Filmmaking / Directing

The place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on all things filmmaking and the craft of directing. From pre-production to on set practices to navigating the industry and beyond, this is your forum

Maurice Vaughan
REMINDER – It’s November Write Club!

November Write Club is a month-long challenge where you set a goal for yourself, then utilize Stage 32 to get the support and resources you need to achieve that goal! Your goal doesn't have to be a writing goal. It can be any creative goal. Part of NWC is holding other members accountable/cheering t...

Expand post

Hollywood Banks On Thanksgiving

There are several huge releases coming out around Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see GLADIATOR 2 - no way I can resists a Ridley Scott movie with Denzel Washington. I also worked with Cynthia Erivo on GENIUS: ARETHA so WICKED is a must. Are you gonna get to a theater for a movie on Thanksgiving weeke...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Gladiator II, Sam Sokolow. I saw the first one in theaters. Going to see Gladiator is one of my top theater experiences!

Brian Mortensen

“Daruma” is a small Indy film with an amazing cast. Worth a look, saw an advance screening and it’s something the Hollywood machine would not touch, it’s that good.

Sam Sokolow

Brian Mortensen will definitoy check it out.

Maurice Vaughan
Celebrate the October 2024 Stage 32 Community’s Successes

Stage 32 members had a lot of success in October! Congratulations! Check out today’s blog to read the success stories and celebrate with everyone in the comments. www.stage32.com/blog/celebrate-the-october-2024-stage-32-communitys-succ......

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan
AMA with Michael Clarkson

For the first week of November Write Club, Michael Clarkson, Screenwriter, Producer, & Director (The Haunting of Bly Manor, See, The Wheel of Time, Red Rose, Upholstergeist), is hosting an all-day Ask Me Anything in the Screenwriting Lounge! And it’s FREE!

The AMA will be focused on sharing advice,...

Expand post

Kenneth Michael Daniels
Fantastic openings to a film

Which films do you think make the best use of their early goings, and what makes them better than average?

Gattaca's opening credits are a masterclass in making the best use of that often underleveraged screen time. That it is a directorial debut is nothing short of amazing, and few remember, if they Expand post

Kenneth Michael Daniels

Mike Boas It's quite a coincidence that of all the films you could have mentioned that you chose that one as I wrote a post about it maybe a day before this post, having only just seen it for the firs...

Expand comment
Daniel Silvas

The first 10 minutes of "UP" tears me up every time.

Vincent Turner

Star Wars hands down

Rebecca James

The first seconds of Gladiator and of course Promethius! - Thanks Ridley!

Rutger Oosterhoff

"Children of Men".

All before minute 15:

Our protagonist Theo is witness and part of a clear theme, a clear GRIMM tone, clear, all around, world wide missery, clear stakes; which leads to an 'explosion...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan
TOMORROW – November Write Club Writing Sprint

In celebration of November Write Club, Stage 32’s Community Manager, Karen “Kay” Ross, will be hosting a writing sprint on Zoom every Wednesday at 12:00 pm PT/3:00 pm ET!

Kay will post a writing prompt in a Writers’ Room Lounge post before the sprint each week. If you’re not a Writers’ Room member ye...

Expand post

Film Grants

hi guys! what feature film grant programs would you recommend to submit to? Just submitted to ScreenCraft Film Fund. What else is good out there?

Sam Sokolow

Hi Mariia Rudenko - your film sounds great. I recommend Rick Davis' Stage 32 Webinar on tapping into Donor Advised Funds, which can be great for social impact projects. Rick is a fountain of knowledge...

Expand comment
Mariia Rudenko

thanks a lot Stephen Folker ! Will look for it in Spain where I reside now.

Mariia Rudenko

thanks a lot for the tip Sam Sokolow ! Will check it out. I also already bought How to Finance & Produce an Independent Film Between $250K-$2M

Mike Boas

I've had my eye on the Filmmakers Collaborative. Not a grant, but a 501c3 that allows a pass-through for tax deductible donations. Requires a $200 membership fee. https://filmmakerscollab.org/fiscalsp...

Expand comment
Stephen Folker

Mariia Rudenko how much are you trying to raise?

Maurice Vaughan
TODAY – November Write Club LIVE Q&A (Week 1)

Michael Clarkson, Screenwriter, Producer, & Director (The Haunting of Bly Manor, See, The Wheel of Time, Red Rose, Upholstergeist), is having a FREE Q&A on Instagram at 12:00 pm PT/3:00 pm ET!

Go to Instagram now to make sure you’re following the @stage32 and @stage32scripts accounts so you’re ready...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

The Q&A is going on now!

Maurice Vaughan

Here's the Q&A recording if you missed the live event or if you want to watch it again: https://www.instagram.com/stage32/reel/DCAPSSsyxkO/?hl=en...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan
TOMORROW – AMA with Michael Clarkson

For the first week of November Write Club, Michael Clarkson, Screenwriter, Producer, & Director (The Haunting of Bly Manor, See, The Wheel of Time, Red Rose, Upholstergeist), will be having a FREE Ask Me Anything in the Screenwriting Lounge on Nov. 6th! The AMA will be focused on sharing advice, ins...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan
How To Make The 2024 American Film Market Work For You!

Today officially kicks off the 2024 American Film Market! Amanda Toney gives some steps to make the AFM work for you in today’s blog. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-make-the-2024-american-film-market-work-for-......

Expand post

Geoff Hall
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Cloud’

I’m always excited to read about new releases from this Director. Ever since watching ‘Pulse’ back in the day, he has been on my radar.

When I hear that he has a new release, then I get a little excited. Even though the reviewer gives it a modest 3/5, I still feel the need to see it and judge it for...

Expand post

'Cloud' review: This Japanese psychological thriller is intriguing
'Cloud' review: This Japanese psychological thriller is intriguing
'Cloud' provides the narrative of the proletariat; the desperate urge for a better life, for enterprise and success, in a way that the end justifies the means.
Paul Rivers

That is good visual and very good audio trailer. It is disturbing to hear, try listening with your good headphones and your eyes closed.

Geoff Hall

Paul Rivers thanks, Paul. I will have to try that. How are you doing? Do you like Kurosawa’s films?

Amanda Toney
The reason Stanley Kubrick wore the same outfit every day
Why Stanley Kubrick wore the same outfit every day
Why Stanley Kubrick wore the same outfit every day
Stanley Kubrick has often been described as a mysterious man, and his level of secrecy also extended to the way he presented himself and his fashion choices.
register for stage 32 Register / Log In