Advice

During my filmmaking career, I've run the gambit on all different sides of production. Back in Baltimore, I worked with skeleton crews writing, directing, and doing sound on my own productions. Since moving to Los Angeles I've found a lot of work on set sound mixing, and I wanted to give some easy, actionable steps that can help all filmmakers, at every budget level, get the best sound possible. My sound kit from “Sexy Dex.” 1) Knowing The Tools Most sound mixers start with what we call a “...

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. We're looking at two classic and well-known filmmaking styles this week. Spielberg and Lumet. First up, in this video from StudioBinder, you get a breakdown of what makes Spielberg's work so visually recognizable - which comes down to cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski. This video gets into the lighting, c...

Hi, Stage 32 Community! Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community! At Stage 32 you have direct access to industry professionals who’ve overseen the makeup department, written, produced, financed, developed, distributed, consulted on, and represented acclaimed projects like YELLOWJACKETS, WANDA VISION, AGATHA: COVEN OF CHAOS, THE COVENANT, MOON KNIGHT, FIRST MAN, BLADE RUNNER...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! Who is ready to finish 2023 strong!? Throughout November, our Stage 32 Education Team has been hard at work to bring in some incredible education opportunities and resources for this fantastic community. This December, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, finance professionals, renowned makeup artists, story consultants, award-winning filmmakers, NYT best-selling authors, acclaimed producers, actors, screenwriters, distributors, att...

As our 2023 November Write Club comes to an end, I can’t help but feel impressed and inspired. As a newer team member here at Stage 32, I didn’t know what to expect from the November Write Club event. As a writer myself, I often crave structure at the same time that I grit my teeth and push back against others telling me how I should be structuring myself. It’s an age-old conundrum that I’m sure many of you can relate to. For that reason, I always struggled with other creative-focused goal-setti...

Writer's block, the worst enemy of my creative mind, has been the talk of much contemplation and study in the realm of writing and psychology. The Breakout Principle, a concept that I use as a shift into mental focus to overcome obstacles, has emerged as a potential antidote to the paralyzing effects of writer's block. This method has served me well. At its center, writer's block is a psychological barrier and is internal, not external. It impedes the creative flow of ideas and words. It often...

Hey, Stage 32ers! I hope if you're not recovering from a Thanksgiving feast that, no matter where you are in the world, you're ready to relax and enjoy the weekend! The holidays are always a great time to look back and applaud the "wins" from the past year, and this community has had some pretty big ones. From booking gigs to signings to projects that are getting made, your passion for your craft and love for this community are what make every success on Stage 32 so incredibly special. Today...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Hope those who celebrate had a great feast this past week with loved ones and that everyone has a fantastic start to the holiday season! 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, award-winning director and writer Taika Waititi sits down for an interview to discuss his recently released film, NEXT GOAL WINS. Waititi is a master at balan...

As Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season in the United States, there is a collective sigh of relief that the strikes are over, and the creative industry is returning to doing what it does best: entertaining, educating, and informing. Yet, it is not a celebratory time for many, who feel a sense of despair, a sense of lack somewhere in their lives. Maybe you are not returning to work as quickly as you had wanted, and finances are tight. Perhaps you are so busy that you cannot get...

There is a Japanese proverb that speaks simply of the heart of Perseverance. Nana korobi ya obi or “fall seven times and get up eight”. Perhaps if this were a corporate inspirational poster, we could end this blog with a simple image of someone climbing a mountain. But this isn’t the ‘90s and we’re creatives. We need to paint a picture, compose the music, and write the metaphor. First, let’s be clear: according to dictionary.com, the definition of perseverance is “steady persistence in a cours...