Acting

Happy New Year, Creative Army. Time for our first Coffee & Content of 2019. Going with a little Colombian dark roast to kick the year off. First up, a heavy dose of inspiration from Casey Neistat (with over 2 million views, no less). Whatever you're looking to take on in 2019, you need to watch this video. No excuses, no stopping. Let's get it done. Next, Christian Bale has received his share of praise and criticism through the years. The praise has come from the way he's fully immerses hi...

Are you craving a successful career in Hollywood, but can’t seem to get your first big break? Are you struggling with rejection, discouragement, fear, doubt, or feelings of failure? I have good news for you. If you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, continue to get rejection letters, or haven’t landed the role you’ve been dreaming of, making a different choice can truly change your life.   The Secret to My Success After taking a giant leap of faith by moving my family from Chicago where m...

Ever feel like giving up?   Like this guy here…   Of course you do. If you’re a writer, an actor, a filmmaker or an artist of any kind, you probably felt like giving up at least four times in the last month. Maybe you’re thinking about it RIGHT NOW. Apart from the fact that if you’re anything like me, giving up never really sticks because eventually that urge, that unscratchable itch to create something, comes crawling back with its tail between its legs and a puppy-eyed expression on...

2018 has been quite the year for me. I’ve done a lot of soul searching, endless amounts of planning, and allowed my brain to power through tireless bouts of thinking so I can answer some very difficult questions. I’ve had to deal with some adversity, too. But all of this has only made me stronger. Through it all, I recognize there are some really incredible moments in life. Brilliant, ones, actually, that can change us for the better. But with those brilliant moments come some not-so-brillia...

My favorite posts here on Stage 32 are the ones that inspire we creatives, actors, and filmmakers in the "second act" of our lives. Because, let's face it, we live in a culture that holds high the accolades and beauty of young, successful men and women in the industry. Of course we can see now that all of that is changing. Slowly. Actress and screenwriter Paula Jean Hixon made that clear in her comedic short film, "Are You My Mommy," which takes a look at how women of a "certain age" are typ...

Happy Sunday to all.  Let's hit the ground running today with some strong coffee and even stronger content. First up this time around, from our friends at Variety, some of the hottest screenwriters in the business offer their advice on how to break in and stay in the industry. Next, acclaimed New York acting coach, John Windsor-Cunningham, offers his advice on how to grab the auditioner's or audience's attention with the very first line you say. As always, I ask that you take a moment to s...

In the spirit of having fun, I thought I would pull out an oldie but a goodie blog post from the vault of my own archives. I wrote it after I had a conversation with another writer about the different things people say to us or ask us when we tell them what we do. (He's a screenwriter as well.) I mean, this is a normal question, right? You start yapping with someone and sooner or later they ask, "So what do you do for a living?" When I tell people I'm an actor and writer, they're not sure...

I am honored to present to you the worldwide premiere of the 3rd Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program. This program was curated by Stage 32 and the incredible industry executives (including Oscar winners, producers, managers and development executives) who judged our Short Film Contest. We are featuring 7 amazing filmmakers (from 4 countries) all with bright futures ahead. This is the same program that played at the 2018 Hollyshorts Film Festival and the 2018 Raindance Film Festival. The films and...

Happy Sunday, everyone.  Welcome to December. Let's get warm with a steaming cup of java and some red hot content. First up today, something a little different.  As many of you know, and some may not, having a qualified script supervisor on set is a must.  There are just some things that can't be saved in post and if you don't have the coverage or continuity, you're screwed.  Here, courtesy of Vanity Fair, Martin Scorsese's long-time script supervisor, Martha Pinson, lays down the knowledge...

There is nothing like auditioning. The range of emotions an actor feels stepping into a room full of decision-makers is considerable and often damaging to the quality of the audition itself. One way to keep those emotions and the mistakes they cause in check is to know how to work on a script in a hurry. And I will let you in on a secret: Good readers make better auditioners, whether you get the sides a week, a day, or ten minutes before the audition. So, if you don’t read aloud, it’s tim...