Inspirational

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...

Welcome to July Filmmakers Club, Stage 32! Every movie starts with the best intentions, and in particular, one singular intention: make a great movie, period. Produce a film that connects with audiences, makes the audience feel something, and maybe even provokes them. If you’re really lucky, it can send a message and enact awareness and change. And of course, you hope that it earns a gazillion dollars at the box office so that those involved can perpetuate their careers as filmmakers. As the s...

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 It Was A Sh*t Show, they’re sharing an in-depth video essay about how difficult it was to make the Academy-Award-winning feature film, Mad Max: Fury Road. Oftentimes, we hear behind-the-scenes production stories from cheery press junkets, success-story headlines, or even feat...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. First up, in this video from In Depth Cine, they’re breaking down Greig Fraser’...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! A great animated film or TV show combines adventurous storytelling, colorful character development, visually stunning animation, and a imaginative spirit to create an immersive and memorable experience. Classic animated shows like THE SIMPSONS or SOUTH PARK are some of the most watched series of all time, in the television and film spaces. Current animated franchises like DESPICABLE ME, INSIDE OUT, and MOANA have fans waiting on the edge of thei...

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 Writer Brandon McNulty, he’s breaking down how to write strong and effective dialogue--with examples from The Dark Knight, Game of Thrones, The Godfather, and more! He highlights what he feels are the “3 Higher Purposes of Dialogue”, looking at how in success, dialogue presen...

Staring at a blank computer screen, hoping the words will come. Seeing the idea you have been secretly working on for months was just purchased by a major studio from another writer who had a similar idea. Bitter clashes over creative differences. All realities in our creative world. How does one maintain that peaceful, easy feeling inside when one's head and heart are exploding with anything but peaceful, easy feelings? Well, first, take some quiet time to just breathe—long inhalations, long...

Hey, Stage 32 Community! A great sci-fi/fantasy movie or TV show captivates audiences by seamlessly blending rich and imaginative worlds with relatable characters, thought-provoking futuristic themes, and groundbreaking storytelling. Classic science fiction franchises like STAR TREK or STAR WARS are some of the most watched series of all time, in both the film and television spaces. Current shows like SEVERANCE, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and DOCTOR WHO have fans waiting on t...

I recently hosted an AMA—Ask Me Anything here on Stage 32. One of the questions asked by a community member was about how to handle rejection and not internalize it. I felt this was a good one to share and expand on in this month's blog because rejection is a challenge for all of us to handle well. Even as an award-winning producer and author, lord knows I have had my share of "sorry, this is a pass for us" or "this project does not fit our current slate." Whether in our careers, relationships,...

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...