Inspirational

When you think of great original soundtracks - the best of the best, you probably think of Final Fantasy, Zelda, Skyrim, and even Sonic. Video game music is a genre in itself. It went from 8-bit synthy beeps and bobs to orchestra epic arrangements. The genre has impacted and inspired so many, myself included. I will admit that growing up, I wasn’t into the greats like Final Fantasy or Zelda. I was more into really obscure games such as Spyro, Twisted Metal, Crazy Taxi and such. It is games lik...

So You Want to Adapt a Classic? Considering the benefits of adapting the classics of literature—the proven success of their themes and structure, iconic lines, enduring timeliness, and strong characters—the question is, why WOULDN’T you want to adapt a classic? Because it’s already been done... to DEATH. Take Sherlock Holmes. Adaptations are endless, with new ones nearly every year. And the approaches writers take encompass a wide range: placing him in modern times, as a comedic figure, as a...

Foreign Language films are often a hit or miss when it comes to box office performance but 2019 was the year of the Parasite. The Cannes Palme D’ Or winner Korean film by Bong Joon Ho who is by now deemed as much of a film making genius as Kurosawa once was, made 31 Million US dollars in US territory alone and 161 Million dollars worldwide. Historically speaking, the foreign language films that crossed all borders with most success, were those that had relatable character journeys and powerfu...

The movie industry is not just about creating what pleases you. It’s about creating entertainment that will delight an audience. The major studios put a lot of money into big movies seeking to serve a huge international audience. Independent filmmakers often target much smaller audience groups, but they have a target. Before you put one word on paper you need to consider who your potential audience is and how you can expand that audience. If you spend $5 million making a movie for a $10 milli...

Good morning Stage 32 Crew! I hope you had a productive weekend and were able to tackle some of your creative goals. We are cruising through February and spring is just around the corner. I know for a lot of us (myself included) now is the time where distractions creep in and start to derail the resolutions we made for the new year. Are you still doing the work? Remember that success in this highly competitive business is a combination of talent and work ethic.   LA-based Stage 32 members...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! With the Oscars behind us and inspiration at an all-time high, it is time to get back to work and get creative. I've got my coffee and am ready to bring you some piping-hot content. This week, we are going to dive into some real-talk truths and advice about building an amazing career in entertainment for the long-term. Let's go.  First up, Vanity Fair interviews an amazing line up of A-list, Emmy-nominated actors about how to "make it" in Hollywood. Hear from Edie...

There is a particular thrill when your screenwriting career is moving. When you win a contest, option a feature, connect with great talent, or make a new collaborative connection there’s a jolt of creative adrenaline. Last summer, I optioned a feature screenplay. I made a short with an incredible director and cast. I attached a top-level director to one of my TV shows in development who, as a bonus, is absolutely the kind of person it has been incredible to work with. I saw positive interest...

It is an honor and a privilege to bring you the worldwide premiere of the 4th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program! Below you will find six amazing short films to watch that were carefully curated by Stage 32's panel of leading industry executives. Our esteemed panel of judges is made up of top producers, managers, development executives, and Oscar-winning filmmakers.    These films are only available for viewing for 48 hours.   Our six winning filmmakers hail from all over the world, and...

Happy Post-Oscar Monday Stage 32 Crew! There were a lot of great moments during the ceremony and some very deserving winners. If you participated in our annual Oscar picks contest, I hope you did well. I wanted to kick off this week with a great story I have been tracking for a while. It reminds us that every professional relationship starts with a pitch. For those who doubt the power of the pitch, take note of this story. It might just change your mind. It comes from Stage 32 member Emily...

Happy Oscar Sunday Creative Army! Get your coffee ready, because we are about to dive into some white-hot content that will amp you up before the big show tonight. As you have likely seen, The Hollywood Reporter hosts some amazing filmmaker roundtables. This week, our first piece of content is a Writer's Roundtable featuring 2020 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar-nominees Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes). Taika and Anthony are joined by fellow screenwriters Lorene...