Tips

Hey, Stage 32-ers! It's been said that this business is a marathon, not a sprint. Nothing quite highlights the need to reserve your energy like a pandemic, but sometimes keeping occupied during downtime is the best way is to step back and absorb. You may not know this, but I first signed up for Stage 32's Writer's Room about a year ago because they hosted weekly webinars every Wednesday at 4pm PST. Jason Mirch has fostered a fantastic group of dedicated writers with these webinars, and we just...

The world is changing quickly and the phrase “new normal” is being bandied about with abandon. Even though filming is limited (at best), development continues to move forward and that means producers are busier than ever. In the entertainment industry, scripts continue to be optioned, projects continue to get developed, talent continues to find representation, and production is slowly starting to resume in LA and more so all over the world. So what does producing look like in this "new normal"?...

Happy Tuesday Stage 32!   As you may recall, last month we launched a Vlog Series featuring animation industry veteran, Frank Gladstone. Frank has worked for some of the biggest names in animation (Disney, Warner Bros, and DreamWorks, to name a few!) in his 45+ years in the industry. Frank is also currently the Executive Director for The International Animated Film Society (ASIFA - Hollywood) which hosts the world-famous Annie Awards honoring animators from all over the world. Last month, he a...

Good morning Stage 32 Creative Crew! I hope you had an inspired weekend full of creative endeavors and ambitious pursuits. It has been a bust month of August for the team over at Stage 32. Not only were we able to surprise Stage 32 member Martin Reese a $5,000 option agreement after his script THE EYE OF OWUO won the Microbudget Horror Screenwriting Competition, we also launch two brand new competitions - The Diverse Voices Springboard Screenwriting Contest and The Search for New Voices in Anima...

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, the folks over at Indy Mogul recently sat down with television production designer Ian Phillips (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, Love) to talk about the role production design plays in telling a scripted story. Using examples from Ian's previous shows, he discusses multiple facets of how ch...

Like many of you, theirs been many days where I’d stare off into space wondering when I’d hear good news. I realized that I had two choices, bury my head and soak in the stress and weight of negativity or preoccupy myself by driving my kids insane, singing, dancing, or playing board games. So, I created other choices, flip a couple of houses, and redesign my entire first floor. New boxes showed up on my steps for almost three months. I was busy. I was creating. I used art, fabrics, furnishings,...

After three and a half years of being a reader in multiple casting offices in Los Angeles, and participating in more than 10,000 auditions, I'm sharing with you the knowledge and insight I've gained by being a fly-on-the-wall in the room with casting director's, directors, producers, and showrunners. So take the journey with me, and discover some insider secrets that will help you manage your fears and expectations, as well as give you an edge as soon as you walk in the audition room.   Clic...

So you landed a job as a composer for a Film. Congratulations! But now where do you start? I think a good point is to build a positive relationship with your Director. That could definitely contribute to the success of your gig. Like any other kind of human relationship, there are no rules to make it work and there is always room for improvement, but here you’ll find some tips and thoughts, based on my experience, that I think might be helpful. Let’s suppose you have negotiated the deal, th...

Dr. ScreenLaw: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Law As a screenwriter turned attorney I’ve learned how a screenplay is not just a story: it’s a minefield of intellectual property that could affect the project’s style, budget, sponsorships, and even its distribution. Through this article, you will learn my perspective on how decisions made during the writing phase of an audiovisual project can positively, or negatively impact the legal and financial aspects of a project. It will also...

Walt Disney said, "Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive," and in our ongoing mission to discover new talent from all over the world, Stage 32 is thrilled to announce our inaugural New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest! Ever since a feisty little cat named Felix first made his debut on the silver screen over 100 years ago, animation has been delighting audiences across generations and all over the world. Whether the hero is an intrepid mouse, a foul-mouthed ogre,...