Filmmaking

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 video essay from Film Stack is an inspiring one; it’s called “When an Actress Stopped Playing It Safe”. Few actresses have risked as much for their careers as Charlize Theron. She broke out in the lat...

Happy Friday, Stage 32ers! I’m excited to announce that FilmScape Chicago is partnering with Stage 32 Certification to offer our acclaimed Stage 32 Production Accounting Master Certification Course to train and elevate local talent, ensuring Chicago’s productions continue to thrive with the highest-caliber crews. “The most common question we get—whether through social media or in person—is, ‘How do I get started in this industry?’”, says FilmScape Chicago’s President, Ned McGregor. “Taking t...

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! Every year, the American Film Market (AFM) transforms Los Angeles into the beating heart of the global film industry, where thousands of producers, distributors, financiers, and creatives come together to make deals, launch projects, and build partnerships that define the year ahead. Whether you’re attending AFM for the first time or returning with new projects to pitch, understanding how to navigate this event strategically can make all the difference. That’s...

We’ve all heard the stories. Paranormal Activity, a film with a budget slightly less than a used Honda, made $193 million worldwide and launched a profitable franchise. That film’s progenitor, The Blair Witch Project, had a $60K budget and turned out a $250 million box office haul. The most profitable films from 2010 to 2015 were all horror films. 10. The Last Exorcism ($68M gross vs. $1.8M production budget) 9. Annabelle ($257M vs. $6.5M) 8. Chernobyl Diaries ($37M vs. $1M) 7. Ins...

There is a particular silence that every independent creator knows. It is the silence of a sent folder after a week of no replies. It is the quiet dread of a theatre with more empty seats than occupied ones. It is the crushing stillness of a streaming analytics page, where the view count flatlines after a brief flicker of interest from friends and family. This silence is not bad luck. It is the sound of a dream colliding with the brutal mathematics of a new creative economy. The Old Dream and...

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, I want to share a fascinating video essay from Frame Voyager: The 80s Film That Took Research Too Far. In 1983, WarGames hit theaters. On the surface, it was a teenage hacker thriller starring Matthew Br...

Happy FriYAY, Stage 32 Community! One of my favorite things about being Head of Community here at Stage 32 is to help bring opportunities directly to you that can spark connections, elevate your craft, and help you feel less alone in the sometimes overwhelming world of creativity. Today, I want to share one of those opportunities with you: an incredible free webcast event that Stage 32 is hosting next Wednesday, October 8th!  We’re teaming up with Film-Raderie, a nonprofit dedicated to devel...

Once again, let me start off by saying that I am NOT an expert at any of this. I've only been doing this acting/filmmaking thing for five years. I've retired twice and don't really have to work anymore, but I do drive Uber to get out of the house on occasion when I'm not making something. Having said that, I’m not opposed to learning from others. But please do not come at me with “I know the best way to do this” and then crap all over everything I’ve done, only to avail yourself as the savio...

Between AI actors seeking representation and new movie tariffs dominating the headlines, it's been an eventful weekend in Hollywood. But amid industry upheaval, some fundamentals remain unchanged: packages with recognizable names are still in demand. While business models evolve and distribution channels shift, executives still greenlight projects by attaching talent that audiences recognize. Whether it's a name director, an A-list actor, or an established producer, the right attachment remain...

Let’s face it, the creative process is daunting when asked to do it under a time constraint. And then to deliver it to someone else and wait for their response before moving forward? And how many times do we have to endure that before the final delivery!?! Holy WOW… being a professional creative is ROUGH! For all the ways that our industry is difficult, there are at least four things that can support each of us during the highs and lows of it all: Preparation Community Process Continuin...