Filmmaking

Certain success markers have become so ingrained in our industry that we may be striving for them without knowing there's much of an alternative. How did your latest film do? Did it go viral? Did it get into festivals? Any good festivals? How about distribution? Did it make a profit? What’s the Rotten Tomato Score on your feature? How many five-star reviews do you have on Prime Video? Yes, but are those reviews Verified Purchases? While we’re on the subject, how’s your IMDb ranking? How...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice and let's dive right in. First up, the Acting Career Center shares 5 mistakes beginner actors make. Hosted by Kurt Yue, an Atlanta-based actor with over 50 credits, this video covers self-tape audition tips, why you shouldn't pretend (or mime) actions in auditions, how to handle your first on set experience, and more.  Next up, The Writers Guild Foundation share...

With no filmmaking experience and lot of extra time on my hands, thanks to COVID, I decided to make my first feature film. For the second time. Quick back story. My first attempt at making a movie was in 2017. A friend of mine, who also plays a role in this movie, asked me to take a look at his short film. After watching he said he wanted me to help make it “better”. I gave it some thought and decided I would do it under one condition. It needed to be a feature. We made it as far as me finis...

I had a dream once. I had a dream, and oh! I dreamed it boldly and strongly, and I shouted it into the wind for everyone to hear! And proudly, I proclaimed it, told it to everyone who was willing to listen. With pride in my chest and a thrill in my voice, I called it out: I’m going to be a filmmaker! I’m going to work in the film industry! And so I worked, and I plotted, and I networked, and I wrote as much as I could, and I learned my trade and dipped my toes in, and then… then I took t...

The Talking Draft Method is the fastest way for playwrights or screenwriters to create scenes. A writer records audio of themselves improvising all the dialogue and action, the audio is transcribed, then the text is reformatted into a script. This is not new, it is actually one of old Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. How is started The story goes that in 1934, novelist William Faulkner’s Hollywood career was circling the drain. His friend, film director Howard Hawks came to the rescue. Hawks bo...

I have been an independent filmmaker for a few decades now and have always wanted to make films in Hollywood.  Living in Vancouver, BC, Canada (I have been here since my early twenties) was the place to come for those who wanted to pursue a career in film and television. It is no wonder they refer to it as “Hollywood North.” I started out as an actor but always felt that I needed to do more. Quickly, I realized that if I wanted to work as an actor, I needed to create work for myself. This is w...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! First of all, 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 every corner of 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 Depth Cine shares a breakdown of how writer/direct...

After hosting a fantastic webinar on CAM agreements for Stage 32, Fintage House rep David Zannoni wanted to share the basics of this essential agreement with our entire community. Keep reading to find out how the CAM Agreement can help your production. The collection account management agreement, also called CAMA or CAM Agreement, is one of the few multi-party agreements in the entertainment industry. It deals with only one, but rather essential element of independently produced film and TV...

The notion of a “New Cinema” is a notion based on re-defining the traditional cinema screen. Before we can talk about it, we will need to review and look at the traditional cinema screen to see how it’s being re-defined. In writing this piece for the Stage 32 community, my intention was that the result would be a debate where the creative community and business side ask if this re-defined screen makes possible A New Cinema or if this re-defined screen merely makes possible a new and special a...

You probably already know this, but there is no one way to succeed in Hollywood. Everybody has their own story, their own steps, their own specifics that got them to where they are. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn anything from them. Dreams tend to feel out of reach until there are tangible steps to take, so we need something to grasp to help us move forward. While everyone’s stories are different, there are steps that most people take for every dream. I call this the Foundational Ladd...