Advice

Many of you are likely aware of the book, The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. You might also be aware that it’s based on the writings of Joseph Campbell and it applies Campbell’s ideas on the Hero’s Journey to cinema in general and screenwriting specifically. Many of you may have even read Vogler’s book or Cambell’s writings, or both. But did you know that The Writer’s Journey started as an internal memo at Walt Disney Animation Studios while developing The Little Mermaid and Beauty and...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice, and let's dive right in. Today, we're digging into acting. There are so many processes and theories on acting, but the job is about more than what you do on set. It's about finding opportunities, preparing, networking, and delivering.  First, we're learning from one of the GOATS, Christian Bale, as he looks back at his most notable roles in a video from GQ. Fe...

It’s a fact of writing that projects need multiple drafts. But that’s not what I’m talking about in this article. Instead, sometimes you might need to completely take apart a project, throwing out every previous draft and starting over. Sounds extreme? It is. But it’s something I recently experienced. To properly explain this, I have to give you some background on the project in question. I’ve been working on the sequel to my third book since 2017. At the time, I was ambitious that I wo...

Here at Stage 32, we’re always listening for the most common questions from you to help you work towards your goals. When it comes to representation, there are a few questions that come up. What’s the difference between agents and managers? Do you need a lawyer? Should you get an agent, manager, or lawyer first? But the most popular question we see over and over in the lounges, in the Writers’ Room, and on social media is how do I get representation as a writer? The answer actually has two...

I'm thrilled to announce today that for the 7th straight year, Stage 32 and the American Film Market have partnered to bring new opportunities and access to attendees of America's largest film market. Stage 32 is proud to continue as the official Networking and Education partner of AFM 2022. The American Film Market (AFM) is where the business of film comes to life every November and where the next great films will be on display and discovered by the world’s buyers. As a filmmaker, producer, a...

If you’ve been around the creative writing community for long enough, you know many writers participate in something in November called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is to write 50,000 in 30 days (if you’re doing the math, that’s about 1,700 words/day). There are so many reasons why this kind of challenge can be good for your writing routine, not the least of which is how a writing sprint like this can silence your inner critic. Today, though, I want to share some thoughts...

When it comes to popular TV shows in our “Peak TV” era, industry insiders would have you believe the streaming platforms are dominating - HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+… and the list constantly expands. With only ABBOTT ELEMENTARY truly cracking the Emmy nominations this year from the broadcast world, many believe broadcast series are "dead." Procedural shows, or "case-of-the-week" series, feature a central plot line that only lasts for that singular episode. Popular procedurals include long-...

I’ve been meaning to post my Stage 32 success stories for a while, but I’ve been busy with, well, working on the jobs I’ve gotten through Stage 32. I’ve had jobs where I wrote feature scripts, rewrote scripts, gave feedback on scripts, co-wrote short scripts, and more. I’ve also made pitch decks for writers and directors, and recently, I was hired to make three pitch decks for a writer and now friend, Andy Carpenter. One, Two, Three During the spring of this year, Andy contacted me about maki...

For the last few years, I have been working on my screenplay, THE POSTCARD. It is based on the true story of my Great Grandparents, and all I wanted to do was write a little thing about their story that wouldn't take too long. I thought around a 20 to 30-minute short... Two years later, I'm still writing it.   The postcard my Great Grandfather Harry sent to my Great Grandmother Rebecca from the Titanic in 1912.   I was doing okay, but as I was writing it, I found that if I was going...

Hey Stage 32ers! We love connecting our community to industry executives to help keep everyone up-to-date on what's happening in the industry and the fantastic opportunities available to help you bring your projects to life. So we talked to Stage 32 Thought Leader and Glass House Distribution President Tom Malloy about his experience making his upcoming film ASK ME TO DANCE, premiering October 7th, 2022, in theaters. One phrase that sums up Tom's process on this film and his whole career, it...