Inspirational

"...filmmakers with dreams of Sundance should not view the network of festival programmers, nonprofit talent developers, producers, and yes, filmmakers (no recommendations mean more) as a hurdle. In reality, their tentacles spread far and deep searching for talent." It's hard to read the above excerpt and think that it can possibly be true. Of course getting into Sundance offers a series of hurdles. You have to have clout, right? Sure you do. But how do you measure it? And what does it all m...

Are you craving a successful career in Hollywood, but can’t seem to get your first big break? Are you struggling with rejection, discouragement, fear, doubt, or feelings of failure? I have good news for you. If you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, continue to get rejection letters, or haven’t landed the role you’ve been dreaming of, making a different choice can truly change your life.   The Secret to My Success After taking a giant leap of faith by moving my family from Chicago where m...

We want strangers to care. Maybe not when we're out picking up milk or driving to work on any given day, no. We tend to be too wrapped up in our own selves during those times to care about what others are pondering. But when we're writing about milk or driving, we want complete strangers to be emotionally invested in our story. We want them to understand every move our characters make.     Erik Bork, best known for his work on HBO's Band of Brothers, is also a Stage 32 member and bl...

Ever feel like giving up?   Like this guy here…   Of course you do. If you’re a writer, an actor, a filmmaker or an artist of any kind, you probably felt like giving up at least four times in the last month. Maybe you’re thinking about it RIGHT NOW. Apart from the fact that if you’re anything like me, giving up never really sticks because eventually that urge, that unscratchable itch to create something, comes crawling back with its tail between its legs and a puppy-eyed expression on...

2018 has been quite the year for me. I’ve done a lot of soul searching, endless amounts of planning, and allowed my brain to power through tireless bouts of thinking so I can answer some very difficult questions. I’ve had to deal with some adversity, too. But all of this has only made me stronger. Through it all, I recognize there are some really incredible moments in life. Brilliant, ones, actually, that can change us for the better. But with those brilliant moments come some not-so-brillia...

Good day, Creative Army! Let's get after it... First up today, from the good people at Indy Mogul, we have Advanced Screenplay Formatting Tips. If there's one thing we see knock down a screenplay time and time again, it's poor formatting. Let's take it to the next level, shall we? The second video today is by request. Many of you have written in over the last few months asking for some information on shooting documentaries. Ask and you shall receive. Our second video is 7 Fundamental Steps t...

Creativity drives good storytelling. Creativity can weave tales that force us to question our own morality or open our eyes to new possibilities. It’s the magical ingredient that transforms a set of mundane facts into a believable and moving narrative. Good writers can use this creative superpower to hook their reader and share their unique vision. But even the best writers struggle to find their creativity sometimes. As a young writer, I found myself sitting at a blank screen, uninspired and...

My favorite posts here on Stage 32 are the ones that inspire we creatives, actors, and filmmakers in the "second act" of our lives. Because, let's face it, we live in a culture that holds high the accolades and beauty of young, successful men and women in the industry. Of course we can see now that all of that is changing. Slowly. Actress and screenwriter Paula Jean Hixon made that clear in her comedic short film, "Are You My Mommy," which takes a look at how women of a "certain age" are typ...

The dream of a writer is to get his or her script in front of the right people. To pitch it with perfection to the very network that we know would swoon over our story. But how do we writer's get into those rooms? How do we find our way to the table to share our brilliant story? Richard "RB" Botto, our fearless leader and CEO at Stage 32, dives into three ways we can get in front of managers and agents. Here's a hint: 1) Only enter contests that get you into rooms.2) Go to events as often as...

There is no one way to break into writing for TV. Or feature films. We know this. What we don't know, are the unique stories behind the writer's who have made it to Hollywood. Each writer's path is different. But one thing is for sure; They didn't get there without a strong desire for their work and a willingness to bust their butts.   Ben Cory Jones is the Showrunner and Executive Producer of the upcoming BET comedy series, Boomerang. Rebecca Norris, a Stage 32 member, producer, and scr...