Latest Blogs

Here at Stage 32, we love celebrating every member of our community's "wins," both big and small. And today, we've got a very big win for our fearless leader and Stage 32 CEO, Richard "RB" Botto, who has been named a Film Industry Innovator at the American Film Market. RB joins fellow Innovators Jeff Annison (Co-Founder & President, Legion M), Lindsey Ramey (Head of Global Film, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios), and Alex Ferrari (Founder, Indie Film Hustle) for a panel at AFM on November 3rd. RB and A...

The Bash is BACK! Stage 32 is back at the Austin Film Festival - and to celebrate - you're invited to the 9th Annual Austin Film Festival Rooftop Bash on Friday, October 28th, starting at 8pm. This year the event will take place on the exclusive rooftop bar of the Speakeasy, which overlooks the Warehouse District and beautiful Downtown Austin! And because it is only a few minutes' walk from the Omni Hotel - it is right in the heart of the AFF action. Come meet and mingle with your fellow St...

As actors, we all have huge dreams and aspirations: one day winning an Oscar, being on a Broadway stage, getting into Marvel-ready shape, or getting that top-tier agent. For better or worse, we think big and relentlessly pursue our goals. We sprint towards them, stumble, pick ourselves back up, run again, fall, cry, take a few more steps, sometimes retreat, sometimes pause, jog a little, take a breather, or jump the tracks. Blinded by our passion, we often forget simple daily habits that yiel...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. With the American Film Market, Austin Film Festival, and more industry events fast approaching, you better have your pitch ready to sell your project, get your name out there, and make connections. That's why we're giving you the tools you need to make sure you're prepared. First up, we've got a fantas...

We all need a little help every now and then. One of the greatest things about being a writer is that there are so many tools out there designed to help us. The problem is people don’t know they exist. When you’re a writer, you have to be a Jack (or Jill) of many trades and learn not just about writing but about editing and the business itself. It’s all part of honing our craft. And while, at times, the task may seem daunting, I’ve discovered a lot of online resources that I’ve found to be i...

It is thrilling after all your work on a film, to have the exhilarating experience of a dynamic and successful Q & A at a film festival with a packed audience. Conversely, most of us have experienced the shock of seeing a Q &A where no questions were asked. Worse is having your short-screened with others and ending up the only one not having a question asked after hearing, “Well, guys, that’s all we have time for as the next film is coming in.” You Can Pack Those Screenings You can have jamme...

Welcome back, my spooky Stage32 Community!Halloween is almost here, and in this survival guide, I'll focus on a checklist of things to keep in mind when shooting a horror film. It's no surprise that horror films cost less to produce and shoot. A good example is Jordan Peele’s Get Out. James Wan made his career with the SAW franchise. Horror films bring in lots of money at the box office, and audiences flock to the screen to get their fright on! With that in mind, let's dive right into the belly...

The American Film Market is fast approaching! In just a few weeks, thousands of entertainment executives and creatives from around the world will land in Santa Monica, CA, to network, pitch, and buy projects. It's an incredible chance for Stage 32 members to make in-person connections and get their projects off the ground.  This year, Stage 32 continues its partnership with AFM as the official Education Partner of the Market. Not only that, but if you attend this year's American Film Market, w...

Our reality and environment consciously or subconsciously affects each of our characters in unique ways. Much like in our own personal lives, where we grew up can say a lot about us! The economic, political, and ideological forces of our society or the world at large make an immense impact on individuals. This can also be applied to world-building in film, television, and animation. The place our characters live in influences their journey, story, and behavior. Hence, world-building shou...

One year ago, I joined my first Writers' Room live class. I knew next to nothing about screenwriting - aside from what I read in Save The Cat - and was thirsty for knowledge. So much can happen in only a year. One year ago, I declared I wanted to be a screenwriter and dove into everything available on Stage 32. Today we are in pre-production for one of the five scripts I've since written. Another one of my scripts has a director and producer attached, awaiting to solidify financing so we can...