creative partnership and th…

Confessions of a Script Doctor

Good day to you, Stage 32! Many of you know me as a regular blogger here, but I’m also a development executive with more than twenty years of experience and a screenwriter with more than 70 screenplays under my tires. More than half of these screenplays were written under other writers’ names, working under the most explicit conditions of secrecy and anonymity. Yes, dear reader, I am a script doctor. Presumably because of the secrecy and compromise involved, I get the impre…

Coffee & Content: The Power of Persistence & Facing Rejection Head-On

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, we are exploring The Brutalist, the latest ambitious project from filmmaker Brady Corbet. This deep dive from Frame Voyager dissects the film’s creative journey, from production delays and budget challenges to its groundbreaking use of VistaVision, a format rarely used in modern cin…

Follow The Yellow Brick Road To Your Goals!

It was a sunny Sunday morning, May 9th, 1970. I just sat down for breakfast at a quaint little restaurant in Hollywood. I was going to the MGM auction for a second day. The day before I had snagged a cool prize and it only cost me $20.00. I loved looking for movie props and memorabilia from the golden age of film. My budget was $100.00, so as you may have guessed, you can’t buy much with that. Still, you must remember it was 1970 and one hundred bucks was like a thousand back then.…

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