Filmmaking

Good Morning, Stage 32 Family! Hope your summer is going well! From the looks of our mid-year check in, it looks like it's going great for many of you! We get lots of questions on editing, and, no doubt, it's one of the more interesting aspects of the business. How many times have we heard it said, "The film was saved in editing." If you believe this to be true (and even if you don't), get your coffee or tea ready as film editor Sven Pape takes us on a journey with television editor, Josh Be...

An independent filmmaker today has enormous challenges. The biggest challenge is to find the money to get your film made. I have heard so many stories that have frustrated me over the years. Producers with no experience meeting a billionaire and getting a film made. Producers with tons of experience grinding it out to no avail. But that’s not what I want to talk about. And frankly, that’s not what you need to hear anymore. That catch 22 has jumped the shark. We got it. It’s hard and there is no...

Many people at Stage 32 often dream of getting their first real writing, acting, or directing credit in a big studio feature, but this can result in overlooking a truly valuable platform: The short film. A short film can help build your resume, get your work seen, or lead to even bigger and better opportunities. And while I never dreamt it could lead to so much, these ideas were the impetus behind my desire to make Crybaby, a 16-minute short film that I wrote, starred in, and co-directed with...

During his free Ask Me Anything webinar, Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto and Director of Script Services Jason Mirch fielded a question regarding the fast track to becoming a successful writer and actor. Basically, is there a way to shorten the path as a writer or actor? Hear what the duo has to say by clicking the video link below!   Click Here For RB's and Jason's Advice!       Remember, if you haven't subscribed to our YouTube page, make sure you do so you don't miss any of our a...

Most indie filmmakers I know invest much of their time attending events and seminars about filmmaking. This is both good and bad. Good, because filmmaking is a business of relationships, so putting your best self – your “brand” out there, is always a plus. Bad, in the fact that conversations at these events usually center around, “How can I get my film funded?” What struck me one evening was that I was repeatedly spending my time in a room of broke-ass filmmakers commiserating with other broke...

Good morning everyone! It's Monday and we are kicking off another exciting week of creative work. Can you believe we are already at the end of July! The summer is flying by, and at Stage 32, we have a lot to be excited about. I want to let you in on a little behind-the-scenes with Stage 32.   This summer has been one of our most successful yet, with writers in our community being optioned, signed, and requested through connections made through Stage 32.   If you missed my blog last week, I...

Good Morning, Creative Army! This edition of Coffee & Content focuses on ways we can use CGI, graphic design, and camera movements to up the ante with our filmmaking. First up, computer generated imagery is being used more and more, especially in action films. If you're interested in what films like ATTRACTION and SAN ANDREAS look like without special effects, pull your coffee cup closer to you. Because 7 Movies Before and After Special Effects is going to show you. Next up, our friends at...

You probably already know this to be true. Or you've surmised it. But now it's even more glaring, and actor Robert Di Niro is one of many investors stepping up to make it so: New York City is the new Hollywood. And this makes an awful lot of east coasters beyond happy. Outside of the already bustling industry, there's this: "De Niro is part of a group of investors, including his son, that is purchasing a five-acre lot in Astoria, Queens “to build a sprawling production and film studio,” r...

So there I was, minding my own business (not really) in a Facebook group filled with actors when I came across a thread where a fellow actor posed the following question: “Do I really need a brand as an actor? I see all of these posts where it says we need to brand ourselves and I’m freaking out. Does it really matter?” The answers that followed the question were varied, to say the least. And of course they did; this is social media we’re talking about. You can say whatever the hell you want...

I am an obsessive multi tasker. Some call me a master juggler. I can work on any given day on multiple projects and activities. I'm not sure if it is because I love variety or because deep down I am a masochist. Or a control freak. From buying films on behalf of our theatrical distributor clients, selling and marketing those films, developing content for film and television, and representing personalities, influencers or media companies, I do it all. I also consult for Wall Street and do story d...