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The film industry is a unique business. Writers, producers, directors, and performers can truly focus and dedicate their time and resources to their passion. However, at the same time, filmmakers often experience frustration, stress, anxiety, anger, failure, overwhelm, burnout, and resentment as they deal with the daily challenges and complexities that characterize filmmaking. The film industry, for most people, is a high-demanding, labor-intensive, financially unstable, prestige-driven, and h...

There are two types of value, intrinsic and perceived. The Black Audience is intrinsically valuable. But the Industry’s perception is still lagging. When I started out a few decades ago, folks would ask me, "What's your major?" When I would answer, "Radio, TV & Film," the retort would invariably be, "Oh, you're going to learn how to fix TVs." "I'm going to make TV programs and produce films," I protested. There would be a blank look on the person's face. "Can you make money doing that?"...

We are entering the last quarter of 2022. It's never too late to take stock of what has been accomplished and amplify all the right actions or course adjustments to finish the year with a bang. I believe in growth on both a personal and professional level. Next-level greatness is only accessible if we know how to do a regular check-in ourselves and take inventory of where and how our energy is spent. As Aristotle has said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act but a habit."...

There is a saying, where there’s a will, there’s a way. That sums up my belief and experience so far in this journey. I am Jeelan, living with my family in the suburbs of San Francisco, California. All of us are here on Stage 32 because of one common thing that unites us, our love for Movies. To me, movies are not only a passion but devotion. As far as I can remember, movies provide me joy, stirs my imagination, and gives me the escapism I require. At a minimum, one movie a day is my mileage,...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! First of all, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from every corner of the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. This week's Sunday dose of inspiration is all about Lighting. Wh...

Well, hello, there! My name is Karen Ross, but please, call me Kay. I wanted to formally introduce myself: I am an actress, writer, producer, director, and all-around free spirit. I currently host a weekly event on Clubhouse called "The Victory Round" to help creatives build their confidence by celebrating their achievements, big or small. Among other many things, I love martial arts, instrumental film soundtracks, the Bard, tea time, and am deeply obsessed with trying new restaurants. I can’t w...

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Although that saying is usually applies to meeting people. It also applies to your script. That’s why the first ten pages of your script are truly make or break. It can mean the difference between success or pass. The first ten pages not only open your project but also sets the tone, the style, and the promise of what is in store for the reader. Although film is a visual medium, it is first a written document read by a...

Becoming a Voice Actor has never been easier. With advances in technology, communication, and access, the online space presents an unprecedented opportunity for freelancers interested in Voice Acting to give it a solid try. When I first started voice acting professionally in 2019, there was a lot of not-so-great advice being shared from the top down about how to get started and how much it costs to get started. More than three years later, I’m here to tell you it’s not as difficult as it may...

It can be a scary process to think of sharing your life story with the public, either in print or in a film. A few years ago, I self-published a memoir and learned a lot from that experience. It’s one thing to tell a friend one of your personal stories, but it’s quite another to explain it to a stranger, a book buyer. To get the general book-buying public interested in your story, well, that takes extra effort. You need to gain attention and keep it. Before you reveal your innermost personal his...

There has been a lot of negative news whirling around about the animation industry lately. Whether it’s about layoffs at Netflix or unreleased projects from Warner Bros. and HBO MAX or unmet box office expectations by even the likes of PIXAR, there seems to a ton of turbulence surrounding the world of animation. I have worked in the animation industry for over 20 years, and I have survived its ebbs and flows. Times like these are nothing new, and to be honest, we’ve survived times that have been...