Financing

This year at the Cannes Film Festival I had the opportunity to meet Heidi Philipsen, a dual-citizen filmmaker from the United States and Germany. With each country being different in the various ways they make films, Heidi realized that there is an opportunity for trans-Atlantic filmmakers to learn from one another and support each other creatively. So, she did something about it. Heidi put together a panel at the Hamburg Film Fest for Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) and NYWIFT...

The American Film Market is a great place to find partners and pitch projects and films – if you have a plan. Use these steps to increase your chances of success.     PROLOGUE If you have a project or script, the most effective use of your time and money is to purchase an AFM Industry Badge or Industry Badge Plus which allow access to all offices, booths and most screenings beginning on Saturday (Day 4). The Industry Badge Plus includes all conferences and the writers workshop. Buy y...

We’ve learned in the Crowdsourcing video series that in order to get ahead with any creative project, you need to have a competitive advantage. Stage 32 CEO Richard “RB” Botto is the best-selling author of Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd, an undeniably powerful book that delves into one of the film industry's best kept secrets: CrowdSOURCING. And the more you discover about crowdsourcing, the more you understand that it truly gives you a competitive advantage...

As a writer, your mind runs a million miles an hour fueled by high octane dreams, inspirations, and real-life memories. Your grey-matter cylinders are pumping away as your fingers bludgeon a keyboard, so much so to the point you probably should apologize to it afterwards. It’s because there’s always something missing. Some gaping hole within you that you need to fill, and you believe that creating some sort of literary art will help fill that, if only for the moment. That hunger just grows and g...

I'm proud to announce that for the 4th straight year, Stage 32 has been named as the official film networking and education platform of the American Film Market. This year, we've expanded our partnership to include even more events and education.       As you know, I am a big believer that to survive and thrive in this industry, you have to adapt to the times. That's one of the many reasons we love partnering with the AFM. By having his finger firmly on the pulse of what's happening in th...

Let's rock and roll, Creative Army. We've been well overdue to get together live. I've got just the solution. Let's hang AMA (Ask Me Anything) style.   Since the last AMA in May, I've been running all over the globe fulfilling Stage 32 partnership responsibilities, conducting business, exploring creative writing/filming/producing opportunities, and mentoring in such places as Cannes, Budapest, Majorca, Paris, Dordogne, Trinidad and Tobago, London, Munich, Hamburg and, of course, right here i...

In the next video of our Crowdsourcing series, Richard “RB” Botto, the best-selling author of Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd and Stage 32’s CEO, shares things you can crowdsource for your creative project. If you’ve been following the series, you know that building an audience first can help enhance your crowdfunding campaign because you’ve already taken the time to seek out dedicated followers. But what if you could crowdsource other things needed to get you...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army. Let's jump right in to another edition of Coffee & Content. First up, How to Get Your Short Screened at Film Festivals. Many of us here on Stage 32 are looking for ways to get noticed. Networking at film festivals is a great way. And if you're know ahead of time which festivals to submit to and what to expect, you're ahead of the curve. Piggy backing that from our Friends at Indie Hustle, What Film Festivals Should You Submit to First? Some of us have our favorit...

I remember the first time I was impressed by the size of a movie theatre audience like it was yesterday. It was when I went with my family to see Home Alone when I was 9-years-old. Little did I know that seeing that movie would change the trajectory of my life.   The Power of Movies on the Big Screen I had known from an early age that I wanted to be an artist. I just didn’t know what kind—I really couldn’t draw, and I felt like I didn’t have anything to add to the fashion industry. But w...

Greetings from London where we just finished our sold-out screening of our 4th Annual Film Program at the Raindance Film Festival.  It was fantastic to see so many of our educators and executives in attendance, at our afterparty, and during our meetings throughout the week.  We'll be sharing more here on the blog soon. Those of you who know me have heard me stress that too many creatives focus nearly exclusively on their craft.  They don't take the time to keep on top of what's happening in th...