Advice

Check it before you wreck it? Naw, we kind of love things to be a wreck in comedy. In fact, to amp up the tension, we have to dive head-first into the wreck! And believe me - last year as my drama/thriller team and I pulled “mockumentary” as our genre for the 2022 L.A. 48-Hour Film Project, we were a WRECK. Seriously, we had even lined up a Steadicam operator to attempt an “epic oner” which felt like an epic fail when we had to figure out - how the hell are we going to find our “funny” in forty-...

I get it—you became a filmmaker, or a writer, or an actor because you love movies and television. You weren’t planning to launch a business. But if you hope to build a career in the film industry as a writer, filmmaker, or even actor, then you need to think like an entrepreneur. Otherwise, all you’ll have is an expensive hobby. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s likely not quite what you were hoping for. So, take a deep breath and admit it. You’re an entrepreneur. Especially...

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, we're looking at A.I., but not to lament or debate its future impact on screenwriters or the rest of the industry. Instead, we're looking behind the scenes at EX-MACHINA, a 2014 film centered on a programmer tasked by his reclusive boss with testing the believability of a humanoid robot. In thi...

Do want to shoot award-winning films and gather millions of views yearly? As a filmmaker, having some technical understanding on your resume will guarantee your prospective thriving future. I have picked up the 10 most valuable skills you should acquire to land a perfect job in the filmmaking industry. Read on to find everything out in-depth. 1. Learning Technology No matter how banal it sounds, coming to grips with the filmmaking cornerstones is vital for your prosperous career and success....

Hey, Stage 32ers! Happy June everyone! We're quickly approaching the second half of the year and with so much change happening in the industry, I'm seeing a lot of misinformation floating around. But as you know, just because something makes for a fun meme doesn't mean that it's factual. So, in this week's vlog (recorded before the WGA strike), we're cutting through the noise to get to real information so that you can get ahead.  Wishing you a very happy, healthy, & creative week. Cheers,...

The Calling . . . It was the summer of 2000, Y2K didn’t destroy the World and most of us were seeking our next big quest. I was in corporate sales and spent much time in the subways commuting and connecting. One of the most profound connections and lessons I’ve ever learned happened on the platform of 53rd & Lexington. You could feel a unique energy from the street level. A faint drum beat resonated from the platform 3 levels down. Before I had a chance to notice, the drums controlled my f...

You’re the writer-director of a new movie. It’s 6:05 pm. You put on your Oculus headset and watch the actors on the set act out the final scene. You say, “That’s a wrap”. The actors and crew look into the camera, smile and say goodnight. You take off your headset and slip under the covers. Is VR film production truly that easy? In a word, yes. But in another word, no. I virtually attended the NVIDIA GTC conference in April 2021 and discovered an impressive arsenal of VR production tools th...

Hello Screenwriters. My name is Shaun. I am a Stage 32 Exec, Gotham Award-winning independent film producer, member of the Producers Guild of America, Repped Screenwriter, Script Consultant, and educator. I've been in the film and television industry for 28 years and producing for 14 of those years. In that time I have been privileged to work with and learn from some of the greatest filmmakers and performers in our industry - from James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Judd Apatow to Joe Wrigh...

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, The Hollywood Reporter has brought together some of the top dramatic television actors today, including Jeff Bridges (THE OLD MAN), Kieran Culkin (SUCCESSION), Damson Idris (SNOWFALL and SWARM), Michael Imperioli (THE WHITE LOTUS), Pedro Pascal (THE LAST OF US and THE MANDALORIAN) and Evan Pete...

You volunteered for service in the military and then decided it was time to pursue your dreams in La La Land. And guess what? Hollywood is recruiting you! They know you have a story to tell, and they can’t wait to hear it. I always knew I wanted a career in entertainment, and as an Officer in the Army, I was selected to be a principal actor in a theatrical commercial for the National Guard, directed by Antione Fuqua (Training Day). After this experience, I packed my bags and moved to LA to be...