Inspirational

There’s a natural soul-searching during this time of year. Do I spend money on my loved ones, or is quality time more important? Have I been spending too much time investing in my work, or not enough? Am I living my best life NOW, or am I still in survival mode? Whether this reflection is brought up by family visits, relaxing vacations, or making plans for the new year, it all comes to a pinnacle as we shift away from celebrating holidays and into starting anew in January. As someone born on N...

Abuela Alma: "I was given a miracle. A second chance. And I was so afraid to lose it that I forgot who it was for." Mirabel: "It’s for us." ~ Disney’s Encanto (2021) A moment of reconciliation and forgiveness between Abuela Alma and Mirabel. This scene reminds us of the importance of letting go of fear and allowing compassion to heal relationships. As you gather with loved ones to celebrate the holidays, consider where forgiveness may be needed in your life—forgiveness between others, fo...

One of the biggest challenges filmmakers and screenwriters face is to keep their creative energy fresh and high while working on projects that ask years of endurance and at times don't feel creative. What often drove us toward filmmaking - the excitement of creating stories - can quickly become the thing we connect with the less as we work toward building our careers: handling deadlines, finding an agent, raising money, applying to festivals, answering casting calls, and the 100 other tasks ou...

You’re a filmmaker, a writer, a director, maybe even an actor. You want to keep working, but the phone’s not ringing so… you decide to shoot a short film. Before you start down the rabbit hole you may want to ask a few questions. Why do I want to shoot a short film? What resources do I have at my disposal? What resources will I need to obtain? And the most impactful question: What’s it going to cost? Anyone who has ever taken on the challenge of shooting a short knows that there ar...

On behalf of the entire Stage 32 family, I'd like to wish you all a happy, healthy, and loving Christmas and the remainder of the holiday season. While the holidays are a time of celebration, I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on the many blessings life has offered and afforded all of us. We personally feel blessed to have had so many of you enter and enrich our lives. The Stage 32 community has grown to over 1,000,000 members from around the globe, and we are beyond honored to prov...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. First up, in this video by In Depth Cine, he’s analyzing how different director...

Writer's block, the worst enemy of my creative mind, has been the talk of much contemplation and study in the realm of writing and psychology. The Breakout Principle, a concept that I use as a shift into mental focus to overcome obstacles, has emerged as a potential antidote to the paralyzing effects of writer's block. This method has served me well. At its center, writer's block is a psychological barrier and is internal, not external. It impedes the creative flow of ideas and words. It often...

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...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! The most prestigious short film competition on the planet is back! You've made a short film. You've put in your time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and perhaps even some serious money into your project. Your goal isn't only to get your film seen, but to get it seen around the world and by people who can make a difference in your career. Would being screened by an Oscar qualifying film festival matter? How about having it screened for over 1,000 executives including ma...

When I was a tiny baby screenwriter with no experience, no credits, no hope, no foot in any door, and no connections in the industry, I thought that landing a gig where I would be paid to write was almost impossible to achieve. Until, one day, a producer reached out to me and said… “I have two costumes and a barn. Can you write me something?” That sentence led to a series of events that have now culminated in my first TV show being greenlit. Was it magic? No. It was work. Here’s how it...