Latest Blogs

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! As many of you know, I recently attended the 45th American Film Market (“AFM”)! This year was special for many reasons, it was Stage 32’s 10th year as an official education partner of AFM, my 11th year speaking as an expert panelist on the AFM main stage, and the 1st year that this prestigious market was held in Las Vegas, Nevada! Yet it was the overwhelming positivity that I felt from the professionals and attendees around me that stood out most this year. Buye...

To say the movie industry is in a transitional stage would be an understatement. Studios are still behind their pre-strike production output. Despite the outcome of the strikes, AI is still seen as an existential threat to professional screenwriters and the screenwriting community at large. The trend of studios staking all their output on tentpole franchises hasn’t seemed to lose momentum inside Hollywood studios, despite the fact that audiences speaking with their wallets want to see something...

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 essay by Thomas Flight, he’s breaking down the elements that make for great exposition in your dialogue. Exposition in film and TV has a mostly bad reputation, but it’s really just another tool in the writer's toolbox. This video examines examples of exposition, discusses common m...

I have been writing and publishing stories for more than 10 years, first as a novelist. I always wrote in a silo, never sharing my work until I had reworked it countless times. Heaven forbid someone sees my terrible first draft! After publishing two novels this way, I opened myself up to a trusted friend as my next story was more complexly layered. It all made sense in my head, but would my reader get the connections? By bouncing around ideas and sharing my drafts with this friend, I fixed plot...

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in new educational and mentoring resources and opportunities to this fantastic community! This December, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, film commissioners, financiers, award-winning writers, producers, directors, cinematographers, authors, actors, and representatives. Impressive creative professionals who have worked on or represented such projects as THE SANDMA...

Happy Thanksgiving, Creative Army! On behalf of the entire Stage 32 team, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We are so proud of our ever-growing creative community and we are beyond honored to provide every one of you a safe haven to connect, be inspired, and come together to make your art. We are all extremely grateful for the members of this community and for the incredible relationships and friendships that have bloomed this year. Truly, we feel blessed. As I've m...

This Thanksgiving, my invitation is to pause and consider the role gratitude plays in your writer’s journey. Gratitude is not just a feel-good emotion; it is the way, the path to navigating challenges, strengthening your resilience, and fueling your process. Think of gratitude as your superpower. Find Strength in the Challenges You Have Overcome Think about the struggles you have faced and conquered in your creative life—the dragons you have slain, all the times you broke through frustrating...

Happy Tuesday, Stage 32ers! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been bringing new film commissions, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix as we support film and television workforce development worldwide. This week we’re welcoming The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission to Stage 32 Certification! The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission and Stage 32 are excited to partner to bring Certification opportunities to creative p...

As a producer and executive in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, I’ve seen countless submissions and been in hundreds of pitch meetings - on both sides of the table. While the landscape is constantly changing, one thing remains clear - preparation is everything. Whether you’re submitting a script, pitching a new series, or meeting a potential collaborator, your level of preparedness can make all the difference in securing a deal or moving your project forward. Even if you want it...

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 Film Courage interview, they’re talking to writer, Jay Fingers, about how to handle rejection. Jay Fingers is a novelist, journalist, editor, and emerging screenwriter who authored four books: Guestlist, Kisses for Tati, Orange Mound, and Manhattan Sweetheart before moving to Los Angele...