Advice

Next week, I’m headed to Park City for my tenth Sundance Film Festival. As I think about how to prepare for this year’s edition, especially since the last two have taken place on my couch, I’m particularly excited about seeing folks in person. As the Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance, I’ll be focused on seeing our members and hearing from them about their plans for the upcoming year. I’ll also try to squeeze in as many films as I can (the most I’ve ever seen is 25 in a week!). W...

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. and its impact on filmmaking in a video from Film Riot. While many fear this new technology, there are some great benefits as well. This video looks at how A.I. can assist with the actual filmmaking process. However, the positives don't exist only during production but bef...

I remember the first play I submitted to a theatre in Toronto. The dramaturge called me in to “talk.” He was merciless and heartless, and yet that meeting was a gift. It made me face the truth, and it awakened my Voice. “Predictable,” “one dimensional,” “hackneyed,” “cliché upon cliché,” and “worse and worse”, were just some of the comments the dramaturge wrote in the margins of my beloved script. He savaged my labor of love, attacking not only my work but my dreams. He would politely stop an...

Last time on “Six Degrees of Stage 32”, we discussed the relationships either initiated or rekindled online through the Stage 32 platform. Speaking from experience, my creative partner and I recently wrapped up our most challenging proof-of-concept short film yet - “Sanctuary,” the Short Film. Where did some of our top talent come from? Relationships cultivated through Stage 32! Click here to read more about how we met in Part 2 of “Six Degrees of Stage 32”. While not everyone is so fortunate...

What I’m most proud about working for Stage 32 is the strength of our Community. At any time of the day (or night!) I can go online into our Lounges and see our members supporting each other. Whether it’s helping to finesse a logline, answering questions on a camera, or offering advice on a pitch deck - our members build each other up for success. It’s my highest hope everyone feels that Stage 32 magic and benefits positively from their experiences on our site. Let’s start the new year off wi...

Rule 1: Never tell the audience what they already know. Rule 2: Knowing what to leave out is as important as what to leave in.   The crux of this blog is "Never dramatize what the reader can imagine for themselves," at least for on-screen drama. Novelists may need to give this some thought. But for screenwriters letting the audience fill in the blanks of the on-screen story with their own imagination is infinitely more effective and powerful than walking them thro...

If you’re a first-time documentary filmmaker, as I was when I started making my “Land of the Free” films, you may not be aware of some of the expenses and challenges you are going to face in producing, polishing, and distributing your film. After years of trials, tribulations, and successes, here are the top lessons I wish I'd known (or at least thought to ask)... 1. The Script Everything in movie and stage production lives or dies by its script. What’s the story you want to tell? What i...

We flock to the entertainment industry for feelings. Whether we're creating it or consuming it, emotions drive us there. We are full of creativity and expression - and I love it. Feelings are our fuel. Call it passion, a need to inspire others, a desire to uplift, a yearning to connect, or even to receive validation. We are following or looking for a feeling when we act, write, direct, or go to the movies. And we rely heavily on our gut. It can dictate how to react in a scene, which word to w...

Happy New Year, Creative Army! Hope you all had a terrific holiday season and are now ready to launch into 2023. Those of you who have been around the site for a while know that on New Year's Day, we utilize the Stage 32 Blog to discuss and share our plans for the coming year. So... What are you looking to accomplish in 2020? What are your creative goals? What skills are you looking to learn? What fears are you looking to overcome? What strategies are you planning on implementing...

I've long since been on a writing hiatus. Call it treating myself. Call it writer's block. Call it what you will. What's important is that I am taking a mental health break on my own terms. This is necessary every now and then. Yes, it can be seen as lazy. Yes, it can be seen as a lack of creative energy. What I call it is: essential. There was a time in which my output was off the charts. Quite possibly unhealthy levels of writing. Of course, I write because I enjoy it. But, I had reached a cer...