Featured Articles

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been working tirelessly to bring new film commissions, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix. This week we’re welcoming the Polish Film Institute to Stage 32 Education! Together, we’ll be training people looking to work above and below the line in Poland in support of the rebates, incentives, and the production companies and streamers looking to film locally. This will conti...

There is no Business like Show Business. And possibly that is true, as there is no place, other than politics, that a good or bad reputation can travel faster than a supersonic jet. You have to treat your reputation as your most prized possession in Hollywood. There seems to be a misunderstanding about what reputation truly means. A solid reputation is built on professionalism but even more so on how good a human being you are on a solid ground of authenticity and I, for one, quote more than...

I recently uploaded my 85th feature script onto my loglines page on Stage 32. In a subsequent exchange of comments, RB suggested that I write a blog about how I develop my ideas for scripts. My kneejerk response was, “That’s easy. For me, it’s like making popcorn." Below are the four elements I consider when selecting script topics. With a recent example of the four elements at work from my most recent script.   1) Stay True To Your Core Values   Oscar Wilde may have said, “Be yourself; e...

To have or not to have production insurance- the most important question. Short answer? YES. Always, yes. Production insurance is a necessary part of the production process that many independent creators love to avoid, whether to “save” money or avoid all the paperwork. However, much like car, health, and any other business insurance, it is a MUST! What does production insurance do? It covers rentals, liability, injuries while on set, vehicles operated on set, and even copyright claims. If...

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 video from the Writers Guild Foundation, acclaimed showrunner Glen Mazzara (THE ROCKIE, THE DARK TOWER) discusses the challenges of being a screenwriter, advice for new writers, and the importance of including fun in a spec script. It's great insight into what a showrunner looks for whe...

Let's set the records straight for parents of young, and specifically, young adult actors (~16-24) in the entertainment industry. While there is a lot of content about sexual predators in the Industry, there’s very little about other types of abusive, manipulative, and predatory behaviors involving young actors. In an unnatural arena where profit, investment, careers, and social status rely on our kids more than ever, we, as parents, need to remain vigilantly aware that while “magic” exists i...

Many of you are likely aware of the book, The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. You might also be aware that it’s based on the writings of Joseph Campbell and it applies Campbell’s ideas on the Hero’s Journey to cinema in general and screenwriting specifically. Many of you may have even read Vogler’s book or Cambell’s writings, or both. But did you know that The Writer’s Journey started as an internal memo at Walt Disney Animation Studios while developing The Little Mermaid and Beauty and...

To wrap up my recent blog series on understanding script analysis and coverage, I'm delving into the inner workings of the recommendation process and exploring the factors that industry professionals consider when deciding which scripts to recommend. From the potential impact of a positive script recommendation on a writer's future in the industry to the significance of script grading as a deciding factor for acceptance or rejection, I aim to provide new screenwriters with a comprehensive unders...

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical of Stage 32 at first. But I figured, why not? I've tried pretty much everything else. Joining Stage 32 ended up being a game-changer for my career. It wasn't like anything I'd experienced before. For once, people were reading my work not because they had to judge it for a competition, but because they were genuinely interested. The feedback I got from industry pros was eye-opening and, honestly, exactly what I needed. My screenwriting journey has been quite an...

Independent film projects deal with business and legal aspects all the time. Bigger production companies generally have an in-house or external business and legal affairs manager. This is however less common for small production companies. In this article, we will discuss the role of business and legal affairs in independent film, and explore the areas covered by a business and legal affairs department or manager.     Business and Legal Affairs in Independent Film Business and le...