Happy FriYAY, Stage 32 Community!

One of my favorite things about being Head of Community here at Stage 32 is to help bring opportunities directly to you that can spark connections, elevate your craft, and help you feel less alone in the sometimes overwhelming world of creativity. Today, I want to share one of those opportunities with you: an incredible free webcast event that Stage 32 is hosting next Wednesday, October 8th!

We’re teaming up with Film-Raderie, a nonprofit dedicated to developing the careers of underrepresented storytellers, to present an exciting panel where we'll be talking about the Composer & Filmmaker relationship and how to make your indie film successful.

And, boy, do we have some exciting panelists for you:

Dara Taylor, a celebrated film composer known for Marvel’s Ironheart and Amazon Studios’ The Tender Bar directed by George Clooney; Phil Popham of Helix Collective, a veteran composer with extensive experience in film scoring; Emile Upczak, a filmmaker with a keen eye for storytelling through sound and Lagueria Davis, director of Black Barbie which was acquired by Shondaland.

Together, they bring a wealth of expertise, having collaborated on diverse projects that showcase the art of early music integration. Their combined insights will empower you to forge strong creative partnerships and elevate your indie film.

When you’re crafting an indie film, the power of music can transform your story, setting the tone and connecting with your audience on a deeper level. Yet, many filmmakers struggle to integrate music effectively, especially early in production, where it can shape the narrative and elevate the final product. This webinar is your opportunity to unlock that potential, learning how to collaborate with composers to enhance your project from the outset. Whether you’re a first-time director or a seasoned producer, understanding this process is key to bringing your vision to life with professional polish. And we'll talk about it all....

It’s entirely FREE to join — and if you can’t make it live, don’t worry. By registering, you’ll receive the full recording in your Stage 32 Education Library the moment it’s available.

Interested? Keep reading...

Join us Wednesday for this FREE webcast

When: Wednesday, October 8th

Time: 11:00 am PT

Where: Online (Stage 32 Education)

Cost: FREE — Register here

Remember, if you can’t make it live, don’t worry, the full recording will be waiting for you in your Stage 32 Education Library as long as you register.

Click here to register for FREE now!

Meet Your Expert Panelists!

We’ve gathered an incredible lineup of professionals for this discussion, each bringing unique expertise and lived experience to the table:

Dara Taylor (Composer) – Dara has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in scoring today. Her credits span Marvel Studios’ Ironheart, Amazon Studios’ The Tender Bar directed by George Clooney, Netflix/Shondaland’s Black Barbie, Sony’s The Invitation (SCL Award nominee), and Universal’s comedy Strays starring Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx. She has also worked across television, including The Boys: Diabolical, FX’s Pride, and Netflix’s Bookmarks. Dara is not only an acclaimed composer, but also a Governor of the Recording Academy’s LA Chapter and a proud member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Phil Popham (Composer & Music Director, Helix Collective) – Phil has worn many hats across more than 80 film and TV productions, serving as a composer, conductor, and oboist. He is the Music Director of Helix Collective, where he has led dozens of live-to-picture concerts and film scoring projects, including the award-winning The Bag and the Bike. As a composer, his work on The Oread won a Golden Giraffe Award for Best Original Film Score, and his oboe/English horn performances can be heard on projects ranging from Planet Earth II to Dog Gone. With his dual background in performance and composition, Phil brings a rare holistic perspective to composer-filmmaker collaboration.

Emilie Upczak (Filmmaker) – Emilie is an independent filmmaker, a Rotterdam Producers Lab alum, and an Andy Warhol Foundation Grant recipient. She spent a decade as Creative Director for the trinidad+tobago film festival, where she spearheaded both the Caribbean Film Database and the Caribbean Film Mart. Her debut narrative feature Moving Parts premiered at the Denver Film Festival and is available through Indiepix, while her short film Silt won a Special Jury Award at the Independent Film Festival Boston. Currently, she is developing a second feature set against the backdrop of a near-future water crisis in the American Southwest, continuing her exploration of stories where place, sound, and human struggle intersect.

Lagueria Davis (Filmmaker) – Lagueria is the writer and director of Black Barbie, which premiered to acclaim at SXSW, was acquired by Shondaland, and released on Netflix on Juneteenth 2024. The film went on to win the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary and earned two Daytime Emmy nominations. She has shadowed directors on The L Word: Generation Q and Grey’s Anatomy (working under the legendary Debbie Allen), and has directed commercial work for Bel-Air and Peacock’s Olympics coverage. She brings her Southern, Black, and Queer perspective to her work, creating deeply personal and culturally resonant stories that resonate across audiences.

And I’ll be moderating, making sure your questions are part of the conversation and that the panelists share insights you can apply to your own creative journey.

What You’ll Learn

Here are just a some of the takeaways you can expect:

The importance of early music integration - Learn why incorporating music from pre-production shapes your film’s tone and narrative, with tips on timing and collaboration.

Strategies for effective composer-filmmaker collaboration - Discover practical approaches to align creative visions, communicate ideas, and build trust with your composer.

Real-world examples and case studies - Explore success stories from Dara Taylor’s work on Ironheart and The Tender Bar and Phil Popham with his work at Felix Collective and Emile Upczak’s award winning projects.

Overcoming common challenges - Gain solutions for budget constraints, scheduling conflicts, and late-stage music integration issues to keep your production on track.

Who This Webcast Is For

You don’t have to be a composer or a director to benefit. This conversation is for:

• Filmmakers and Producers who want to avoid costly mistakes and maximize creative impact.
• Actors who want to understand how music shapes character and performance.
• Writers who want to think more rhythmically about structure and tone.
• Editors and Post-Production Teams who want to integrate music seamlessly into workflow.
• Composers who want to better understand the needs and language of filmmakers.

No matter what corner of the creative industry you’re in, music affects your work — and understanding this relationship can give you an edge.

The Community Beyond the Webcast

What excites me most about this event is not just the insights you’ll gain in the session itself, it’s what happens afterward.

This conversation doesn’t have to end when the webcast wraps. I encourage you to bring your questions, your lightbulb moments, and your reflections into the Stage 32 Lounges. Whether you’re in the Filmmaking Lounge, the Acting Lounge, the Composing Lounge, or anywhere else on the platform, sharing your perspective helps spark new connections and keeps the learning alive.

These lounges are where theory turns into collaboration, and where knowledge becomes opportunity.

Music is more than just a finishing touch. It’s a storytelling partner. By learning how to collaborate with composers early and intentionally, you’re not just enhancing your film — you’re making it unforgettable.

So my invitation to you is this: join us for the webcast, then keep the conversation going in the Lounges. Let’s learn together, share insights, and strengthen the creative bonds that make this community so special.

I can’t wait to see you there!

About Film Raderie

Film Raderie is committed to developing the careers of underrepresented storytellers by providing education, inspiring through unique programming, facilitating access to resources, and connecting today’s most innovative creators.

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