Filmmaking

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...

Diversity is what makes our industry special - tell your unique story in this year's Diversity Springboard Screenwriting Contest. Connecting with diverse audiences and showing the world your story is exactly what film and television are for! Stage 32 offers access to some of the biggest names in the industry, including executives from Iconic Media Productions, Innovative Artists, WeTV and more with credits like THE NOTEBOOK, THE LOST CITY and WHIPLASH to name a few! We are looking for diverse...

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 folks over at StudioBinder share a fascinating look inside the cinematography of Stranger Things. Specifically, this video looks at how the series primary director of photography, Tim Ives, used color, lighting, lenses, and aspect ratios to create the iconic 80's-style cinematic look of the s...

We all have characters we love. The ones that stay with us, that inspired us when we were children, made us laugh as adults, and share memories with family as we watched It is a truly rewarding experience when animation artists breathe life into their characters by creating movement as though they’re real humans. But how does this happen? How can you make your characters alive in animation? Here are 11 tips to successfully create characters that feel as grounded and realistic as they are "...

Near the beginning of my writing career, I attended a writing group in college. A friend encouraged me to go with them when I mentioned I like to write. Keep in mind, I was still very much in the “writing is a hobby stage” at this point while they seemed to want to make a career of it. I went, then continued going, and eventually ran the club myself (as equals with a few people I still talk to daily). We did more than work to make a community, we did our best to make sure everyone got the bes...

I’m a retired accountant. I started writing a novel 35 years ago but couldn't get an agent to read it. So, I thought if I wrote the script it would get me representation for the novel. I bought the Syd Field book on screenwriting and jumped in. I thought the script was terrific and sent it to producers (this was when they accepted unsolicited material). One producer’s assistant replied that it read more like a made-for-tv movie and was not interested. So, I rewrote draft after draft. I came up...

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 Hollywood Reporter hosts a roundtable featuring top TV actresses to discuss the craft and their current projects. This particular video features actors Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), Molly Shannon (I Love that for You), Quinta Brunson (Abbot Elementary), Tracee Ellis Ross (Blackish), a...

Can’t Find The Time? You Got To Make The Time! You have it all down. You have the story, the plot points, and you may have even started the script. But you just can’t find the time to finish it. Like many of us, life just gets in the way…whether it’s work, family, or friends. What do you do when you can’t find the time to finish your screenplay? Well, here’s the good news: everyone gets a fresh batch of 24 hours to use every day. With a little planning and a lot of discipline, you can steadi...

Through 14 years of working in the entertainment industry, I’ve learned that there will be many ups and downs in a dream pursuit. There will be obstacles, and good days, and opportunities, and rejections. The High Achiever (a.k.a. you!), needs a game plan through it all. The High Achiever needs to handle all of these moments intentionally and carefully, in a way that effectively keeps them on the path to success. That’s why I developed the 10 Pillars of the High Achiever. Here are the 10 pillars...