Filmmaking

Hello, Stage32 Creative Community! I hope you are all good at these challenging times of creativity. Today, I'd like to talk about networking and how it can change the game for screenwriters. I am a communicator, but occasionally, I am not! I am not typically extroverted or introverted. It all depends on how I feel about the situation and the day. What did I do to achieve a balance between my two sides? Before I share it with you, I'd like to talk to you about something that became the ho...

As an independent producer, I'm always planning my next project. With a stack of screenplays (many of which are my own), and no Mr. Moneytree waiting to spread his love, it can be challenging. This is why I've taken the Robert Rodriguez approach when it comes to filmmaking. For those of you unfamiliar, Robert Rodriguez's first feature film, El Mariachi, had no crew. And almost no budget. At a meager 7k, he was the writer, director, cinematographer, location scout, sound, and editor. With inflati...

The data doesn't lie. What producers and buyers want right now is different than what writers write. They want scripts that are efficient. Scripts that can attract talent and directors. Scripts where the story doesn't just move forward…it is propelled forward.Catapulted. Every scene earning its place. Every page keeping the reader hooked and turning to the next one. Lean. Mean. Purposeful. I recently spoke with a literary manager whose sentiment echoed what we've been hearing consistently ac...

How One Film Rewrote My Idea of Cinema As a producer and co-director of An Order from the Sky, I’ve learned that every film changes you in some small way, but once in a while, a film resets your entire understanding of what filmmaking means. An Order from the Sky did that to me. The idea began years ago, during my work as part of the team behind Pebbles: The film that went on to win the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2021. There was a long take in Pebbles that ra...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from Film Courage- Hollywood Is Not A Movie Making Town. In the interview, filmmaker Pedro Correa shares a perspective that may feel jarring at first, but it is one every creative needs to under...

There is no shortage of acting techniques for the actor in training. From Stanislavsky and Chekov to Demidov and Meisner and Adler to Strasberg and everything in between. There is a shortage, however, of methods for safely accessing and regulating emotion in the process of using these acting techniques when developing a Character. The Traditional Traditional acting techniques have their own philosophies on how to access emotion. From Demidov’s “passively surrendering” and being guided by the...

In over 15 years of working in the entertainment industry, I’ve learned that there will be many ups and downs in a dream pursuit. There will be obstacles, and good days, and opportunities, and rejections. The High Achiever (a.k.a. you!), needs a game plan through it all. The High Achiever needs to handle all of these moments intentionally and carefully, in a way that effectively keeps them on the path to success. That’s why I developed the 10 Pillars of the High Achiever. Here are the 10 pillars...

I am thrilled to announce our new partnership with Stage 32 Certification, now bringing their world-class, industry-endorsed online training courses directly to our Houston creative community. This exciting collaboration comes at a transformational moment for our region, as Houston's film and media scene continues to expand, building on our city's incredible energy, diversity, and can-do spirit. Stage 32 Certification offers top-level training built specifically for both emerging and establish...

I’m curious: if we were to poll 1,000 regular users of Stage32, how many of them jumped in and learned all of the resources right away? My guess is that 8 out of 10 new members were more like me: tiptoeing into the waters.   Maybe you’re wondering, “There are so many incredible options, and how do I pick?" I felt like a kid in a candy store, and I wasn’t focusing. Plus, I really wanted to learn it all at once! The good news is: if we can get over THE NEW‑KID‑FIRST‑DAY‑OF‑SCHOOL vibes...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from Variety- How 'Wicked: For Good' Composer Wrote 'The Girl in the Bubble' & 'No Place Like Home' And if you listen closely, there’s a powerful lesson here that goes far beyond composing....