Hey, Stage 32! Welcome to the Stage 32 blog, I’m your host and Stage 32 Blog Editor, Emily J. Stage 32 and its community have expanded to nearly 1 million members, constantly evolving with the industry, and setting an incredible new bar for what a community in the digital age can be. Now, our blog is ready to grow and evolve with you.

The blog has always been a place to educate and inspire. Now, let’s take it up a notch. Since taking on the role of Blog Editor, I’ve got three main goals in mind:

1. Getting You More Access
2. Giving You The Answers You Need
3. Keeping Your “In The Know”

I'm pretty great at talking about myself (kidding... maybe) but I'm even better at talking about myself while making it about YOU. So let me tell you why these three things will benefit you because I know from experience how they benefited me.

Getting You More Access

You've heard it a million times. This business is all about who you know. Every person you meet connects you with everyone they know, and the more people you know, the more access you have. This is why Stage 32's ability to connect this massive community with accomplished executives from all over the world is so unique.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I didn't have a single connection, and it took several years of non-industry jobs before I "broke in" as an assistant. I worked with literary managers, producers, and creatives, including Darren Star (SEX AND THE CITY), James Manos Jr. (DEXTER), Corday Productions (DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Media Rights Capital (KNIVES OUT), and many more. Part of how I could do this without access at the time was because I signed up with a temp agency. And at every company I worked with, even if it was only for half a day, I strived to make an impression. That temp job and all those experiences would eventually lead me to working with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment in the international division where I helped develop the Netflix film WEDDING SEASON.

Here at Stage 32, you have lots of access to the industry through our services, but this blog is an opportunity to dive deeper into how professional creatives and executives think. We already have a few great contributors, like David Zannoni providing fantastic information on the legalities of television and filmmaking. Now, we'll keep adding to our roster so that you have even more opportunities to hear from executives on our platform.

Giving You The Answers You Need

I was once the head writer on an e-sports reality competition series on Facebook. I know nothing about video games, but I was able to put a sample together (that read like the announcers in DODGEBALL explaining what the game was), and it impressed them enough to get me the job. I could only do this because there were resources online that I could understand the essential components of this game quickly and learn a few inside jokes from the players. I had access to this job because of my previous networking, but I closed the deal thanks to the resources at my disposal.

The Stage 32 blog and community lounges are a wealth of information on how to bring your creative goals to life. Every week there's a new story about someone successfully making their first film. We love celebrating these talented folks, but there's only so much you can tell about an entire production in a blog post. It's time for the blog to niche down. We'll show you all the different roles and the nuances that go with them. Maybe something will inspire you to try a new solution for your production that you'd never heard of before. Or maybe you realize you're missing a crucial crew member for your project. We want you to be able to come to this blog with a question and have the answer right there for you.

Keeping Your "In The Know"

It's very common for creatives to be focused on their creations and miss what's happening in the business. This is a missed opportunity and one we can help you with at the Stage 32 blog. Just recently, there was a conversation happening in the lounges regarding how streaming platforms structure their shows. All the comments about writing structure were great, but they also missed the very real events happening right now in the business concerning potential ad-tiers, union contracts, how viewer trends are evolving, and more. All of this information can inform your work AND help you with networking because if you know what's happening and its impact, you can hold your own in a conversation with an executive as an equal.

My love for the business is a significant part of how I ended up working with Stage 32. Years ago, I pivoted from development jobs to industry news writing. I started as a Staff Writer and worked my way up to Managing Editor at the Tracking Board, where I built a team of two dozen freelance writers, helping them build their portfolios and writing skills. I watched every film and show, knew every above-the-line person involved in every project, all the deals that were in the air, etc. So when I met RB Botto and Amanda Toney on a writers' retreat in South Africa last year, I could have conversations with them about the business, not just our scripts. Africa is incredible, but the elephants were never as exciting as the late-night conversations I had with them about the industry (and also "Real Housewives"... I told you I watch everything).

My biggest goal is to keep you informed about what's happening in this business so that you're always in the know. Whether it's coverage of the big deals happening in town, or insider information from our executives, this blog will always be on the pulse of what's happening in the entertainment industry. This way, you can confidently have those same conversations about your art and the business.

Stage 32 Blog 2.0

That was a lot of not-so-subtle "me talk," but none of those experiences would’ve happened if I didn’t have a passion for film and television, the ability to talk about entertainment with anyone, and an understanding of the industry from different roles.

I want you to come to this blog and find the answers you need. To be able to engage with any industry executive. To invest in this incredible community that you've helped build. We'll try to inspire you, as we've always done. But more importantly, you'll have what you need to take action and achieve your goals because you have the access, resources, "insider" knowledge, and a vastly supportive community invested in your success.

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 Emily at emily@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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