Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week’s featured video comes from Frame Voyager: The CRAZIEST Practical Effects of 2025. If you love filmmaking craft, this video is a blast because it celebrates the kind of problem-solving that reminds you why movies feel like magic in the first place. It encompasses a wide range of practical work, from creature suits and animatronics to puppeteering, miniatures, built sets, in-camera camera tricks, and massive stunts that make you wonder how anyone signed off on them.

One of the most important reminders right up top is that practical effects are not “better than” digital VFX. The best work today is usually the blend, practical builds, and in-camera elements that give weight and texture, with digital used to support, enhance, extend, or safely finish what would be impossible otherwise. When those two departments are working together at a high level, you get results that feel visceral, tactile, and unforgettable.

The video highlights a ton of standout examples from across the year. If you are a writer, director, producer, or anyone who wants to understand what makes certain projects feel more real, there is a big takeaway here: craft is storytelling. These choices are not just cool; they shape performance, pacing, emotion, and believability.

Which brings me to something I have been talking about a lot lately- What Do Tax Incentives Mean For Writers?

You have probably heard a lot about tax incentives lately, and you might assume it is mostly a producer conversation. But it directly impacts writers as well, because incentives decide where projects get made, who can afford to make them, and what kinds of packages become attractive.

Here’s the bigger point: there is no Hollywood anymore. The world is Hollywood.

Productions are going wherever the money, infrastructure, crews, and incentives make the most sense. That means more co-productions, more international opportunities, and more buyers looking beyond one “traditional” pipeline.

So what does that mean for you? It means opportunity is everywhere. It also means the one thing that travels better than anything else is still the same thing it has always been: story. Universal themes, universal characters, and emotionally honest writing connect across borders, languages, budgets, and business models. The location and the financing may change, but the demand for great stories does not.

When you think about these two ideas together, practical effects that feel real and a global marketplace with fewer borders, here’s my question for you:

If opportunity is everywhere now, what kind of story would you love to write that could travel anywhere in the world, and what practical, tangible element would you want to see on screen to make it feel unmistakably real?

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them! You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

Frame Voyager | The CRAZIEST Practical Effects of 2025

RBWalksIntoABar | What Do Tax Incentives Mean For Writers?

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