Advice

In the wild jungle that is the film industry, this is the motto that I try to live by: Make your film no matter what.  Two years ago, in 2020, I finished and released my first film, a 20-minute-long romantic comedy titled Titus & Mirabella. Great timing, I know. And I mean this both in a sarcastic and a not sarcastic way. It was great timing because my film was dealing with the topic of germophobia, so I think it resonated with a lot of people, given the fact that we were going through a pande...

“Why don’t we just make it ourselves?” This was the question posed to me in January 2021 by producer Michael Alfieri of Miantri Films regarding my script, The Throwback. The start of every new year gives us a newfound boldness and optimism. “I will lose fifty pounds.” “I will read 20 books per month.” “I will learn Tuvan throat singing.” That’s me. So when Mike posed that question, my response was an enthusiastic “YES!” Why not? Never mind that my annual new year’s optimism routinely vanishes by...

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, the folks over at StudioBinder share a fascinating look inside the cinematography of Better Call Saul. The critically acclaimed spin-off of Breaking Bad recently wrapped its final episode after six fantastic seasons. Specifically, this video looks at how the series' visuals matched the story's d...

Don't ever give up... That's it... Blog done. Okay, so you want to know where that comes from... Well, I started writing my screenplay two years ago. It's called The Postcard, and it is based on the true story of my great grandparents. I have wanted to tell this story since my father told me all about it when I was 11 years old. I've written poems and songs about it, I've tried writing it as a novel over the years, but for some reason, I just could not keep it going and totally gave up....

Back in the day, LEGO was my jam. And to be honest, I still find it an oddly meditative and therapeutic endeavor. This isn’t said to underscore my already apparent nerd status but to touch upon a scenario many fellow LEGO enthusiasts will be familiar with. We’ve just purchased a new set and are fiercely powering through piecing it together. Perhaps with the instructions, but perhaps we scoff at such things and only ever go rogue. Regardless, sooner or later, we reach the stage where only one b...

Hi Stage 32ers! Are you new to Stage 32? Or are you just so overwhelmed like I am about how much you can do at Stage 32, but it’s hard to find the things you are searching for? Well, then this post is for you! I will give you a short guide and some tips on where you can find the different things at Stage 32 as soon as you do your first login! So, fasten your seatbelt, and be ready for some tips to help you navigate through Stage 32! First, after you have filled out your information and a...

Certain success markers have become so ingrained in our industry that we may be striving for them without knowing there's much of an alternative. How did your latest film do? Did it go viral? Did it get into festivals? Any good festivals? How about distribution? Did it make a profit? What’s the Rotten Tomato Score on your feature? How many five-star reviews do you have on Prime Video? Yes, but are those reviews Verified Purchases? While we’re on the subject, how’s your IMDb ranking? How...

I still remember the email that came to my inbox inviting me to join Stage 32. I was intrigued and quickly clicked through to see what opportunities might lie ahead for me, being someone who’s all about making new connections and discovering new and helpful resources. While we’ve all experienced a degree of online video conferencing burnout from doing far too much of it during the pandemic, the Stage 32 online community that we all know and love can be so impactful. Between requests to “join...

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. First up, the Acting Career Center shares 5 mistakes beginner actors make. Hosted by Kurt Yue, an Atlanta-based actor with over 50 credits, this video covers self-tape audition tips, why you shouldn't pretend (or mime) actions in auditions, how to handle your first on set experience, and more.  Next up, The Writers Guild Foundation share...

I had a dream once. I had a dream, and oh! I dreamed it boldly and strongly, and I shouted it into the wind for everyone to hear! And proudly, I proclaimed it, told it to everyone who was willing to listen. With pride in my chest and a thrill in my voice, I called it out: I’m going to be a filmmaker! I’m going to work in the film industry! And so I worked, and I plotted, and I networked, and I wrote as much as I could, and I learned my trade and dipped my toes in, and then… then I took t...