Filmmaking
Filmmaking Stage 32 Blogs
So, You’ve Joined the Stage 32 Writers' Room, Now What?
Congratulations on taking an important step to becoming a professional screenwriter by joining the Stage 32 Writers' Room! And if you haven't joined yet, be sure to check it out here! In all career paths there is the need for continual education, and screenwriting is no different. Whatever natural talent we have must be strengthened through education and networking, because after all, we could have written the greatest scripts in the world, but if no one sees them, it’s as if they don’t exist....


Announcing the 1st Annual Female Driven Screenwriting Contest
There is nothing more important in the entertainment industry today than lifting up unique and diverse voices. For our first contest of 2022, we chose to focus on stories centered around female characters. While Hollywood may have made some strides forward over the last few years, the industry is still dominated by men. Help us achieve our goal of promoting female driven content by submitting your screenplay today! Female driven content has been on the rise, proving that audiences love complex...


Coffee & Content: Behind the Lyrics of Disney's ENCANTO & Electro Effect from SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Tutorial
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 Film Riot have put together an epic tutorial on how to make the electro effect from Spider-Man: No Way Home. This tutorial uses Adobe After Effects and will add some major production value to your projects. Next up, Walt Disney Animation Studios recently shared a behind the s...


8 Tips to Help Make Your Feature Film a Reality
Small feature films are roads to much bigger projects. A positive, proactive attitude will propel your work. Here is what you need to give your film a fighting chance against the competition. 1. Aim For Attention Successful projects happen when you adopt a realistic approach to their completion. Don’t think too big too soon. Storytelling as a filmmaker is a lifelong learning curve but a positive attitude is everything. A feature film carries the kudos and longevity that short-form content doe...


The Importance of Sales Projections for Your Film
Sales projections are essential for an independent production. It gives an indication as to the commercial value of the project and eventually, the revenue expectations, which is important for financiers. Sales projections may start at development level. Once at production stage or when there is a finished film and a sales agent is engaged, the production will have a more precise indication. The sales agent typically issues formal high to low sales estimates. In this weeks vlog, I talk more...


Film Funding: The Independent Producer And the PPM/LLC
In the late 1990’s, I was asked to be involved with a film that was to be funded via a Private Placement Memorandum/an LLC. My company was to be the worldwide sales agent for the film, which was budgeted at about $1.2 million. I read the script and also reviewed the film package (writer/director/actors/producers etc) and the production budget. I did my due diligence on the film project. I liked the project, the genre and pace of the script etc., so I was happy to provide revenue estimates fo...


Voyage LA: Exploring Life & Business with Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto
Happy Wednesday Creative Army! Stage 32's continued mission is to democratize the entertainment business and the industry is taking notice in a big way. We are incredibly proud and honored that Stage 32 has been featured recently in Forbes Magazine, Business Insider, Inc. Magazine, and more. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Voyage LA about how and why Stage 32 was born over ten years ago. Specifically, I spoke with them about my journey in the industry, how Stage 32 came ab...


Networking: Doors Open and Doors Close – Shall We Leave Them Ajar?
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! Wishing you all an abundant New Year filled with love, joy, and success! Four days into the New Year, I’ve taken stock of where I’ve been, where I am right now and where I want to be. I have decided that lamenting the past and worrying about the future is a huge waste of time and being a septuagenarian, one does not have the luxury of squandering a moment. That made me think about my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Doors will remain open to family, no ma...


KATAKATA, A Nigerian and U.S. Collaboration was Born on Stage 32 - Success Story Update
The Chaos (Katakata) Continues It has been nine (9) months since director Newton Barabara of NBS Studios yelled “Cut” on the set of ‘KATAKATA,’ his first international collaboration. After the film wrapped, he immediately placed a video call to his collaborators in the United States. His exact words were “We did it!” recalls Stage 32-members, Art Thomas of Main Man Films LLC™ and Kevin Shand of Pedras Productions™. The ‘it’ Barabara referred to is the impressive impact and meaningful convers...


Coffee & Content: How to Get Work as a Filmmaker in 2022 & How to Find Auditions Without an Agent
Happy Sunday Creative Army! Happy first Sunday of 2022! Here at Stage 32, we have our finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry, and our network of executives are hungry for great content this year. Grab your coffee and let's dive into some content that will help you get ready to conquer your career in 2022. First up, Film Jams recently released a great video featuring four tips on how to get work as a filmmaker/videographer in 2022. They go over everything from what you need equipm...

