Inspirational

Yes! Stage 32 DOES work... Just thought I would offer encouragement and some light in the darkness that is the year 2020. I come to you from the great state of Texas. I joined Stage 32 over a year ago, after years of trying to make connections. If I remember correctly, the first feedback I received ended with, "Writer needs to READ MORE scripts to understand what a GOOD script looks like". Ouch. Yes, he put "READ MORE" in all caps. I was devastated and thought that maybe writing wasn't for m...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! I've got my coffee and hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice and let's dive right in. First up, the folks over at The Closer Look have put together a short video essay about how to create strong, memorable characters. This video uses Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Darth Vader, Bilbo Baggins, and Superman as examples. When writing, filming, or performing a character, The Closer Look explains how and why you think about the charac...

Did anyone else sing “Network While You Work” to the tune of “Whistle While You Work”? Only film geeks, amiright? Or maybe it’s only Disney geeks? With less than three months left in 2020, it is so gratifying to hear so many projects are moving into production (utilizing COVID compliance safety precautions, of course). Major films and shows, local businesses, and of course the intrepid independent sets as well, all finding a way to move steadily forward. With more jobs, it also means it is tim...

Auditioning is stressful. There’s no getting around it. But that doesn’t mean auditioning is bad! Auditioning presents us actors with the type of stress that’s actually kind of good for us - it’s an invitation to think about the copy we’re presented more deeply to deliver a product that’s more effective. While it would be wonderful to be hired for every single project we audition for, that’s just not realistic. So when auditioning, we each call upon our unique strengths, coaching, training, an...

Through the struggle on the way towards the goal. Why some plans could end broken but “the Dream” must keep pulsating. I’m actually really happy to be asked from Stage 32 to write another article, trying to share something good and offering the opportunity to recognize, together, our common humanity and vulnerability as filmmakers. And maybe as human beings. Rather than pretending to be an expert in anything, or introducing myself in a way that doesn’t interest anybody in here, it’s importan...

Talented writers sometimes start off creating unique and authentic stories, then it tapers off into garden variety offerings. It can sometimes be challenging to continue producing good content due to the pressures of deadlines and the ever increasing demand for good content. These 6 approaches have helped me remain true to myself.     1. Be Authentic! Be Yourself This seems obvious, but it can be hard to remain true to yourself when it appears like the rest of the world admires everyth...

“I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.”  - Denzel Washington I knew an actor once who liked to utter that famous phrase by the Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Such a well-known phrase that I titled my last Stage 32 blog after it. Funny thing was, when that actor got their opportunity, they were not prepared. And, they could have used a lot of luck. They were nervous and had a hard time following directi...

Pulitzer Prize-winner Carl Sandburg said, "The impact of television on our culture is...indescribable.There’s a certain sense in which it is nearly as important as the invention of printing.” Television continues to experience its Golden Age as a multitude of new streamers and premium networks emerge, while existing networks continue to take greater creative and commercial risks with exciting original ideas. Across all platforms, formats and genres, content creators for television are on the...

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, The Cinema Cartography has put together an awesome video about how important the role of editing is in the overall storytelling of a film. Editors and directors ultimately have the final word on what the audience gets to see - and that is powerful. This video uses examples from Inception, Rai...

Happy Saturday Stage 32! As many of you may know, I host an Instagram LIVE every week on @stage32online highlighting some amazing Stage 32 members from all over the world. Recently, it was my sincerest pleasure to talk to two POWERHOUSE actors & Stage 32 members. No matter where you live, or what stage of your acting career you are in, these two gentlemen have some amazing tips, insights, and inspiration for you! First up, I talk with LA-based actor and long-time audition reader Jon Snow (do...