Producing

As a producer and executive in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, I’ve seen countless submissions and been in hundreds of pitch meetings - on both sides of the table. While the landscape is constantly changing, one thing remains clear - preparation is everything. Whether you’re submitting a script, pitching a new series, or meeting a potential collaborator, your level of preparedness can make all the difference in securing a deal or moving your project forward. Even if you want it...

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, in this Film Courage interview, they’re talking to writer, Jay Fingers, about how to handle rejection. Jay Fingers is a novelist, journalist, editor, and emerging screenwriter who authored four books: Guestlist, Kisses for Tati, Orange Mound, and Manhattan Sweetheart before moving to Los Angele...

Working with writers as an instructor, consultant, and producer on developing television series, writing pilot scripts, and pitch bibles, I have found that the most exciting – and most difficult – part of the process is imagining that the show is being made and working out what the first season and subsequent seasons might be about. Sure, there will eventually be a writer’s room that will “break” the seasons (decide what happens in each episode), but before that happens, we dream up episodes and...

Inception You have an idea. Well, maybe a kernel of an idea at this point, but it’s there. Could make a great movie or TV series. The idea starts to grow and take shape in your mind. You crack a story beat while driving, type it into your phone, or write it into a notebook the next time you stop. You think of that amazing character's name and laugh out loud to yourself, “That’s great”. The notes become an outline, your thoughts start to take shape, and the bones of the story start to come toget...

A question that comes up regularly and needs to be defined better or understood, is the types of producers involved in filmmaking, what these roles include, and why you need them in your production's process. Producers are similar to directors, screenwriters, editors, etc., they have specific strengths and weaknesses for different genres and types of films. The time that is taken to find the right producing team is worth it. Though it may sound as if this is out of reach as an independent filmma...

Media Platforms 101 New technology and platforms pop up every time you open your phone or a tab in your browser. With updated and additional software, media and social platforms, apps, algorithms, and search engine optimization rules, it’s hard to keep up. When it comes to marketing, these are common attitudes: Newbie: “I just need to get my book on Facebook, and I’ll be rich.” Arm crosser: “I don’t do social media. I tried Facebook once. It didn’t work.” Seasoned platform user: “You c...

Happy Monday, Stage 32 Community! Creators are often solitary creatures, which makes it difficult to navigate a collaborative environment like the entertainment industry, where networking is so crucial. On the other hand, humans crave community and can learn more from each other than we can on our own. We need the support of others to keep motivated. We need feedback to refine our work and craft. We need mentorship and guidance to pursue new challenges. We need different perspecti...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! Today officially kicks off the 2024 American Film Market!  Every November, the entire global film industry converges for AFM, the premier film acquisition, development, and networking event where more than $1 Billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year on completed films and those in every stage of development. More business-oriented than any other motion picture event, thousands of professionals from all corners of our industry come to...

As an extroverted introvert and a natural producer, I find I hate writing. Don’t take that the wrong way - when I’m in a groove, I actually adore the craft. Unfortunately, more often than not, in order to find that writing pace, I also have to be entirely alone. Well, me, my laptop, a good soundtrack, and a cuddly kitty on my lap. Perhaps a cup of tea and a blanket. See? Who sees the light of day when writing solo is so inviting?! My most productive writing sessions, however, have always been...

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, in this interview with Film Courage, Writer, Director, & Producer Tendayi Nyeke is sharing her 3 techniques for pitching effectively. Tendayi's multi-genre creative work has been awarded internationally. She’s a former broadcast executive who helmed several award-winning shows and has written,...