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 before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce yourself. The next great opportunity could be just one connection away.

This week’s featured video comes from Variety: How 'Jaws' Made 1970s Hollywood Look Like a Cash Printing Machine. In 1975, Hollywood had no idea what was about to hit them. Jaws wasn’t just a movie, it was the prototype for how blockbusters are marketed and released even today.

Universal recognized the cultural moment, investing heavily in bold marketing and releasing the film wide in the summer, a season that studios had traditionally overlooked. They tied the movie’s branding directly to the bestselling novel, making sure anticipation was everywhere before audiences even stepped into a theater. Once the film became a hit, Universal expanded its reach through merchandising at a scale never seen before, turning Jaws into a cultural phenomenon. With an $8 million budget that grossed over $260 million in its first year, the film proved that bold positioning, timing, and branding could transform a single story into an industry-defining event.

During my last Stage 32 Ask Me Anything, I shared a bit about how I approach pitching. My process always starts the same way: I write out the entire narrative, every beat, every turn. Then I go back and start cutting. Not everything matters in a pitch. What matters are the big turning points: the inciting incident, the “all hope is lost” moment, the acceleration to the finish line, and the way the story closes. Those are the beats that really pull a listener in and make them care. Once I strip the story down to those essentials, it becomes much easier to find a natural flow in the pitch. I’ll be the first to admit that pitching never feels completely natural to me, but preparation is everything. I don’t consider myself a great pitcher; I consider myself someone who prepares thoroughly, and that preparation makes the pitch great.

That’s exactly what Universal did with Jaws. They didn’t market the movie with every subplot or character detail; they focused on the shark, the suspense, and the thrill of survival. By cutting to the core, they hooked audiences before they even set foot in the theater.

So here’s my question for you: when you pitch your projects, how do you decide which story beats truly matter and which ones you can leave behind?

As always, we love sharing inspiration, tools, and insights that help fuel your creative fire. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. And don’t forget to tag us (@Stage32) if you do. You can keep up with everything we’re doing on the Stage 32 YouTube and by following me on Instagram and X: @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

Variety | How 'Jaws' Made 1970s Hollywood Look like a Cash Printing Machine

RBWalksIntoABar | What Is RB’s Personal Process For Pitching?

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