Cinematography

“No, no, no, no, no … stop talking. Give me the shot. Tell me your film in one sentence,” the producer interrupted. “Like, this meets that …”. Up until that moment, I was roughly thirty seconds into an elaborate exegesis of the multiple reflecting layers of subtle psychological resonance and sociological importance inherent in my first feature film script, YOU’RE THE ONE. Fifteen seconds prior to that, I was standing behind the producer and holding a pretend conversation with the side of anoth...

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, our friends over at Netflix put together an amazing behind-the-scenes video about the making of the Emmy-nominated series The Queen's Gambit. In this video, lead actor Anya Taylor-Joy, writer/director Scott Frank, and several other amazing cast/crew members take you deep inside the making of the show that scored a staggering 18 E...

What is up Creative Army? Today, I wanted to share some exciting news. Our fearless leader, Rich "RB" Botto, who I have worked alongside for the last 10 years, has been recognized by Fast Company as a CEO and thought leader who has been disrupting the industry in which his company operates. As a result, RB has been officially named to the Executive Board of Fast Company. For nearly 25 years Fast Company has profiled some of the business industry's biggest disruptors -- companies that move FAST...

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. Now, grab some fresh coffee and let's dive in to this week's pipi...

Stage 32's community is more than a safe space for creatives to find support and encouragement. It is the breeding ground for valuable insight and potential partnerships. This is entirely based on our collective agreement to add value in every endeavor. To each of you who have posted your victories, offered congratulations, or been an unwavering cheerleader in the Stage 32 Lounges, thank you. To those who have shared your hopes, goals, fears, and failures, you are seen and appreciated. To everyo...

I’ve made a lot of movies. I started off as a Runner and worked my way up. I worked on 13 movies as a 1st AC & 2nd AC and Director of Photography before I became an award-winning Director & Writer in my own right. Having gone from Runner to director I have experienced the whole gauntlet of film making from the biggest shoots (Harry Potter and James Bond) to tiny micro-budget one-man crew shoots. I have seen many ways to do things effectively and simply. There are 6 main areas of filmmaking for...

Happy Wednesday, Creative Army I am happy to report another win for the Stage 32 community! The most uniquely creative and talented community on Earth has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as an example of the power niche communities like Stage 32 wield, and how they're setting the stage for the future of social media. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on the mental health of creatives and professionals within our industry and studies have shown that broad based social media platforms like...

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” ~ William Shakespeare “Luna” is my 1969 VW bus. She was a well-thought-out, long-time purchase. A transformative place that serves as a traveling home, an office workspace, a holiday destination, and right now at this very minute, my own coffee shop! Luna gives me so much love and joy that I dare not take her for gra...

Let’s go back to basics! If you are thinking or overthinking about producing your first short film, you are not alone. These are the 8 things that were around my head when deciding to go for it. 1. Is Making a Short Worthwhile? I hate to reply to this with another question, but you have to ask yourself first: Why do I want to do it? Maybe you want to be an actor and it can be a way to get material for your reel, get credits and exposure. Same with a director or DP. If you are a screenwrite...

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, our friends over at StudioBinder have a great video covering the three types of satire every storyteller should know. In this video, they break down the three types of satire: Juvenalian, Horatian, and Menippean. You will see examples from Jojo Rabbit, Borat, The Dictator, American Beauty, Tropic...