Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that can lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships.

If you haven’t made your introduction yet, you still have time. Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce yourself. Your next great opportunity could be just one connection away. Now, let’s grab that coffee and dive in…

This week’s featured video comes from In Depth Cine- How The Safdies Shoot A Film At 3 Budget Levels. The video explores how the Safdie Brothers approached filmmaking across three different budget levels, from a stripped-down indie production to a larger, studio-backed film. But what stands out most is not what changed as the budgets increased, but what didn’t. At the lowest budget level, Heaven Knows What was built out of pure resourcefulness. Real locations, non-professional actors, minimal crew, and a highly reactive approach. The camera often feels like it is chasing reality rather than staging it. Limitations did not hold them back; they defined the aesthetic.

With Good Time, the budget increased, but the mindset stayed the same. Even with more resources, the Safdies continued to shoot with urgency and intention, often approaching scenes as if they were “stealing the shot.” They leaned further into genre, expanded their technical capabilities, but never sacrificed the intensity that defines their work. Then comes Uncut Gems, their largest-scale film. More locations, bigger set pieces, more recognizable talent. But instead of smoothing out their style, they doubled down on it. The camera stays close, the pacing is relentless, and the sound design is overwhelming. The budget did not dilute their voice; it amplified it.

And that is the key takeaway. Your voice is not something that appears once you “level up.” It is something you build, protect, and refine at every stage. The Safdies did not wait for permission. They did not wait for bigger budgets to define who they were as filmmakers. They committed to a point of view early and then carried that through every phase of their career.

Everyone’s journey in this industry is completely different. There is no universal path. There is no formula you can copy and paste. You have to define what success actually means to you. People say to me, “RB, I want to be as successful as you.” But you shouldn’t be comparing yourself to anyone else. Yes, I have sold feature scripts. Yes, I have had projects set up with major companies. But not everything gets made or goes exactly how you envision, and that is part of the process.

What those moments do is open doors, create opportunities, and move you forward. They are stepping stones, and that is how you should be measuring success. Not by someone else’s career or timeline, but by your own forward movement.

I’m sure you have a big goal in mind for what you picture as success. Perhaps it’s seeing your script on screen, landing a role, directing your first feature, or building a sustainable creative career. But you do not get there in one leap.

You get there step by step.

• A finished script.
• A strong rewrite.
• A great piece of feedback.
• A new connection.
• A meeting.
• A small win that leads to the next opportunity.

Those are all wins! If you’re not recognizing those moments, you are missing the real progress you are making. So stop comparing yourself to others or measuring yourself against someone else’s highlight reel and focus on your own path. The only path that matters is the one you’re building for yourself.

Tell me in the comments below- What’s one “small win” or stepping stone you’ve had recently that’s moved you closer to your bigger goal?

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

In Depth Cine | How The Safdies Shoot A Film At 3 Budget Levels

RBWalksIntoABar | What’s The Real Secret to Being Successful in the Industry?

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