Advice

Happy Sunday, guys!  Hope you're having a great weekend.  It's been an inspiring one around these parts with another lively edition of Introduce Yourself weekend.  If you haven't posted or contributed, you're missing out on what's been a July record for new connections made here on Stage 32.  Join the biggest online networking party here. For Coffee and Content this week, I have two items I think you'll find inspiring and motivating.  First up, I often receive letters, private messages or simp...

First of all, you should know that the Stage 32 Blog wouldn’t exist without any of you. It’s true. Every day we crank out content that serves creatives in every corner of this industry. At least we try. If we’re missing the mark on something, that’s where you come in. What do you want to know?What do you need to know? What stories or advice do you crave? Every day we reach out to writers, directors, actors, casting directors, voice actors, teachers, authors, illustrators, designers, DPs,...

What does it take to become a director or assistant director on the set of some of the biggest Hollywood features out there? Stage 32 caught up with Joel Nishimine at Filmcon. Joel Nishimine has been an AD on films like The Last Exorcism and The Curse of Chucky. Right now he’s working as an AD on Living Among Us (2018). So he knows horror. But he also knows getting on set as a crew member isn’t so horrible, so long as you take the actions necessary to put yourself in front of people. When...

Welcome to another edition to Coffee & Content.  Hope you're all enjoying your weekend! First up this week, it's no secret that Pixar has a knack for telling great stories.  But how does the magic happen time and again?  How about a TedTalk on the subject?  Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography, creates stories with soul and wonder using math, science and code. Go behind the scenes of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Brave, WALL-E and more, and discover how Pixar interweaves art and scien...

What does it really take to break into voice acting? Can just anyone do it? If you’re an actor, voice acting already comes easier to you than most people. That said, even actors have a bit of a learning curve when it comes to working exclusively with their voice. Discover 6 things you’ll need to do before getting into voice-over to set yourself up for success. 1 - Explore Your Voice The first couple things you’ll do as a new voice actor is, get to know your voice and read as much as you can. T...

Summertime and the livin’ is easy. Isn’t that what they say? Maybe not so much for the working actor. I was buzzing through Backstage when I came across an article that rang true for me. It talked about ways that actors can stay motivated during the slow summer season. Auditions slow down, key players take off on vacay, and you're left holding your resume with a bunch of crickets around you. I get it. Sometimes it seems like the entire world comes to a complete stop when the sun is shining a...

Happy Sunday, everyone.  Hope you're all well rested and ready for some quality content. In this edition of Coffee & Content, we begin with the comedy of the Coen Brothers.  For my money, no filmmakers have embraced a wider range of comedy over the last 30 years than the Coens.  Sometimes darkly funny, other times broadly humorous, the Coens manage to mine laughs out of just about any scenario.  How do they get it done?  Our first video deconstructs the ins and outs of what makes it all come t...

I first met Alysia Reiner at SXSW about 5 years back.  I was immediately taken by her energy, spirit and determination.  We spoke for a long while about a life pursuing creative success and best practices on navigating the business.  We discussed how the most successful creatives find ways to eat excuses for breakfast and figure out how to control more than they relinquish.  Alysia has been a huge fan of the Stage 32 mission and has contributed to the platform in many ways including blogging (...

When you have a completed script in hand and need to decide how you're going to go out into the market, there are many options to consider. Our fearless leader, RB, sat down with award-winning director/producer Michael Polish to talk to him about breaking into the market once the script is done. Today, we're featuring it today on the Stage 32 YouTube page. To get more incredible content from some of the best minds working in the industry today, be sure to head over to our YouTube page and clic...

After serving in the Marines and traveling through Europe, North Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia, I had a story to tell, I just didn’t know how. I’ve since interviewed many men and women, civilians and veterans, who have come across the same issue – there’s a creative bug within, struggling to get out. How do you grab hold of this passion and leverage it to land the career of your dreams? Having now successfully transitioned from the military to being a novelist, screenwriter, and video game...