Acting

Happy Screenplay Saturday Stage 32! I hope you all had a beautiful and creative week. I was catching up on the trades this week (following the very sage wisdom of our founder and CEO Richard "RB" Botto: Always read the trades and know what is going on in the business of entertainment!) and I came across an article from Deadline Hollywood about the pilot script of Marvel/Disney+'s WandaVision. This episode is a fascinating introduction to a series unlike anything else in the Marvel universe....

Happy Friday Stage 32 Tribe! As you may know, the third weekend of every month we host "Introduce Yourself Weekend" in the Introduce Yourself Lounge. Every month, thousands of members join our online networking extravaganza, meeting and connecting with creatives and professionals from all over the world.  This month, we have an exciting spin on our regular Introduce Yourself Weekend with our first ever Introduce Your FAIL Weekend. No matter what hat(s) you wear in the entertainment industry,...

Being a creator means being ready for rejection. The industry does away with those who can not handle it. Sometimes, we get so passionate about a project, we pursue the greatest of opportunities without a second thought. Or sometimes, we pass on experiences that turned out to be major successes. You will go through this at some point in your career. How do we move on from that? How do we do away with regret and hurt? What do we do when that amazing moment is gone?     Stay Hungry...

If you’re an actor, you may or may not have come to the realization that as the sole owner of YOU, Inc., no one seems to care as much about your company as you. Often, actors believe that once they get a reputable agent, that the agent will make it their sole mission in life to make the actor successful. Even the best agents can’t offer that. Over time, you come to realize that if this company (again, we’re talking about your career) is going to be successful, there’s only one person that can ma...

Individualism. It’s the single most important element I have learned about life and the people I work with. No two people are the same. No two actors are the same. I believe directing actors entails: Knowing yourself Learning about each of your actors and what they need Training yourself to listen and assess everyone as an individual I began directing actors in 1974 when I made my first picture, INDEPENDENCE DAY. For the first ten years of my career I only directed independent films wh...

“CINEMA IS A MATTER OF WHAT’S IN THE FRAME AND WHAT’S OUT.” - Martin Scorsese The point of view of our creations starts with our personal worldview. How do you approach new contacts? Old teammates? Scripts, projects, edits? Here at Stage 32, we welcome. We invite and encourage. We may even suggest or request, all to set the stage for positive, productive relationships. Opening up a frame into "you" or "your craft" is an invitation to start an authentic conversation. If you have a lengthy...

Long-time Stage 32 member, blog contributor, webinar teacher, and international film & distribution aficionado, David Zannoni has series of exclusive Stage 32 blogs and vlogs to keep you up-to-date on the business of film across the globe. Today, David gives an update on virtual film markets and networking opportunities in 2021. You will learn about: Navigating virtual festival platforms What the virtual + physical festival landscape looks like in 2021 How to network at virtual festivals...

I've long since been on a writing hiatus. Call it treating myself, call it writer's block. Call it what you will. What's important is that I am taking a mental health break on my own terms. This is necessary every now and then. Yes, it can be seen as lazy. Yes, it can be seen as a lack of creative energy. What I call it is: essential. There was a time in which my output was off the charts. Quite possibly unhealthy levels of writing. Of course I write because I enjoy it. But, I had reached a cert...

After three and a half years of being a reader in multiple casting offices in Los Angeles, and participating in more than 10,000 auditions, I'm sharing with you the knowledge and insight I've gained by being a fly-on-the-wall in the room with casting director's, directors, producers, and showrunners. So take the journey with me, and discover some insider secrets that will help you manage your fears and expectations, as well as give you an edge as soon as you walk in the audition room. Episod...

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, our friends over at StudioBinder have put together a great video highlighting the art of the opening scene. This video highlights how screenwriters & directors hook the audience in the first 10 minutes - whether through introducing characters, establishing relationships, and oftentimes, some good...