Inspirational

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...

In a land not so far away, in a time not so long ago, the veil to the film world was a mighty feat to cross. I'm not saying it still isn’t tough to get out there and become a financially stable filmmaker. However, we hold the power now. What started as a simple picture of myself that I shared on Instagram, one taken while I was filming a Docuseries using the RED Epic and Cooke Anamorphic, turned into a wild adventure called social media. That one picture launched me into so many opportunities....

Imagine you have pitched a twenty-five-word book logline to a publisher that not only lands you a four-book contract but also attracts interest from nine movie production companies in one week. Let that sink in. How would you feel? On top of the world? Like all your dreams have come true? As if you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust and all your worries are over? Well, it happened to me, and while I did feel those things, my central emotion was panic. Why? Because the cinematic catnip I’d us...

At some point, most filmmakers come across a great idea for a documentary film. It might be an interesting topic or personality, and you just know there is a story that must be told. But similarly to narrative filmmaking, there’s a huge difference between having an idea and being able to carry it into a finished motion picture. We talk about “packaging” in scripted films, attachments, pre-sales, and budgets, but oftentimes overlook the importance of doing the same thing in documentary films....

This was inspired by a recent webinar here on Stage 32 with Janice Lee as the executive. Her words – ‘find your weirdo’s’ changed the game for me! It’s easy to sit on the sidelines of this industry and feel like you’re falling behind. You watch other writers land Open Writing Assignments. You see option announcements. You read about scripts being packaged, developed, and moving forward. And somewhere along the way, a quiet thought creeps in: Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe there’s somethi...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from In Depth Cine- Cinematography Style: Alice Brooks. What I loved most about this breakdown of Alice Brooks’ work is how clearly it demonstrates that visual storytelling is never just about...

Happy Friday, Stage 32 Community! Summer is almost here, and there’s something exciting about this time of year in our industry. New momentum. New conversations. New opportunities. Over the last few weeks, our team has been on the ground at the Cannes Film Festival, connecting with creatives from around the world, hearing what’s happening across the industry in real time, and having conversations about where the business is headed next. And one thing has become incredibly clear: The crea...

This started with a comment on Stage 32 and ended with a short film called Sol Rise. It began on a post by our friend Sebastian Tudores, directed at Juliana Philippi and me: “I need to get you two together to sing on film.” I had casually mentioned that I used to sing with the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and Juliana had shared that she’s a singer as well, so naturally, he ran with it. The Debate That afternoon, I turned to my wife and said, “Honey, this guy seems nice… I don’t think he’...

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 yourse...

Someone who was a guest on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast recently had a massive opportunity, getting to open for country star Lainey Wilson. That’s an opportunity that my interviewee won’t soon forget. When she posted about it on Instagram, I pulled out the old, “Don’t forget us little people when someone is sharing a video someday of opening for you” in commenting on her reel. I can paint you a picture of the long, long road of how I ever got to her in the first place. And...