Filmmaking

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that will lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships. If you haven’t yet made your introduction, you’ve still got time! Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce you...

In boardrooms from Burbank to Beijing, the diagnosis is unanimous: the theatrical experience is ailing. Ticket sales stagnate, blockbuster returns diminish, and the cultural footprint of cinema feels shallower than ever. The prescribed cure, championed by a legion of marketing executives, is a massive dose of transmedia expansion. "If they won't come to the movies," the logic goes, "we will bring the movie's world to them; On their phones, in their games, through their podcasts." They se...

I hope all of you are well and looking forward to making some pretty amazing connections on Stage 32! I am a mother of three girls, one and a half college grads, and a little Einstein. My eldest is an entrepreneur and teaches influencers how to grow, increase leads, and sustainability. My middle child attends SCAD and has been in more films than I’ve ever written. My baby girl has mastered 2D, 3D, and all things technical more than mommy, and preparing to do some work for Crunchyroll. I didn...

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, let’s dive into this in-depth video essay from FilmSpeak: James Gunn Made Superman For Everyone. James Gunn’s Superman is being praised as the hopeful and heartfelt superhero film we needed right now. At a...

I have some exciting news to share that will have a great impact on our region’s creative community. I’m thrilled to announce a new partnership between the Central Pennsylvania Film Commission and Stage 32 Certification on film & TV production training opportunities at our upcoming Facts Fest event. This collaboration marks a powerful step forward in our mission to open more doors for aspiring and working professionals in our emerging film and TV production community. Facts Fest in Central Pen...

I had a long conversation recently with a friend about branding. And as creatives, we often underestimate that. She’s an actress, but she approaches her career like a business, as we all should. And it got me thinking about how the exact same is applicable to us as writers. We want to be seen, we want to be found, we want to be known as writers. But beyond that, we want to be known as the specific type of writer we are. It doesn’t do me any good to try to be found by people who make slashe...

International territories are the financial backbone of most projects these days, so it's no surprise that comedies have been struggling to get greenlit. After all, comedy is incredibly regional. Unless we're talking action comedies or slapstick, which translate universally (where's our next Mr. Bean?). But here's what's interesting: studios have recently started greenlighting high-concept comedies again, and streamers like Netflix are doubling down on sitcoms and half-hours. So you have to wo...

As the Film Commissioner of Zagreb, I am thrilled to announce our new partnership with Stage 32 Certification. This is a collaboration that highlights a significant moment for our city’s vibrant film production community. Zagreb has long been recognized for its creative spirit, stunning locations, and talented crews, and now, with Stage 32 Certification, we are taking a bold step forward in empowering our local talent to further compete and thrive on the global stage. Here's why Stage 32 Certi...

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, this incredible video essay from Frame Voyager: They Built an Entire World Inside a Studio. In 2004, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events committed almost entirely to practical sets at a time whe...

I recently sat down with my friend Simona Muresan, co-founder and programming director of the Hollywood Florida Film Festival (HFFF). She was in the middle of prepping the festival’s 9th edition, wrangling over 90 films, sponsors, and an elevated jury lineup, but carved out time to chat about what it really takes to grow a local film festival into something meaningful. What followed offered valuable insights not only into how to scale a festival, but also into how filmmakers can better positio...