Inspirational

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. First up, I want to share a video essay from Vanity Fair: When the Long Shot Is Actually Clever. You’ve been there, you’re deep into a movie or a series, and suddenly it hits you… the camera hasn’t cut in ages. That’...

She sat at her large, dark pine desk, wrapped in her brown knit cardigan. Her shoulders were hunched, as usual. Her jaw was tight. “I’m running out of time. I need to maximise my time and do as much as I can. I need to hurry up and write,” she thought. But everything from the neck down felt like a ton of bricks. She felt beyond tired. Beyond depleted. And filled with nothing but dread about the day ahead. A day where she would likely produce nothing at all, or at least nothing she felt remotel...

Welcome back to TALKING BUSINESS: Insights from the Independent Film Industry, hosted by Stage 32 Thought Leader and Business Consultant, David Zannoni, from Freeway Entertainment and Zannoni Media. In TALKING BUSINESS, David brings you in-depth conversations on the behind-the-scenes of the filmmaking business with industry veterans. In today’s seventh episode, David is having a chat with his Freeway colleague Daniel Simonyi, who is Head of Legal for Collection Account Management. Freeway is t...

Hi, Stage 32 Creatives! This month, I want to talk about the impact that Netflix's TV Series “Adolescence” is having all over the entertainment industry, especially on the audiences. The first time I heard about “Adolescence” was because my social media in Portugal was blowing up with people sharing about the series and the pressures of social media on teenagers. Also, people were sharing about the incel emoji culture, and I didn’t understand anything. That made me want to watch the show,...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that will lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships. If you haven’t yet made your introduction, you’ve still got time! Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the weekend wraps. Be bold....

If you’ve been dreaming of writing the next great romantic comedy, there’s never been a better time to learn directly from someone doing it at the highest level. On Monday, April 21st at 11:00 am PT, Stage 32 is thrilled to offer you exclusive FREE access to 30 Minutes with Mahtub — a live Ask Me Anything event with rising TV writer and rom-com powerhouse, Mahtub Zare Mochanloo. This event is part of Stage 32’s mission to connect our global community of creatives with working industry profes...

What’s up, Creative Army! It’s been a wild start to 2025 for the entertainment industry as a whole. And I know many of you have been feeling it, too. Between my travel schedule, the LA fires that hit close to home, the ongoing M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activity reshaping the business, and the powerful resurgence of independent film, I’ve been on the ground, in the meetings, and having conversations with industry leaders every single week. And let me tell you… there’s a LOT happening rig...

Hi, Stage 32! I'm Eric Nazarian, filmmaker, screenwriter, and graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. I was the recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for my screenplay, Giants. This is my overview on making and releasing independent films that have no choice but to get made by going against the prevalent grain of formulaic notions. It is time for us to rebuild the filmmaking system through...

Hey friends! The FUNNIEST TV Comedy Screenplay Contest in the World is Back! Ever dreamt of seeing your TV Comedy script come to life and stream on flat-screens in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! Our Grand Prize Winner will win a Career Accelerator prize package valued at $5,000 that includes script & career development, writer branding and an education package and will be flown to LA to meet industry professionals who’ve worked on iconic...

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the very individual process a professional creative must go through in order to be present for their “tribe” or be strong enough to lead a team. Especially since doing the work for yourself, BY yourself is essential. It is the foundation of everything else we create. Consider for a moment when you visit a doctor. It is certainly their job to help analyze what ails you and suggest a plan to heal you, expecting them to do all of the work is ineffective at...