Latest Blogs

Animation is one of the few genres that has continued since the 2020 pandemic in a relatively unharmed way. The fact that animation can to a large extent be produced entirely remotely, put it in the spotlight of the film and television production community when the world came to a halt during the first months of the pandemic. The ability to produce animation remotely, in combination with the availability of cross-border high-quality animation and talent, production incentives, and lower costs,...

This Writer's Success Story is about being in the Right Place at the Right Time with the Right Screenplay. And it’s all thanks to STAGE 32’s Pitch Consultation with Producer Kristen Lucas on the “Written Pitch” for my out-of-the-box Holiday RomCom, MERRILY ALL THE WAY.MERRILY ALL THE WAY, (now in Pre-Production), never would’ve found its perfect home with Producers Kristen Lucas, Jim Langlois, and Tim Misenheimer of Collab Content Entertainment, or the most perfect Director, Colin Theys, without...

Something I observe frequently is how often overlooked soft equity is in the finance plan. Counterintuitive, right? Why counterintuitive? In understanding film finance as a filmmaker and a producer, it can be explained relatively easily as this; soft equity is anything that doesn’t carry an obligation to be repaid or have the expectation of a recoupment attached. Hence I both preach and practice to seek out as many sources of soft financing as possible. Outside of tax credits or rebates (o...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! The best horror movies masterfully build tension and fear through atmosphere, pacing, and psychological depth, while delivering memorable scares that linger with the audience long after the credits roll. Classic horror shows like STRANGER THINGS or THE WALKING DEAD are some of the most watched series of all time and keep spawning new seasons year after year. Current horror franchises like SCREAM, A QUIET PLACE, and THE EXORCIST won't stop delive...

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. First up, in this video by animator and artist Kuzillon, she’s sharing invaluable tips for approaching new works of art as a creative. While this video is likely to hit home for the animators, VFX artists, and storyboard artists in our community, her suggestions for challenging your creativity with story...

Stepping Into The Frame Without Fear. Three important tips on how you can level up your self-tape auditions and tap into that inner magic! When I was a kid, I had no problem letting my imagination soar! My playing space around me was all my own. I was in total command of it. But as I grew older, the expectations I had about who I should be and how I should look changed my relationship with that once-safe space. I started to build walls to hide my inner magic. Walls like- darting my eyes a...

Someone who was a guest on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast recently had a massive opportunity, getting to open for country star Lainey Wilson. That’s an opportunity that my interviewee won’t soon forget. When she posted about it on Instagram, I pulled out the old, “Don’t forget us little people when someone is sharing a video someday of opening for you” in commenting on her reel. I can paint you a picture of the long, long road of how I ever got to her in the first place. And...

Hello to the Stage 32 Community! I’m Producer Kristen Lucas, founder of the production and management company, Goldilocks Productions. “We tell stories about badass women”. My background is in corporate retail marketing and, for a time, I was the Marketing Manager for HomeGoods. I went to grad school for Screenwriting at Emerson College in Boston, MA. After writing one feature script I realized screenwriting wasn’t for me. Fast forward… After navigating the changes brought on by 2020, while...

Film production is expanding rapidly around the globe. That is why at The International Trade Centre (ITC) we created a career acceleration program in the format of a television show for emerging filmmakers called ‘Opportunities Are Here’ (OAH). Africa is bursting with creativity and potential, especially in the media and the arts. ‘Opportunities Are Here’ is designed to find the best young talent, and give them visibility, industry experience, and access to world-class expertise. After...

Hello Creative Army! Over the past 13 years, we here at Stage 32 have been thrilled to be recognized throughout the industry as the leaders in online film craft and business education. We are honored to be partnered with some of the most prestigious film festivals and markets in the world including the American Film Market and the Cannes Film Festival Marché du film to name a few. Now, for the 9th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qualifying short...