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How To Market Your Projects Without Pissing People Off

Media Platforms 101 New technology and platforms pop up every time you open your phone or a tab in your browser. With updated and additional software, media and social platforms, apps, algorithms, and search engine optimization rules, it’s hard to keep up. When it comes to marketing, these are common attitudes: Newbie: “I just need to get my book on Facebook, and I’ll be rich.” Arm crosser: “I don’t do social media. I tried Facebook once. It didn&…

How To Make The 2024 American Film Market Work For You!

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! Today officially kicks off the 2024 American Film Market!  Every November, the entire global film industry converges for AFM, the premier film acquisition, development, and networking event where more than $1 Billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year on completed films and those in every stage of development. More business-oriented than any other motion picture event, thousands of professionals from all corners of our indus…

Scaring Up Funds: How to Acquire Investors For Your Horror Film

We’ve all heard the stories. Paranormal Activity, a film with a budget slightly less than a used Honda, made $193 million worldwide and launched a profitable franchise. That film’s progenitor, The Blair Witch Project, had a $60K budget and turned out a $250 million box office haul. The most profitable films from 2010 to 2015 were all horror films. 10. The Last Exorcism ($68M gross vs. $1.8M production budget) 9. Annabelle ($257M vs. $6.5M) 8. Chernobyl Diaries ($37M vs…

How Working With A Publicity Consultant May Help You Stay Within Budget

I know it’s thrilling when you’re in the midst of creating something. However, many put off working with publicity, even for consultation, because many think it’s going to be really expensive. To be sure, a full-scale publicity campaign can get quite expensive—depending on several factors. However, consulting with publicity in a limited capacity can be a smart investment to help you figure out your specific publicity strategy without making a total commitment unti…

Stage 32's September 2024 Education Schedule!

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! I hope that the last month has been joyful and productive for you all! Our Stage 32 Education Team has certainly been hard at work to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This September, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning writers, producers, directors, cinematographers, actors, consultants, assistant directors, authors, distributors, financiers, and repr…

Why It’s A Good Idea To Commit To A Festival Publicist Before You’re Accepted

Let’s discuss a misconception about film publicity as it relates to your festival run—you do not need to wait until you’ve heard back from your top festival premiere choice to start conversations with a publicist. Being proactive and taking the time to choose your festival publicist early can be a game-changer for your film's journey through the festival circuit. Whether you’re crafting a feature film destined for Sundance or a short masterpiece targeting Tribec…

The Benefits of Local Film Festivals

A client recently asked me about the value of submitting a short film to a local film festival. After my recent romp at the 20th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival here in Los Angeles, I had to dish on the deets! My not-so-short answer was the stuff of epic emails, and so, I figured best to expand on it as a blog! In fact, it's particularly timely because my epic proof-of-concept short film, "Sanctuary" (Instagram: @SanctuarytheShortFilm ) just announced its premiere at the 9th Annual Sili…

Worldwide Premiere of the 9th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program at The Hollyshorts Film Festival

Hello Creative Army! Over the past 13 years, we here at Stage 32 have been thrilled to be recognized throughout the industry as the leaders in online film craft and business education. We are honored to be partnered with some of the most prestigious film festivals and markets in the world including the American Film Market and the Cannes Film Festival Marché du film to name a few. Now, for the 9th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qual…

Coffee & Content: The Secret To Moving The Needle

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, in this video from The Editing Podcast, hosts Hayden Hillier Smith and Jordan Orme sit down with the acclaimed editor behind David Fincher's brilliant cinematic masterpieces, Kirk Baxter! Kirk's illustrious career spans iconic films such as “The Social Network”, “Gone Gi…

Stage 32 Presents: To Stream or Not to Stream... That is the Distribution Question

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! While you may have missed out on getting to attend Cannes in person, you certainly won’t miss out on the incredible insights that were shared there! At this year’s Cannes 2024, Stage 32 hosted a fantastic expert panel exploring the pros and cons of distribution deals, ranging from theatrical to streaming to self-distribution, providing insights into the best options for producers today. Moderated by Emma Louis Smith (ACCA, Finance Strate…

How To Package Your Documentary Feature

At some point, most filmmakers come across a great idea for a documentary film. It might be an interesting topic or personality, and you just know there is a story that must be told. But similarly to narrative filmmaking, there’s a huge difference between having an idea and being able to carry it into a finished motion picture. We talk about “packaging” in scripted films, attachments, pre-sales, and budgets, but oftentimes overlook the importance of doing the same thi…

Attending Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film for the First Time!

If you are considering attending the Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film for the first time but are unsure whether you will be able to navigate it, keep reading. I was in your shoes before I decided to take the plunge this year! I hope sharing my experience will give you that final push you need and help you make the most of your time there next year. First A Bit Of Context I am a director based in Dubai. Earlier this year, a grounded sci-fi thriller feature film I wrote and wil…

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