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Coffee & Content - Making a DSLR Look Like a RED & Toy Story Script to Screen

Greetings from rainy Los Angeles, and Happy Sunday.  Coffee is brewed, let's get to the content. One of the most inspiring dudes I've met over the last few months is filmmaker, Matt Alonzo.  Not only is Matt a ridiculously talented guy who handles just about everything - shooting, lighting, editing - but he also aims to educate and motivate wherever he goes.  The idea of giving back and paying it forward is part of his DNA.  An example of this?  This week, Matt …

Coffee & Content - 5 Huge Filmmaking Mistakes to Avoid & Writing Tips From Stephen King

Happy Sunday, everyone.  And for those celebrating in America, I hope you're having a fun, relaxing and creative holiday weekend. For this edition of Coffee & Content, I have 2 more videos designed to motivate and inspire. First up, a cool vid from the helpful minds over at Creative North - 5 Huge Filmmaking Mistakes to Avoid in 2 Minutes.  Well, the video runs almost 4 minutes, but it's still more than worth your time. Next up, how about Stephen King sharing some writin…

6th Annual Oscars Contest Is Now Live!

It's that time again! The 6th Annual Stage 32 Oscars Contest is now live! This is your opportunity to vote for who you think will win each Oscar this year. All you have to do is go down the list, point, click, and submit. It's that simple! There are many wide open races this time around. You think you've got what it takes to run with the big dogs? Our top record holder of all time is Jovanni Ibarra who set a pretty high bar nailing 21 selections in 2016. Let's see …

Coffee & Content - 5 Tips for Filming at Night & Rian Johnson on Screenwriting

Getting some things done up here at the Santa Barbara Film Festival this weekend, so I'm grabbing my coffee to go and leaving you to enjoy (and share) the content! First up, I have a truly enjoyable and insightful tutorial on how to best film at night. Next, it's an in depth interview Rian Johnson, writer/director of The Last Jedi, discussing his screenwriting techniques. As always, I ask that you pay it forward and share this content wherever possible.  And, of course, I welcome…

And The Oscar Nominations Are In....

  The nominations for the 90th Annual Academy Awards were announced yesterday and we're proud to recognize some of the amazing execs and companies we work with whose films received much deserved nominations. This year as we all watch the Oscars we have 7 films we can root for that have been worked on by our execs & their companies! Please join us in congratulating the amazing group of talent in the Stage 32 family. And, we'll be launching our Oscars contest on Stage 3…

The Next Generation of Student Filmmakers Document The Seattle Film Summit

In December Stage 32 was honored to participate in the Seattle Film Summit held in beautiful Renton, Washington. For 2 days some of the industry's heavyweights descended upon the Pacific Northwest to teach about the industry and meet the fresh talent that exists in the state of Washington. Over the course of 2 days there were many panels and workshops discussing everything from script to screen and the evolution of the industry with players like Netflix and Amazon. There was an…

Happy New Year! What Are Your Goals?

On behalf of the entire Stage 32 team, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!    So what are your goals for the year? Have you laid them out? Broken them down? Arranged them in a sensible fashion which will make the journey fun and rewarding as opposed to filled with pressure and anxiety? I'd love to hear what you're looking to attain in the coming 12 months. Further, for those willing, I'd also love if you'd share your strategies designed to set yourself up for…

7 Critical Secrets to Indie Film Casting

  I'm climbing up on my chair now so you will pay attention to what I'm about to say. Okay...I'm up here...waiting for you to listen. Ready? Don't cast less than great actors in your film! It seems to me that casting is often times a second thought to Indie filmmakers. Then guess what happens? We are subjected to films that are difficult to watch. Even if the script is great, bad actors can absolutely ruin your film. I have seen this occur time and time again. And so have you…

How I Made "Under the Influence"

You know when you’re a filmmaker and you move to Los Angeles away from all of the resources you’ve worked tirelessly to secure? A fresh start? No? Oh... Me neither...   Just kidding.   Earlier this year, I moved to Los Angeles with my best friend and co-collaborator, Courtney Birk, from Baltimore, Maryland. A 2700 mile drive to further pursue my film career. Being in a brand new city, I was at a loss for cast, crew, and locations. After finally getting settled (…

RB Featured in The Huffington Post - Prepare to be Inspired!

We're excited to announce that our fearless leader has been featured on The Huffington Post with an in-depth interview from journalist Yitzi Weiner. In the interview RB talks about his background in the industry, his recent book that has just been published, Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and The Power Of the Crowd, building a brand and an audience, the Stage 32 platform, the importance of community for all creatives and best practices toward achieving your goals.&nbs…

Reward Your Cast Or Crew With A Holiday Party

It may still be Summer, but our Stage 32 locations partner Peerspace is getting a jumpstart on the holiday season. If you're looking to reward your cast or crew for a great year on set or on a project, it's time to thinking about having a holiday party. Nobody gets excited about sharing eggnog around the conference table, so here's a head start on finding a holiday party venue that gets your guests excited to attend. From a luxury garage warehouse to a spacious distillery, these un…

Stage 32 Success Story: The Next Generation of Filmmakers

I've been blessed with the opportunity to speak at numerous festivals and conferences all over the world. Outside of having the opportunity to teach and share my experiences, nothing thrills me more than meeting Stage 32 members along the way and hearing how the platform played a part in their success. A few weeks back, I had one of my favorite moments of any event when I met 17 year old director Matthew Manyak and the cast and crew of his short film After the Fall at Hollyshorts. Wise,…

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