Filmmaking

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! “This is a community for you, built by you.” When I was conceiving Stage 32 way back in 2009, those were some of the first words I wrote down on a legal pad I titled THE MISSION. The mission hasn’t changed. The song remains the same. Many of you know the story. During our soft launch in 2011, I reached out to 100 of my industry friends and showed them the first version of Stage 32. I asked them to join and tell me what they liked and didn’t like about the pla...

Hellooooo, Stage 32 Community! 2025 is off and running! Hope everyone is doing well and working towards achieving your goals for this new year! With that said, here we go with the first Success Story Roundup of 2025! This is our monthly salute to just some of the amazing and talented members of the Stage 32 community who have had some success to tout from this past month. This year really does feel like it’s kicking off with a bang, as we have some fantastic stories to share. We sincerely en...

There is no shortage of acting techniques for the actor in training. From Stanislavsky and Chekov to Demidov and Meisner and Adler to Strasberg and everything in between. There is a shortage however on methods for safely accessing and regulating emotion in the process of using these acting techniques when developing a Character. The Traditional Traditional acting techniques have their own philosophies on how to access emotion. From Demidov’s “passively surrendering” and being guided by their...

When I decided to tell my story through animation, I wasn’t starting completely from scratch—I had five years of experience learning about the business side of the entertainment industry. During those five years, I spent three focusing specifically on film and two on animation, immersing myself in the craft. Even with that background, stepping into the creative side of your own project feels nerve-wracking, like entering unfamiliar territory, despite the experience. I don’t draw, and I didn’t...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! February is here, and with it comes a fresh lineup of educational opportunities to help you elevate your creative skills and take your career to the next level! From screenwriting and acting to cinematography and production, these webinars, classes, and labs are led by top industry professionals who are here to guide you every step of the way. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the incredible webinars, classes, and labs we have lined up this month. Each of...

Happy Monday, Creative Army! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been bringing new film commissions, studios, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix on a consistent basis. This week we’re thrilled to welcome the hq7 Studios in Austria to Stage 32 Certification! hq7 Studios in Austria and Stage 32 are excited to partner to bring Certification opportunities to creative professionals in Austria, one of Europe’s leading film and TV locations ac...

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. If there’s one question that every filmmaker asks themselves, it’s “Where do I put the camera?” It's a deceptively simple question, but as we all know, the answer can make or break a scene. This week, we’re diving into an insightful video essay by Every Frame a Painting, which explores the critical thoug...

Welcome back to TALKING BUSINESS: Insights from the Independent Film Industry, hosted by Stage 32 Thought Leader and Business Consultant, David Zannoni, from Freeway Entertainment and Zannoni Media. In TALKING BUSINESS, David brings you in-depth conversations on the behind-the-scenes of the filmmaking business with industry veterans. In today’s fifth episode, David is talking with Daniel Castillejos, a leading entertainment lawyer based in Mexico City, who runs his boutique firm Clearance & Co...

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. First up, in this video by Vanity Fair, Wicked Director Jon M. Chu and Cinemato...

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...