Featured

I got my first internship in the animation business in 1998 and was hired full time as a production assistant for Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1999. I have worked relatively steadily in the animation industry ever since. One question I am often asked is, “How can I break into the animation industry?” Well, I’m not going to sugar coat it and say, “Just follow these simple steps, and you too can be living the dream in the magical world of animation!” The truth is, just like any endeavor, there...

I have been writing and publishing stories for more than 10 years, first as a novelist. I always wrote in a silo, never sharing my work until I had reworked it countless times. Heaven forbid someone sees my terrible first draft! After publishing two novels this way, I opened myself up to a trusted friend as my next story was more complexly layered. It all made sense in my head, but would my reader get the connections? By bouncing around ideas and sharing my drafts with this friend, I fixed plot...

Television is a lot like food. Really! The packaging piques our interest by showing us what’s inside: ads, posters, etc. We might buy it because a friend told us how much they loved it, or maybe we saw it prominently featured at the front of the store (Netflix’s Top 10). We order it off a menu – think the home page of HBO Max or the evening lineup on CBS. Each restaurant’s menu is different - each platform has its own brand. And we expect to be served what we think we are buying: a bag of M&M’s...

Every creative journey has its storms, those moments when doubt, setbacks, and exhaustion make the finish line feel impossibly far away. Whether you're an artist, filmmaker, musician, or entrepreneur, the road to bringing a vision to life isn’t paved with ease. Instead, it's filled with unexpected detours, financial struggles, and moments where quitting seems like the only option. But here’s the truth: the projects that matter most are often the hardest to make happen. The Weight of the Proces...

In 2020, I had the privilege of cutting a horror/thriller film titled The Boy Behind the Door. It was the directorial debut of David Charbonier & Justin Powell, and it was also my first feature-length project as an editor. The film was part of the Official Selection at Fantastic Fest in 2020 and received some genuine critical acclaim during its run. It then sold to Shudder and became available for streaming in 2021. The whole post-production process took over 2 years of diligent work and I lea...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video essay comes from Frame Voyager, and it’s an absolute ride through the world of one of the most iconic action franchises in film history—Mission: Impossible. The original Mission: Impossib...

There is one foolproof method to getting your start in Hollywood as a professional screenwriter, and it works virtually every single time. It’s as simple as this: write one exceptional spec screenplay. That is literally all you have to do. Once that feat is accomplished, practically everything else you desire will begin to unfold. No longer will you have to send out endless query letters to unresponsive agents and managers. They will start coming to you. I know it sounds too good to be true,...

As an artist, you’re called to show up in the world. Whether it’s on stage, making a pitch, submitting your screenplay, putting on an art show, you make yourself vulnerable to others over and over again. Making art is a unique process. The initial stages of creating are deeply personal, but, eventually, you need the attention of your audience to bring your creative work to life. Though it began as something private, your art only achieves its purpose and full potential when it impacts someone...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! Are you feeling lost on Stage 32? Whether you’ve just joined the platform or you’ve been here for a while wondering how to make the most of everything Stage 32 has to offer, you’re not alone. With so many resources, opportunities, and community spaces to explore, it can feel a little overwhelming at first. That’s exactly why I’m inviting you to join me for a special Free Stage 32 Community Open House this Friday! Register for free by clicking HERE! As Head of C...

Hi, Stage 32 Creatives! Since becoming a Stage 32 member, I’ve noticed a common gap between screenwriters and producers. Today, I want to help you bridge that gap. In my "first life" as a businesswoman in the fashion world, I accomplished many successes. But the secret behind those achievements went far beyond the product line itself. A great product is never enough on its own, it needs an identity, a story, a brand. What was the real secret? I built a well-crafted fashion brand: high-qu...