Advice

I wanted to share my journey as a black filmmaker for Black History Month. Part 1 I started developing my Black Salt franchise over 10 years ago because I was tired of seeing how they depicted black men in TV and film. I create a black hero who was strong, disciplined and people could look up to. I loved martial arts, so I wanted my hero to have mastered Shaolin Kung Fu and be an Interpol agent, where he traveled around the world with great adventures, defeating the bad guys and standing...

I’m an Actor Care Specialist I am not a therapist. My job is not to heal but to provide a safe and containing space to guide actors in creating solid boundaries between themselves and the characters they portray. I do this by expanding their self-awareness. The vehicle is the actor’s artistic expression. Without question their personal development is wrapped up inside that. If there is personal work to be done outside the work of character creation, I set the boundary and always sign post t...

Happy “Valentimes,” Stage 32! My name is Tennyson, I’ve written more than 50 screenplays, I’ve helped produce some movies, I direct and edit, I’m a working script doctor, and I’ve been working on stage since I was 13 years old. For the last few years, I’ve been blogging for Stage 32 more or less monthly… and this week, we’re going to talk in a little more detail about why I do that. EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP Showbusiness is, and has always been, a collaborative effort. Even a one-person show ne...

Swish!  How I’m Making the Most of My Stage 32 Experience. There’s a basketball court near my house. My girlfriend and I pass it on our routine walks around the neighborhood. One day not too long ago, we walked by it and joked that we should get a basketball and play against each other. We like a bit of a competition, and we’re always looking for new games to play against each other. The holidays were approaching, so, I put a basketball under the Christmas tree for her. You might be thinking...

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, the folks over at StudioBinder have a great series about the art of opening scenes. In this video, they cover six more ways to begin a film: tragedy, direct address, newsreel, crime, day in the life, and setting. You will see examples from Children of Men, Stranger than Fiction, Zodiac, Arrival,...

Becoming a screenwriter is a truly incredible process, that will challenge you, reward you, disappoint you, but never bore you. That being said, it’s important to go into this path with eyes wide open, and know the truth about being a screenwriter. These are the top 5 myths about being a screenwriter that you should know first. Myth #1 - It Doesn’t Involve Much Writing Although screenplays are short, usually from 90 to 100 pages, with a lot of empty space on the page, they can actually be muc...

Yoga and acting; they go together like avocado and toast. Separately, they’re tasty; but, together, it’s explosive. Hang with me here. To get really proficient at doing a handstand, what does it take? Determination. Practice. Flexibility. Focus. Skillset. Maybe some natural talent. Guidance. A touch of letting of the outcome and being present in the moment. Starting to sound a bit more like the characteristics and mindset of the profound and impactful actors we see on set and screen? Though...

You volunteered for service in the military, and then decided it was time to pursue your dreams in La La Land. And guess what? Hollywood is recruiting you! They know you have a story to tell, and they can’t wait to hear it. I always knew I wanted a career in entertainment, and as an Officer in the Army I was selected to be a principal actor in a theatrical commercial for the National Guard, directed by Antione Fuqua (Training Day). After this experience, I packed my bags and moved to LA to be...

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your screen wondering how long until your next justified coffee break, then here are 7 more random things to try the next time your writing mojo goes on vacation. Find the first 6 suggestions in part 1 of this article here.  *note: all relevant links are at the end of this article* 7. BBC Writer’s Room Each year in January, the BBC Writer’s Room has an open call for scripts from writers in the UK looking to be ‘developed’. But there’s also a podcast...

From the minute I stepped on stage at the age of three, I knew that performing is what I wanted to do. The lights, the audience and adrenaline permeated my little bones. When I was introduced to film acting, that was a whole new level. The joy of booking a role, working with a crew of people focused on making the magic happen and being part of that collaboration was an incredible feeling! I have also always been adventurous when it comes to life. I love getting out of my comfort zone, seei...