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 Vanity Fair: Ari Aster Breaks Down Scenes from ‘Hereditary,’ ‘Flight of the Nestra,’ ‘Midsommar,’ and ‘Eddington’.

Director Ari Aster dives deep into some of his most iconic scenes from Hereditary and Midsommar, plus his newest film Eddington. He shares insights into everything from location choices to the intricacies of the sets, styling, and overall visual storytelling.

If you’re a filmmaker, this is a masterclass in creating atmosphere and emotional impact, and it’s worth paying extra attention if you work in or are interested in horror. Right now, horror is one of the hottest genres in the marketplace. Studios and streamers are investing heavily in it because it delivers strong box office returns, global appeal, and franchise potential, often on more modest budgets. Learning from the masters like Aster isn’t just creatively inspiring, it’s commercially smart.

During my recent Stage 32 Ask Me Anything, a member asked me, “How can international creatives use Stage 32 to enter the U.S. Market or join cross-border projects?” The answer is actually in the question itself.

You shouldn’t only be thinking about breaking into the U.S. market… you should be thinking about breaking into the global market.

Most producers, myself included, are looking internationally. We’re actively seeking co-country production opportunities. Right now, countries like Europe, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia are making massive pushes to attract U.S. productions. And inside the U.S., states like Georgia, Hawaii, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut are heavily investing in production infrastructure.

So how can you all make the most of this? I say it all the time, networking has to be treated like a job. Every. Single. Day.

You need to be building relationships with peers, mentors, and collaborators across the board. No connection is a bad connection. If you want to break in internationally, you should be speaking with and getting to know international producers, distributors, financiers, filmmakers, actors, and writers. And you can find them all on Stage 32, at every level of their careers.

Nearly half of our 1.3 million members are now international. That means the opportunities to make global connections have never been greater. But here’s the truth: if you’re serious about breaking in, you have to do the work.

• Read the trades.
• Join conversations in the Stage 32 Lounges.
• Take Stage 32 Education.
• Participate in our free webcasts.
• Keep your ear to the ground every single day.

The industry is constantly shifting. It’s up to you to stay informed, stay connected, and grow genuine relationships with people who will naturally become your champions.

Now I want to hear from you — It’s Introduce Yourself Weekend, what have you been doing to put yourself out there and build genuine relationships with other members from around the world? How are you challenging yourself to step outside of your comfort zone, and how are you making those actions part of your regular routine?

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

Vanity Fair | Ari Aster Breaks Down Scenes

RBWalksIntoABar | How Can International Creatives Use Stage 32?

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .