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Acting, Advice, Cinematography, Coffee & Content, Composing, Contests, Distribution, Featured, Filmmaking, Financing, Inspirational, Networking, Producing, Screenwriting, Success Stories, Tips, Trending,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…
Today, I had an inspiring conversation with a talented writer who is passionately navigating the journey from script to screen. Over the past few years, she has shown remarkable dedication, and as a consultant, I've been fortunate to witness her progress. Yet, the reality of filmmaking is that it truly takes a village to bring a project to life. Depending on the size and scope of the project, various roadmaps can lead you to that coveted finish line: a completed film. My Journey Into Fi…
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…
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…
Animation is one of the few genres that has continued since the 2020 pandemic in a relatively unharmed way. The fact that animation can to a large extent be produced entirely remotely, put it in the spotlight of the film and television production community when the world came to a halt during the first months of the pandemic. The ability to produce animation remotely, in combination with the availability of cross-border high-quality animation and talent, production incentives, and lower…
Something I observe frequently is how often overlooked soft equity is in the finance plan. Counterintuitive, right? Why counterintuitive? In understanding film finance as a filmmaker and a producer, it can be explained relatively easily as this; soft equity is anything that doesn’t carry an obligation to be repaid or have the expectation of a recoupment attached. Hence I both preach and practice to seek out as many sources of soft financing as possible. Outside of tax credits o…
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 August, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning screenwriters, producers, directors, cinematographers, actors, consultants, authors, script coordinators, attorneys, financiers, and repr…
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 July, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning screenwriters, producers, directors, showrunners, actors, consultants, dialect/voice coaches, authors, script coordinators, VFX artists, at…
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 StudioBinder, they’re looking at one of storytelling’s most crucial elements, the antagonist, including breaking down the 7 types of antagonists, their characteristics, and their functions in a story. Unlike the protagonist, who is usually a character, an an…
In the captivating world of filmmaking, securing financing is often a pivotal step in bringing creative visions to life. However, the process of finding suitable investors can sometimes resemble navigating a maze filled with hidden pitfalls. In recent years, the call for transparency in film finance has grown louder, and for good reason. Filmmakers, both seasoned professionals, and aspiring creators, are frequently approached by individuals or entities offering funding opportunities tha…
Independent film projects deal with business and legal aspects all the time. Bigger production companies generally have an in-house or external business and legal affairs manager. This is however less common for small production companies. In this article, we will discuss the role of business and legal affairs in independent film, and explore the areas covered by a business and legal affairs department or manager. Business and Legal Affairs in Independent Film Busi…
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, this video by From The Frame digs into the perennial debate on aspect ratios. Which framing is best? But there's a nuance to this debate that the pros and cons often miss: the director's intent. Using examples from TITANIC, DUNE, OPPENHEIMER, and more, you'll see just how filmmakers compo…