Advice

Trying to rigidly adopt a writing process and methodology can be a heartless exercise. I beat myself up for years because my execution of the story did not match the guidance of the best teachers. Not that I am criticizing anyone for working that way. In fact, I say more power to you, but it isn’t always a method that has worked for me. I finally had to surrender to my own instincts, my Voice regarding my methods and process. Some writing teachers advise you to determine your theme before you...

Are you dreaming of becoming a filmmaker? Do you have an idea for a film that you're ready to bring to life? If so, you're in the right place. While you might be thinking about those days on set, it's what comes after them that can make or break your project. Editing is a crucial part of the filmmaking process, and it can be one of the most rewarding. Let's go through what you need to make it happen... Beginning the Editing Process Before you start editing your film, you need to make sure you...

Last year, my co-creator friend Stephani Prescott and I had just entered a development agreement with Cindy Villareal (Majestic Productions), and it’s safe to say a lot has happened since! Cindy is one of the kindest, down-to-earth people you will ever meet, and it has been an absolute pleasure working with her. The development phase was critical as there is so much up-front work necessary to package everything up. We relied on Cindy’s guidance and expertise to get the pitch deck and lookbook...

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, Vox is breaking down the art of making trailers with help from editor Bill Neil who works with Buddha Jones. Neil works on some of the biggest movies of recent years, including Jordan Peele's NOPE, and breaks down why he makes the choices he does, how to make a bigger impact by combining different...

When I was first starting out as a writer, I spent most of my prewriting time on plotting. I initially approached planning out my fiction like we’re all taught to approach essay writing: it’s all about the outline. So that’s where I’d always start: with plot. Please don’t misunderstand me. Story structure is vitally important, and I’ll advocate for taking the time to craft an airtight plot all day long. But, as we know from Aristotle, character is the engine of plot. As a novice writer, layi...

Being a creator means being ready for rejection. The industry does away with those who can not handle it. Sometimes, we get so passionate about a project that we pursue the greatest of opportunities without a second thought. Or sometimes, we pass on experiences that turned out to be major successes. You will go through this at some point in your career. How do we move on from that? How do we do away with regret and hurt? What do we do when that amazing moment is gone and want to ensure it's...

Hey, Stage 32ers! I hope you're all making great progress on your creative projects this week! We always want you to be up-to-date on what's happening in the industry so that you can set yourself up for success. Never has this been more needed than with the WGA starting their contract talks with the AMPTP. There's a lot of misinformation online about what's the root cause and what's at stake with these negotiations, so here to break it down for you is our CEO, Richard 'RB' Botto, in the vlog b...

Small feature films are roads to much bigger projects. A positive, proactive attitude will propel your work. Here is what you need to give your film a fighting chance against the competition. 1. Aim For Attention Successful projects happen when you adopt a realistic approach to their completion. Don’t think too big too soon. Storytelling as a filmmaker is a lifelong learning curve, but a positive attitude is everything. A feature film carries the kudos and longevity that short-form content do...

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, Top Gun: Maverick was one of the biggest movies of the year. It was a film that gave you a million reasons to see it on the big screen and drew in audiences of all ages. One of the reasons this film gripped audiences is its sound design, but it's also an area that we're not aware of when we're...

If branding is a demonstration of what we consistently do, then the heart of my professional brand is “Builder of Safe Spaces to Foster Growth & Creativity”. Looking over my track record, I consistently create safe spaces for people to talk and grow. As a massage therapist, during film school as a casting director making auditioning more fun, as a producer making directors feel more supported, my early days in television where I helped to create an internship/mentorship program for college stude...