Tips

What's up, my creative friends?  Ready for some more killer content to push you through the remainder of the weekend and get you fired up for the week ahead?  Good.  Let's roll. For many filmmakers, Sidney Lumet's book, Making Movies, is a beloved treasure.  Today I bring you a fantastic (and rare) interview featuring Lumet speaking about his process.  This is one I have no doubt you'll bookmark for repeat viewings - and deservedly so. Next, one of the bigger laments we hear from our executi...

Our good friends over at Buffalo 8 have had an incredible run recently with film premieres at Sundance, Berlin, Toronto and SXSW. Their team is one of the hardest working in the industry! Recently, we sat down with Steven Adams, the head of management and producer for Buffalo 8 to talk about advice that will help your career in film, TV and digital. Prior to joining Buffalo 8, he worked in Paris for BUF on features such as THOR, AVATAR and LIFE OF PI.  Today on our YouTube page we have a video...

Why does the world love Ryan Reynolds? Because, at least to all of us, he seems to be unapologetically himself on social media, in interviews and on the red carpet with his stunning and talented wife Blake Lively. In a business that relies so heavily on your “image” it can sometimes seem incredibly frightening to show let your “True Colors Shine Through” (I hope that song is now stuck in everyone’s head!). And even though I can’t imagine the kind of pressure that puts on someone in front of the...

With so many distribution options available for filmmakers these days, it's inevitable that VOD, SVOD and AVOD are part of the discussions for your film. We sat down and talked with Zahida Kazar, the Director of Operations for Gravitas Ventures, who, once a film is acquired works with the filmmakers to deliver their films to places like Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, cable operators and more. Today, on our Stage 32 YouTube page we've posted a video where Zahida gives a great piece of advice to make su...

Happy Sunday, everyone.  Let's get after it. This week for Coffee & Content, another two videos designed to instruct, motivate and inspire. First up, it's How to Motivate Yourself to Write Every Day from Diane Callahan.  Whether you're writing screenplays, novels, short stories or even blogs, I think you'll find this one to be a kick in the ass. Next, from our friends at DSLRguide, it's 50 Tips for Filmmakers.  This one covers a ton of ground from the craft to the business.  Dig in and enj...

As creative artists one thing we often do is work tirelessly on our craft. One thing that sometimes get lost is the "business" of the business. Today, on our YouTube channel we released a video from Stage 32ers Sam Estes and Michael Hobe who are sound designers on films such as INCEPTION, THE DARK KNIGHT, INSIDE OUT and more. In this video Sam and Michael go over an important tip on how to get hired as a creative.  And, remember, if you haven't subscribed to our YouTube page, make sure you do...

So you’ve finally caught on that the easiest script to get made is horror. It’s global, it’s cheap and it’s the most made genre with independent investors. So what do you need to know?   1) Low Budget If You Are Not Established There are so many genius horror movies that take place in a house or a hotel or in the woods. Why? Because you only need one location. Monsters are tricky, but ghosts that you never really have to see (Paranormal Activity) are cheap. The cheaper your budget, the...

Recently during the 2018 Film Con Hollywood at the LA Convention Center we spent time with Stage 32er and panelist Jennifer Winberg, who is a Digital Specialist from MXM, an entertainment industry marketing & advertising agency. Jennifer has had a storied career in digital and has worked with Lionsgate, SONY, FOX, Gravitas Ventures and more. Today we've posted a video from Jennifer on our YouTube page as she gives advice on how to break into entertainment. Click here to hear Jennifer's advice!...

The odds and the realities of making a living at doing what we love, acting, put in perspective, isn't pretty. Actors really have two jobs; first the audition, in which you must be brilliant, and show that you are easy to get along with. And second, after you book the job, to do the job well. Making a living in the industry is not an easy task. Daily you race to auditions, sometimes with only a few hours notice to prepare, and often in an unforgiving environment, stressed by traffic or lack...

  1) Consider the Source If I hear one more person tell me that a friend of theirs who “works as a coordinator at XYZ and said...” I’m going to lose my mind. I’m not even sure what a coordinator does, but I’ve never seen one at a creative meeting. Years ago, my dad knew a producer named Arnold Kopelson who produced The Fugitive and Eraser. I’d written a script about a boy trying to get to Fenway Park for Opening Day. He didn’t like my script and I put it in a drawer. I realize now that as...