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Acting, Advice, Cinematography, Coffee & Content, Composing, Contests, Distribution, Featured, Filmmaking, Financing, Inspirational, Networking, Producing, Screenwriting, Success Stories, Tips, Trending,Recommended Articles
My Stage 32 Story: Persistence, Healing, & Creative Breakthroughs in Year 3
Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House
Making Our First No-Budget Feature: The Pure Vortex Production Chaos (Part 2)
Stage 32 Now Certifying Centro de Portugal Film Commission!
Insider Intel: The Studio War & The Rise of Indies
Happy Thanksgiving From Stage 32: We Are Thankful For YOU
Insider Intel: 2026 Predictions
Stage 32 Featured at the 43rd Torino Film Festival!
Insider Intel: 2025- Your Year of Breakthroughs (+ What's Coming in 2026)
Want Success in the Entertainment Industry? Start Writing Your Own Narrative
A Recent Experience With Rejection
No one covets rejection. Not personally, not professionally. Even when we try to wrap it all up in a pretty bow and look for the “bright side” the cold, hard truth is that rejection sucks. Period. That said, if all we ever did were focus on the crap, we’d never get to taste the cream (Sorry, I thought hard about a more appetizing metaphor but just couldn’t come up with one). Recently, an article in Writer’s Digest on rejection caught my eye, and it brought …
Coffee & Content: Build Conflict. Build Momentum. The Spec Market Is Waiting
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’s featured video essay comes from our friends at StudioBinder- How to Write the Main Conflict of the Story: The Engine of a Narrative. If you’re building a narrative and …
Unlocking the Secrets of Film Grants: The Ultimate Guide Every Filmmaker Needs!
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…
The Writer As An Entrepreneur: Building Your Audience & Creating A Community
The cultural zeitgeist speaks in this day and age about the isolation, alienation and despair of young people. We have watched the horrors of this in TV series like Adolescence. In the North-East of England, the region has the highest suicide-rate in the country. This is the consequence of the economic policies of the 1980s. We are a region which has not recovered from the asset-stripping of major industries, leaving many like myself with the label of ‘redundant’. Imagine th…
Coffee & Content: The Fatal Screenwriting Mistake? Only Having One Script.
Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that will lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships. If you haven’t yet made your introduction, you’ve still got time! Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello befo…
The Stage 32 Writer's Room Community & The Power of Member-Run Events
Community. It's the foundation of Stage 32's success and longevity. Creatives and professionals showing up for each other in little ways over time so that we are all better for it; it's a beautiful thing. It is also the heart of the Stage 32 Writers' Room. Perhaps that's why I've been a member for almost six (6) years - and counting! Not heard of Stage 32's Writers' Room? It's designed to allow dedicated writers and multi-hyphenates to shorten their path to success through eleva…
Tune In For Cannes Film Festival Updates - Live Behind The Scenes!
And...we're off! The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and Stage 32 is all over the Croisette! For those of you who weren't able to make it to France this year, we want to make sure that you, too, are part of the action. Stop what you're doing right now, pick up your phone, and go follow our fearless leader, Richard "RB" Botto, and Managing Director Amanda Toney: Instagram @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar X @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar Facebook @stage32 We …
5 Screenwriting Reminders I Got From... a Hip-Hop Diss Track?
At the time of this writing, the diss track 'Not Like Us' performed by hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar, is still chillin' (with arms folded) at the top of the charts. Since its debut weeks ago, the song has been streamed over 120 million times on Spotify alone. So, unless you've been living under a rock or completely detached from the genre, it is nearly impossible to escape the four-and-a-half-minute triumph. From quirky renditions by social media influencers and celebrities to old white…
Coffee & Content: Making Movie Magic with Smart Locations & Preparation
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. First up, I’m sharing a fascinating video essay from Vox: Why Your Favorite Movies Fake Their Locations. We all know movie magic shows up in the acting, the visuals, and the sound design…
How NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Went From a Stage 32 Script Consult to Theaters Nationwide!
Happy Friday, Creative Army! You know I love to shout from the rooftops when our Stage 32 members turn their passion and hard work into real-world success. And today, I’ve got a big one for you. Stage 32 writer Sean Farley’s new movie, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, is officially out in theaters! And what makes this moment even more thrilling? This film began right here on Stage 32—with a Feature Script Read + 30 Minute Consultation Call with an Executive. Stage 32 Managing Dir…
Celebrate the April 2025 Stage 32 Community’s Successes
Hello, Stage 32 Community! April is behind us, and you can feel the excitement growing in the industry. There’s an optimism that’s palpable, and we’re here for it. The box office is on a roll, and deals are brewing. I am looking forward to seeing what’s next! Now, let’s get to the fun part! It’s time for our monthly round of applause, aimed at just some of the incredibly talented members of the Stage 32 community, shining a light on their successes i…
Meet Your Cannes 2025 + Stage 32 Expert Panelists!
Happy Wednesday, Creative Army! The Cannes Film Festival in France is right around the corner! For those of you who missed it, we recently announced the official Cannes 2025 Stage 32 events schedule and partnerships right HERE on the Stage 32 Blog. Being involved each year in coordinating industry-leading panels with remarkable expert panelists from all over the world is one of our greatest honors and pleasures. This year, we're particularly proud of the lineup that we've put togeth…
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