Advice

Inception You have an idea. Well, maybe a kernel of an idea at this point, but it’s there. Could make a great movie or TV series. The idea starts to grow and take shape in your mind. You crack a story beat while driving, type it into your phone, or write it into a notebook the next time you stop. You think of that amazing character's name and laugh out loud to yourself, “That’s great”. The notes become an outline, your thoughts start to take shape, and the bones of the story start to come toget...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. First up, in this video essay by Frame Voyager, he’s taking a closer look at th...

In defense of shallow characters -- Some people just simply are shallow. Yes, for the most part, we want to have story characters with depth, mystery, and things to discover. We want to follow their character arc throughout the story, to see them change and grow, to go with them on their journey of transformation. But sometimes, it simply isn’t there. Nor should it be. You probably know at least one person who only has the depth of a grease spot under the car in the garage. [Comments abo...

A question that comes up regularly and needs to be defined better or understood, is the types of producers involved in filmmaking, what these roles include, and why you need them in your production's process. Producers are similar to directors, screenwriters, editors, etc., they have specific strengths and weaknesses for different genres and types of films. The time that is taken to find the right producing team is worth it. Though it may sound as if this is out of reach as an independent filmma...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! Our tech team has been hard at work to bring your wishes to life! We've heard you loud and clear that because there is so much to choose from in Stage 32’s industry-leading educational library, you want to be able to save some of your favorite education opportunities to go back and visit later. Well, now you can! An exciting new feature has just launched on the Stage 32 Education page that will allow our members to create and save their personal education wishlist....

Media Platforms 101 New technology and platforms pop up every time you open your phone or a tab in your browser. With updated and additional software, media and social platforms, apps, algorithms, and search engine optimization rules, it’s hard to keep up. When it comes to marketing, these are common attitudes: Newbie: “I just need to get my book on Facebook, and I’ll be rich.” Arm crosser: “I don’t do social media. I tried Facebook once. It didn’t work.” Seasoned platform user: “You c...

Cinderella is my favorite Disney Princess. But I have always identified with Belle: growing up, my nose was always stuck in a book. I would come home from school and public libraries with piles to read. As a child, I roamed the shelves of the fiction section barely giving time to nonfiction. As an adult, I’ve realized the value of the genre. Taking a look at a bookstore, you realize just how much of the store is taken up with nonfiction. Everything from reference books to cookbooks to memoirs...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! The Longest Running Comedy Screenplay Contest in the World is Back! Ever dreamt of seeing your feature comedy script come to life on the big screen or streaming on flat-screens in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! Laughing until we cry is one of the bedrocks of entertainment. From the goofy nostalgic delight of BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE to the relentless hi-jinx of THE FALL GUY and the emotional depth of THE HOLDOVERS,...

Happy Monday, Stage 32 Community! Creators are often solitary creatures, which makes it difficult to navigate a collaborative environment like the entertainment industry, where networking is so crucial. On the other hand, humans crave community and can learn more from each other than we can on our own. We need the support of others to keep motivated. We need feedback to refine our work and craft. We need mentorship and guidance to pursue new challenges. We need different perspecti...

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, in this video from best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, he’s sharing tips and tricks for overcoming “writer’s block”. Brandon Sanderson is a prolific NYT best-selling author of high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult novels. As well as the creator of several graphic novels and the co-h...