Filmmaking

Over the last 7 years in LA as a director and producer, I feel like I've seen so many sides of the filmmaking world. I've done backyard shorts with friends and family with guerilla shooting, I've done features for over a million dollars, I've directed a big studio episodic for TV, and I’ve even funded my own short docs. As everyone in the industry knows, this work can be intense. We often have long hours. We give 120% of our brain power dissecting scripts, making shot lists, and scouting locat...

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 interview with Sofia Coppola from BFI, the filmmaker takes a look back on her filmmaking journey. Not only the many critically acclaimed and award-winning films she's made over the years but also the impact her upbringing has had on her perspective and the stories she tells. Next up,...

Hi, Stage 32 Community! Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community in 2024! At Stage 32 you have direct access to industry professionals who’ve overseen the stunt performance, music supervision, written, produced, directed, developed, consulted on, and represented acclaimed projects like THE MEG, AQUAMAN, PLAYING FOR KEEPS, KONG SKULL ISLAND, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR’...

Yep. MAGPIE FUNERAL, my newest film, was almost dead on arrival. But hey, what independent film can’t say that? Here are three crazy stories about MAGPIE FUNERAL, now streaming on TubiTV, Amazon Video, YouTube, and Google Play. Story One: TIMING IS EVERYTHING. John T. Sweeney, Magpie Funeral’s producer, insisted that the production must start in mid-October of that year. I had the following January in mind. But John persisted. He explained it was imperative principal photography commenced...

Happy New Year, Stage 32 Community! January is always an exciting time. As we step away from the warm afterglow of the holiday season, there’s an entire new year stretching out ahead of us with endless possibilities. With that in mind, our Stage 32 Education Team has worked hard to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This January, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, music supervisors, showrunner assistants, c...

Happy New Year, Creative Army! Hope you all had a terrific holiday season and are now ready to launch into 2024. Those of you who have been around the site for a while know that on New Year's Day, we utilize the Stage 32 Blog to discuss and share our plans for the coming year. So... What are you looking to accomplish in 2024? What are your creative goals? What skills are you looking to learn? What fears are you looking to overcome? What strategies are you planning on implementing...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far and are ready to celebrate the new year? 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 Nerdwriter1, you'll compare and contrast two classic films from the holiday season: SHOP AROUND THE CORNER and YOU'VE GOT MAIL. By looking a these films side by side, we can see how filming techniques have evolved over decades. But just...

When it comes to building a voiceover business, there are so many different tools out in the world (and on the Internet). But you really only need about five of them to get started. Everyone everywhere has an opinion on what you need to begin your career as a Voice Actor and how much money you need to spend to be considered a professional in this industry, but I’ve come to learn that most of that information is outdated and not helpful. So here’s my list of the five essential tools you need...

I can see the first sunshine after days of rain so I’ll put off writing this blog. I want to go outside for a walk. But I’m also using a technique that harnesses the power of procrastination to get the blog in my head so I can ruminate on it while walking. The terms ‘rumination’ and ‘procrastination’ come with a lot of baggage. Procrastination is defined as: ‘the action of delaying or postponing something knowing full well the negative outcomes of doing so’. That can cause a lot of anxiety m...

My travels as an author, screenwriter, and feature magazine article writer have allowed me to visit some very exotic places all over the world, and it all started in The Bronx. I attended a Hollywood film school and graduated with honors. I also have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and I am a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. I guess you could say it was a unique education. But I learned a lot of things that they don’t teach in film school. And I’m still learning. Screenwriting can be a lonely...