Financing

As an independent producer, I'm always planning my next project. With a stack of screenplays (many of which are my own), and no Mr. Moneytree waiting to spread his love, it can be challenging. This is why I've taken the Robert Rodriguez approach when it comes to filmmaking. For those of you unfamiliar, Robert Rodriguez's first feature film, El Mariachi, had no crew. And almost no budget. At a meager 7k, he was the writer, director, cinematographer, location scout, sound, and editor. With inflati...

The data doesn't lie. What producers and buyers want right now is different than what writers write. They want scripts that are efficient. Scripts that can attract talent and directors. Scripts where the story doesn't just move forward…it is propelled forward.Catapulted. Every scene earning its place. Every page keeping the reader hooked and turning to the next one. Lean. Mean. Purposeful. I recently spoke with a literary manager whose sentiment echoed what we've been hearing consistently ac...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that can lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships. If you haven’t made your introduction yet, you still have time. Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce yourse...

It's been more than a month since WIFTI chapters from around the world gathered in Adare, Ireland, for the 2026 WIFTI Summit, International Women's Day has come and gone, and now we’re almost at the end of Women's History Month. But what have we actually learned? What stuck? What still stings? And where do we go from here? This month, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the ideas and conversations that surround this month and ask you to reflect too. Because the truth is, reflection withou...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! As we head into Spring 2026, there’s something I want to ask you: Are you moving forward with intention… or waiting for the “right moment” to start? If you’ve been feeling stuck, unsure of your next step, or like you’re creating in a vacuum, I want to personally invite you to this month’s Stage 32 Community Open House. This will be our final FREE Open House event until this summer, so you don't want to miss it. Wednesday, March 25th at 12:00 pm PT!...

Sometimes a show takes an already beloved story and launches it into an entirely new level of cultural impact. That’s exactly what happened with HEATED RIVALRY. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changer romance novel series, the show already had a passionate readership behind it. But when the six-episode series premiered in November 2025, it didn’t just satisfy existing fans, it exploded into a global phenomenon, dominating streaming charts, expanding its audience dramatically, and spa...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! As we move deeper into 2026, there’s one question I keep hearing from creatives inside the Stage 32 community: “What should I be focusing on right now?” If you’ve been wondering how to build momentum, how to get more visible, or how to stop creating in isolation, I want to personally invite you to this month’s Stage 32 Community Open House. Wednesday, February 25th at 12:00 pm PT You can register for free by clicking here! Every Success Story Begins...

There’s something bittersweet about walking the streets of Park City knowing it’s the last time Sundance will call this place home. For so many of us, Sundance in Park City has never just been a festival. It’s been a reunion. A proving ground. A pressure cooker and a playground all at once. It’s where careers quietly shifted, friendships formed over late-night conversations, and ideas turned into films that went on to change lives. This year felt like a full-circle moment. I had an incredi...

Happy Monday, Stage 32 Community! As we continue to settle into a new year, I want to invite you to something that has become one of my favorite moments each month here on Stage 32: our Community Open House. This is where conversations begin, connections form, and clarity replaces overwhelm. If you’ve been meaning to get more involved on Stage 32, meet collaborators, ask questions about next steps, or simply stop creating in isolation, this Open House is for you. This Month’s Community O...

After publishing my blog, “Why Crowdsource Funding is Essential for Independent Producers”, there was some interesting feedback that pushed back, stating big investors are still the only legitimate way to fund film or other media projects. It was pointed out to me that, “If your goal eventually is a feature film that will be distributed internationally, then you are stepping into serious business, and the film should carry the weight of serious business in both its creation and financing.” As...