Distribution

Sometimes it can feel as if we cannot make a difference. This industry is so big, the wealth of content is vast, but what can any of us do? We spend our time looking for work, doing the work, shaking hands, making memories, and of course, taking time away before going back to the grind. I’m here to tell you - hell, the whole Stage 32 community is here to help remind you - that whether you are in full stride or in hibernation mode, you can enact change. Don’t worry, this isn’t a road map on how...

Independent audiovisual projects generally have a so-called recoupment schedule. The recoupment schedule, often also referred to as the waterfall, is the project’s payment schedule. It essentially describes how the revenues generated from international distribution are allocated and disbursed. Sometimes other revenue streams, like festival receipts, merchandising income or surplus of tax credit proceeds are also included. Any audiovisual project, whether it is feature film, a TV series, a we...

Happy Tuesday Creative Army! For the past 10 years, it has been Stage 32's continued mission is to democratize the entertainment business for creatives and professionals all over the world. I am continuously humbled by the power of the Stage 32 community, and thrilled by the recent support our community is getting from the industry as a whole. In addition to our previous coverage in Forbes, The Wrap, Variety, CNN, Business Insider (check out the articles here and here), and more - I am honored...

Happy Sunday & Happy Mother's Day! 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, since "May the 4th Be with You" was last week, I thought it would only be fitting to share some Star Wars content. Insider recently put together a fascinating behind the screens video covering the innovative virtual backgrounds that were used to film The Mandalorian. In this video, they talk about the technological and cre...

My name is Tennyson E. Stead, and I’m a showperson with thirty years of stage experience, fifteen years in film development, and more than 40 screenplays under my belt as a writer. I’ve survived fraudster film producers, I’ve survived a crippling brain injury subequent to having an actor accidentally beat my head in with a prop sword, I’ve survived homelessness, starvation, and even employment as an Arclight Cinemas usher and concessionaire in order to make my dreams and plans in Hollywood a rea...

You’re a filmmaker, a writer, a director, maybe even an actor. You want to keep working, but the phone’s not ringing so… you decide to shoot a short film. Before you start down the rabbit hole you may want to ask a few questions. Why do I want to shoot a short film? What resources do I have at my disposal? What resources will I need to obtain? And the most impactful question: What’s it going to cost? Anyone who has ever taken on the challenge of shooting a short knows that there ar...

Thanks to the successes of instant classics like ZOOTOPIA, TOY STORY, THE LEGO MOVIE and SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, and daring TV satires such as RICK AND MORTY, BOJACK HORSEMAN, BIG MOUTH, and BOB’S BURGERS, the wonderful world of animation is more exciting, diverse, and in demand than ever! There is truly something for everyone when it comes to animated features and TV series & correspondingly, it is undoubtedly more in demand than ever before! Walt Disney said, "Animation can expl...

There’s a saying that we’ve all heard a thousand times over, that “A picture is worth a thousand words”. This resonates with visual artists when ensuring that the visuals they convey will provoke the right tone and message to the many words and feelings that they will portray and intend for their story. Now this concept isn’t new to most you and it’s just what good storytellers and filmmakers should be doing right?! I mean, what artist doesn’t put their heart and soul in infusing their vision...

So, you’re a writer and you’ve written some scripts that have been optioned, maybe even produced, or someone hired you to write on a series. Congratulations, you’re off to a great start. Now what? Keep writing, because that’s your job as a professional. If you are hired to write for a company who is a signatory of the Writers Guild of America, either East or West, you will be required to join. A signatory company is any company that has signed the WGA’s collective bargaining agreement. What...

Happy Monday Creative Army! As you know, Stage 32's continued mission is to democratize the entertainment business and the industry is taking notice in a big way. In addition to our previous coverage in Business Insider (check out the articles here and here), The Wrap, Variety, CNN, and more - I am pleased to announce our recent feature in Forbes.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Forbes Senior Contributor Shama Hyder about growing the Stage 32 community, how Stage 32 has become a "global...