Cinematography

Welcome to the weekend, everyone. Let's jump right into another edition of Coffee & Content, shall we? First up, this one is a couple of years old, but filled with timeless information. From Variety, it's 7 Tips From Screenwriters. Next up, from the good people at Quandary Productions, here are 10 tips designed to help you improve all aspects of your cinematography. As always, I ask you to take the time to share this content with those you think could benefit from viewing. Embrace your s...

The Duplass Brothers are writing and producing fast. So fast, they say, that they're saving themselves thousands of dollars per episode on Room 104, an HBO anthology that's starting to turn heads.   They're also opening the doors to filmmakers looking to do something different. And while some writers feel their scripts feel "unfinished," the duo believes the process they're using allows for greater creativity while saving big cash at the same time. “We say, ‘Hey, we think you could be r...

Happy New Year, Creative Army. Time for our first Coffee & Content of 2019. Going with a little Colombian dark roast to kick the year off. First up, a heavy dose of inspiration from Casey Neistat (with over 2 million views, no less). Whatever you're looking to take on in 2019, you need to watch this video. No excuses, no stopping. Let's get it done. Next, Christian Bale has received his share of praise and criticism through the years. The praise has come from the way he's fully immerses hi...

A lot of effort goes into making a film, so when you’re filming on a low to no budget, seeing your film through to completion is on you. This past year I learned the importance of compassion (for yourself) and the need for creating a realistic schedule. It is relatively easy to see film projects pile up on your hard drive. If you love writing scripts or being on set, the focus can end up being on shooting the film. When you don’t have a set deadline for the edit, it’s easy to get started on pr...

We hear all the time from many of the 500+ executives we work with here at Stage 32 that short films have become a huge part of their recruitment model when searching for new talent or ideas which can be stretched to feature length. Over the last couple of years, we’ve polled thousands of filmmakers who are members of the Stage 32 community and asked them what they most need to move the needle on their careers. Of course, the first answer was money! But the second answer was access/exposure/dist...

Good morning, Creative Army. Welcome to the last Coffee & Content of 2018. We've had some fun, haven't we? Hopefully we've learned a bit along the way. Let's finish strong, shall we? Brian Helgeland has written some remarkable screenplays including L.A. Confidential (one of my personal favorites). In another phenomenal entry of the BAFTA Guru Series, Helgeland discusses the craft, the business, and how to navigate the highs and lows as writer. Next up from This Guy Edits, a look at the e...

You know all those things that filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors bemoan about here on Stage 32? Can’t raise the finances to make a movie. Can’t get distribution. Can’t get a break. 'Getting Grace', a film starting Daniel Roebuck, on a film scroll in a movie theater. Well, I know a guy who would disagree with you and is proving anything is possible. And not just any guy, but the man who played the second lead of Cliff Lewis on Matlock, Dr. Leslie Arzt on LOST, movies like The Fugitive,...

A few years ago I was struggling with a major script problem. No matter how hard I wracked my brain I couldn’t find a solution. I felt helpless. At the same time, I didn’t want to let go of a project I cared about and spent so much time on. I then came across two approaches to screenplay writing which completely blew my mind, The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler and a simplified version called The Story Circle by Dan Harmon (Community, Rick & Morty). I thought, what do I have to lose?...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the holiday season. Let's get into the holiday spirit with the gift of giving...Here's some more Coffee & Content. First, from our friends at This Guy Edits, it's 3 Filmmaking Mistakes to Avoid. As usual, this one is comprehensive and insightful. Next up, writer, director, and producer Ryan Coogler talks film school and much more in this chill conversation with the Hollywood Reporter. Hope you enjoy the content and will...

"...filmmakers with dreams of Sundance should not view the network of festival programmers, nonprofit talent developers, producers, and yes, filmmakers (no recommendations mean more) as a hurdle. In reality, their tentacles spread far and deep searching for talent." It's hard to read the above excerpt and think that it can possibly be true. Of course getting into Sundance offers a series of hurdles. You have to have clout, right? Sure you do. But how do you measure it? And what does it all m...