Financing

Happy FriYAY, Stage 32 Community! One of my favorite things about being Head of Community here at Stage 32 is connecting you with opportunities that don’t just inspire you creatively, but give you the tools to level up your career. And next week, we’ve got one you absolutely don’t want to miss. We’re teaming up with SAGindie to bring you an incredible FREE webcast: Short Films, Big Plans: Building Powerful Indie Shorts That Launch Careers Join Us Live Tuesday, October 22nd at 11:00 am PT...

Happy Friday, Stage 32ers! I’m excited to announce that FilmScape Chicago is partnering with Stage 32 Certification to offer our acclaimed Stage 32 Production Accounting Master Certification Course to train and elevate local talent, ensuring Chicago’s productions continue to thrive with the highest-caliber crews. “The most common question we get—whether through social media or in person—is, ‘How do I get started in this industry?’”, says FilmScape Chicago’s President, Ned McGregor. “Taking t...

We’ve all heard the stories. Paranormal Activity, a film with a budget slightly less than a used Honda, made $193 million worldwide and launched a profitable franchise. That film’s progenitor, The Blair Witch Project, had a $60K budget and turned out a $250 million box office haul. The most profitable films from 2010 to 2015 were all horror films. 10. The Last Exorcism ($68M gross vs. $1.8M production budget) 9. Annabelle ($257M vs. $6.5M) 8. Chernobyl Diaries ($37M vs. $1M) 7. Ins...

In today’s entertainment landscape, opportunities move fast, and if you want to grab an executive’s attention, you have to make your pitch count. At Stage 32, you’re not just learning how the industry works; you’re gaining direct access to decision-makers across studios, streamers, and production companies. But here’s the truth: when those execs open your pitch, they want clarity, confidence, professionalism, and a clear understanding of your story on just two pages. That’s why we’re dedicatin...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! We’re keeping the momentum going this summer by continuing to bring Cannes to you, one powerhouse panel at a time. As you know, Stage 32 proudly celebrated our 10th anniversary partnering with the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival this May. Our programming featured some of the most influential and innovative minds in the business, sharing unfiltered knowledge on what it really takes to get your projects made in today’s ever-changing industry. Today, I...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! If you weren’t able to make it to Cannes this year, don’t worry—we’re still bringing Cannes to you. As I mentioned last week, Stage 32 celebrated our 10th year partnering with the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival this May. Our panels were packed with powerhouse insights and practical strategies from the most respected minds in film and television. And the best part? We’re sharing every one of them with you, right here on the Stage 32 blog. Today, I’m...

Something I observe frequently is how often overlooked soft equity is in the finance plan. Counterintuitive, right? Why counterintuitive? In understanding film finance as a filmmaker and a producer, it can be explained relatively easily as this; soft equity is anything that doesn’t carry an obligation to be repaid or have the expectation of a recoupment attached. Hence I both preach and practice to seek out as many sources of soft financing as possible. Outside of tax credits or rebates (o...

As an audiovisual creator, protecting your project from legal issues is just as important as its artistic quality. This guide will help you understand the fundamental aspects of the clearance process (legal authorization) that you need to consider before exhibiting your work. What is Clearance, and Why is it Important? "Clearance" is the process through which you obtain all necessary legal authorizations to include any material or element in your audiovisual production. This process protects...

And...we're off! The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and Stage 32 is all over the Croisette! For those of you who weren't able to make it to France this year, we want to make sure that you, too, are part of the action. Stop what you're doing right now, pick up your phone, and go follow our fearless leader, Richard "RB" Botto, and Managing Director Amanda Toney: Instagram @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar X @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar Facebook @stage32   We are LIV...

Happy Wednesday, 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 2025 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, a...