Tips

This was the first and last question I was asked as a student in film school. Is it something that we see on a big screen? That can’t possibly be the answer, you can see just about anything on a “big screen” these days and most cinematic experiences now happen in your home. I remember playing Metal Gear Solid on my Play Station and remarking that it was quite a “cinematic experience.” Yet, when I watch the news, I don’t feel like it’s a cinematic experience. So, in this, I can understand the...

As a performer, there’s a question to ask yourself. Are you in love with acting or do you love the idea of acting? Acting is a hard game to play but few speak directly about the realities involved with this line of work. The dominance of social media in the 21st century has begun to muddle performance and this is a key stance to launch these tips and observations from. Professional acting skill sets have become diluted in recent years. Regular attendance at London drama school showcase...

If your screenplay lands in the forest, will anyone find it? Yes, I’ve mangled an old trope, but the point I’m making is this: as screenwriters we need to proactively ensure our scripts reach producers once we complete our polished creations. After all, the whole point of writing a script is to get it filmed! Fortunately, I discovered the Stage 32 Pitch Sessions. I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but I decided they would be a great way to connect with executives and others in the...

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, we're getting some inspiration from GQ and one of the most influential cinematographers of all time: Sir Roger Deakins. This man has worked on some of your favorite films (whether you were aware of it or not), including 1917, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, SICARIO, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, NO COUNTRY FOR O...

How do you know when you’re ready to write a screenplay? Have you studied enough; do you know enough? Do you need to know more? First, a little about me so you know why I’m writing this. Like many, I’ve always wanted to write. Instead, and who knows why—I made other random life choices. As it turns out, most of those choices have resulted in the number one thing I’d dreamed of doing since I was a sixth grader—writing. But of course, I didn’t do that either. Not until I hung up the day job...

As writers, we often hear the phrase, “kill your darlings.” But, that phrase is often in the context of cutting out writing or scenes that don’t work, slow down a piece, or are utterly unnecessary. Recently though, I’ve found myself taking it another way. I’m one of those people who work on multiple projects at once, and two of the things I’m working on had a similar thing happen. I cut an entire character from both. This can be more painful than cutting scenes or entire plot points. In bo...

Hey, Stage 32ers! "How do I pitch to Netflix" is probably one of the most common questions we get here at Stage 32. But what you really need to be asking is WHY your project belongs at Netflix. As all these major companies consolidate, you might be wondering how it will likely impact pitching and your project's path to the screen. And I'm here to answer those questions in today's vlog... Wishing you a very happy, healthy, & creative week. Cheers, RB If you would like more great indu...

Making a film is a 'Big idea" that tends to overwhelm and can be an endless challenge to try and set sail. Where does one begin? This is your dream, after all, and here are a few methods that will help inspire your creative life. Understand That Writing Is Everything For as long as I can remember, if I wanted to create something, it would not be discovered without reading about it. In fact, reading is a prerequisite to writing. I think that what you read changes your thoughts and then your so...

My journey as a composer of music to picture has been a non-straightforward one. Whilst studying Applied Arts in France (graphic design, architecture, fine art, etc) I started off in my teens singing and playing guitar, writing songs, and fronting a live band. I then started producing other artists on the UK Soul scene in my twenties and thirties, and eventually began editing music and composing for TV shows, short films, and documentaries. I've worked on projects big and small, some very crea...

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 director of SHAZAM! and its recently released sequel, David F. Sandberg digs into one of the biggest challenges every filmmaker faces: communicating their vision. You might see what you want on screen clear as day in your mind, but if you can't clearly communicate it to your actors and crew...