Filmmaking

There’s a saying that we’ve all heard a thousand times over, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. This resonates with visual artists when ensuring that the visuals they convey will provoke the right tone and message to the many words and feelings that they will portray and intend for their story. Now this concept isn’t new to most of you and it’s just what good storytellers and filmmakers should be doing right?! I mean, what artist doesn’t put their heart and soul into infusing their vision...

We can all agree that it’s nigh impossible for a finished film to be even 90% close to the original screenplay. Budget and logistic constraints can be very limiting for the filmmaker and often the creative vision changes according to the ebbs and flow of the production. Locations are changed, dialogues are added, and sometimes even characters are edited out. As a result, when the filmmaker has finished post and is busy procuring deliverable material required by film festivals or the distributo...

Where does your career end and your personal life begin? Where does your digital world end and your real-world begin? As a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMYS), I’ve been lucky to be invited to a lot of For Your Consideration screenings and events around Hollywood over the years. At an FYC screening for WESTWORLD a few years back, Jonathan Nolan, the co-creator of the show, had some very insightful words about the dangers of “people becoming brands” via social media. H...

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 Variety, acclaimed directors Ari Aster (BEAU IS AFRAID) and Yorgos Lanthimos (POOR THINGS) sit down to discuss their respective films. They tackle inspiration, originality, adaptation, and more, giving great insight into how these two artists approach storytelling. Next up,...

In this survival guide, I'll be focusing on a checklist of things to keep in mind when shooting a horror film. It's no surprise that horror films cost less to produce and shoot. A good example is Jordan Peele’s Get Out. James Wan made his career with the SAW franchise. Horror films bring in lots of money at the box office and audiences flock to the screen to get their fright on! With that in mind, let's dive right into the belly of the beast. Costume & Make-up Design If there is one thing...

Happy Wednesday, Stage 32 Community! I hope the start of 2024 has been exhilarating 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 February, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, actors, award-winning screenwriters, producers, directors, and representatives. Impressive creative professionals who have worked on such projects as...

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 StudioBinder, you'll dig into how scenes in cars or done. From the safety to production options to lighting and sound design... there's so much that goes into these scenes that makes them seem impossible to do cheaply. And yet, there are definitely ways to pull them off at ev...

Still Happy New Year! I am that person who celebrates the new year all month long, embracing fresh dreams and aspirations. While we are motivated to make this year better than the last one, many of us feel hesitation, even paralyzed, unable to move forward. I, too, have been in this place, feeling stuck and overwhelmed by fear. What has helped me? Learning to take a leap of faith, to believe in myself and a power greater than me. Today’s message aims to inspire you to do the same, offering in...

In car parlance, I might be a barn find -- a dust-covered vehicle that’s been unearthed after many years of storage. I wasn’t exactly in storage but I was in the barn for 40 years, inching toward the door -- i.e. my lifelong goal to be a working actress. I worked 9 to 5 and was a single parent and couldn’t get an LA agent, so I simply did what I could around those parameters. For decades. At times my forward progress seemed imperceptible. Then in 2022, I went from zero ability to get an agent,...

Hey, Creative Army! When the good news rains, it pours! Stage 32 Certification was once again spotlighted, this time in a recent article on The Wrap, “Do the Math: Production Accountant Shortage Equals New Hollywood Careers”. This article dives into the changing landscape of the entertainment industry and how new educational programs, like Stage 32 Certification, are paving the way for real work opportunities as a Production Accountant on productions around the world. We're seeing the waves...