Stage 32 + Hollyshorts Short Film Program - Q&A With Filmmakers [Video]

This weekend we premiered the 2nd Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program in Los Angeles at the 2017 Hollyshorts Film Festival. In one word, it was inspiring. We had the pleasure of showcasing a program of 7 films representing 4 different countries - all with varying creativity. The audience included Stage 32 members and executives from Lionsgate, Samaco Films, Whitewater Films, Kodak, Legion M, CAA and more who all told us how blown away they were with the talent here in the Stage 32 community. After the screening we brought the filmmakers up on stage to discuss their projects lead by our very own CEO Richard "RB" Botto. We wanted to share the Q&A which included (L-R): “Six Letter Word” directed by Lisanne Sartor (US)  “Monsters” directed by Steve Desmond (US) “Must Escape” directed by Vadyam Shapran (Ukraine)  "The Light in the Afternoon" directed by David Steiner (France), represented by Mathilde Chartier (France)    Enjoy!                  Congratulations again To The 2017 Stage 32 Short Film Program Filmmakers: “Must Escape” directed by Vadyam Shapran (Ukraine) – A man discovers he’s the protagonist in a cliché, short student film and struggles to get out of it. “Sisters” directed by Taylor Shortall (US) – Part exercise of passion, and part love letter, "Sisters" is a fragment of some lost, tragic opera. “Monsters” directed by Steve Desmond (US) – Jenn lives in an underground bunker with her family, protected from the monsters that now ravage the world. This is the day that she goes outside… “Eliza” directed by Mikko Lopponen (Finland) – When a vicious drug gang discovers they’ve been infiltrated by an undercover cop, they move in killing him and leaving his wife stranded – little did they know that they just signed their own death warrants. “Dryad” directed by Thomas Vernay Cumulus (France) – The wind blows and lightning approaches ominously, while a knight escorts a damsel through the woods. He can sense the end is near. "The Light in the Afternoon" directed by David Steiner (France) - He had no family, no father, no model. No one had told him life was just... that. When he ran into her after 7 years, she suggested it. “Six Letter Word” directed by Lisanne Sartor (US) – An unlikely mother is forced to come to terms her young son’s autism after an unexpected encounter with one her johns.       Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  Read More

Coffee & Content - Screenwriting, Filmmaking, Acting, Financing, Distribution & More!

Hey guys!  Happy Sunday. The past week has been consumed by Cannes prep (see all the details here), so I have something a little different for Coffee & Content this week.  And it's something for everyone.  How about we cover ground on all the following topics: - Why you need to cut the negativity out of your life- Today! - Why you do not need to be micromanaged as a screenwriter or a filmmaker - How you can bring value to every meeting - What I'm hearing in my meetings regarding my new television project - Why you need to have a plan for your movie through distribution before you start shooting - How to identify the audience for your film or content before you go into production - How actors and other creatives can make the best use of Stage 32 - The best methods for fighting through writer's block - The best practices and most productive methods on social media - When should you follow up with producers, managers, agents and financiers   I have all this and much more in the On Demand video of my most recent AMA with the community.  This content is high energy and demands a strong, rich dark roast!   As always, I ask you to please share this content by hitting the handy social share buttons in the upper right corner.  And, of course, I always welcome remarks, discussion and musings in the comments section below. Enjoy the content and the coffee!   RB   Click here to get the AMA for FREE!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  Read More