Advice

Happy Sunday Creative Army! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice and let's dive right in. First up, Film Independent has a quick video full of great tips on how to rewrite your feature screenplay. As you know, writing is rewriting - and rewrites can be brutal. They cover everything from why you should step away before diving into your second draft to why focusing on the "macro" in your first draft is wise so you can dial in on...

I remember seeing the van speeding toward my vehicle. When it struck, the impact sent a shudder through my nerves. Fortunately, I had enough sense to lean away from the window, so my head didn’t smash through the glass but only slammed into it with a mild “thud”. I was left with a bump on my head instead of a concussion, or worse. The car, sadly, did not fare as well: it was a write-off. Later, I learned that a piece of the engine had been propelled through the bodywork and had missed me by i...

I’ve made a lot of movies. I started off as a Runner and worked my way up. I worked on 13 movies as a 1st AC & 2nd AC and Director of Photography before I became an award-winning Director & Writer in my own right. Having gone from Runner to director I have experienced the whole gauntlet of film making from the biggest shoots (Harry Potter and James Bond) to tiny micro-budget one-man crew shoots. I have seen many ways to do things effectively and simply. There are 6 main areas of filmmaking for...

Welcome back, dear readers of Stage 32! By now, most of you know me pretty well. Because I’m eager to dig into the meat and matter of this article, I’m going to skip the part where I try to sell you on myself as an authority in the field of film development. If anyone needs a breakdown on my achievements and status within the industry, there’s a little bio at the bottom of the article which nobody ever reads. In her wisdom and foresight, Taylor the Stage 32 Content Queen had me write up that...

January, 1st 2021 Sitting on my parents couch, with stale Christmas cookie crumbles on the coffee table, I turn on the TV to see that Netflix has dropped its New Year's Day documentary: Less Is Now… Produced by me. I had dreamed of this moment for years: the moment when I would make a movie that millions of people actually saw. Coming up in the industry as a young 20s kid from south Philly, I would try to convince myself and others that this dream was possible. I shared my vision with fellow...

In May, I offered free screenplay coverage on Stage 32. I received dozens of screenplays, and to this day I still have a lot to read. I am now halfway through and wanted to share a few lessons learned along the way to help you polish your own story — whether it’s a screenplay or not.     On Working for Free I’m not a supporter of free work, and I won’t tell you to offer your services for free because, in my opinion, it’s the worst harm you can do to your practice, whatever it is. For...

In our ongoing mission to democratize the entertainment industry for all creatives around the world, Stage 32 is thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual Diversity Springboard Screenwriting Contest! This year's winner will be personally mentored by NAACP Award-Winner Doug Atchison, the filmmaker behind critically acclaimed films including AKEELAH AND THE BEE and BRIAN BANKS! Now more than ever, the entertainment industry is making strides to ensure that voices from all backgrounds and points of v...

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 talking about the directing choices that brought iconic ending of The Graduate to life. Specifically, this video breaks down director Mike Nichols' choices regarding cinematography, sound design, and contrast and how these elements...

Hello! ¡Hola! Bonjour, hallo, namaste, olá, kon’nichiwa, and annyeonghaseyo! With a global film, television, and digital media community, sometimes you have to cast your net wide to get your message across. What about receiving messages? Casting a net isn’t the only step in panning for gold. It takes movement, attention, and above all, patience. No matter where you are in the world, though, you can find what you are looking for on Stage 32! Earlier this year, our fearless leader, Stage 32’s Fo...

G. Charles Wright is a 20 year veteran of TV casting, a career he says he was studying for his entire life and didn’t know it! A graduate of USC with a degree in communications (emphasis on television, critical studies), G. has been on both sides of the camera as an actor, a casting director, a content creator, a producer and a director. In addition, G’s been teaching actors how to audition in his private studio classes since 2002. G started in casting at 33 years old, interning for Carsey/Wer...