Networking

“CINEMA IS A MATTER OF WHAT’S IN THE FRAME AND WHAT’S OUT.” - Martin Scorsese The point of view of our creations starts with our personal worldview. How do you approach new contacts? Old teammates? Scripts, projects, edits? Here at Stage 32, we welcome. We invite and encourage. We may even suggest or request, all to set the stage for positive, productive relationships. Opening up a frame into "you" or "your craft" is an invitation to start an authentic conversation. If you have a lengthy...

Long-time Stage 32 member, blog contributor, webinar teacher, and international film & distribution aficionado, David Zannoni has series of exclusive Stage 32 blogs and vlogs to keep you up-to-date on the business of film across the globe. Today, David gives an update on virtual film markets and networking opportunities in 2021. You will learn about: Navigating virtual festival platforms What the virtual + physical festival landscape looks like in 2021 How to network at virtual festivals...

None of us live in a bubble. Neither does the creative process. In movies, the development of the story is usually the longest part of the process. It makes sense. Getting the plot and characters developed must happen before a single word is typed into your favorite script writing software. Index cards may litter your floor or maybe you are one of the lucky ones who can see the entire story in your head – you are rare.  At this stage, there is the fewest number of people involved as well and...

A few months back, still on a pandemic and recently moved to Atlanta, I had the crazy idea of self-producing my first short film. I did not know which script I was actually going to use, or the team and budget I needed for it, but with a new profile on Stage 32, and some debatable resourceful skills, I went for it! These are some tools I used from Stage 32, to help me along the way during the pre-production and production process. The Diverse Lounges I love how Stage 32 offers so many differe...

Fun. The main reason most of us got into (or are trying to get into) the film and TV industry is because it sounds so much fun! And it is - some of the best times of my life have been on set. I have been lucky enough to have filmed all over the world, from Pinewood to Bollywood and from Montana to the Sahara. I’ve worked on some really wonderful productions and I’ve been on some really awful productions that if I could get in my TARDIS, travel back in time, and change that timeline - then I woul...

Action and Thriller feature films continue to dominate the Global Box Office. In fact, THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD just hit #1 at the Box Office last week! The highly anticipated THE TOMORROW WAR with Chris Pratt is coming out this week.  Thanks to classic franchises such as the TERMINATOR franchise, the JAMES BOND franchise, and the BOURNE franchise, as well as new hits like DEADPOOL, TAKEN, JOHN WICK, and most recently THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD, the world is looking forward to more Act...

The film and television industry is global, yet, to many who live outside of the major production hubs (e.g., Los Angeles, Vancouver, Atlanta, New York City, London, etc.) it can feel out of reach. Stage 32 is the best community to keep us all connected, but what makes us the best? We help each other! But what are you doing to help yourself? RB often recommends on his “Ask Me Anything” series to read the trades. Which ones are you reading? Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire?...

“It’s good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” ~ Ernest Hemingway I love road trips! I love the idea of packing up the car and hitting the open road, not knowing what we’ll see or who we’ll meet along the way. I plan what I need to take, packing up any essentials. I then plan my destination, but what happens in between departure and arrival has a sense of fluidity! A Road Trip Down Memory Lane… My last road trip had three generations, my mu...

Previously here on Stage 32, you saw a blog from me titled, “Should People Be Interviewing You About Your Entertainment Career Yet?” There has been plenty of time since then to do what I like to call a self-audit, in this context to mean looking at the criteria I wrote about in there and deciding if you’re at a point where you should be an interviewee. How did you do? Good, I hope? I’m optimistic that as you read through that prior post, you were nodding and thinking, “Yes. Uh huh. I’ve done...

Documentaries have been produced since 1922. They were always considered the educational part of moviemaking; not entertainment. That has all changed. We are in the Golden Age of Documentaries. Prominent directors are using the documentary format to tell their stories. My documentary "Homecoming: Veterans, Wives, Mothers" joins the ranks for consideration for the “Outstanding Short Form Non-Fiction” Daytime Emmy Award for 2021. I need to say this format is one I use when I think a topic merits...