Tips

If you are thinking of writing a script that becomes a movie, you need to think like a film studio and distributor if you want to sell the concept. Whether you are going to pitch the idea to a major studio or finance the movie yourself, you need a winning idea that will capture audiences if you want the movie to succeed. That means right from the start you will need to think like a film studio even before you write your script. What follows are some tips that will help you turn your idea into...

How do we snap out of this "whiff of death" stage? That seems to be where we are right now, as the protagonists in our own movies. Everything was “fun and games” until a huge plot twist came out of nowhere. The “bad guys” showed up, potentially lethal, impartial, invisible and moving fast around the globe, hitting us with the “whiff of death”. But all a protagonist needs is a fresh idea to act as a catalyst and propel them to a successful ending. So let’s go find it. The Hidden Gift Luna Love...

Sometimes, aspiring writers ask me a question. What’s one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring writer? Or, if you could tell your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be? To properly explain my answer, I need to tell you a little story. After a rather rough few months at the end of 2013, I found myself at the tail end of a six-week writing slump. For the only time in my writing career, I’d only written 300 words in those six weeks (the least I have ever written)....

Good morning Stage 32 Creatives! I hope your week is off to a great start. I want to give you some updates that I think will make it even better. Obviously, if you have been following Stage 32 for any length of time, you know that despite the temporary hiatus in production, business is still going on in the industry. In fact, during the recent Global Pitch Tank I hosted last week, Manager Spencer Robinson of Art/Work said, “I’m reading more than ever and I’m on the phone with producers and ne...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! We are all on day who knows what of Quarantine, and I hope you are all staying happy, healthy, and creative. I look forward to sharing my Sunday morning Coffee & Content with you every week, so grab your coffee and get ready for some piping-hot entertainment industry content.  First up, Indy Mogul sits down with JoJo Rabbit cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr. to talk about the script, lighting, and, of course, camera lenses and shot composition. This twenty-minute...

Happy Saturday Stage 32 Community! Today is Saturday, right? What day is it?! How long have we been in quarantine?! Time is starting to feel a little like this... Name that Classic Movie!   Worry not folks, because Stage 32 is committed to bringing you entertainment, education, and community from the comfort and safety of your own home. Over the past several weeks, we have had the supreme pleasure of hosting a number of live digital events! We sipped cocktails in our respective hom...

Welcome back, rear reader! What you are reading is the second half of a two-part series on how to find money for movies. Even if you don’t have any interest in crowdfunding, I recommend reading the first half of “How to Find Money for Movies: Fundraising” before you proceed. Not only did we clear up some widely misunderstood terms when it comes to money, but we also talked about...DISCLAIMER: Under no circumstances should you take my advice when it comes to money. Why are you listening to people...

Ok, Stage 32! What you are about to read is a two-part article that’s been more than fifteen years in the making. For a little context, my arrival in Los Angeles landed me behind a telephone at the Exodus Film Group... where I pitched would-be investors on family entertainment for two long years. Probably the best part of working at Exodus, apart from the mentorship I received, was spending time with Basil Poledouris - who wrote the film score for RoboCop and many other personally beloved movies...

You, dear artist, are a brave soul! No one knows better than an artist about what it takes to grapple with the uncertainty and still continue to show up, to create, or to perform. Despite all the ups and downs, the victories and the defeats, the success and the failures that come with the artistic career, you are still here. Even when you don’t know what might happen next, you are devoted to making your art. But now, the uncertainty has taken a new dimension. It’s a dimension you’ve never bee...

Happy Wednesday Stage 32 Community! I hope this blog finds you healthy, happy, and creative while rocking self-quarantine. All of us here on Stage 32 team have been diligently working from home, just like you, and we are honored to continually bring you more ways to stay creative and connected online with our more than 600,000 members across the world. Stage 32 is committed to bringing you entertainment, education, and community from the comfort and safety of your own home. Today, I wanted t...