Filmmaking

I’m always eager to find helpful insights for navigating life. Stoicism has been experiencing a resurgence of late, thanks in part to books like A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and to Ryan Holiday, whose books and Daily Stoic emails have made the ancient precepts relevant for contemporary thinkers. Stoicism is a philosophy about finding happiness in the “now” moment. It’s about controlling your emotions and the thoughts you think to maximize your life experience. It’s a...

Drawing the Boundary Between Actor and Character: Prioritizing the Actor’s Mental Health in the Portrayal of Human Suffering & Emotional Distress Stanislavski talks about the many inspirations an actor draws from to create a character from himself. From the power of observation and different art forms to the actors’ own experiences of life to imagination itself. The only stipulation Stanislavski states is that the actor must not lose their own identity in the process of becoming the character....

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

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, I was inspired by this fantastic AMA we had in the Cinematography Lounge with cinematographer and director Gareth Tyler when I came across this fantastic video discussion on "The Paradox Of Good Cinematography." We often analyze great cinematography with a single frame or scene, but just like a...

Following up on my previous blogs, “Finding Your Creative Tribe” and “Building Safe Spaces”, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the very individual process a professional creative must go through in order to be present for their “tribe” or be strong enough to lead a team. Especially since doing the work for yourself, BY yourself is essential. It is the foundation of everything else we create. Consider for a moment when you visit a doctor. It is certainly their job to help analyze what ail...

The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is running from May 16th- 27th, 2023 in Cannes, France, who's ready?  Stage 32 is thrilled to host an incredible lineup of panels this year taking place at the FilmUSA Pavilion (if you missed our blog announcing the panels, click here). During the day we'll bringing the most innovate panels talking about the shifts in the entertainment industry, and by night, we have some great events in store. If you're planning on attending Cannes this year, be su...

I remember seeing the van speeding toward my vehicle. When it struck, the impact sent a shudder through my nerves. Fortunately, I had enough sense to lean away from the window, so my head didn’t smash through the glass but only slammed into it with a mild “thud”. I was left with a bump on my head instead of a concussion, or worse. The car, sadly, did not fare as well: it was a write-off. Later, I learned that a piece of the engine had been propelled through the bodywork and had missed me by i...

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, the show THE LAST OF US has become the watercooler hit of the past few months and with good reason. It's not just great acting, writing, and visual storytelling, it's also a phenomenal example of how to adapt IP. Whether you're a fan of the show or the video game or both, be sure to check out t...

The Cannes Film Festival in France is right around the corner! As you all know Stage 32 has worked directly with and has had an official presence at the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film for the last 8 years. From education initiatives, partnerships, and parties, Stage 32 always has our finger on the pulse of the world's biggest film festival and market. Also, for the last 8 years Stage 32 has been an official education partner of the Cannes Marche du Film. We're excited today to announce...

Hey, Stage 32ers! Whether you're just starting your career or are a total pro, working in entertainment is as much about mindset as it is about doing the work. In today's vlog, I want you to look at your approach to your career so that you can set yourself up for success in the long run. Wishing you a very happy, healthy, & creative week. Cheers, RB If you would like more great industry and career advice, as well as inside access to what's happening behind the scenes at Stage 32, yo...