Latest Blogs

Risk aversion is killing the business. There, I said it. The irony is suffocating: Hollywood's current risk-averse mentality is killing the exact genre that built the studio system and saved it during multiple downturns.THE TEN COMMANDMENTS was the highest-grossing film of the 1950s. BEN-HUR won 11 Oscars and saved MGM from bankruptcy. GLADIATOR revived the sword-and-sandal epic in 2000 and made $460M when everyone said the genre was dead. THE KING'S SPEECH cost $15M and made $414M while winning...

The film industry has a funny way of teaching you life lessons. Often when you’re least expecting them. Sometimes it feels less like a career path and more like standing waist-deep in the ocean, surfboard under your arm, waiting for something worth paddling for. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing. The Fear No One Talks About: Paddling Out There’s a moment in surfing that beginners don’t always anticipate. It’s not the falling - that part is expected. It’s the moment before you even try...

All the dogs in my life have had names that begin with B. In PRAYPREY, the “mercy-bound hounds” are called Belenor, Benedrix, and Brindle—three supernatural guardians born when Titans kneel to mercy, surrendering their own lives so the cities carved inside their bones can continue. In my real life, the hounds came first. Their names were Butch, Bones, and Blue. This was not a branding choice or a neat thematic device I engineered from the start. The “B” pattern only revealed itself later...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from Vanity Fair: Rian Johnson Breaks Down a Scene From “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”. If you love mysteries, this is a quick masterclass in building a story that feels layered and fu...

When my 1st screenplay made the 2nd Rounder list at the Austin Film Festival several years ago, I wasn’t sure whether I should attend. After all, I had a day job, 3 kids, a Maytag full of dirty laundry, and an ever-waning bank account. How could I ditch all that glam to go to Texas? I polled my friends, my partner, and my dogs: they all said go. My wallet disagreed, but I never listen to my wallet, so I went for it. Was it worth it? Hell, yeah—and that still resonates, even years later. Wher...

More than 100 new executives have joined Stage 32 in less than a year. Your global community of producers, managers, agents, and development executives is growing rapidly, fueled by the rise of the independent producer and a more dynamic international market. Now more than ever, creatives and executives can work outside of the system and are less dependent on the same five companies for permission to make content. It's inspiring to see executives build their own slates and get their first produc...

Back at Cannes in 2025, I had the incredible pleasure of announcing the education partnership between Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) and Stage 32… and I’ve been thinking about that moment ever since. Being on the ground, surrounded by filmmakers from every corner of the world, I was struck by just how aligned our communities are. The impact of both organisations, side by side, felt genuinely powerful. Not symbolic. Not aspirational. Real. Coming all the way from Australi...

Happy Wednesday, Creative Army! One of my favorite parts of festival season is the energy that comes from people coming together in the same place, at the same time, all focused on storytelling, collaboration, and opportunity. That’s why I’m excited to share about Stage 32 Lodge: Monday on Main St in Park City, Utah, during the festival! This is one of those events that has become a true networking staple over the years, where Stage 32 Members can go for great conversations over a drink, i...

As an artist, you’re called to show up in the world. Whether it’s on stage, making a pitch, submitting your screenplay, putting on an art show, you make yourself vulnerable to others over and over again. Making art is a unique process. The initial stages of creating are deeply personal, but, eventually, you need the attention of your audience to bring your creative work to life. Though it began as something private, your art only achieves its purpose and full potential when it impacts someone...

Happy Monday, Stage 32 Community! As we continue to settle into a new year, I want to invite you to something that has become one of my favorite moments each month here on Stage 32: our Community Open House. This is where conversations begin, connections form, and clarity replaces overwhelm. If you’ve been meaning to get more involved on Stage 32, meet collaborators, ask questions about next steps, or simply stop creating in isolation, this Open House is for you. This Month’s Community O...