Distribution

As you may recall back in February, long-time Stage 32 member, blog contributor, webinar teacher, and international film & distribution aficionado, David Zannoni began a series of blogs and vlogs to keep you up-to-date on the business of film across the globe. Today, David is sharing some amazing insights into the world of international co-productions in his exclusive Stage 32 vlog. David will answer the following questions:  What is an International Co-Production? What are the benefits...

Happy Saturday Stage 32! Since March, we have all been adjusting to the "new normal" of social distancing, Zoom meetings, and finally learning how to bake bread. While production rules continue to come into focus around the world, the development side of entertainment has been nonstop. Hollywood has hunkered down in their home offices and producers, agents, actors, and development executives have been reading/optioning more projects than ever (so much free time not having to commute in LA traf...

The world is changing quickly and the phrase “new normal” is being bandied about with abandon. Even though filming is limited (at best), development continues to move forward and that means producers are busier than ever. In the entertainment industry, scripts continue to be optioned, projects continue to get developed, talent continues to find representation, and production is slowly starting to resume in LA and more so all over the world. So what does producing look like in this "new normal"?...

Good morning Stage 32 Creative Crew! I hope you had an inspired weekend full of creative endeavors and ambitious pursuits. It has been a bust month of August for the team over at Stage 32. Not only were we able to surprise Stage 32 member Martin Reese a $5,000 option agreement after his script THE EYE OF OWUO won the Microbudget Horror Screenwriting Competition, we also launch two brand new competitions - The Diverse Voices Springboard Screenwriting Contest and The Search for New Voices in Anima...

Dr. ScreenLaw: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Law As a screenwriter turned attorney I’ve learned how a screenplay is not just a story: it’s a minefield of intellectual property that could affect the project’s style, budget, sponsorships, and even its distribution. Through this article, you will learn my perspective on how decisions made during the writing phase of an audiovisual project can positively, or negatively impact the legal and financial aspects of a project. It will also...

It’s now 21 years since the birth of Napster and widespread digital piracy of content, and people are consuming content in more unrecognizable ways than ever before. Film consumption has of course evolved wildly over the past two decades, and particularly now in a world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Streaming services and VOD (Video-On-Demand) platforms are moving to the forefront of film consumption, and film piracy has matched those changes along the way. In this blog, I’ll try to s...

At the end of 2018, I started preparing, as Tommy Kail had so simply put it, to finish our movie. There was to be a one-month run of Freestyle Love Supreme at the Greenwich House Theatre in the West Village. We would capture as many shows as we could, interview the cast and creative team, and in following the journey of their Off-Broadway run, attempt to look back and contextualize the importance of this group on the individuals who are a part of it.     I decided almost immediately tha...

Happy Friday Creative Army! As you know, back in March, we announced and launched Stage 32 Screenings to help filmmakers who were impacted by the cancellation of their live screenings at film festivals all over the world. Stage 32 Screenings is a unique platform that allows filmmakers to get their films seen to a concentrated audience including thousands of distributors, sales agents, producers, financiers, development execs, and more decision-makers here on Stage 32. We are currently screenin...

Producing a video for Father’s Day that would be both special and memorable was something I had set out to do…in just two weeks! Here’s how I managed to accomplish it and how it all came about.     The Challenges Yes, there were some challenges straight out of the gate. These included: So many things beyond my control because of Shelter in Place Casting Quality of videos submitted Remote directing Tight timeline The Idea I had produced a video for Mother's Day, and another...

Artificial intelligence is radically changing the world and it will RADICALLY change screenwriting. Elon Musk predicts that over half the cars sold in 2030 will be autonomous. This requires artificial intelligence capable of observing and reacting like a driver does today— only better. Musk says that by 2040 cars with steering wheels will be like people riding horses today. It will be for those who enjoy something historical. As a screenwriter, you need to realize your world is being transfo...