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July Filmmakers Club Week 2 is Here! Why Animation Can Take Your Story Anywhere

July Filmmakers Club Week 2 is Here! Why Animation Can Take Your Story Anywhere

Read this week's blog, complete the challenges, and enter to win a FREE Stage 32 Webinar

Welcome to Stage 32's 3rd annual July Filmmakers Club, our month-long creative accelerator built to help you set intentional goals, connect with fellow filmmakers, and move your projects forward with purpose, in partnership with Blackmagic Design!

Every week throughout July, you'll have access to:

  • A brand new blog packed with insight from a Stage 32 team member, exec, educator, or industry pro
  • A Free webcast or 24-hour AMA event on Wednesdays in one of our free Lounges
  • Three creative challenges to keep your momentum going
  • Weekly prize drawings
  • A grand prize at the end of the month of 3 FREE DaVinci Resolve Studio Licenses from our partners at Blackmagic Design

This Week's Blog: Why Animation Can Take Your Story Anywhere

This week's Week 2 blog, written by Stage 32 Thought Leader Evan Anglin, dives into the world of animation as a medium (not a genre), how it opens up creative possibilities that live-action can't, and what filmmakers of every discipline can take from animation's approach to storytelling. Whether you're an animator, writer, director, or just someone curious about the medium, there's insight here for you.

This Week's Challenges:

Complete all 3 challenges by Sunday, July 12th, to be entered to win a FREE Stage 32 Webinar to continue your craft or industry education. Winners will be announced in next Monday's Week 3 blog!

  • Comment on the Week 2 Blog with your biggest takeaway from Evan's insights, a question you'd love his perspective on, or a project you're working on that this advice applies to.
  • Post in the Stage 32 Animation Lounge and share an animated film, series, or short that inspires you. What worked? What surprised you? Whether you're an animator, writer, director, or just someone who loves the medium, share what stood out and why. Bonus points if you can include a video link, trailer, scene, or image so we can see what you're talking about!
  • Then post in the Stage 32 Filmmaking Lounge to update us on what you're currently building, learning, or working on. Last week, you told us your goals, so this week tell us how you're working toward them! Use this as a chance to share your current challenges and interests, or to check in with the community on your progress.

Remember: Every week that you complete all 3 challenges enters you to win the grand prize. Participate all 5 weeks and you'll be entered 5 times for a FREE DaVinci Resolve Studio License!


João Moreira
Sonic - The Hedgehog Rescore Exercise

Scoring to picture is one of my favourite parts of composing, and projects like this are a great way to experiment with storytelling through music.

Liked by Prince Kouadio and 2 others

João Moreira
Rescoring a Scene From Pixar's Up Movie

This is a personal score-to-picture exercise based on a scene from Pixar's Up. The original music has been removed, and I composed and produced an entirely new orchestral score to explore how music can support character, emotion, and storytelling.

This project was created as part of my ongoing develo...

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Prince Kouadio

yeahh that's really great!!

Amanda Toney
From Netflix to historical dramas: Where the dombyra can be heard

https://qazinform.com/news/from-netflix-to-historical-dramas-where-the-dombyra-can-be-heard-4ab5be/amp

From Netflix to historical dramas: Where the dombyra can be heard
From Netflix to historical dramas: Where the dombyra can be heard
https://qazinform.com/news/from-netflix-to-historical-dramas-where-the-dombyra-can-be-heard-4ab5be
National Dombyra Day in Kazakhstan will be marked on July 5 in 2026. The holiday is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday of July and is aimed at promoting the ancient two-stringed instrument a…
Matthew Jordaan
Aspiring Composer

Hi guys, I'm new to Stage 32. My name's Matt and in the last year I've been getting into composing scores after playing guitar in bands for 18 years or so. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my style and perhaps network and collaborate and learn as much as I can. I scored and edited this reel, and I...

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Victory Akerele

Welcome to the community, Matthew. I do tell my students and mentees that the difference between us composers and mere instrumentalists is that composers aren't limited by skill level. As an instrumen...

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Kat Spencer
The Songs We'll Never Hear

I wonder how many unfinished songs the world will never hear simply because their composer thought they weren't good enough.

Just imagine if Hallelujah had never been written.

I recently released my own cover of this incredible song (You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/yofUbP0n8SU), and it reminde...

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Donna Keese

That was very pretty! I’ve written tons of songs, even had some go to Nashville. I sang with Vince Gill years ago and he told me I could make if if I moved to Nashville but my husband wouldn’t go. I d...

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Kat Spencer

Thank you Donna Keese! And for sharing some of your story. Never stop creating or singing! Moving isn't necessary anymore, haha. Trust me, as a single mom who was told "you can't tour," and I didn't,...

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Michael Teisan

Kat Spencer I loved this version of it! I could hear your passion for the song. I could sense all the layers of life experiences you've had poured into your performance. I could tell you were singing...

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Victory Akerele

This is so true, I can relate to this, big time! I have so many music scores lying in the dust here, music used to be a mere hobby for me until my elder brother encouraged me to go into the music busi...

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Kat Spencer
When the Venue Changes the Music

I saw Kaleo in concert last night, and it reminded me of something I'd never really thought about before.

My first Kaleo concert was in a theater in Portland. It felt alive. I was completely immersed in the music. I could feel it in my bones.

Last night's show was outdoors in Forest Grove. Kaleo was f...

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Victory Akerele

I love this

Joseph Ryan
Youtube music

Is their anyone who can help me get my youtube channel to take off I have over 100 songs on their I have written it's kinda urgent as I only have about 1 year to live bone infection is taking me down,, I need my music heard

Karolina Ferguson

Thank you for sharing that with me — I'm sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, music/YouTube promotion isn't my area of expertise; my work is focused on screenwriting and script editing. I h...

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Elena Schumann

I am not doing so well either, but I have no set departure date. You really never know for sure what is going to happen until it happens. Leave your songs to someone who will take care of them, if it is not today, maybe someday they will be heard.

Kat Spencer
What's a song that just won't leave your head?

This week, it's my daughter's song, Chasing Signs.

In fact, I decided to create a video inspired by Remarkably Bright Creatures and feature her song because it just seemed to fit. The idea kept following me around, and the song wouldn't leave my head.

The video isn't finished yet, but I'll share it wh...

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Haley Mary

Love that Chasing Signs song! Beautiful melody!

Joel Irwin

I have taken a detour this past year from scoring to co-write now five songs with a wonderful lyricist (love all her lyrics). The last two are: https://soundcloud.com/joelirwin/two-become-one and http...

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Colin Hussey

Ghoomar from Padmaavat is one that comes to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU1tFtk_NFY

Kerry Kennard

I really like Bruno Mars new tune, Risk it all (for you).

It’s well written, falls in the ole’ Latin style, and the

String / TPT orchestration is really great.

I like the way the strings “ rush into th...

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Kat Spencer

Thanks Haley Mary I will pass that on to my daughter!

Michael Teisan
Short Film Score

Hi all,

Below is a youtube link to a new original score I just finished for a short film provided by Blender and The CueTube. They provide high end shorts specifically for composers looking to build their resumes and showcase their work. Would love to hear your feedback on it if you have time to give...

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Branson Tiara

Congrats on finishing the score, Chase! Really cool that Blender and CueTube offer opportunities like this for building a resume

I'll give it a listen shortly. Always great to see composers and writers using these platforms to sharpen their craft. Looking forward to hearing it!

Jon Landers
Are We Listening.... or Just Hearing Production?

Are We Listening… or Just Hearing Production?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we evaluate music—especially in today’s world of highly polished production.

When I listen to a track, I tend to focus first on the song itself:

• The melody—does it stay with me?

• The lyrics/message—does it move...

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Jon Landers

Thanks, Morgan.

I think you've captured the challenge perfectly. Emotion is what ultimately connects with an audience, but the production quality often determines whether the listener stays long enough...

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Jon Landers

Kerry, great point. I’ve found the same thing happens with music, videos, and even website design. Sometimes stepping away for a few hours—or even a day—lets you come back with fresh ears and fresh ey...

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Matt Regnberg

Interesting topic. I've noticed that sometimes records made on camera in a club sound much more interesting than studio ones. And I have figured that writing a composition, arranging it's like building a house, and mixing and so on it's like cleaning it after all of this work

Jon Landers

Kerry, thanks for sharing more of your process. It’s interesting how something as simple as changing the flute library completely changed the emotional feel of the piece. Those little decisions often...

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Michael Teisan

Jon Landers I do think we live in a world now where the sound has to be sonically perfect. Mostly because we have the technology to more easily now. This trend tends to be more forgiving though with s...

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Prince Kouadio
Scoring to picture

I created an original score for this animation using a silent version of the clip, even though the original had music. I wanted to challenge myself and explore how music can transform a scene, guide emotion, and bring new life to the visuals. For me, music has a unique power . It reaches the soul wi...

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Nicholas Monau

Greate score

Matthew Jordaan

Magical, bro.

Prince Kouadio

thank you!!

Prince Kouadio

thank you Nicholas!

Prince Kouadio
Rescoring Practice – The Amazing Spider‑Man (Opening Scene)

I decided to rescore the opening scene of The Amazing Spider‑Man, a film I’ve always loved for its atmosphere and emotional depth.

To challenge myself, I worked from a silent version of the clip and composed an entirely new score to picture.

My goal was to explore how music can reshape a familiar mome...

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