Screenwriting

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, it may seem like common sense to some, but we're looking at film slates, or "clapperboards" in this video from StudioBinder. You'll dig into the history of their use, all the information they carry, and their importance. This simple little object carries a great deal of importance on a film set...

When I was first starting out as a writer, I spent most of my prewriting time on plotting. I initially approached planning out my fiction like we’re all taught to approach essay writing: it’s all about the outline. So that’s where I’d always start: with plot. Please don’t misunderstand me. Story structure is vitally important, and I’ll advocate for taking the time to craft an airtight plot all day long. But, as we know from Aristotle, character is the engine of plot. (If Aristotle’s Poetics is...

I've worked with a lot of big-name talent, developed movies from best-selling books from Stephen King to Ann Rule, and optioned and developed a few Opera Book Club picks including Songs In Ordinary Time, Jewel (won the Humanitas Award), and Midwives. I have worked with and developed projects for Warner Brothers, Sony/Tri-Star/Columbia, Mark Harmon's Wings Productions, and more over the past 30 years of my career. Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of screenwriters in all stages of the...

I’ve always told myself to never give up, keep writing and reaching out to producers, etc. If you work hard at it, one day something great will happen. Well, it’s taken many years to get to this moment, but I’ve finally sold a script - a short horror film that is currently in pre-production. And it’s all because of a connection that I made on Stage 32. About seven months ago, I was reading through the various posts on Stage 32 and saw that a producer from NJ was looking to collaborate with oth...

Introduce Yourself Weekend is a great way to kick-start engagement every single month here on Stage 32, but that’s just the starting point! One of the biggest relationship builders in the industry is consistency. When you’re able to be consistent, you build inherent trust while also staying top of mind—and staying top of mind MATTERS. If you want to be successful in the entertainment business, you need your name to become synonymous with what you do. That way, when someone is looking for a sc...

Want to stand out and make connections fast on Stage 32? Introduce Yourself Weekend is one of the greatest ways to do that. On the third weekend of every month, all weekend long, members of Stage 32 are looking to connect with one another. Considering that Stage 32 is the largest online networking platform for Film and TV creatives and professionals—that’s pretty epic. Whether you’re looking to connect with industry executives, make industry friends, or simply practice getting your work out i...

Hi Creative Army, We need your help! Our Stage 32 SXSW panel has been selected to move on to Panel Picker! This is the stage where the public gets to vote for what panels you'd like to see programmed at SXSW (South by Southwest), which is one of the largest conferences that brings together film, tech and music in Austin, TX!  Now, our amazing Stage 32 community, we need to enlist your help. Please take 30 seconds to make a profile below and VOTE for Stage 32's panel!  Click HERE to VOTE fo...

Horror is a classic genre that stands the test of time. Decades-spanning franchises like HALLOWEEN and SCREAM still scare new generations of audiences, while terrifying new movies and shows like THE MENU and YELLOWJACKETS are redefining the horror landscape. Hollywood and audiences are always looking for that next big horror story -- and we want it to be YOURS! Stage 32 is thrilled to announce the 10th Annual Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest! If you have a Horror story that needs t...

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, we're looking at taking your project's visuals to the next level with framing in this video from In Depth Cine. There are certain framing styles that everyone is taught, and then there are the ones you mimic as you emulate the filmmakers you love and are trying to find your own style. But frami...

None of us live in a bubble. Neither does the creative process. In movies, the development of the story is usually the longest part of the process. It makes sense. Getting the plot and characters developed must happen before a single word is typed into your favorite scriptwriting software. Index cards may litter your floor or maybe you are one of the lucky ones who can see the entire story in your head – you are rare. At this stage, there is the fewest number of people involved as well and...