Advice

Many mediamakers know they need a lawyer out the gate and yet initially they are often fearful of employing a lawyer as they fear they can't afford it. That is why I am frequently asked: "When should a mediamaker engage an entertainment attorney?" As a general rule, this should be done when the client is entering into a contractual relationship with another person or entity, such as two co-producers, two writing collaborators, a producer and a writer, a producer and a director, etc. It is a so...

Most music producers, arrangers and film composers in this day and time are using a Digital Audio Workstation(DAW) for all of their musical needs. Some music manufacturers have created DAWs that are exclusive all in one proprietary pieces of hardware, allowing you to record audio to an internal hard drive for playback. However, the disadvantage that most hardware DAWs have, is that a person must rely on the functionality of that sole hardware unit, based on the design and interest of the pare...

Finding film locations can be a major hassle and with smaller budget projects, it can be an adventure to scavenge for locations yourself. We’re all looking for unique, one-of-a-kind locations, but with so many other production duties it becomes difficult to adequately scout. Here are some tips on how to scout and lock-in locations quickly and effectively.1) Have location agreements printed and ready:Know exactly what you want and be ready to sign an agreement. The more prepared you are, the more...

Hey Everyone! Today we have a GREAT interview with our CEO, RB, with Forest Day Jr, from the video podcast, Rolling Tape. Whether you are new to the site or if you've been with us forever, you will really enjoy watching RB talk about Stage 32, what the site means to him and how it can benefit members. You can view the podcast below... RB explains what Stage 32 is all about and how he came up with the idea, as well as the importance of regular connecting and networking. RB gives examples...

Is it possible to make “networking” feel creative, sexy, and fun? (Answer: #Yaaaaas) If you’re a screenwriter, producer, actor, director, etc. then you need to have a “network.”  What is a “network,” exactly? It’s the web of relationships that allows you to do the work you love and get paid for it. You might think, “Ugh, networking is so tedious and annoying!” but that’s a seriously unproductive attitude. Besides, it’s not like networking is a recent development. Since the dawn of time,...

My name is Erik. I'm Stage 32 Happy Writers coordinator, a writer and the son of a father born to excel in the corporate world – and as a Senior Executive at one of the most prestigious hospitality companies in the world, he did. You can tell I'm classy because I say “hospitality company” instead of “hotel chain”. My upbringing was one of reason, commerce, and common sense which, despite the specific machinations of economy and industry, Corporate America lives and dies on. I know there are wr...

It’s that time again! Time for the May 2016 edition of On Stage with RB! Every month our Founder & CEO, RB, brings on special guests who work in the industry, such as filmmakers and executives to offer advice to our community in an online webinar. Plus, he discusses the best way to use Stage 32 to help your career. Afterwards, he opens up the floor to you for a live 90 minute Q&A session about anything and everything in the industry. Best of all, this is FREE, exclusively for Stage 32 member...

Want to write, act, direct, negotiate, produce, walk a celebrity’s dog? Whatever your dream gig is, if you’re trying to break into Hollywood, there’s no better place to start than a talent agency. Everything you could ever need to launch a successful career is behind those spotless, heavy glass doors in Beverly Hills — or Culver City, you know who you are. The best (and worst) scripts to read. Contacts who will put your resume in the right hands and lie about how great you are to the powers that...

I’ve done it, you’ve done it, everyone’s done it: as you watch a movie or TV show you find yourself screaming “not that again!” or “he wouldn’t do that!” or “that makes no sense!” So now I’m going to list my pet peeves – those things I just can’t stand seeing over and over again in shows or movies. Or those things that just leap out as contrivances that just don’t work. I also reached out to colleagues in the entertainment industry for their ideas. I’d like this blog post to be interactive:...

The job of a film score composer is to elicit an emotional response from the audience viewing the film. Bing, Bang, Boom!!! In a nut shell that's it! That's the job description! Sometimes the score needs to terrify the audience or fill them with suspense, other times it calls for a triumphant feeling. Composers are called to make people laugh, cry and even fall in love. Each composer has their own 'voice' and their scores encompass an enormous variety of styles of music, depending on the natur...