Latest Blogs

One of the most exciting aspects of being in a creative industry (writing, music, filmmaking, etc.) is that once your content is out there, it’s OUT THERE—for all eternity. Courtesy of the Internet Age, that content can be discovered (or re-discovered) at any moment via simple Google search.   Participatory Journalism On Steroids     In the late-90’s, I was following in my literary idol Hunter S. Thompson’s footsteps, engaging in participatory journalism—primarily for hip men’s lifes...

"True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure. The greater pressure, the deeper the revelation." ROBERT MCKEE     Robert McKee returns to Stage 32 with a rare online teaching appearance! In this exclusive Masters of Craft webinar, Robert McKee teaches the secret to writing complex protagonists, including lessons on: The principles of character creation Characterization vs. true character The essentials of character dimension The tools required to...

Our next video in the CrowsSOURCING series is important, as it talks about using social media when crowdsourcing. And if you’re looking to create a buzz about your film, TV, or digital project, social media is going to be one of your most powerful tools. In his book, Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd, Stage 32 CEO Richard “RB” Botto shares case studies of projects that used social media to attract massive attention. But just how they did it is key. In the vi...

One Stage 32 blog post.Two hours to write.Three opportunities as a result. (And one of them is in Scotland!)When Stage 32 member Joey Madia wrote his first Escape Room narratives for an organization, it was in 2017. He wrote them for two 5-star escape rooms on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Those rooms are still active today. Not long afterwards, he wrote and published a blog post right here on Stage 32 called Seven Steps for Writing Escape Room Narratives (And How to Find Opportunities...

Hello, Creative Army! It's that time of the week again! That time where we brew a cup, have a seat, and educate ourselves with some of the finest how-to videos out there. We see questions in the lounges pertaining to filmmaking quite often. So to give ease to those questions and start our week off right, let's hit play on our first video, 7 (USEFUL) DIY Filmmaking HACKS/BUILDS. Next up from cinematographer Matti Haapoji, 5 Tips for Filming at Night. Last week we shared a video that showed...

I couldn't pass this one up, people. Especially because we have to talk to others. I mean, you can try like hell to go through life making a living and not having conversations, but I feel like that really wouldn't work. I mean, have you ever tried to go through an entire day without saying a word to anyone? Okay, okay, you probably you have. Hell, that's me today. (It's a quiet day as I write this and the only living things around me are my two dogs, dead exhausted from the walk I took them...

Reclaim Your Worth. Reclaim Your Art. As an artist, you need a powerful, resilient, yet flexible and fluid sense of self-worth. Self-worth keeps you connected to your creative energy. When you feel in touch with your self-worth, you can make art that you believe in. You trust the value of what you create - its message, meaning, power, and purpose. A real trust in your creativity begins with accepting yourself and all that you are. Connected to yourself, you’re able to maintain a solid be...

Create High Value Conflicts The key reason most scripts/films fail is that they were not properly conceived. That is, when the central conflict of the film’s story was being created not enough thought was put into to finding the best dramatic ideas in it. However, by asking the right dramatic questions, writers, producers and directors can create central conflicts that are strong enough to be developed into first-rate stories. Following are ideas showing how to develop a strong central conflict...

The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (FilmTT) is hosting a Business of Film Workshop, together with training partner Stage 32, from Thursday, September 5 – Sunday, September 8 2019. The workshop aims to bridge the gap for working professionals who are interested in continuing to improve their production skills (“both above the line” and “below the line”), focusing on critical positions where there are currently gaps in expertise. If you live in the Caribbean area Register Here! The Business...

For the past few weeks we’ve been featuring videos in our crowdSOURCING series hosted by Stage 32 CEO, Richard “RB” Botto. RB authored his best-selling book, Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd to light the way for indie filmmakers and other creatives looking to make their mark with independent projects. In the new video below, he talks about how to use crowdsourcing to build an audience. “Boots on the ground,” as he says, are needed to carry the message of your...