Filmmaking / Directing

“Mindset is the key to success. Mindset is everything. It shapes your success, your happiness, and your future.” https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/

Mindset refers to a person's established set of attitudes, beliefs, and ways of thinking that influence how they perceive and respond to various situations. It encompasses the mental frameworks and patterns that shape their approach to challenges, learning, problem-solving, and overall interaction with the world. Mindset can significantly affect behavior, decision-making, and outlook on life.

We all have powerful beliefs that affect what we want and whether we get it and our attitudes about how fixed our abilities and intelligence are can determine the course of much of our lives. From early childhood, we learn two kinds of Mindsets: Fixed and Growth.

1. “Fixed" mindset is the belief that personal qualities such as intelligence, talent, and abilities are traits that we are "born with" and cannot be significantly developed or changed. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges to prevent failure and give up easily when faced with obstacles. They are often concerned with appearing smart and may shy away from situations where they could fail or be judged. This mindset limits personal growth and prevents individuals from reaching their full potential.

2. “Growth" mindset is the belief that personal qualities such as intelligence, talent, and abilities can be developed and improved through hard work, persistence, and the right learning strategies. This encourages embracing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow enabling individuals to overcome setbacks and continue striving toward their goals. Individuals with a growth mindset view effort as a necessary path to mastery, are open to feedback and are willing to learn from criticism.

They understand that skills and abilities can be cultivated over time, creating a passion for learning and a willingness to embrace new experiences. This mindset contributes significantly to personal and professional development.

Shifting Your (Creative) Mindset

Shifting your mindset involves changing the way you perceive and approach situations, challenges, and opportunities. It means altering your thought patterns to adopt a more positive, growth-oriented perspective. This shift can lead to improved mental well-being enhanced problem-solving abilities, and greater resilience in the face of adversity. For example:

1. Adopting a Growth Mindset: Embracing the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Example: Instead of thinking, "I can't do this," you start thinking, "I can't do this YET," and seek ways to improve and learn."

2. Enhanced Problem-Solving: Shifting to an open mindset allows for innovative thinking and diverse perspectives. This adaptability enhances problem-solving skills, as individuals become willing to experiment with different approaches and consider alternative solutions.

3. Greater Motivation: A positive mindset fuels motivation by fostering a sense of purpose and direction. When individuals believe in their ability to grow and improve, they are more likely to set ambitious goals and take proactive steps toward achieving them. By shifting your mindset, you can transform how you experience life, making you more adaptable and positive in reaching your goals and overcoming obstacles.

For Film Directors: A growth mindset encourages continuous learning and openness to new ideas, enhancing creativity and innovation in storytelling. It helps build stronger collaborations with the cast and crew, creating a supportive and dynamic working environment for more successful films. This positive mindset encourages resilience and adaptability, essential for navigating the unpredictable and challenging nature of film production.

Calling all writers! A dynamic new batch of Open Writing Assignments (OWAs) is now live, featuring a diverse range of requests from a top-tier producer and showrunner, a London-based production company, and more.

These opportunities are highly specific and represent a direct line to industry leaders actively developing new projects. But you must act fast—this batch will be closing for submissions in just two weeks.

Here’s a look at the exciting opportunities launching today:

FOR YOUR PRECISE & CHARACTER-DRIVEN PROJECTS:

A Top-tier Producer And Showrunner is looking for sharp, comedic micro-dramas for pre-teen girls, specifically featuring the intelligent and relatable outsider archetype.

A London Based Production Company seeks culturally specific stories with universal resonance.

A Production Company is in the market for elevated genre and prestige, character-driven dramas/thrillers.

FOR GENRE & FAITH-BASED CONTENT:

A Producer And Showrunner, who works with top-tier talent and companies, is seeking fantasy scripts.

The same producer is also looking for faith-based content in all forms and for all ages.

A Producer And Director is on the hunt for compelling book IP to adapt for television and feature films.

This is a targeted call for unique, compelling stories. If you have a script or book property that matches these specific needs, the OWA program is your direct pathway to submission.

New to Stage 32? You can join the Writers' Room for a FREE month and apply to these OWAs immediately.

Start Your Free Trial and Submit Today: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room

The clock is ticking! Ensure your script is submitted before these OWAs close in two weeks.

Happy writing!

Universal’s Wicked: For Good is poised to cast a much-needed spell over the box office. After a sluggish autumn, the second half of Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical is projected to open north of $200M globally, making it the biggest debut ever for a Broadway feature adaptation.

Read the full article here: https://deadline.com/2025/11/wicked-for-good-box-office-global-projectio...

The film is already Fandango’s biggest PG-rated pre-seller of all time and the strongest advance ticket seller of 2025. Early estimates point to $125M–$150M domestically and $70M+ internationally across 78 markets, and that’s before we even account for premium formats and the film’s huge fan previews.

Last year’s Wicked set a record with a $112.5M domestic opening and a $164M global debut. With its current presales and massive global tour, featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, and more, Wicked: For Good looks ready to surpass those numbers and reset the bar for musical adaptations.

The first film went on to earn 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and grossed $758.7M worldwide. The sequel enters theaters with a 97% audience score from early Amazon sneak previews and strong momentum from fans of both the musical and the franchise’s first installment.

For filmmakers, this raises some interesting industry questions:

• What does this mean for the future of large-scale musical adaptations?

• How much of this success is tied to built-in IP vs. global marketing strategy?

• And what can we learn from the way Universal and Chu have positioned this as a two-part cinematic event?

What’s your favorite musical adaptation of all time, and what made it work?

https://nofilmschool.com/filmmaking-tips-from-damien-chazelle

David Zucker, the filmmaker behind AIRPLANE!, The Naked Gun, Top Secret! and a whole catalog of comedy classics — breaks down something every director eventually faces: what to say to your actors the moment the camera stops.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12idCrIVG-k

Zucker’s answer is funny (of course), but the conversation goes deeper. He talks through:

• Why most directing happens in the writing, long before you hit the set

• How to give actors clear, specific adjustments instead of vague notes

• When to improvise, when to stay locked to the script, and how to handle suggestions

• Why confidence — or perceived confidence — is essential for actors who need to feel the director knows what they want

• The danger of over-directing and how easily it can kill a performance

• His take on pacing, comedic timing, and why pauses can ruin a joke

• Why the “first take” is often the best one

• How he handles frustration, and why transparency can sometimes backfire

The video becomes a thoughtful look at directing actors with clarity, trust, and intention, using decades of experience across some of the most iconic comedies ever made.

Filmmakers and directors, what’s your go-to approach after calling “cut”? Do you jump in with notes, give actors room to breathe, or reset and go again?

Think back to the first time a film made you feel something so deeply you wanted to create that feeling for others — what was it?

Q&A: From Script to Screen: How Projects Get Made with Producer Ethan Erwin

FREE webcast open to everyone on November 19th at 11am PT featuring renowned producer Ethan Erwin, whose films have grossed over $1.5 billion dollars worldwide.

With credits including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Book of Eli, Unknown, The Gunman, The Nice Guys, and the CBS cult hit TV show Moonlight, Ethan brings over fifteen years of experience as both a writer and producer. He’ll break down how projects actually get made in today’s industry—essential insight for any writer looking to understand the path from script to screen. This is a can’t-miss conversation.

Come prepared with questions.

RSVP: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/from-script-to-screen-how-pro...

My Take on The Sixth Sense

Just dropped the first episode of my new series “No Filter with Darshan”. Even though I already knew the twist, the film still surprised me — and I shared my honest experience watching it for the first time.

Would love for you to watch it and tell me how you felt about the movie and its iconic reveal.

In this 20 minute clip you can see an AI shortfilm and a guy working on a chasing scene using current available AI consumer software.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5TBTdQpFsY