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Just a few years ago, COVID-19 hit, and people stayed home. Content was consumed at a fever pitch. Platform after platform, people were running out of things to watch! And it wasn’t just movies and TV. Gaming was more popular. Just ask anybody who tried to buy a Nintendo Switch or a PS5 at the height of the pandemic. People even read more of their emails than usual. And another industry that benefited from this frenzy of consumption? Podcasting. One of the key pieces of advice you hear as a w...

Happy Friday, Creative Army! The Cannes Film Festival in France is right around the corner! For those of you who missed it, we recently announced the official Cannes 2024 Stage 32 events schedule and partnerships right HERE on the Stage 32 Blog. Being involved each year in coordinating industry-leading panels with remarkable expert panelists from all over the world is one of our greatest honors and pleasures. This year, we're particularly proud of the lineup that we've put together and we c...

I recently hosted an AMA—Ask Me Anything here on Stage 32. One of the questions asked by a community member was about how to handle rejection and not internalize it. I felt this was a good one to share and expand on in this month's blog because rejection is a challenge for all of us to handle well. Even as an award-winning producer and author, lord knows I have had my share of "sorry, this is a pass for us" or "this project does not fit our current slate." Whether in our careers, relationships,...

It didn’t start out as well as I hoped. I had submitted Dark Mother, my feature-length contained psychological thriller, for a Stage 32 consultation with Tammy Hunt of Sandstone Artists. Like most unrepresented writers, I was seeking to interest a manager in repping me and I was aware that Sandstone had signed writers from Stage 32. Tammy was delightful and full of Southern charm, but as she began to give me her creative feedback on the script, it became clear that while she liked the writing...

May is just kicking-off, and once again Stage 32 will be present at the Film Festival in Cannes. Is this your first time attending? Then read on! I am here to take you all through what the festival offers and what to do and expect as a Stage 32 member attending for the first time, as I was last year! The festival starts on the 14th of May and will end on the 25th of May. So, you'll have 11 days to be around professional filmmakers, sun, ocean, and delicious food. But what should you do to make...

To wrap up my current blog series about the 9 Levels of Story, let's dive into the final three levels! Delving into the art of crafting engaging screenplays requires mastery at various levels, each crucial for bringing a story to life. Level 7, the Sequence Level, focuses on the significant 'when,' demanding an understanding of narrative flow to drive characters towards their destinies. Sequences act as fundamental building blocks, akin to chapters in a book, each with its own rhythm contribut...

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. First up, in this video from the Standard Story Company, they're providing some inspiration on how to jumpstart your career path. It can be challenging when you're starting out and aren't sure which "path" is right for you. While no two journeys are exactly the same, this video can jumpstart some new ide...

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, starting on May 14, 2024, in Cannes, France. Stage 32 is proud to partner with the Cannes Marché du Film for over 8 years as an official education partner! About the 2024 Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film Get ready for the year’s largest international in-person gathering of industry professionals! With in-person events making a grand return this year, excitement is brewing for the 2024 Marché du Film. What Can You Expec...

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

The Cannes Film Festival in France is coming up in a few weeks!  As you all know Stage 32 has worked directly with and has had an official presence at the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film for over a decade. From education initiatives, partnerships, and parties, Stage 32 always has our finger on the pulse of the world's biggest film festival and market. Also, for the last 8 years, Stage 32 has been an official education partner of the Cannes Marche du Film.  In addition to our official part...