Advice

When my friend and creative collaborator Caroline Slaughter first pitched me her concept for the short film LAMB in late 2017 at the start of the #metoo movement, my first response was “Hell Yeah!” (actual response censored) and my second was “Here is a chance to create change”. LAMB is about an eager and trusting filmmaker who follows a female assistant from a hotel lobby to a secluded room for “a meeting” with the assistant’s boss... Were these female assistants who led Hollywood’s lambs to...

The entertainment industry and the public relations business both thrive on relationships and traffic in social currency. It’s one of the many reasons a platform such as Stage 32 exists—it’s a wonderful place to network and share creative ideas and experiences. The mass adoption of Artificial intelligence isn’t likely to change the importance of relationships. Instead, my belief is that it will make growing important and authentic relationships significantly more valuable. We’re already seeing t...

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! While you may have missed out on getting to attend the Cannes Film Festival in person, you certainly won’t miss out on the incredible insights that were shared there! Stage 32 was proud to present 3 expert panels at the Cannes Marche du Film which we will be sharing with you right here on the Stage 32 blog in the coming weeks. At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, I had the distinct honor of leading a conversation between acclaimed Producers- Daniel Bekerman (AP...

Once on set, I think of the 1st AD as the present, planning and keeping the day moving forward. At the same time, the 2nd AD is the future, planning and spreading information for the following days. Before Filming Begins The 1st AD gets the script and breaks it down into a schedule with all the puzzle pieces – Working closely with the director, everything having to do with the script is decided - locations, cast availability, equipment, day vs. night, sets, props, stunts, special effects, and...

Over the last 20 years, I have employed a lot of people for crew positions on features that I have produced and directed. As much as I would love to say I use the same crew every time, unfortunately, that is not always the case. When starting out, the logical choice of course is to hire people with the most credits on their resume, however, that is not necessarily the smartest approach. As I reflect back on the films I have crewed, I have learned a few things that I would like to pass along to y...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! The best action/thriller movies combine intense, well-choreographed action sequences with a gripping, suspenseful plot, strong character development, exciting action set pieces, and unexpected twists to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Classic action/thriller shows like CSI or GAME OF THRONES are some of the most watched series of all time and keep spawning spin-off series. Current action/thriller franchises like JOHN WICK, MISSION...

Welcome to July Filmmakers Club, Stage 32! Week 1 of July Filmmakers Club was an absolute blast! For any of you who missed it, you can go back and ready last Monday’s incredible blog HERE, jump into the Filmmaking Lounge to catch up with everyone HERE, or watch my live Q&A with Daniel Sol from HollyShorts on our @Stage32 Instagram HERE. This week, we’re talking all things CREW. Most people, inside and outside of the industry, have familiarity with the primary “above the line” crew positions...

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 Studio Binder they’re breaking down the full Pre-Production Process in Film, diving into the preparation necessary before the camera rolls, including the individual film crew roles, responsibilities, and processes. It’s an in-depth look at arguably the most important stage of...

Small feature films are roads to much bigger projects. A positive, proactive attitude will propel your work. Here is what you need to give your film a fighting chance against the competition. Aim For Attention Successful projects happen when you adopt a realistic approach to their completion. Don’t think too big too soon. Storytelling as a filmmaker is a lifelong learning curve but a positive attitude is everything. A feature film carries the kudos and longevity that short-form content does...

Happy Summer, Stage 32! I have some exciting news to share! "Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want" has been recognized as the winner of the National Indie Excellence Awards in two categories: Wellbeing Winner and Personal Growth Finalist. The National Indie Excellence Awards honor presses that go the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect. That now makes four awards my book has won, and I share all of them with those who have been suppor...