Karen Martin: Music composer in Los Angeles, California.

Solange Ritchie
The Burning Man Thriller Being Adapted for Film

Great to connect with you. I am an author of thrillers and horror novels. You can find my thrillers on Amazon - THE BURNING MAN, FIRESTORM and DYING DECLARATON. I just finished a fourth novel in the thriller series called BOMB BLAST and a stand-alone horror novel called FIONA'S BOX. Check out my aut...

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Solange Ritchie

I just got the cover for Fiona's Box. I am going to add it to my profile.

Solange Ritchie

This is the cover. What do you think?

Maurice Vaughan

Great poster, Solange Ritchie! Shiny. :)

Karen Martin

Thank you Elena. I always use a Deal Memo beforehand just so that the basics are covered and I can get to work. I learned that the hard way

Elena Maro

Hi Karen, thank you for reading! Having something in writing and signed by both parties ( or all the parties involved) is always a good idea. As for deal memos, based on my experience, they need to be...

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Navid Lancaster

Really great blog entry to all the aspiring (and established) Composers on this site. I've seen and read situations where the Composer thinks that 'they know all' and they complain about the Director. They also air their grievances about the production online. 

Apparently they do not realize that Dir...

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Elena Maro

Thank you for stopping by and reading, Navid Lancaster ! It is not my place to criticize the way our fellow composers act, but I do believe that on top of talent, musical knowledge and technical skill...

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Karen Martin

Great article, loved reading it!

Elena Maro

Thank you so much, Karen Martin !

Navid Lancaster
Vangelis has passed away. :(

This is sad. Just read the news that one of my favorite Composers especially in electronic music, Vangelis, has passed away, aged 79. A prolific Composer whose known for the soundtracks of 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire' had also numerous albums to his name. My favorite score from him is from...

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Joanna Karselis

Awfully sad news. He changed film music forever. Rest In Peace indeed.

Karen Martin

I agree, Vangelis' music went somewhere else to another level!

David Goodall

Let's not forget he worked with Demis Roussos in Aphrodite's Child - a most excellent group.

Karen "Kay" Ross
The Official Lounge Post for the International Women's Day Panel & Networking Event!

So excited to connect with all of you awesome women in the industry - and allies in the industry! Please comment below with where you are chiming in from to get the conversation started!

If you haven't registered yet, here is the blog with the link: https://www.stage32.com/blog/Stage-32-%20-Female-Vo...

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Amanda Toney

Excited to talk with this amazing group of ladies today!

Brigitte C

Happy International Women's Day from London!

Amanda Toney

I'm tuning in from Los Angeles today!

Taylor C. Baker

Excited to be tuning in from Austin, Texas!

Fahd Aldajani فهد الدعجاني

" Happy International Women's Day " from Riyadh :)

Priscilla Badu

Happy international women's day

Wendy Rafilson Black

It's great that you're talking about encouraging young writers and craftspeople to look at the industry as a career, but especially unfortunate for International Women's Day, this seems to be feeding into the ageist narrative that older writers/craftspeople need not apply.

Brigitte C

Chat's been disabled so you're all waiting for a comment that can't come....

Casey Williams

It was me! I'm located up in Calgary, Canada! Ended up taking a step back from production roles and focusing on a female film collective geared towards women in horror production. Got real tired trying to find my place up here, thought I'd create one of my own!

Brigitte C

A large problem is that women are raised to not go after what you want and to be outspoken. We can still be talked down to & told that we're too aggressive...even by other women. Some women see others as a threat instead of lifting them up.

Annelies Morlion

Wendy Rafilson Black I struggle with the term "young" writers. I'm 42 and new to screenwriting so I don't fall into the traditional meaning of the word young. But I am young in my career, I'm in the same position as writers in their early 20s.

Casey Williams

Exactly Brigitte! We rise by lifting others!

Brimo Morales

Hey hey lesbian filmmaker from San Antonio, Texas! So thankful for this event and I want to connect with other women filmmakers.

Wendy Rafilson Black

The WGAw has a Career Longevity Committee for a reason. It is problematic being hired as you age, unless you're someone of Sorkin's ilk.

Karen Martin

@ Casey Williams, would love to submit music on any of your horror projects.

Annelies Morlion

I have to log off but will catch up tomorrow. Thank you Stage 32 for organising this. And for all the words of wisdom, ladies.

Teresa Marillo

Tuning in from Palm Desert, California. In my 20's and 30's in front of the camera, 30's and 40's behind the camera. Now, writing. Loving it!

Cali Gilbert

HI Everyone! I'm Cali, Writer/Director and Founder/CEO of Tower 15 Productions. Great call today ladies. Thank you! Lots of great content. We just released our latest film, WHAT IF? about uniting the global community to create the New Earth. We shot the film 100% remotely with a global cast. Feel fr...

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Collin Lieberg

Great to hear from the panel today. Writer and Creative Exec in the DC area.

Teresa Marillo

Amanda! I do feel supported here. Thank you for creating a safe space.

Brigitte C

My former manager bullied & berated me on a regular basis. She was horribly abusive. I'm trying to find my bravery to find my voice again and be brave to put myself out there.

Casey Williams

Karen Martin I would absolutely love that! Would you be able to message me on here, or email me at casey@thecrimsoncurse.com ?

Urooj Saleem

I sometimes worry that I won't be able to translate my films to an audience which triggers the imposter syndrome. I always wonder if I will be good enough or if my experience translates, or am I being pompous in thinking that my story is important. Fighting that voice is the hardest thing I have to do, which is a general feeling. I try to make my voice heard, but I think I spend more time apologizing for it.

Lynette Aleman

Great discussion today!!! I really enjoyed this!!!

Sheila Ajjie

aspiring comedy writer from Nairobi, Kenya.

Alina Starostina

Hi everyone)) I am a choreographer but really interested in film industry, so I am kinda new in this )

Cali Gilbert

Amanda Toney Hey Amanda. Submitted a question via the chat about when submissions open for the Stage32 Short Film Contest. Many thanks.

Dane Johnson

Hi everyone! Great panel discussion, looking forward to connecting.

Amarachi Nwaozuzu

Listening from Nigeria.

Funding is a REAL problem. Last year I was sure I would premier my film this month. Fast forward to today, and I'm yet to get my minimum crew lol.

I'll keep pushing tho' this short must be shot#

Debbi Mack

This has been great! Thanks, guys! :)

Debra Holland

Great talk. Thanks, Stage 32, for making it possible!

Urooj Saleem

Thank you for this conversation!

V.C. Rhone

Such a great panel. Thank you everyone!!

Emilie Clark

Had to leave early but I'll definitely go back and listen to this webinar. So far it's been good.

Kathy Jean

Happy International Women's Day and thank you for the presentation!

Vanessa D. Anthony

I enjoyed the webinar. Thank you!

Vanessa D. Anthony

I have revisited an old TV pilot that I wrote and co-directed. I also need to get out of being shy and practice pitching it to people.

Karen "Kay" Ross

Here is the link to the Networking Event - we'll be on for a little while longer! Networking Event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88030484806?pwd=d1ZMaHR0L21SZ1FZQ3BUTFJEMUl5Zz09

Amanda Toney

Thank you to everyone for all of your great insight and questions. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has here, just let me know.

Urooj Saleem

Thank you so much for the session. I cannot join the networking session. However, I would love to remain in contact.

Karen Martin

Amanda Toney, Stage 32 has the Writers Room and pitching on projects with the Networks and Streamers, is there anything for composers? Thank you and great panel!

Melva Akens

Developing a historical biopic;

looking forward to the many collaborations this project will bring. Work in costumes and set dec, also experience in associate producing and music coordinating. All the best to everyone!

Roseline Effanga

Happy International Women's day. Such a powerful day for powerful women across the world. Special kudos to the lovely women in Stage32, y'all are amazing.

Hunter Huiet

Karen "Kay" Ross this is fantastic!

Karen "Kay" Ross

Thank you all for joining in the fun today! So great to have so many of you attend! Happy International Women's Day!

Karen "Kay" Ross

@Vanessa D. Anthony - I feel you. Pitching is hard, but it gets easier with practice. One of the links we'll be sharing is for a free month of the Stage 32 Writer's Room where we host a weekly Pitch Practice Session. I cannot recommend this enough!

Karen "Kay" Ross

So true @Brigitte - sometimes we mistakenly think because someone looks like us that they are also interested in supporting us or encouraging us, but you really have to take people at face value. In a way, celebrating International Women's Day is to remind EVERYONE that we are still marginalized and discuss ways to continue to break free from those unnecessary limitations.

Shay Villere

i am not sure how to respond to this post.......go women i guess.....i know women are behind men on the oscar count............so i guess things have needed to change for awhile

Amanda Toney

Hi Karen Martin - currently we do not have that opportunity for composers, but we have it in the plans and are working on it :)

Karen Martin

Thank you Amanda, looking forward!

Karen "Kay" Ross

Just out of curiosity - would anyone here be interested in doing a monthly networking event like what we did after the panel? Maybe the first Friday of each month? Female Filmmaker First Friday?

Karen Martin

Hi Karen "Kay" Ross, I would be interested "FFFF".

Joanna Karselis
Failing to learn

I've noticed recently that some of my biggest jumps forward in developing my composing style has happened whilst demoing for films I didn't end up scoring. Loads of techniques I first tried out in failed pitches are now staples of my workflow that I use across almost all the jobs I get. Perhaps it's...

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Martijn de Man

Good read and I agree with Joel I see no fail but only growth. I’ve experienced this myself with creating custom sounds not used for the projects they were designed for but being a perfect fit years later for other projects.

Joanna Karselis

Joel and Martijn, I completely take your point- perhaps fail was the wrong word. To clarify I don't personally see those rejections as failures, but the use of the word was to describe how it may appe...

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Karen Martin

I agree with Joanna and Mike, music I probably would have never composed had it not been for the pitch I needed to do. It's very freeing and creative.

Gayle Herbert Robinson

Thanks for the invite, Karen. Happy Creating!

Karen Martin

You as well!

Zachari Medina
Zach Medina, Aloha!

Hello, Just here coming out of my shell, and saying hello to the community! I'm a documentary film editor, and drone videographer. I am currently editing my first international feature film project this summer.

I've been in this network for about two years now, and it has helped me connect more and m...

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Richard "RB" Botto

Hi Karen. I'm RB, Founder and CEO of Stage 32. As a screenwriter, producer, actor and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work, landing representation, launching projects, securing funding and simply making the connections that will make a difference in their careers. That's why I created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 1,000,000+ members representing every country on the planet making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth.

This is a network for you, built by you. Like...

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Amanda Toney

Hello Karen -

Welcome to the community! I'm Amanda Toney, the Managing Director at Stage 32. Since 2013 I've been proud to oversee Stage 32's Next Level Education, which provides you the most up-to-date tools necessary to become a better creative.

Over the years Stage 32 has worked with over 500 industry executives and professionals to teach online webinars, classes and intensive labs exclusively for you - our Stage 32 community. We bring you instructors who have worked directly on some of your favorite films, TV shows or theater productions to teach you in-the-trenches information that you wo...

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Karen's network

Eugene Mandelcorn
Devon Edwards
Matthew Parvin
Andre' Barnwell
Felicia Mead
Marcos Fizzotti
Solange Ritchie
Mishack Motshweni
Sky Caesar
Tim Beck
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