Hello, Stage 32-ers! My name is Kay Ross, and most of you know me as the Community Manager here on Stage 32. If you've been here a while, you're probably been wondering where I've been - hiding out in the Writer's Room! LOL You can still find me there on Mondays for The Coverage Report - we have a special one THIS MONDAY talking about the Finale of Succession - and Wednesdays for our weekly Wednesday Webcasts!
I've basically been working 4 jobs for the last year - Stage 32, working with clients as a Producer-for-hire (that means a la carte services, not attaching my production company to projects), writing and developing on my own projects, AND producing with my creative partner, Garrett Adams: https://www.stage32.com/profile/631293/about I know, we're gonna have him update that photo LOL
This time last year I rolled back my hours so I could focus on my most ambitious proof-of-concept to date, "Sanctuary" the Short Film. It has a car chase, fight scenes, SAG actors, named talent, child actors, filming on location, filming in studio, we even built a set! WHEW... I'm tired just thinking about it LOL
I'm sure you're asking yourself - K-Dawg, why in the WORLD are you doing all of that for a SHORT FILM?!? In short (get it? LOL), because we wanted to test out our workflow for the feature. Having a proof-of-concept built on favors and free stuff is great for a passion project, but it is not scalable. That is to say, unpaid labor and guerilla filmmaking techniques won't work when we greenlight the feature, and we are dedicated to the process being as satisfactory as the end product. We hope to contribute to the future of ethical independent filmmaking!
We're now in post-production, working with an amazing VFX artist @AbandonedMinitures and will be sharing more in the next few weeks. Be sure to join our Facebook Page to follow our journey to the big screen!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089620837858
We're also on Instagram: @SanctuarytheShortFilm
I've also been picking up some pretty exciting projects! After last year's 48-Hour Film Project success, I've started picking up more Creative Producer and Director gigs SQUEEE! If you'd like to learn more about my journey into comedy writing/directing/producer, definitely check out my latest blog:
https://www.stage32.com/blog/kick-the-tires-of-your-comedy-3386
So, what's all this leading up to? In the short-term, joining the PGA. After that, I want to join the DGA as a Director (I qualify as a UPM, but I don't want that to be my trajectory). Perhaps I'll be able to qualify for the WGA someday, but right now I'm quite enjoying the Creative Producer/Director space.
So, here's my question to you - what have you been working on? And how do you intend for it to add up?
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K-Dawg! Let me know if I'm overusing your blog name, Karen "Kay" Ross. :) You and Garrett have been busy! Hope you two reach your goals!
I've been helping out with the writer's strike online and getting things ready for when the strike is over (working on new spec scripts, rewriting old spec scripts, updating pitch deck, networking, and getting better at screenwriting).
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Maurice Vaughan Naw, man, I LOVE that you know and use my blog self-reference LOL
That's awesome, thanks so much for being part of the WGA Strike! Do you have any suggestions for others looking to help online? I know here in LA, most people sign up to join the picket lines, but I'm sure they would love the support!
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Ok, cool, Karen "Kay" Ross. K-Dawg it is!
Writers (WGA and pre-WGA) can support the WGA by educating themselves about the strike so they can tell others about it. Here's the Strike Hub: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike-hub
Writers and non-writers can donate to the Entertainment Community Fund. It's a fund to support fellow Hollywood employees and crew who are suffering hardship due to the strike. Here's the link (https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app200...). Click the "Support Film and Television Workers" button. Donations are tax deductible.
And if you're a Hollywood employee or crew member who's suffering hardship due to the strike, go here for emergency financial assistance: https://entertainmentcommunity.org/how-get-help-and-give-help-during-wor...
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Hello Karen "Kay" Ross ! Great to see you again on Introduce Yourself Weekend - wow, you've been busy. Congratulations on Sanctuary - sounds like an ambitious project and it will be exciting to see what you do with the short and beyond. Howdy Maurice Vaughan ! Good to see you here on Introduce Yourself. Great resources regarding the strike and sounds like you're keeping busy on projects. I myself have been auditioning for several projects and have been helping some friends out with their feature re-writes (and they with mine) and hoping to sit down soon to work on my first TV show some more. Cheers to you both!
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Karen "Kay" Ross Hi Kay, thanks for posting. So what does ‘ethical independent filmmaking’ look like to you?
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Great to hear that Sanctuary is in post production.
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I submitted my pilot script for coverage on Stage 32 this week. Right now, still reading books and articles about the themes and the concepts that relay to my story. I may start working on the worldbuilding for my second logline which is a short film, like yours.
I can't really get into it, but here's the nutshell. Think Odin's discovery of the runes as a story prompt, translated into the frantic landscape of New York City. What happens when someone is obsessed with a loved one's past.
And Karen, congrats for all your hard work! Will Sanctuary be available on YouTube, Vimeo or any other streaming site?
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That sounds like an awesome short and an action packed feature. I can't wait to see you sanctuary