With over 14 years of professional experience in the film and commercial industry, Won Novalis is an award-winning editor of feature films, TV, commercial, documentary, and short film projects. With past experience as DIT, data manager, post-production supervisor, assistant editor, and editor, in addition to an MFA in Screenwriting almost completed, Won brings versatility to his work as an editor and storyteller. Won has worked for commercial clients GE, Microsoft Bing, Johannes Leonardo, Razor Fish, the United Way, Goodwill, Delta, the American Advertising Federation, and more. He is also a co-owner and founder of the production company CRY (based in NYC), working with clients all over the US. He is also a co-producer of the podcast Filmmakers in Advertising. Full Bio »

A NEW EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR
Learn How To Improve, Fix and Perfect Your Film In The Edit Room From An Award-Winning Editor
Real-world case studies of visual and audio materials examples will be referenced and used by Won!
No matter how well your shoot goes, there’s a high probability that when you go to piece the footage together in the edit room, you’ll find yourself wishing you had gotten more takes, more angles, another line read, and simply more elements than what you have. But there is usually no way to go back and reshoot what you now feel you need. This is a where it becomes vital to have an editor who knows how to work with the footage you have, and employ the many tricks of the trade at their fingertips, to edit together the great story you want to tell.
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn why the phrase “fix it in post” is commonly used in Hollywood as you learn editing tricks, visual hacks, and simple effects that can solve numerous problems in post-production.
The edit room is a new chance to perfect your story so in this essential webinar you’ll also cover how use these techniques to strengthen the overall story as you and your editor take on the role of post-production “writer,” “translator,” and “technician” while editing your project.
Taking you through these need-to-know editing tips and tricks is Won Novalis. With 15 years of experience in screenwriting and editing in feature films, commercials, and short form, the awarding-winning editor leads his team at the production company, Cry, to deliver the quality polish of a big post-house at a fraction of the cost. He’s worked with numerous major companies, including commercial clients GE and United Way. Won is a fast-paced, meticulous editor who envisions the end goal and uses feeling and intuition to craft stories to their final stage.
Whether you’re an editor looking to improve your craft or you’re a filmmaker looking for solutions for your project, you'll leave this webinar armed with many tricks of the trade that you can start implementing today.
PRAISE FOR WON'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:
"I've cried so many times over long editing days. Novalis is so smart and passionate, and gives the best feedback on edits that I know I'll never have those same issues again!"
-Jack K.

Ideas to keep in mind about the role of an editor
Fixing common production-related issues
Addressing story-related issues
Real-world case studies of visual and audio materials examples will be referenced and used by Won!
Q&A with Won
Won Novalis
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Award-winning editor Won Novalis shows you the massive creative and financial benefits of working with your editor early, that he's learned working with big-name clients including GE, United Way, Microsoft Bing, and more. Your film's editor is one of the few positions making key creative decisions on your project. However, many productions don’t hire or bring in editors until after the footage is shot. Including an editor early and understanding what they offer gives you new insights, saves you time and money, and ultimately results in a superior product, giving you the competitive edge. Large-scale studio projects understand the critical value of consulting with their post-production teams as early as the storyboarding process. Doing so strengthens the narrative and saves time as the editors get to work during principal photography. Whether you’re a producer, director, or editor, this exclusive Stage 32 webinar will show you what editors do and the fantastic benefits of working with your editor early on, including: The link between the editing and cinematography The editorial onboarding process What directors can do to empower their editor How editors read scripts to eliminate common redundancies Finding opportunities to better utilize visuals or audio to engage the senses Creating a pre-visualization The benefits of editing during principal photography And so much more Walking you through understanding this impactful role is award-winning editor Won Novalis. He is the co-owner and founder of the production company Cry, where he works with clients all over the US. Won brings incredible versatility to his work as an editor and storyteller, and has worked for commercial clients GE, Microsoft Bing, Johannes Leonardo, Razor Fish, the United Way, Goodwill, and Delta, among others. By the end of this webinar, you’ll understand how lower-budget and independent projects can benefit from an editor’s fresh perspective and great skills, ultimately creating a better project overall. TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS EDUCATION FROM WON: "I've cried so many times over long editing days. Nova is so smart and passionate, and gives the best feedback on edits that I know I'll never have those same issues again!" - Jack K.
Writing a film for television has a ‘unique set of skills’ which are different from writing a traditional screenplay. If you never learn how to write for the BOOM!, act break structure, number of locations, and characters, you’ll get stuck in re-writing hell or worse yet, never have your script read. Understanding script structure, outlining, and deliverables for television films prior to writing will give you a leg up on the competition. Additionally, each network has its own set of rules and you want to ask the right questions prior to typing ‘Fade In’. With more television networks producing their own content and films, the need for content is higher than ever. However, TV films have their own structure and layout, especially when dealing with networks that have commercial breaks. Additionally, working with producers and executives is a different animal than working with producers and executives in the independent world. Courtney Miller Jr. is a 5-time award winning director who has worked with the biggest names in entertainment including Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Usher, and Britney Spears. He's a staff writer for the hit show Saints & Sinners on Bounce TV and recently completed his first feature film A Stone Cold Christmas for Bounce TV, where he served as the co-writer and director. Courtney has development deals with TBS, Lionsgate, MGM, Legendary, Weed Road, Viola Davis' company Juvee, Bounce TV, and Will Packer. His award winning short film REPAIRations! - The Musical, received the Director's Choice Diversity in Cannes Best Musical. He has directed commercials for Nike, Apple & Hewlett Packard. He knows the television writing and directing landscape inside and out and he's ready to share his knowledge with you. Courtney will dive in by explaining all the differences between writing a TV and a traditional film screenplay. He will discuss how to format acts, how to be sensitive to the shooting schedule, what you can expect regarding deadlines and delivery dates and how to navigate dealing with the network. From there, Courtney will take you to the greenlit phase where you'll need to know what deliverables you are responsible for, how much time you'll be given to deliver your rewrite, and how to handle network notes (there will be plenty). Courtney will then jump into the writing process including how to write for the BOOM!, how many acts you need to have in your script (and if that varies) and the importance of writing a compelling and attention grabbing Act 1. Going even deeper, Courtney will discuss beat sheets, how many beats you need to add, and what your overall beat sheet should look like. And finally, Courtney will explain how to write an outline that keeps the execs happy and off your back so you can go do what you do best...write! PRAISE FOR COURTNEY'S TEACHINGS: "Another winner for Stage 32. I have many scripts I thought would be a better fit for television and now I know how to get it done!" - Fiona C. "I'm ready to write for the BOOM! Thanks, Courtney!" - Miguel P. "It's always been a dream of mine to have something on the Hallmark channel. Now I have the framework and I'm ready to start writing." Melissa H. "Couldn't have been any better. Great detail!" - Ida W.
It’s the dream of many to have a career as a writer for TV or film, to be able to make a living creating worlds and telling stories. Just ask almost anyone at any coffee shop. However the life of a writer, even the most successful, isn’t always easy. The career path is fraught, unpredictable, and inconsistent. Every writer breaks in (or doesn’t) in different ways, and as a result, there isn’t a singular roadmap for aspiring writers to find the success they’re looking for. That said, having a keen understanding of the industry you’re trying to break into and a wherewithal of potentially helpful steps on your journey is vital in finding your place and advancing in your career. The truth is there’s so much more that goes into being a writer than just writing. Creative chops alone won’t save you. You are creating art for a market and therefore need to understand how the market operates in order to work within it. And while every writer’s career is unique, there are still commonalities and patterns among them and mistakes many have made that you can avoid by learning from them. Lee Sternthal is a screenwriter, director and photographer who has written screenplays for every major studio, including TRON: LEGACY for Disney, as well as scripts for Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson and many others. His film, THE WORDS starring Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Irons was an Official Sundance Film Festival selection and was later bought by CBS Films. Lee is a Sundance Institute Fellow, and his work has appeared on The Black List. Through his journey in this industry he has seen it all - the good, the bad and the ugly - and has come to Stage 32 exclusively to tell you about it. Lee will reflect on his own career as a writer, the mistakes he’s made and the successes he’s found, both in the indie space and the studio system, to give you the perspective, lessons learned, and strategies to better navigate your own writing career. He’ll begin by focusing on writers just starting out and will discuss whether new writers need a manager and whether they need an agent. He’ll then talk about the pros and cons of having a writing partner and what to expect if you join forces with someone else. He will discuss Sundance Film Festival and reveal what actually happens if your film gets accepted. Lee will also discuss the insider Hollywood script survey the Black List from and illustrate what happens when your script appears on this list. He’ll then delve into screenwriting services, how they can be helpful, and how they can be harmful. Next Lee will then share his own experiences, both writing for a studio for the Disney film TRON: LEGACY as well as writing for the independent project THE WORDS to give you a sense of what those experiences are like from the inside. He’ll discuss how to know how much you’re able to take on and how to grapple with the doubt and Imposters Syndrome that is incredibly common among writers starting to find success. He’ll then go over the best ways to continue to pay the bills as a new screenwriter. Finally, Lee will give you his insider knowledge of the industry, including how to understand who “The Players” are and how to navigate them, what “The Venues” are and how they operate and how to work different rooms. Praise for Lee’s Webinar: “It was great to hear about all of Lee’s different experiences. I feel like I have a better sense of what to expect and what to do moving forward to keep on writing!” -Dennis G. “Lee was great! This was such an interesting webinar!” -Betty H. “I’m so glad I saw this! Lee has so much knowledge to share.” -Terry C. “Lee definitely answered a lot of big questions I’ve been asking myself about getting into writing, and now I’m excited to take some next steps. Thanks!” -Gwen D.
Learn directly from Simon Graham-Clare (Producer) and Ricky Margolis (VP) at Future Films USA (Over 200 films & TV shows financed and produced)! In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis will demystify global tax incentives and highlight some of the many other factors to take into consideration when looking at different locations. They will look at current example incentives from around the world and also enlighten you on ways these incentives can trigger additional investment into your project. Filmmakers will learn more about international independent film financing and how tax incentives are a key element to the business plan and can open doors to a slew of potential partners, helping to plot a ‘road map’ to production. Writers will learn why they need to be thinking about the locations in which they set their stories, and how it affects the attractiveness of their scripts to producers and financiers. Having a clear understanding of today’s global tax incentives will leave your project looking more professional and further advanced, hopefully increasing your chances to move the project into production. Your hosts Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis are Producers at Future Films USA, having financed and produced over 200 films and TV shows! The Future Film Group was established in London in 2000 as a film financier, utilizing the expertise of its principals in both the entertainment and business worlds. They quickly established themselves on the UK scene through their involvement in films such as Bend it like Beckham (starring Keira Knightley), The Queen (starring Dame Helen Mirren) and Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins). At Future Films USA, Simon works as a producer, assessing film and television projects that Future Films might board to finance or produce. Ricky works in the role of Development Executive, continuing his work on the financing side whilst also becoming a more integrated part of the Future Film Group’s production activities. PRAISE FOR SAM AND RICKY'S TEACHINGS: “I felt like Simon had a concise step by step study guide on the process of getting to the green light…it's no longer a jumble!” – Russ G. “Excellent presentation! Organized, well-spoken.” – Brent B. “Very well presented with a personal take on the business.” – Glenn C. “Great seminar, thanks!” – Augustus L.
Learn how to maximize the quality and efficiency of your post-production process from Stephen van Vuuren, a post-production expert at leading full-service production facility SV2! PLUS! You'll receive The Ten Technical Commandments of Independent Filmmaking document to help guide you in your post-production process! Most low-budget film projects can’t afford to hire a seasoned Post-Production Supervisor, which is one of the most important crew positions of all. All the key decisions that will determine if your film has a seamless post-production process, including delivering for distribution, are made before the camera ever rolls. Unfortunately, the vast majority of low-budget and microbudget projects can’t afford to hire and retain a post-production supervisor from the first day to the last day of project. This is especially true for features where the time from pre-production through finishing post-production can often be a year or longer. This role ends up being dumped on an overworked editor, director, or producer late in the post-production process which often results in long post delays, considerable budget overruns, painful compromises in the final quality of your film and mistakes on the final deliverables for distribution. This problem arises because most editors, directors, and producers don’t have an understanding of the essential technical elements that your film needs for post-production and distribution. However, this doesn’t need to be the case. You just need to know the tools you need to ensure a smooth post-production workflow. That’s where this course comes in. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn everything you need to know to nail the post-production of your feature film or short film, even on a tight budget. You will learn how to master the key decisions that are made early in pre-production about cameras, lenses, frame rate, aspect ratios, color formats, sound, VFX and more to ensure your film is of the highest quality possible when it's finally finished. Teaching you the essentials to post-production is filmmaker and post-production expert Stephen van Vuuren. Stephen runs SV2 Post, a full-service post-production house that routinely takes films through the process from Edit to VFX/MIX to Final Mastering. As part of his turn-key post-production business, Stephen has made over 200 DCPs (the digital cinema packages that are what theaters use to screen films today). SV2 has worked with independent filmmakers on their projects with budgets from zero dollars to the low millions that have screened at Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca, Berlin and many other major festivals as well as international commercial theatrical releases including on IMAX. Over 75% of the films submitted to Stephen have suffered from at least one major post-production problem and required costly, time-consuming fixes. And about 10% of the films have suffered from showstopper, unfixable problems that have resulted in distribution rejections and non-releases. Stephen will teach you how to avoid the mistakes that these filmmakers made to ensure your project is of the highest quality at the finish line and is ready to be shared with the world. Avoid the mistakes of many low-budget independent directors and producers by learning to “think backwards” as big studios do to plan your post-production before you even start pre-production! PLUS! You’ll receive the “The Ten Technical Commandments of Independent Filmmaking” PDF that will help you check your productions for every possible distribution outlet at the very highest levels of quality. “I’m stoked to be able share with Stage 32 all the pitfalls and hard-lessons I’ve learned in my own journey and while helping hundreds of filmmakers post their films. We don’t have to be Christopher Nolan to present our films to audiences at the very highest quality levels. I look forward to contributing to raising the standard of post-production excellence for Stage 32 filmmakers.” – Stephen van Vuuren
Learn From An Entertainment Attorney Whose Done Deals With ABC, NBC, HBO, Bravo and more! In an industry built on storytelling there’s nothing more valuable than ideas. A good idea or good story can take you far in Hollywood, but it also makes you vulnerable. From Avatar to Empire, hundreds of films and television shows have been faced with infringement and idea theft lawsuits over the years. While the film and television industry can be an exciting and supportive place, this is not always the case and it’s more common than it should be for writers’ ideas or stories to be stolen. Without the proper protection and forethought, this can leave creatives at risk. As the saying goes, it’s a jungle out there, and the risk of having your ideas stolen is unfortunately always a possibility, as is the possibility of being accused of doing this yourself. It’s important to always be vigilant and aware of these dangers. Yet this does not mean it’s open season on creators. Whether you’re concerned about having your idea stolen or facing lawsuits of your own, there are important steps you must take to ensure you and your intellectual property remain protected. There will always be a risk of being taken advantage of, but better understanding the dangers as well as how to protect and copyright your work will put you in a much safer and more secure position. Jaia Thomas is an entertainment attorney with over ten years of legal experience who has brokered deals with companies like ABC, NBC, HBO, and Bravo and has been quoted as a legal expert in such publications as The New York Times, USA Today and ESPN. Jaia regularly assists clients with transactional and intellectual property matters and counsels filmmakers and producers on all aspects of film financing, production and distribution. She also regularly assists content creators with federal copyright registration and licensing and has had several works published in the American Bar Association, National Bar Association and multiple law journals. Through her many years specializing in federal copyright registration and licensing, Jaia has become an expert on how creators can keep their projects safe, and is ready to share what she knows exclusively with the Stage 32 community. Drawing from her many years of legal experience successfully assisting filmmakers with transactional and intellectual property matters Jaia will provide you with all the legal tools necessary to protect any and every type of script and screenplay. She will begin by discussing copyright registration. She’ll explain how to register a script with the US copyright office and explain the legal advantages of doing this. She’ll also debunk common misconceptions such as the “Poor Man’s Copyright”. Next she will explain what goes into Writers Guild registration. She’ll outline how to register a script, idea or outline with the Guild and explain the legal advantages and disadvantages of doing so. She’ll also delve into the key distinctions between registering with the US Copyright Office and Writers Guild. Jaia will then go over idea protection and theft. She’ll teach you how to protect a television show or reality show in its idea form and will outline the legal requirements for filing an idea theft claim in New York and California. She’ll even go through a case study of the seminal idea theft court case Desny V. Wilder from 1956. Finally Jaia will provide you with additional precautionary measures you can take in protecting yourself, including mobile apps, digital watermarks, confidentiality agreements and non-disclosure agreements. Expect to leave knowing exactly how to protect your current and future ideas, scripts and projects. Praise for Jaia's Stage 32 Webinar: "Highly informative. Thank you Jaia Thomas!" -Patrick D. "Great webinar with invaluable tips and advice. Great presentation and presenter. Very pleased and satisfied." -Robert F