Producing

Hello and Happy Wednesday Stage 32! WOW. What an endlessly epic few days it has been here at Stage 32. For those of you who may not have heard the news, Stage 32 is screening films affected by the SXSW cancellation (kindly find all the info here). Since the announcement on Monday, support has been constant and ever-growing. So far, we have had over 25 pieces of media coverage published from outlets like Variety, CNN, and more.  I know I speak for everyone at Stage 32 when I offer a resoundin...

Hey guys. It’s been a wild 96 hours or so around these parts. Since conceiving the idea of assisting the filmmakers impacted by the cancellation of SXSW by screening their films here on Stage 32, we’ve been working non-stop. (If you missed yesterday’s announcement, click here.) It’s been an adrenaline-fueled period of logistical planning, development, programming, graphic design, PR writing, working with the press, interviews, and about 100 other things I’m likely forgetting. We’ve been fueled...

Hello Creative Army! We really need your help in spreading the word! As you have likely heard by now, the 2020 SXSW festival was canceled due to concerns about the health and safety of attendees and the Coronavirus. As filmmakers, producers, screenwriters, and actors ourselves, all of us at Stage 32 are devastated for everyone impacted by the cancellation of SXSW.  Over the last few days, we have heard from hundreds of Stage 32 members who played a part in the films impacted by the cancell...

Happy International Women's Day Creative Army! Is your coffee ready? I'm about to bring you some white-hot content featuring some powerhouse female filmmakers on this very special International Women's Day edition of Coffee & Content.  We have had some amazing films led by female filmmakers in the last year. Little Women (Greta Gerwig), The Farewell (Lulu Wang), Booksmart (Olivia Wilde), A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Marielle Heller), and Hustlers (Lorene Scafaria) to name a few. Howe...

Call me J.C. - I will be offering blogs from time to time about the process of writing and promoting screenplays. I perhaps am no expert, but I started writing professionally 63 years ago…when I was 16. So, I’ve invested a lot of effort into the process. You name it, I’ve written it, and supported my wife and family well by it. The problem has always been that I’ve been so busy (because I wouldn’t dare to say no to a commercial client), that my creative writing (read Screenwriting) has alw...

We've all had that script or project that we have poured our hearts, souls, and time into. You do the Hollywood hustle networking game and finally, land that big pitch meeting. You passionately pitch your project and eagerly await the executive's praise. Instead, they ask you point blank "what else do you have?"  This question is a staple in any pitch meeting, so it is imperative to know how to answer it when the time comes. Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto and Director of Script Services Jason...

When you think of great original soundtracks - the best of the best, you probably think of Final Fantasy, Zelda, Skyrim, and even Sonic. Video game music is a genre in itself. It went from 8-bit synthy beeps and bobs to orchestra epic arrangements. The genre has impacted and inspired so many, myself included. I will admit that growing up, I wasn’t into the greats like Final Fantasy or Zelda. I was more into really obscure games such as Spyro, Twisted Metal, Crazy Taxi and such. It is games lik...

Happy Wednesday Filmmakers! This week, we are thrilled to present the debut vlog from long-time Stage 32 member, blog contributor, webinar teacher, and international film & distribution aficionado, David Zannoni! Over the course of this year, David will be bringing Stage 32 exclusive insights, tips, and tricks from his adventures in the business of film across the globe.  Today, David is reporting from the European Film Market & Berlin Film Festival in Berlin, Germany. Click below to learn t...

So You Want to Adapt a Classic? Considering the benefits of adapting the classics of literature—the proven success of their themes and structure, iconic lines, enduring timeliness, and strong characters—the question is, why WOULDN’T you want to adapt a classic? Because it’s already been done... to DEATH. Take Sherlock Holmes. Adaptations are endless, with new ones nearly every year. And the approaches writers take encompass a wide range: placing him in modern times, as a comedic figure, as a...

Foreign Language films are often a hit or miss when it comes to box office performance but 2019 was the year of the Parasite. The Cannes Palme D’ Or winner Korean film by Bong Joon Ho who is by now deemed as much of a film making genius as Kurosawa once was, made 31 Million US dollars in US territory alone and 161 Million dollars worldwide. Historically speaking, the foreign language films that crossed all borders with most success, were those that had relatable character journeys and powerfu...