Distribution

Stage 32 Reader, we meet again! Most of you know me as a prolific script doctor and as a working screenwriter, but I’ve also got more than a decade of experience working in the trenches of film finance. My career has given me a front-row seat to the rise and fall of packaging and presales as a business model for Hollywood, and I’ve blogged extensively on the unsustainability of any entertainment business plan that cashes out of a project’s risk before we’ve actually sold any tickets. Our succe...

A few days ago, I found myself sitting on my couch staring at my suitcase, trying to convince myself to unpack it. My voice was still raspy. My feet hurt. My inbox was overflowing. And despite having just spent an incredible 8 days in Cannes representing Stage 32, I felt completely and utterly exhausted. To make matters even more exciting, my journey home turned into a 33-hour travel nightmare involving delays, missed flights, airport chaos, and far more time sitting in uncomfortable chairs...

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! As many of you know, I like to judge markets and festivals not against each other, but against where they were a year ago. Last year, the prevailing conversation was cautious optimism. The industry was still finding its footing after years of disruption, and many people were wondering what the next chapter would look like. This year the conversation has changed. The overwhelming feeling throughout Cannes 2026 was momentum. Not blind optimism or wishful thinking...

Do want to shoot award-winning films and gather millions of views yearly? As a filmmaker, having some technical understanding on your resume will guarantee your prospective thriving future. I have picked up the 10 most valuable skills you should acquire to land a perfect job in the filmmaking industry. Read on to find everything out in-depth. 1. Learning Technology No matter how banal it sounds, coming to grips with the filmmaking cornerstones is vital for your prosperous career and success....

I know this isn’t a must-know topic for introverted, bathrobe-wearing writers who hate talking to people almost as much as they hate leaving the house, but I went to Cannes Film Festival for the first time, and thought I’d weigh in to tell you about my experience. I’m an author, screenwriter, and fairly newish producer of ultra-low budget movies. I use the term movies, not films, to show you that anything I make as a producer (or write for that matter) will never be up for the Palm D’Or or ev...

I have had the honor of being a member of Stage 32 since 2013. To say “It’s rough out there” is like saying “the weather is nice” during a tornado. It’s not just rough out there in the entertainment world right now. It’s brutal! It’s a climb out of the pit of Hell’s despair. Imagine this: You are living a happy-go-lucky life until your twenties, when all of a sudden, your brother or sister kills himself or herself. Five years later, your best friend also dies by suicide. And then five years l...

Rejection has a way of feeling final. In an industry built on gatekeepers, opportunities, and timing, a single “no” can land like a verdict rather than a moment. It’s easy, almost automatic, to associate rejection with failure, with being stuck, or with the idea that all your hard work somehow didn’t matter. But that interpretation misses something important. Rejection, uncomfortable as it is, can be one of the most effective forces shaping your career. The Familiar Weight of "No" Most c...

And...we're off! The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and Stage 32 is all over the Croisette! For those of you who weren't able to make it to France this year, we want to make sure that you, too, are part of the action. Stop what you're doing right now, pick up your phone, and go follow our fearless leader, Richard "RB" Botto, and Managing Director Amanda Toney: Instagram @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar X @stage32 @rbwalksintoabar Facebook @stage32   We are LIV...

The Cannes Film Festival is almost here, Creative Army! In just a few short weeks, the global film community will once again gather on the Croisette for one of the most important, electric, and opportunity-filled events in our industry, the Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film. And this year marks something special for us at Stage 32. We are proud to be returning for our 12th year as the official Education Partner of the Cannes Marché du Film. For over a decade, we have worked side...

May is just kicking-off, and once again Stage 32 will be present at the Film Festival in Cannes. Is this your first time attending? Then read on! I am here to take you all through what the festival offers and what to do and expect as a Stage 32 member attending for the first time, as I was just a few years ago! The festival starts on the 12th of May and will end on the 23rd of May. So, you'll have 12 days to be around professional filmmakers, sun, ocean, and delicious food. But what should you...