Filmmaking

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! I hope that the last month has been joyful and productive for you all! Our Stage 32 Education Team has certainly been hard at work to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This October, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning writers, producers, consultants, authors, podcast hosts, and representatives. Impressive creative professionals who have worked on or represen...

Have you ever wondered how a movie or TV show set is managed throughout each day of production with all of the moving parts, all of the people, all of the action, and only so many hours in the day? Or how the production manages to always get the same information into the right people’s hands at the right time during all of the controlled chaos? Moreover, how does each day's schedule fit into the bigger schedule of shooting the entire film or show? Who is running the set to make sure that the dir...

So you landed a job as a composer for a Film. Congratulations! But now where do you start? I think a good point is to build a positive relationship with your Director. That could definitely contribute to the success of your gig. Like any other kind of human relationship, there are no rules to make it work and there is always room for improvement, but here you’ll find some tips and thoughts, based on my experience, that I think might be helpful. Let’s suppose you have negotiated the deal, the...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. In this video from Corridor Crew, they’re diving into the history of one of the...

This was the first and last question I was asked as a student in film school. Is it something that we see on a big screen? That can’t possibly be the answer, you can see just about anything on a “big screen” these days and most cinematic experiences now happen in your home. I remember playing Metal Gear Solid on my Play Station and remarking that it was quite a “cinematic experience.” Yet, when I watch the news, I don’t feel like it’s a cinematic experience. So, in this, I can understand the...

Why Up-to-Date Cost Reports Matter & How to Solve Common Issues Film production is a fascinating intersection of creativity and complexity, where every detail—from the script to the screen—requires meticulous management. Yet, amidst the excitement of making movies, managing finances often feels like navigating a labyrinth. Producers, line producers (LPs), and accountants regularly face challenges, especially when it comes to tracking and managing expenses. A common scenario that epitomizes this...

We had two buildings when I started working at Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1999. There was the Northside building up near the Burbank Airport and the Southside building across the street from the lot off the 134 Freeway. It's commonly referred to as the "Hat Building" because of the giant iconic wizard's hat from The Sorcerer's Apprentice on the west end. The original Disney Animation building still stands in the middle of the Disney lot, but now it's mainly production offices. It has a lon...

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 subsequent 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 re...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, in this video from StudioBinder, they’re explaining Aristotle’s Poetics, one of the earliest examples of literary theory analyzing dramatic storytelling. By understanding Aristotle’s 6 principles- plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song, you’re mastering a guide that if followed...

Whether you are making Hollywood blockbusters, indie darlings, or passion projects in your back yard marketing your film on social media is incredibly beneficial. However, you may not be sure where to start. This article hopes to give you a guide, offering tips and advice on using social media as a creative. Create a Plan Work out what you want to share and when you want to share your posts. Take time to work out your target audience and post at the best times for them in order to get the m...