Advice

Happy Sunday Creative Army! First of all, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from every corner of the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. This week's Sunday dose of inspiration is all about Lighting. Wh...

Well, hello, there! My name is Karen Ross, but please, call me Kay. I wanted to formally introduce myself: I am an actress, writer, producer, director, and all-around free spirit. I currently host a weekly event on Clubhouse called "The Victory Round" to help creatives build their confidence by celebrating their achievements, big or small. Among other many things, I love martial arts, instrumental film soundtracks, the Bard, tea time, and am deeply obsessed with trying new restaurants. I can’t w...

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Although that saying is usually applies to meeting people. It also applies to your script. That’s why the first ten pages of your script are truly make or break. It can mean the difference between success or pass. The first ten pages not only open your project but also sets the tone, the style, and the promise of what is in store for the reader. Although film is a visual medium, it is first a written document read by a...

Becoming a Voice Actor has never been easier. With advances in technology, communication, and access, the online space presents an unprecedented opportunity for freelancers interested in Voice Acting to give it a solid try. When I first started voice acting professionally in 2019, there was a lot of not-so-great advice being shared from the top down about how to get started and how much it costs to get started. More than three years later, I’m here to tell you it’s not as difficult as it may...

It can be a scary process to think of sharing your life story with the public, either in print or in a film. A few years ago, I self-published a memoir and learned a lot from that experience. It’s one thing to tell a friend one of your personal stories, but it’s quite another to explain it to a stranger, a book buyer. To get the general book-buying public interested in your story, well, that takes extra effort. You need to gain attention and keep it. Before you reveal your innermost personal his...

There has been a lot of negative news whirling around about the animation industry lately. Whether it’s about layoffs at Netflix or unreleased projects from Warner Bros. and HBO MAX or unmet box office expectations by even the likes of PIXAR, there seems to a ton of turbulence surrounding the world of animation. I have worked in the animation industry for over 20 years, and I have survived its ebbs and flows. Times like these are nothing new, and to be honest, we’ve survived times that have been...

As creatives, we can all probably remember the first person who took notice of the unique turn of our minds and chose to affirm it – whether that was a teacher, a parent, a friend, a sibling, or an early fan of our work. This person’s words might have given us exactly the encouragement we needed at exactly the right time. The truth is, it’s very easy for self-doubt, self-criticism, Imposter Syndrome, fear, and the inner forces of resistance to win the day. There’s a reason why there are about...

Whether it’s a knock on the greenroom door or a pre-show roll to opening credits, the “5 Until Showtime” shoutout always makes my heart flutter with anticipation. “5 Until Showtime” signals that “it’s happening,” you are happening, and the performance or project that you’ve been working on is now being launched into the world to live a life of its own. Taking anything from idea to implementation is a huge task, with working relationships being the fundamental building blocks to success. The be...

It’s a familiar story: you have the ingredients, a completed screenplay, comparable films, a target audience, a finance plan, a marketing strategy, a ‘wish list’ of talent, location ideas, bundles of enthusiasm... But there’s one vital missing component: funding. As a ‘balanced producer,’ you try to be patient. You wait for emails and calls, make pitches, submit to competitions, consider mentoring schemes and courses, and throw everything at it. But the months and years roll on, and still noth...

Hey, Stage 32! Welcome to the Stage 32 blog, I’m your host and Stage 32 Blog Editor, Emily J. Stage 32 and its community have expanded to nearly 1 million members, constantly evolving with the industry, and setting an incredible new bar for what a community in the digital age can be. Now, our blog is ready to grow and evolve with you. The blog has always been a place to educate and inspire. Now, let’s take it up a notch. Since taking on the role of Blog Editor, I’ve got three main goals in min...