Networking

Happy Sunday Creative Army! First of all, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from every corner of the globe. Whether you are a long-time member, or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. First up, In Depth Cine shares a breakdown of how writer/direct...

Hi there, Stage 32! I’m Shellie Schmals, Stage 32 Director of Community and self-declared Cheerleader of Creativity! Previously, I was the Senior Program & Industry Relations Manager at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, where I played a lead role in selecting the nearly 800 films that are considered for each annual Festival. I currently sit on the national board of the Film Festival Alliance (FFA), state-wide Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) as Membership Chair. Locally, I am the Vice Pres...

Stand-Ins are an unsung part of a production crew. If you’ve ever been on set, they are usually seen and not heard, but they are an integral part of assisting the camera department (and other crew such as grips, electric, props, etc.) in prepping, blocking, and lighting a scene. They are also there to give actors a break between takes so they can change costumes, go to makeup, rehearse, or just rest. For an actor, stand-in roles are one of the best ways to learn about on-camera work and the r...

I’m a retired accountant. I started writing a novel 35 years ago but couldn't get an agent to read it. So, I thought if I wrote the script it would get me representation for the novel. I bought the Syd Field book on screenwriting and jumped in. I thought the script was terrific and sent it to producers (this was when they accepted unsolicited material). One producer’s assistant replied that it read more like a made-for-tv movie and was not interested. So, I rewrote draft after draft. I came up...

When it comes to building a voiceover business, there are so many different tools out in the world (and on the Internet). But you really only need about five of them to get started. Everyone everywhere has an opinion on what you need to begin your career as a Voice Actor and how much money you need to spend to be considered a professional in this industry, but I’ve come to learn that most of that information is outdated and not helpful. So here’s my list of the five essential tools you need...

Through 14 years of working in the entertainment industry, I’ve learned that there will be many ups and downs in a dream pursuit. There will be obstacles, and good days, and opportunities, and rejections. The High Achiever (a.k.a. you!), needs a game plan through it all. The High Achiever needs to handle all of these moments intentionally and carefully, in a way that effectively keeps them on the path to success. That’s why I developed the 10 Pillars of the High Achiever. Here are the 10 pillars...

Happy Tuesday Stage 32-ers! Over the past 10 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, Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du film, and Raindance Film Festival in London, to name a few. Now, for the 7th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining fo...

Let's set the records straight for parents of young, and specifically, young adult actors (~16-24) in the entertainment industry. While there is a lot of content about sexual predators in the Industry, there’s very little about other types of abusive, manipulative and predatory behaviors involving young actors. In an unnatural arena where profit, investment, careers and social status rely on our kids more than ever, we, as parents, need to remain vigilantly aware that while “magic” exists in...

We started as novelists. We, meaning my wife, Jennifer, and I, who met a mere six years ago as aspiring novelists. Then life stepped in. Then two kids stepped in. Then … I am sure a good number of people here understand. Last year we had the “we aren't getting any younger” talk. Viola’! We tightened our belts and last year wrote our first script based on our own content. As a former technical consultant to a few production companies many years ago, I thought we would be invited with open arms....

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, In Depth Cine shares a deep dive into how writer/director Taika Waititi shoots films at 3 very different budget levels. Specifically, they break down the budgets and aesthetics of Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2.5 Million), JoJo Rabbit (14 Million), and Thor: Ragnarok (180 Million). Next up, Varie...