Happy Tuesday, Creative Army!

If you weren’t able to make it to Cannes this year, don’t worry—we’re still bringing Cannes to you.

As I mentioned last week, Stage 32 celebrated our 10th year partnering with the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival this May. Our panels were packed with powerhouse insights and practical strategies from the most respected minds in film and television. And the best part? We’re sharing every one of them with you, right here on the Stage 32 blog.

Today, I’m thrilled to share one of the most honest and impactful conversations we hosted at the festival. If you’ve been wondering what it really takes to get a project greenlit in today’s shifting global media climate, this one’s for you.

Stage 32 Presents: Rebuilding the Pipeline – How Producers & Filmmakers Can Get Greenlit in Today’s Landscape

Recorded live at the FilmUSA Pavilion, May 16th, 2025

This conversation digs deep into the current challenges of financing and producing independent projects, while offering tangible strategies for how to overcome them. From legal trends to dealmaking realities to industry-wide shakeups, our expert panel didn’t hold back.

This was about real talk from real dealmakers, fixers, and producers. The kind of insight you can’t find in a tweet or a trending headline, just unfiltered advice from people doing the work, every day.

Moderator:

• Sara Elizabeth Timmins – Producer and Stage 32 Education Producer

Panelists:

• Michael Maizner – Founder and Managing Partner, Maizner & Associates, PLLC
• Jackie Ward – Senior Associate, Ramo Law
• Jack Sheehan – President, Archstone Entertainment
• Darrien Gipson – Executive Director, SAGIndie

From the rise of new financing and distribution models, the growth of global film production, the crucial role of legal strategy, and how indie filmmakers can navigate union agreements and studio hesitation, this conversation covers it all.

Watch the full panel recording below and share your thoughts in the comments!

Let us know: What’s your biggest hurdle when it comes to getting your project greenlit right now?

And if you haven’t already, you can catch last week’s panel on global production strategy here:

From Local Crews to Global Screens – Navigating the Filmmaking Boom

Keep checking back—we’ll be rolling out more panel recordings from Cannes 2025 over the next few weeks.

And before I sign off, Stage 32’s July Filmmakers Club is officially back!

If you missed the kickoff announcement, you can read it here: July Filmmakers Club Week 1: Setting Your Independent Filmmaking Goals.

This month-long campaign is designed to help you move your projects forward, all with the support of your Stage 32 community. Your first challenge is all about getting honest, intentional, and clear on what you want to accomplish in July. Share your goals, support others, and start taking action!

Until then, keep pushing, keep building, and keep believing in your voice.

Cheers,

RB

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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