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I know this isn’t a must-know topic for introverted, bathrobe-wearing writers who hate talking to people almost as much as they hate leaving the house, but I went to Cannes Film Festival for the first time, and thought I’d weigh in to tell you about my experience. I’m an author, screenwriter, and fairly newish producer of ultra-low budget movies. I use the term movies, not films, to show you that anything I make as a producer (or write for that matter) will never be up for the Palm D’Or or ev...

In a land not so far away, in a time not so long ago, the veil to the film world was a mighty feat to cross. I'm not saying it still isn’t tough to get out there and become a financially stable filmmaker. However, we hold the power now. What started as a simple picture of myself that I shared on Instagram, one taken while I was filming a Docuseries using the RED Epic and Cooke Anamorphic, turned into a wild adventure called social media. That one picture launched me into so many opportunities....

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

At some point, most filmmakers come across a great idea for a documentary film. It might be an interesting topic or personality, and you just know there is a story that must be told. But similarly to narrative filmmaking, there’s a huge difference between having an idea and being able to carry it into a finished motion picture. We talk about “packaging” in scripted films, attachments, pre-sales, and budgets, but oftentimes overlook the importance of doing the same thing in documentary films....

This was inspired by a recent webinar here on Stage 32 with Janice Lee as the executive. Her words – ‘find your weirdo’s’ changed the game for me! It’s easy to sit on the sidelines of this industry and feel like you’re falling behind. You watch other writers land Open Writing Assignments. You see option announcements. You read about scripts being packaged, developed, and moving forward. And somewhere along the way, a quiet thought creeps in: Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe there’s somethi...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from In Depth Cine- Cinematography Style: Alice Brooks. What I loved most about this breakdown of Alice Brooks’ work is how clearly it demonstrates that visual storytelling is never just about...

I have had the honor of being a member of Stage 32 since 2013. To say “It’s rough out there” is like saying “the weather is nice” during a tornado. It’s not just rough out there in the entertainment world right now. It’s brutal! It’s a climb out of the pit of Hell’s despair. Imagine this: You are living a happy-go-lucky life until your twenties, when all of a sudden, your brother or sister kills himself or herself. Five years later, your best friend also dies by suicide. And then five years l...

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! Summer is almost here, and there’s something exciting about this time of year in our industry. New momentum. New conversations. New opportunities. Over the last few weeks, our team has been on the ground at the Cannes Film Festival, connecting with creatives from around the world, hearing what’s happening across the industry in real time, and having conversations about where the business is headed next. And one thing has become incredibly clear: The crea...

Books, video games, and graphic novels have taken over film and TV. Sixty-five percent of popular movies and TV series are adaptations now. And yet (I'll go on record), screenplays are still the most powerful IP in this town. Here's why. A great book and a bad script will make a bad movie. A bad book and a great script can still make a great one. Not to be simplistic about it, but underlying IP with a built-in audience is a smart business move as it mitigates risk. It is not, however, a shortc...

There is a specific feeling that comes with yet another funding rejection. It sits somewhere between heartburn, grief and apathy, with a top note of "I should have been a dentist." You are not surprised, exactly, because you have done this enough times to know the odds. But you are still a little surprised, because you genuinely believe in this one. You know how good it is. You know how badly you, as an audience member, would want to watch it. You have massaged the budget until you can quote the...