Advice

Showbusiness is and has always been a collaborative effort. Even a one-person show needs an audience to be complete, so there’s nobody in this industry - no matter how much success or power they may have - who doesn’t need support when it comes to realizing their creative and financial goals. When we’ve been undersupported in our work and our lives, it’s easy to look at the careers of more established filmmakers and creators and imagine that there comes a point where a person’s privilege empower...

I am a Distributor turned Filmmaker. I have a finance degree and a law degree and I spent the first 22 years of my film career in Distribution. Then I got the bug to become creative. I have since made and successfully self-distributed 7 feature films, 3 of which are presently airing on Netflix worldwide. I help hundreds of indie filmmakers and the initial conversation usually goes like this: Jeff to Filmmaker: “You need to think about distribution BEFORE you make your movie because it could...

About twenty years ago, the Zoie Films Festival launched one of the first online film festivals to showcase films, animations, and documentaries from around the world. The films were streamed online and soon after, Zoie Films was streaming films and animations via cell phones. Pssst.. this was before smartphones and flip phones were the choice of most consumers. Naturally, the streaming was wonky. The future is here and it’s all about VOICE, as in “hands-free, voice-activated, and data-driven”...

Hey Stage 32ers! We have a fantastic industry creative here, Ryan Little, to share with you the top three things you need to land financing for your film. As always, we want to make sure that our ever-growing Stage 32 community has access to as many valuable resources as possible through the blog, and that's just what Ryan has brought us today! Ryan Little is a director, producer, and cinematographer with over 20 years of experience in the industry. His first feature, SAINTS AND SOLDIERS,...

People love to read or watch love stories. It’s exciting, they can relate, and even some elements of a love story makes the whole story more real. But what to do if you don’t know how to write about love? There are different types of love, and many of us have experienced this feeling. But even if you were madly in love, it does not necessarily mean that you can express this feeling on paper. Luckily, you can use several ideas to learn how to write about love properly. Ways To Write About Lov...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Valentine's Day is coming up and I have some content here for you that is sure to get those loving creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in.  First up, the Writers Guild Foundation recently put together a round table of some phenomenal screenwriters to discuss the romantic comedy genre. While many critics lament the "demise" of this genre, the truth is that it never actually goes away, it simply takes...

Documentaries have been produced since 1922. They were always considered the educational part of moviemaking; not entertainment. That has all changed. We are in the Golden Age of Documentaries. Prominent directors are using the documentary format to tell their stories. My documentary Homecoming: Veterans, Wives, Mothers was up for a Daytime Emmy in 2021. I need to say this format is one I use when I think a topic merits the documentary style. Most of my work is producing and directing Emmy-nom...

Hello Creative Army! Read any of the trades right now and our industry is in a rapid state of change. The entire Stage 32 team is on the phone every day to keep their fingers on the pulse of what's happening. It's an exciting time for you as a content creator - whether you work in film, television, or digital - and it's equally exciting for content makers because the world has opened wide to international voices traveling beyond borders. We are seeing more and more diverse and international...

Once upon a time, script feedback was only available in one of two ways. Paid or unpaid. As a Stage 32 member, screenwriters can get quality written notes through Industry Standard Coverage or select a reader for Premium Development Notes from an Executive. Plus, members can always reach out through the Screenwriting Lounge to ask fellow screenwriters for a script exchange as a perk of the no-cost Stage 32 membership. But two years ago, one member saw an opportunity to improve as a screenwriter...

The Research Assistant is a relatively new position in the writers’ room, and a great opportunity to launch your career. In fact, I once took over for a Research Assistant who used the position to prove themself and was promoted to a Staff Writer role, so these can be a great way to get your foot in the door as a professional writer. A Research Assistant's job is essential for production as the information gathered allows the writers to not only be creative but also to depict accurate stories....