Filmmaking

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...

Peace often seems like the one thing you never have enough of. Always something going on. Deadlines looming, notes arriving later than promised, feedback that cuts deep. Creatively, you are tapped, and patience has run out. The business side of things is testing your limits. The sharp remarks, the tense exchanges, the heated debates over aesthetic and philosophical differences that are on auto-replay in your mind. It is. All. So. Much. Leaving you feeling like peace is a luxury rather than a c...

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. First up, check out this week’s featured video: The Hollywood Reporter’s Full Comedy Actress Roundtable 2025. Much like the shows they star in, six of television’s top actresses: Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Jessica W...

*Please note, this blog was co-written by Kevin and Kelly Tavolaro! Our first meeting involved a lot of blood. Kevin had co-written a horror feature that was being shot in the snowy woods of Utah. Kelly, an FX makeup artist, had been hired to bring the script to crimson-spraying, eye-gouging life. We first spoke during a night shoot, crowding around a propane heater in sub-zero temperatures. Between takes, the conversation turned to the classics…by which we mean Miami Connection and the film...

Something extraordinary is happening at Stage 32 right now. Across our contests, pitch sessions, and consultation programs, writers, filmmakers, and creatives aren't just getting meetings: they're landing representation, signing shopping agreements, and seeing their projects move toward production. Let's dive into the momentum that's transforming careers across our platform and what lessons we can learn from these success stories. Contest Winners Turn Scripts Into Shopping Agreements Our annu...