Networking

So you landed a job as a composer for a Film. Congratulations! But now where do you start? I think a good point is to build a positive relationship with your Director. That could definitely contribute to the success of your gig. Like any other kind of human relationship, there are no rules to make it work and there is always room for improvement, but here you’ll find some tips and thoughts, based on my experience, that I think might be helpful. Let’s suppose you have negotiated the deal, the...

So you’re working on your first action-packed short, feature, or pilot with martial arts, bullet hits, and smashed walls? Or maybe it’s a horror with gory falls and feints? Or it’s a car crash in a serious drama? Or maybe your actor is simply just pushed by a passing pedestrian and stumbles to the ground? For my last project, “I Miss Us,” I entered the domain of stunts and I was equally excited and terrified. My previous productions had mostly been room dramas, sci-fi, or projects heavily dea...

Happy Tuesday, Stage 32-ers! For the 8th year, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qualifying short film festivals in the land, Hollyshorts Film Festival. This year, as we have for the past 7 years, we are honored to present the hardworking and talented filmmakers that won this year's Stage 32 Short Film Contest during a special Hollyshorts screening on August 10th. Stage 32 has an exciting week of events lined up at the HollyShorts Film Festival beginning August 1...

My name is James Kicklighter, and I am a Stage 32 Thought Leader and a multi-award-winning Film Director and Producer. I have been fortunate to direct documentaries (The Sound of Identity), narrative films (Angel of Anywhere), and advertising across the country and around the world.   I hope that you enjoyed Part I of my discussion with my collaborator and friend, Emmy-nominated Director of Photography, Jonathan Pope (The Social Dilemma). Because we had so much to talk about, we thought it bes...

Hi, Stage 32-ers!   Over the last few months, we’ve welcomed tens of thousands of new members and, of course, welcomed our 1 millionth member which was featured in Variety. Every day, I hear from creatives and executives who are through with broad-based social media platforms. They’re tired of the negativity, the toxicity, and the toll it’s taking on their mental health. They want to be surrounded by positive, like-minded people who share similar interests and goals. I know you can relate...

When I wrote my first book, it was an adventure. Not only was it my first major project, it was the moment I realized just how little I knew about the craft of writing. I was two years into my professional writing career when I shifted from short stories to my first book. Sure, I’d written “books” before. But trust me, those will NEVER see the light of day. That already made this one different. I was not writing it for fun or because writing is my passion (though both of those statements are...

Hi, Stage 32ers! While you may have missed out on getting to attend Cannes in person, you certainly won’t miss out on the incredible insights that were shared there! At this year’s Cannes 2023, Stage 32 hosted a wonderful expert panel about the opportunities you have internationally as a creative and what the global business landscape looks like. Moderated by Sara Elizabeth Timmins (Film Producer), our distinguished panelists Sidney Chiu (Film Producer), Segolene Zimmern (Manager of Inte...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! It’s been a busy July! Our Stage 32 Education Team has been hard at work to bring in some incredible education opportunities and resources for this fantastic community. Over the next month, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, Emmy-winning filmmakers, best-selling authors, acclaimed producers, financiers, script coordinators, distributors, attorneys, and representatives. Impressive creative professionals who have worked on such proj...

Happy Monday Stage 32-ers! Over the past 12 years, we here at Stage 32 have been thrilled to be recognized throughout the industry as the leaders in online film craft and business education. We are honored to be partnered with some of the most prestigious film festivals and markets in the world including the American Film Market and the Cannes Film Festival Marché du film to name a few. Now, for the 8th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qualifying...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! Over the years, Stage 32 has been a lot of different things to different people. It’s been a community, a network, a family, a mission, a call to action, an opportunity, a refuge, a school, a mentorship, a marketplace, and so much more. This week, in celebration of Stage 32’s recent 1 Million Member Milestone, we’d love for you all to share your answer to the question, “What does Stage 32 mean to you?” All you need to do is upload a short video to your external socia...