Filmmaking

You’ve heard the saying “Jack of all trades, master of none”? I’m going to start with something controversial, I hate that quote. This quote has been preached to me on many occasions throughout my career and I can imagine it will continue for the rest of my years. Why this quote? Because my creativity is hard to grasp, I do many things and can do many things well. Does this sound like you? Your creativity doesn’t fit in the societal norms of occupation, the idea that we decide to be or do one...

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been working tirelessly to bring new film commissions, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix. This week we’re welcoming the Polish Film Institute to Stage 32 Education! Together, we’ll be training people looking to work above and below the line in Poland in support of the rebates, incentives, and the production companies and streamers looking to film locally. This will conti...

To have or not to have production insurance- the most important question. Short answer? YES. Always, yes. Production insurance is a necessary part of the production process that many independent creators love to avoid, whether to “save” money or avoid all the paperwork. However, much like car, health, and any other business insurance, it is a MUST! What does production insurance do? It covers rentals, liability, injuries while on set, vehicles operated on set, and even copyright claims. If...

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 Writers Guild Foundation, acclaimed showrunner Glen Mazzara (THE ROCKIE, THE DARK TOWER) discusses the challenges of being a screenwriter, advice for new writers, and the importance of including fun in a spec script. It's great insight into what a showrunner looks for whe...

Let's set the records straight for parents of young, and specifically, young adult actors (~16-24) in the entertainment industry. While there is a lot of content about sexual predators in the Industry, there’s very little about other types of abusive, manipulative, and predatory behaviors involving young actors. In an unnatural arena where profit, investment, careers, and social status rely on our kids more than ever, we, as parents, need to remain vigilantly aware that while “magic” exists i...

Independent film projects deal with business and legal aspects all the time. Bigger production companies generally have an in-house or external business and legal affairs manager. This is however less common for small production companies. In this article, we will discuss the role of business and legal affairs in independent film, and explore the areas covered by a business and legal affairs department or manager.     Business and Legal Affairs in Independent Film Business and le...

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 Fandango, star and director of MONKEY MAN, Dev Patel, sits down with actor, director, and producer Jordan Peeling to discuss their different directing styles. MONKEY MAN is the first feature film that Patel has directed and Peele's production company, Monkey Paw, was behind t...

Filmmakers have a huge undertaking as they schedule and budget their projects, each piece is vital to the success of the project, and getting everything in place as efficiently as possible is huge. Stunts are a piece of the puzzle that bring joy to audiences and chills to the production team. Why Do Stunts Bring Chills To The Production Team? Stunts have special training involved, multiple safety protocols, stunt coordinators, and many other specialty measures to ensure that the performer...

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, this video by From The Frame digs into the perennial debate on aspect ratios. Which framing is best? But there's a nuance to this debate that the pros and cons often miss: the director's intent. Using examples from TITANIC, DUNE, OPPENHEIMER, and more, you'll see just how filmmakers compose the...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! I hope that the last month has been joyful and productive for you all! Our Stage 32 Education Team has certainly been hard at work to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This April, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning screenwriters, producers, directors, showrunners, animators, and representatives. Impressive creative professionals who have worked on or repres...