Acting
Acting Stage 32 Blogs
How Perfectionism Kills Your Craft & Crushes Your Spirit
At age 17, my artist-father was taught a mantra. ‘Near enough isn’t good enough. It has to be perfect.’ So he slaved for his mentor, re-doing work over and over again until one day, the mentor was moved to tears and whispered; ‘now it’s perfect. And that’s near enough.’ But the damage was done. Over 60 years of painting, dad couldn’t bring himself to have an exhibition. Nothing was perfect. It robbed him of so much joy and satisfaction and held him back from moving forward in life. I inheri...


8 Tips to Kick Start Your Acting Career in 2022
I have been a full-time actor for 35+ years. When I first started in the industry, I knew nothing and had no connections. It was very difficult breaking in. I did things by trial and error and spent money on things that were not helpful. It took me years to finally understand what both actors and models need to do in order to give themselves their best chance for success. So far, I have been booked 1,275 times in acting and commercial print projects. I was cast in a recurring role on House of...


3 Steps Social Networks Can Take to Foster Community - Richard Botto for Fast Company Executive Board
Happy Tuesday Creative Army! My first article as a Fast Company contributor - Three Steps Social Can Take to Foster Community - was published recently and I wanted to share it with you.Having run Stage 32 for over 10 years, I couldn't be more proud of our amazing community of nearly 1 million members and even more so that the business world has recognized our community as the shining example of positivity and productivity anywhere on the planet. It's been amazing to hear from so many cr...


How Writing a Stage 32 Blog Helped Me Get Distribution for My Transmedia Film Project
I wanted to share my experience with other filmmakers on how posting a Stage 32 blog helped me get distribution for my transmedia film project. Part 1 About four months ago in the transmedia lounge, they were having a discussion on transmedia. So, I shared how I was developing my transmedia project Black Salt from comic book to crowd funding for my proof-of-concept film, to video game. Karen Ross, the Community Manager at Stage 32, told me my transmedia journey would make an excellent blog...


How to Attract Allies in the Film Industry: The New Approach to Goal-Setting
Have you ever fallen in creative love? Perhaps you idly chat about your favorite director (like this fun getting-to-know-you post), only to discover that you both love their most obscure film the most. Over your first coffee date, you playfully square off about who has the worst set stories, but you share a laugh over the resiliency it takes to keep going. Now you're about to start a project and your new creative ally is firmly entrenched in your corner. 'How in the world did I get so fortunate?...


How To Handle Advice and Critique
Happy New Year, Stage 32! Last month, I wrote a pilot and a feature in my labors as a script doctor and ghostwriter… and in the final tally, I wound up writing 6 pilots and nine features in 2021. Just one of these films was under my own name. Going into 2022, my goal is to make enough headway with my own spec sales, films in development, and transmedia projects that I can charge more, work less, and focus on what I have to give the audience. If I can get my sci-fi heist feature into productio...


How to Use Speaking to Brand Yourself & Network
The inclination nowadays is to try to promote yourself online as much as possible. However, while there – understandably (and unfortunately) – are still some locales in varying forms of lockdown, more events are (back) out there where you can go speak! Getting in front of people opens a new lane for you to get your name, face, and what you do “out there” while also providing opportunities to make valuable new connections. Let me immediately nip something in the bud before you decide, “Oh no, t...


Authority Magazine: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker, an interview with Richard “RB” Botto of Stage 32
Happy Wednesday Stage 32! Since 2011, the Stage 32 team has been working tirelessly to help you stay connected, creative, motivated, and informed. As always, we are committed to bringing you networking opportunities, education and mentoring from top-level industry executives and professionals, and access to decision-makers around the globe all from the comfort of your own home. Recently our efforts have been noticed by the media in a big way. We are incredibly proud and honored that Stage 32...


Voyage LA: Exploring Life & Business with Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto
Happy Wednesday Creative Army! Stage 32's continued mission is to democratize the entertainment business and the industry is taking notice in a big way. We are incredibly proud and honored that Stage 32 has been featured recently in Forbes Magazine, Business Insider, Inc. Magazine, and more. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Voyage LA about how and why Stage 32 was born over ten years ago. Specifically, I spoke with them about my journey in the industry, how Stage 32 came ab...


Networking: Doors Open and Doors Close – Shall We Leave Them Ajar?
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! Wishing you all an abundant New Year filled with love, joy, and success! Four days into the New Year, I’ve taken stock of where I’ve been, where I am right now and where I want to be. I have decided that lamenting the past and worrying about the future is a huge waste of time and being a septuagenarian, one does not have the luxury of squandering a moment. That made me think about my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Doors will remain open to family, no ma...

