Advice

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

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, I was inspired by this fantastic AMA we had in the Cinematography Lounge with cinematographer and director Gareth Tyler when I came across this fantastic video discussion on "The Paradox Of Good Cinematography." We often analyze great cinematography with a single frame or scene, but just like a...

Following up on my previous blogs, “Finding Your Creative Tribe” and “Building Safe Spaces”, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the very individual process a professional creative must go through in order to be present for their “tribe” or be strong enough to lead a team. Especially since doing the work for yourself, BY yourself is essential. It is the foundation of everything else we create. Consider for a moment when you visit a doctor. It is certainly their job to help analyze what ail...

There is one foolproof method to getting your start in Hollywood as a professional screenwriter, and it works virtually every single time. It’s as simple as this: write one exceptional spec screenplay. That is literally all you have to do. Once that feat is accomplished, practically everything else you desire will begin to unfold. No longer will you have to send out endless query letters to unresponsive agents and managers. They will start coming to you. I know it sounds too good to be true,...

Hey Stage 32ers! Today, we're talking misinformation and fear-mongering. There's a lot of B.S. on the internet (to put it bluntly), and we have to be diligent about not taking it as fact. Everyone has to answer to the facts, and no one knows that better than streamers who are publically traded. If they were private companies, it would be a whole different story. In this week's vlog we're diving into why... Wishing you a very happy, healthy, & creative week. Cheers, RB Let's hear y...

I remember seeing the van speeding toward my vehicle. When it struck, the impact sent a shudder through my nerves. Fortunately, I had enough sense to lean away from the window, so my head didn’t smash through the glass but only slammed into it with a mild “thud”. I was left with a bump on my head instead of a concussion, or worse. The car, sadly, did not fare as well: it was a write-off. Later, I learned that a piece of the engine had been propelled through the bodywork and had missed me by i...

The industry is rapidly changing, but no matter what your skill set or goals, one thing always remains true in entertainment: it's all about 'who you know'. At the center of everything that Stage 32 does is our global community. As you know, this platform is free to join and connect with people at various stages of their careers. No matter what is happening in the world, you can still join in this community and connect with others, so that you have allies that you can turn to for support and c...

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 show THE LAST OF US has become the watercooler hit of the past few months and with good reason. It's not just great acting, writing, and visual storytelling, it's also a phenomenal example of how to adapt IP. Whether you're a fan of the show or the video game or both, be sure to check out t...

We have many different names for the fear that comes along with creative pursuits. Sometimes we call it “Imposter Syndrome.” Sometimes we call it “Resistance” (because, I think, sometimes we hit writer’s block because we’re listening to fear). Sometimes we call it “The Inner Critic.” But no matter what we call it, the effect it has is the same: it’s Snow White’s poisoned apple, that creates a paralyzing slowness that congeals until it looks like death. Fear and I have a long-standing relations...

The Cannes Film Festival in France is right around the corner! As you all know Stage 32 has worked directly with and has had an official presence at the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film for the last 8 years. From education initiatives, partnerships, and parties, Stage 32 always has our finger on the pulse of the world's biggest film festival and market. Also, for the last 8 years Stage 32 has been an official education partner of the Cannes Marche du Film. We're excited today to announce...