Advice

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 and say hello before the weekend wraps. Be bold....

Once on set, I think of the 1st AD as the present, planning and keeping the day moving forward. At the same time, the 2nd AD is the future, planning and spreading information for the following days. Before Filming Begins The 1st AD gets the script and breaks it down into a schedule with all the puzzle pieces – Working closely with the director, everything having to do with the script is decided - locations, cast availability, equipment, day vs. night, sets, props, stunts, special effects, and...

As the film and television industry continues to evolve, one thing has become increasingly clear: this is no longer a centralized business. The future of entertainment is global, and Stage 32 is leading the charge in preparing the worldwide workforce that will shape it. For over a decade, Stage 32 has been the worldwide leader in entertainment industry education, serving creatives in more than 190 countries. Through partnerships with top-tier industry players like Netflix, the Cannes Film Fest...

Happy Wednesday, Creative Army! There are moments in this business when everything changes. Today is one of those moments. With the recent announcement that Coverfly is shutting down on August 1st, and after their prior closure of Industry Arts platforms, we knew thousands of screenwriters around the world were going to be left without a clear path to discover contests, get professional feedback, and get discovered. So we stepped up. As announced on Deadline, I’m incredibly proud to sh...

If you had told me a while ago that I'd be where I am today, I would've said you were wrong. But "wrong" and "right" are subjective, aren't they? They depend on your goals, ideas, and beliefs. Today, I want to share my filmmaking journey with you, along with some tips that might help you if you're dreaming of directing your own short film.  My Unexpected Path to Directing I pioneered female entrepreneurship in Portugal and won the most significant awards a businesswoman could win worldwid...

Happy Monday, Stage 32 Community! The past few months have seen market trends shift dramatically, with budgets increasing and major players leaving the low-budget space, making more room for indie producers to carve out their own niche. This is why it's more critical than ever that filmmakers understand what producers are looking for in order to team up with the right partner. Finding The Right Producer To Fit Your Genre & Style As a screenwriter, you've poured your heart into crafting...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from StudioBinder: Post Production Sound for Film — How to Make Your Movie Sound Great! There’s a saying in film that goes something like this: audiences will forgive a grainy shot...

Yep. MAGPIE FUNERAL, a recent film of mine, was almost dead on arrival. But hey, what independent film can’t say that? Here are three crazy stories about MAGPIE FUNERAL, now streaming on TubiTV, Amazon Video, YouTube, and Google Play. Story One: TIMING IS EVERYTHING. John T. Sweeney, Magpie Funeral’s producer, insisted that the production must start in mid-October of that year. I had the following January in mind. But John persisted. He explained it was imperative principal photography co...

This was the first and last question I was asked as a student in film school. Is it something that we see on a big screen? That can’t possibly be the answer, you can see just about anything on a “big screen” these days and most cinematic experiences now happen in your home. I remember playing Metal Gear Solid on my PlayStation and remarking that it was quite a “cinematic experience.” Yet, when I watch the news, I don’t feel like it’s a cinematic experience. So, in this, I can understand the d...

Ever been to - or coordinated - a wedding? A special birthday party? Perhaps a charity event, musical concert, or film festival? More than likely, you have benefited from a wonderful person employing Location Scouting for a truly enjoyable experience. Or possibly been rudely introduced to the perils of poor Location Scouting when you couldn’t park, packed all the wrong things, and couldn’t find a clean bathroom. Preparing for a film shoot is not too dissimilar from any other live event. But be...