Filmmaking

Animation is one of the few genres that has continued since the 2020 pandemic in a relatively unharmed way. The fact that animation can to a large extent be produced entirely remotely, put it in the spotlight of the film and television production community when the world came to a halt during the first months of the pandemic. The ability to produce animation remotely, in combination with the availability of cross-border high-quality animation and talent, production incentives, and lower costs,...

Something I observe frequently is how often overlooked soft equity is in the finance plan. Counterintuitive, right? Why counterintuitive? In understanding film finance as a filmmaker and a producer, it can be explained relatively easily as this; soft equity is anything that doesn’t carry an obligation to be repaid or have the expectation of a recoupment attached. Hence I both preach and practice to seek out as many sources of soft financing as possible. Outside of tax credits or rebates (o...

Film production is expanding rapidly around the globe. That is why at The International Trade Centre (ITC) we created a career acceleration program in the format of a television show for emerging filmmakers called ‘Opportunities Are Here’ (OAH). Africa is bursting with creativity and potential, especially in the media and the arts. ‘Opportunities Are Here’ is designed to find the best young talent, and give them visibility, industry experience, and access to world-class expertise. After...

Hello Creative Army! Over the past 13 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 and the Cannes Film Festival Marché du film to name a few. Now, for the 9th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qualifying short...

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 Frame Voyager, they’re breaking down the groundbreaking VFX production of Twister! The 90s was an incredible era for film, but especially for films that stretched the viewer’s imagination with the use of emerging technology such as CGi and 3D Animation. Twister was a movie th...

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! Our Stage 32 Team has been working diligently to bring in as many new resources and opportunities as possible to enrich your experience here in our community! At Stage 32 you have direct access to award-winning industry executives and professionals who’ve written, produced, developed, and represented acclaimed projects such as NARCOS, THE CROW, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, THE GREEN KNIGHT, FENCES, MUDBOUND, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, DINOSAUR, WILDERNESS, THRE...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! I hope that the last month has been joyful and productive for you all! Our Stage 32 Education Team has certainly been hard at work to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This August, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning screenwriters, producers, directors, cinematographers, actors, consultants, authors, script coordinators, attorneys, financiers, and representa...

When It All Slows Down, Don’t Give Up Have you ever heard of The Three-Legged Stool? It sounds like a children’s fable, doesn’t it? It’s more like an industry fable, and it’s just as invaluable as The Deathly Hallows. In fact, many have attributed it to their longevity in the industry. Allow me to tell you the wisdom behind the notion, and make of it what you will... It is said every professional creative should have three distinct ways to stay active in their career. The three legs are: what...

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 Editing Podcast, hosts Hayden Hillier Smith and Jordan Orme sit down with the acclaimed editor behind David Fincher's brilliant cinematic masterpieces, Kirk Baxter! Kirk's illustrious career spans iconic films such as “The Social Network”, “Gone Girl”, and “The Killer”. H...

In 2020, I had the privilege of cutting a horror/thriller film titled The Boy Behind the Door. It was the directorial debut of David Charbonier & Justin Powell, and it was also my first feature-length project as an editor. The film was part of the Official Selection at Fantastic Fest in 2020 and received some genuine critical acclaim during its run. It then sold to Shudder and became available for streaming in 2021. The whole post-production process took over 2 years of diligent work and I lea...