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Writer Lands Shopping Agreement After Networking With Producer On Stage 32

I started pitching my Horror Comedy game show, JUMP SCARES, near the start of March. I was pitching it on Stage 32 (I posted my show in the Logline Section of my profile). Pitching a project on Stage 32 is great – I recommend doing it! – but it wasn't this alone that led to my signing a shopping agreement. That happened from networking in the Stage 32 Lounges. IT STARTED WITH A LOUNGE POST In the past, I had been a lurker. But, after being inspired by Stage 32 CEO Richard B…

Coffee & Content: When You Hire Stunt Guys To Direct

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 have a fantastic video from CinemaStix looking at how the John Wick franchise was able to get made while being made by "no names." Now, were Chad Stahelski and David Leitch really no-name creators? Absolutely not. These were two stunt performers who pushed back against the idea th…

10 Side Hustle Jobs For Actors

It's hard being an actor or any type of freelance artist. Few freelance artists, whether they be actors, videographers, crew members, scriptwriters, photographers, etc… are able to make a living in their field. Especially, at the beginning of their career. Instead of taking on a 9:00-5:00 job that takes you away from pursuing your chosen art form, why not find some great side hustle jobs to bring in additional income? You might even be able to find jobs that are in your field. …

What Is Scene Blocking In Filmmaking?

Have you ever worked on a stage play? One of the first things you do in rehearsal is figure out where everyone is supposed to stand. Nobody remembers their lines as everyone is holding scripts. They walk from this mark to another mark, trying to make the actions interesting and motivated. That’s called blocking. According to Wikipedia, "blocking is the precise staging of actors to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera".   In filmmaking, that can be …

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…

Breaking Down The Post-Production Process

Are you dreaming of becoming a filmmaker? Do you have an idea for a film that you're ready to bring to life? If so, you're in the right place. While you might be thinking about those days on set, it's what comes after them that can make or break your project. Editing is a crucial part of the filmmaking process, and it can be one of the most rewarding. Let's go through what you need to make it happen... Beginning the Editing Process Before you start editing your film, you need to make s…

Screenwriters Sign Option Agreement With Executive After Connecting On Stage 32

Last year, my co-creator friend Stephani Prescott and I had just entered a development agreement with Cindy Villareal (Majestic Productions), and it’s safe to say a lot has happened since! Cindy is one of the kindest, down-to-earth people you will ever meet, and it has been an absolute pleasure working with her. The development phase was critical as there is so much up-front work necessary to package everything up. We relied on Cindy’s guidance and expertise to get the pitch…

Coffee & Content: Trailers and Shorts

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, Vox is breaking down the art of making trailers with help from editor Bill Neil who works with Buddha Jones. Neil works on some of the biggest movies of recent years, including Jordan Peele's NOPE, and breaks down why he makes the choices he does, how to make a bigger impact by combining dif…

How To Develop Complex Characters In Your Script

When I was first starting out as a writer, I spent most of my prewriting time on plotting. I initially approached planning out my fiction like we’re all taught to approach essay writing: it’s all about the outline. So that’s where I’d always start: with plot. Please don’t misunderstand me. Story structure is vitally important, and I’ll advocate for taking the time to craft an airtight plot all day long. But, as we know from Aristotle, character is the…

What To Do When You Think You’ve Missed Your Chance

Being a creator means being ready for rejection. The industry does away with those who can not handle it. Sometimes, we get so passionate about a project that we pursue the greatest of opportunities without a second thought. Or sometimes, we pass on experiences that turned out to be major successes. You will go through this at some point in your career. How do we move on from that? How do we do away with regret and hurt? What do we do when that amazing moment is gone and want to ensur…

What Lies Ahead With The Potential Writers' Strike

Hey, Stage 32ers! I hope you're all making great progress on your creative projects this week! We always want you to be up-to-date on what's happening in the industry so that you can set yourself up for success. Never has this been more needed than with the WGA starting their contract talks with the AMPTP. There's a lot of misinformation online about what's the root cause and what's at stake with these negotiations, so here to break it down for you is our CEO, Richard 'RB' Botto, in the…

8 Tips To Help Make Your Film A Reality

Small feature films are roads to much bigger projects. A positive, proactive attitude will propel your work. Here is what you need to give your film a fighting chance against the competition. 1. Aim For Attention Successful projects happen when you adopt a realistic approach to their completion. Don’t think too big too soon. Storytelling as a filmmaker is a lifelong learning curve, but a positive attitude is everything. A feature film carries the kudos and longevity that short-fo…

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