Latest Blogs

It didn’t start out as well as I hoped. I had submitted Dark Mother, my feature-length contained psychological thriller, for a Stage 32 consultation with Tammy Hunt of Sandstone Artists. Like most unrepresented writers, I was seeking to interest a manager in repping me and I was aware that Sandstone had signed writers from Stage 32. Tammy was delightful and full of Southern charm, but as she began to give me her creative feedback on the script, it became clear that while she liked the writing...

May is just kicking-off, and once again Stage 32 will be present at the Film Festival in Cannes. Is this your first time attending? Then read on! I am here to take you all through what the festival offers and what to do and expect as a Stage 32 member attending for the first time, as I was last year! The festival starts on the 14th of May and will end on the 25th of May. So, you'll have 11 days to be around professional filmmakers, sun, ocean, and delicious food. But what should you do to make...

To wrap up my current blog series about the 9 Levels of Story, let's dive into the final three levels! Delving into the art of crafting engaging screenplays requires mastery at various levels, each crucial for bringing a story to life. Level 7, the Sequence Level, focuses on the significant 'when,' demanding an understanding of narrative flow to drive characters towards their destinies. Sequences act as fundamental building blocks, akin to chapters in a book, each with its own rhythm contribut...

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 this video from the Standard Story Company, they're providing some inspiration on how to jumpstart your career path. It can be challenging when you're starting out and aren't sure which "path" is right for you. While no two journeys are exactly the same, this video can jumpstart some new ide...

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, starting on May 14, 2024, in Cannes, France. Stage 32 is proud to partner with the Cannes Marché du Film for over 8 years as an official education partner! About the 2024 Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film Get ready for the year’s largest international in-person gathering of industry professionals! With in-person events making a grand return this year, excitement is brewing for the 2024 Marché du Film. What Can You Expec...

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

The Cannes Film Festival in France is coming up in a few weeks!  As you all know Stage 32 has worked directly with and has had an official presence at the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film for over a decade. From education initiatives, partnerships, and parties, Stage 32 always has our finger on the pulse of the world's biggest film festival and market. Also, for the last 8 years, Stage 32 has been an official education partner of the Cannes Marche du Film.  In addition to our official part...

Hey Stage 32ers! We love celebrating this community and all that you've all achieved, and we know you do too! We wanted to make sure that all the successes you've garnered are getting their proper due so keep reading to learn all about signings, deals, meetings, script requests, and so much more from the month of April... Congrats to Writers' Room member Sean Malcolm who was selected for an OWA and is now in talks with producers at BCDF Pictures. Congrats to Stage 32 Screenwriting Con...

We all have characters we love. The ones that stay with us, that inspired us when we were children, made us laugh as adults, and share memories with family as we watched. It is a truly rewarding experience when animation artists breathe life into their characters by creating movement as though they’re real humans. But how does this happen? How can you make your characters alive in animation? Here are 11 tips to successfully create characters that feel as grounded and realistic as they are...

As a follow-up to my last blog, The 9 Levels Of Story- Part 1: Cosmic, Culture, & Life, let's dive into my next three Levels of Story!  Unraveling the layers of storytelling involves delving into the depths of creativity with a keen eye. Part 2 of our journey, "Crafting and Refining: Creative, Project, and Story Levels" takes us on an introspective quest into Level 4: Unmasking the Creative Level - Understanding Your 'Why'. At the core of every compelling narrative lies the creator's 'why' - t...