Producing

The place for all producers to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on raising funds, setting a budget, on set strategies and all other topics related to producing a film, television or theater project

FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event – Wednesday, October 8th at 11am PT!!

FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event – Wednesday, October 8th at 11am PT!!

Register by clicking the link below!

When you’re crafting an indie film, the music you choose isn’t just background—it’s storytelling. The right score sets the tone, builds emotional depth, and can make your film unforgettable. But too often, filmmakers bring composers in too late or struggle to align visions, leaving powerful opportunities on the table.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our Stage 32 + Film-Raderie Webcast: Composer + Filmmaker Relationship: How to Make Your Indie Film Successful—a FREE live event designed to help you navigate this crucial collaboration.

This expert panel features:

  • Dara Taylor, celebrated composer (Marvel’s Ironheart, The Tender Bar)
  • Lagueria Davis, director of Black Barbie (acquired by Shondaland)
  • Phil Popham, veteran composer (Helix Collective)
  • Emilie Upczak, filmmaker and storyteller

Together, they’ll share real-world insights on:

  • Why early music integration shapes your film’s tone from day one
  • Practical strategies for aligning creative visions with composers
  • Case studies from projects like Ironheart and Black Barbie
  • How to overcome common challenges like budget and timing

This is your chance to learn how to use music as a storytelling superpower—and to build the creative partnerships that can elevate your indie film.

Click here to register, if you can't make it live you'll recieve the full recording on-demand: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-x-film-raderie-composer-filmmaker-collaboration-webcast 

Let us know in the comments below- What’s a film where the music completely transformed the story for you?


Sandra Isabel Correia
Behind the Scenes: The Misstep That Made Us Laugh

On The Misstep ( my short film) we had one of those moments.

We were shooting a tense scene, high stakes, low light, perfect silence. The actor was in position. The camera rolled. And just as the emotional beat landed… a crew member sneezed. Loud. Like, earthquake-level loud.

Everyone froze. Then burs...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

Haha I tried to produce two feature films way back, Sandra Isabel Correia. There was a lot of recalibrating.

Paolo Ruello
Estimate budget

Hello to everyone, I'm here to asking how can I made a good estimate budget? Which stuff do I considered first?

Maurice Vaughan 5

Hi, Paolo Ruello. Two of the things you could consider first is the location count and the character count. A higher location count and character count can increase the budget....

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Ashley Renee Smith

Paolo Ruello, Great topic to bring up! It’s something every producer and writer has to wrestle with at some point. One resource I’d really recommend is Stage 32’s webinar: What Elements of a Script Re...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

Paolo Ruello The process is this: 1. finalize script fully. 2. Break down script entirely for production. 3. Schedule the production. 4. Derive your costs from the schedule. If you don't go through th...

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Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

Paolo, follow Shadow's input. He has a tremendous background. You're located in Italy, so track down local filmmakers to help you with this!

Liked by Vanessa M. Chattman and 2 others

Elena Priovolou
Donating to complete the finance of a film

As a co founder of a non profit production company, we are now starting to look for donations that might complete our finance gap. Anyone of you ever went down that road? Did you learn any valuable lessons you would like to share with us?

Elena Priovolou

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg thank you so much. You have a profound knowledge, that is gold. I have added you. I would love to further discuss this with you. Thank you!...

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Elena Priovolou

@ashley thank you, I am checking it <3

Kenneth George

Elena Priovolou You are asking me to speculate. I can't tell you who will or will not invest in your project. When you are in a vulnerable position looking for a quick financing fix, you want to be ve...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

Elena Priovolou You are welcome, we're now connected. DM me here and then we can set up a discussion direct. We are in Los Angeles so there's quite a time difference. I see your other posts and there...

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Laurie Ashbourne

There are many ways to tackle this, but if the project can easily tie to the impact the film can make, I would position it with that mindset. I do a lot of impact producing (and wrote the book on it). You can check some of that framework out here: investinginfilms.com

Good luck!

Liked by Evelyn Von Warnitz and 9 others

Elena Priovolou
What podcast is missing?

Hello all, as the Director of Development of Breaking Through the Lense and with the team, we are thinking of setting up a series of podcasts, by filmmakers, for filmmakers. I would love your thoughts on this matter. First of all, do you follow such podcasts and do you think they are valuable? Secon...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

Hi, Elena Priovolou. I like that idea! I listen to filmmaking podcasts. I think they're definitely valuable! I don't think I've heard a podcast that showcases financing plans of particular projects an...

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Elena Priovolou

Very useful, thank you!

Maurice Vaughan 5

You're welcome, Elena Priovolou. Looking forward to your podcasts!

Sebastian Tudores

Hi Elena Priovolou - wonderful and challenging adventure ahead, but I feel one that would be welcomed, especially if it maintains a specific focus like financing or co-prods. At least staying on somet...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Elena, I love this idea. Also, I’d love to hear episodes that break down financing plans in a story-driven way. Not just the numbers, but the narrative behind them:What was the emotional pitch? How di...

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Sandra Isabel Correia
International Co-Productions: Who’s Building Bridges Across Borders?

Producers, the game is changing.

The Reaction Lab just dropped a powerful piece on the rise of international co-production agreements—and it’s more than a trend. It’s a strategic recalibration of how we finance, create, and distribute films across borders.

Read the link here:

https://thereactionlab.com...

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Elena Priovolou

Hello Sandra. Although I love co productions and of course they are a great financing tool, I have found two challenges. First, costs rise as you need to accomodate all parties percentage. But, the mo...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Hi Elena Priovolou , thank you for naming this so clearly. I’ve felt both of those challenges deeply. Coming from a fashion CEO background into filmmaking, I learned early that co-productions are as m...

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Liked by David Bentley and 5 others

Sebastian Tudores
YouTube Will Dominate Viewership - But of What?

We know YouTube is projected to be the most viewed digital 'channel' going forward several years. They backed away from YouTube Originals to focus on bettering the platform capabilities for creators to produce and distribute their work - so far, it's been mostly about YouTube Shorts, the talk about...

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Sebastian Tudores

super sharp comment Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg - thank you. why beat them when you can join them... with potential latent leverage from a 'creator farm' on YouTube perhaps. cheers...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

Sebastian Tudores Yes exactly. Google already has a monopoly on search engines, and ensures that you no longer get bona fide "organic traffic" without paying them enough. This shows, among other thing...

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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

..Also as you noted in your edit, you noted this post is about exposure. One of my Colleagues is offering to cover the costs of a screening room for a short (30-40 minutes) film, in Los Angeles. The f...

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Jean Pierre Magro

YouTube is not a “platform” so much as a marketplace of evidence. It can furnish three proofs that buyers care about: proof of audience, proof of concept, and proof of craft. Treat it as a lab, a ligh...

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Geoffroy Faugerolas 2
What is packaging?

Did you read my latest blog about packaging yet? What project are you looking to package and if so, who would you approach?

https://www.stage32.com/blog/insider-intel-what-makes-a-package-compelli......

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Pat Alexander
Who helps studio execs decide what movies get made?

And what are they thinking about when they make their recommendations? For Shivani Patel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Universal Pictures, it’s where creative opportunity meets commercial strategy—and every decision has to be backed by the data.

(https://www.youtube.c...

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Elmare Hendricks
Join us on Wednesday,, I'M sooo excited

Please schedule this amazing event, Stage 32 is bringing something amazing

for us,

Join us on Wednesday,

October 8 at 11:00 am PT for a

free FilmRaderie webcast presented by

Stage 32, dedicated to Composer Filmmaker Relationships:

How to Make Your Indie Film Successful."

Music can be a game-changer...

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Rich Terdoslavich
Before The Shoots

Working with producers and film directors, I illustrate storyboards and concept art for both preparing the film shoot or if a producer/filmmaker need boards/concept art for client presentation or for investors to fund the film. Whatever the scenario may be, I get calls/emails from film clients to wo...

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Jude Barrow
Looking for Producer Feedback & Guidance: Aevum Pitch Deck

Hi everyone,

I’m based in Vancouver and excited to share the pitch deck for my feature film Aevum. I already have the script completed, and I’d love to get feedback from producers on how the deck comes across and where it could be strengthened.

Pitch deck link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D6wbgA...

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Alessandro Vecchi
Bridge The Gap

For those of you who moved from developing your own projects to working with international producers, what pathways worked for you? Curious how others bridged that gap.

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