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When and where does one decide to make their first movie? In my case, it was a decision made two months ago, on September 2022. Clearly, the most obvious place to make the project (a short about a New Cinema) is the city of Los Angeles. After this decision, I told myself, So far, so good. I've got it made. I've got a lot going for me! You see, for one thing, there was Stage 32. Since joining the community four months ago, I had made productive and unique connections and written a blog abou...

I can see the first sunshine after days of rain, so I’ll put off writing this blog. I want to go outside for a walk. But I’m also using a technique that harnesses the power of procrastination to get the blog in my head so I can ruminate on it while walking. The terms ‘rumination’ and ‘procrastination’ come with a lot of baggage. Procrastination is defined as: ‘the action of delaying or postponing something knowing full well the negative outcomes of doing so’. That can cause a lot of anxiety,...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice, and let's dive right in. I have been having a fantastic time here at the Austin Film Festival, especially this weekend at our 9th Annual Rooftop Bash, where I met with hundreds of our Stage 32 members (both new and long-time members). The conversations I've been having with executives on how high demand is for great material and the stories from creatives here a...

I left the embodiment of my networking circles, not once, not twice, more than twice. I would exit in and out again and again; it was a vicious cycle of character imbalance, one big shot of emotionalism and mental health unsteadiness in my life as a creative. Now that I’ve finally fled it, I’m here to share with you how I have managed to touch the sky. As a creative one of the remedies you need to subdue emotionalism mental health incapacitation, you need to… Let Your Artistry Define You In...

The power of story: You are either moving forward, or you're dying back. Halfway through my senior year of college, my husband died in his sleep. There were no warning signs of illness. He went to bed with a few sniffles. Later, I was told by our family doctor, who read the coroner's report, "C" went into a coma and never woke up. All my worlds ended that day. You're asked to upend your grief to complete every minute task almost immediately after the death. Unbeknown to you, it's not the t...

Horror is debatably one of, if not the most misunderstood genres in film and television. Outside of "beloved" intellectual properties, it arguably has one of the most hardcore, savvy, and devoted audiences, but… what quantifies a proper Horror film? Tropes? Jump scares? Demonic creatures? Monsters? A psycho with a machete? How about all of the above? Let's dive in and break down a few subgenres highlighting the best and most diverse stories that will leave your minds twisted and your skin crawli...

Here at Stage 32, we love celebrating every member of our community's "wins," both big and small. And today, we've got a very big win for our fearless leader and Stage 32 CEO, Richard "RB" Botto, who has been named a Film Industry Innovator at the American Film Market. RB joins fellow Innovators Jeff Annison (Co-Founder & President, Legion M), Lindsey Ramey (Head of Global Film, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios), and Alex Ferrari (Founder, Indie Film Hustle) for a panel at AFM on November 3rd. RB and A...

The Bash is BACK! Stage 32 is back at the Austin Film Festival - and to celebrate - you're invited to the 9th Annual Austin Film Festival Rooftop Bash on Friday, October 28th, starting at 8pm. This year the event will take place on the exclusive rooftop bar of the Speakeasy, which overlooks the Warehouse District and beautiful Downtown Austin! And because it is only a few minutes' walk from the Omni Hotel - it is right in the heart of the AFF action. Come meet and mingle with your fellow St...

As actors, we all have huge dreams and aspirations: one day winning an Oscar, being on a Broadway stage, getting into Marvel-ready shape, or getting that top-tier agent. For better or worse, we think big and relentlessly pursue our goals. We sprint towards them, stumble, pick ourselves back up, run again, fall, cry, take a few more steps, sometimes retreat, sometimes pause, jog a little, take a breather, or jump the tracks. Blinded by our passion, we often forget simple daily habits that yiel...

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. With the American Film Market, Austin Film Festival, and more industry events fast approaching, you better have your pitch ready to sell your project, get your name out there, and make connections. That's why we're giving you the tools you need to make sure you're prepared. First up, we've got a fantas...