Networking

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...

Believe it or not, social media is a serious public relations platform. It doesn’t matter if you hate it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have time for it. What matters is – are you a creative, and do you want people to see your work? The key is to make it easy for people to connect with you. For the people just starting out, who are on a zero budget, and who have no idea where to begin when you become a Stage 32 member, this post is for you. Of course, if you already have a publicist and hav...

Last time on “Six Degrees of Stage 32”, we discussed the relationships that begin from in-person networking events. Speaking from experience, my creative partner and I recently wrapped up our most challenging proof-of-concept short film yet - “Sanctuary,” the Short Film. Where did we meet? A Stage 32 in-person networking event in Los Angeles, CA! Click here to read more about how we met in Part 1 of “Six Degrees of Stage 32”. While not everyone is so fortunate to attend film festivals, win mento...

As we come to the end of 2022 and our final Introduce Yourself Weekend for the year, I wish you another year filled with love, joy, and success! I’ve been taking stock of where I’ve been, where I am right now, and where I want to be. I have decided that lamenting the past and worrying about the future is a huge waste of time. Being a septuagenarian, one does not have the luxury of squandering a moment. That made me think about my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. In sales, yo...

When speaking of my recent victories - I wrote and produced an award-winning 48-Hour Short Film called "Livin' with Lisa," co-produced an all-female-cast-and-crew short film, and just wrapped production on the most involved proof-of-concept short film I've ever produced - there is only one constant in every one of those victories. Relationships. "Exactly how connected do I need to be to be successful in the industry? Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon connected?" Sort of. The "Six Degrees of Separati...

For many writers, the written words on a page come much easier than the spoken ones. It could be nerves, speaking about your work to someone places you in a position of vulnerability... What will they think of my script? Will they understand what I'm trying to convey with it? Can they share my vision for my script? Or a writer may doubt their ability to talk about their script. Is my voice clear and inviting enough, and can I show enough excitement and passion so that an executive will believe i...

A high school visit with my mother to Spelman College, a Historically Black College (HBCU) and part of the Atlanta University Center (AUC), was what brought me to Atlanta, Georgia, for the first time. We flew in from my hometown of Philadelphia, aka the “City of Brotherly Love,” and immediately realized we had left the old world behind. Is that a SUBWAY… in the AIRPORT? Are you kidding me?? This is awesome! I felt like an extra on Battlestar Galactica or Logan’s Run (look it up.) The campus was...

There is no shortage of "success stories" here on Stage 32. And today, we've got a great one for our fearless leader and Stage 32 CEO, Richard "RB" Botto, who has been nominated for Shaker of the Year 2022, as part of the Movers & Shaker Awards at FOCUS in London, UK. RB is nominated for his contribution to the long-lasting impact on the global entertainment industry. RB joins fellow forward-thinking nominees Leo Anna Thomas (6ft from the Spotlight); Co. Production Team, Factor 42, EE, Supergl...

Stage 32’s nearly million members are worldwide, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that Stage 32 is now the Official Education Partner of the UK’s international trade event, FOCUS. FOCUS is the only UK trade event where nearly 3,000 attendees can meet with content makers and facilitators from over 100 countries, attracting thousands of production professionals from across the creative screen industries – including film, TV, advertising, animation, and gaming. FOCUS offers filming...

Happy Thanksgiving, Creative Army! On behalf of the entire Stage 32 team, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. This year, we have welcomed hundreds of thousands of new members to our growing, creative community, and we are beyond honored to provide each and every one of you a safe haven to connect, be inspired, and come together to make art. We are all extremely grateful for the members of this community and for the incredible relationships and friendships that have bloo...