Producing Your Ultra Low Budget Film – The Journey
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Your Step By Step Guide to Producing Your Ultra Low Budget Film
You have a great feature film idea and story to tell but you don't think you have the money to produce your movie. However, that really shouldn't stop you from making your film. The industry is filled with filmmakers who broke in with movies made on a shoe strong budget that resonated with decision makers, reps and audiences alike. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn how you can produce a high-quality film on an ultra-low budget, and the tools you need to make it happen. You’ll find out how to pick the perfect project and identify what you need to successfully produce it, all on a micro-budget. You’ll also find out what to do once you finish making your film, with tools to find distribution so that audiences can see your movie. Showing you how it’s all done is producer and unit production manager Aymie Majerski, the founder and CEO of LotusShark. She’s produced low-budget indies such as SANTA’S PROMISE, HEALING RIVER, NOTZILLA, 4192: THE CROWNING OF THE HIT KING, and 7 BELOW. In addition to film projects, Aymie and her team at LotusShark produce digital content for Showtime, Spotify, HBO, YouTube Originals, the OTR International Film Festival, and more. Aymie will provide you with essential information she’s learned over her many years of experience producing low-budget features, including: Choosing the right story Perfecting your script for a low-budget shoot Building your budget from pre-production through post Sourcing your funding Managing your team Locking locations Casting your film Production insurance needs How to shoot fast and safely Finding distribution And examples of pre-production checklists You can't let fear, budget or industry access hold you back from making the film that can change the trajectory of your career. But with this fantastic Stage 32 webinar, you can gain the tools that you need to make your idea into a finished film without a lot of money at your disposal. It's all about being creative! “Aymie not only knows her stuff because she has been in the trenches and uses real world examples but she does so in a fun and approachable way and truly cares and wants to help other filmmakers” Sara T.
The 6 Apps and Platforms You Should Be Using to Break Into Hollywood and How To Do It Right: Clubhouse, Instagram, Stage 32 and more
Networking is the key to success in any industry, but in the entertainment business, it is a NECESSITY if you want to break in. And now in this increasingly online and virtual world, a large part of networking takes place in virtual settings, namely on apps and online platforms. This landscape is constantly changing, and while it can be hard to keep up with, it can also be incredibly lucrative. It is not uncommon now for writers to be discovered because of a viral post on Twitter, for friendships to be formed on Clubhouse, or for a script to be optioned right here on Stage 32. All of this just while sitting at home on your computer or phone. It’s clear that these tools are too powerful of a tool to ignore, but it’s important you know how to use these tools correctly. The world of virtual networking can seem overwhelming and foreign, especially when you’re more accustomed to traditional networking and in-person events. Yet success on these platforms is not just reserved for Gen-Z and “influencers”; creatives of all ages and background are finding success and getting discovered through these tools. Yet the key is knowing how to use these apps the right way. Just like for in-person events and old-school networking, you can use these opportunities to build your connections, or you can leave others with a bad impression. It often just comes down to understanding the rules and expectations on each platform, and understanding how to contribute and make yourself part of the community. So what are the apps where the real opportunities are forged? How can you stand out (in a good way)? With the right strategies and approach, you’ll be able to build your network and meet people who can be your cheerleaders along the way. Kristen Lucas and Tara Gore are powerhouse networkers in the entertainment industry. Kristen Lucas is a talent manager at Bohemia Group, specializing in actors and filmmakers in film and television. Her clients have appeared in films such as Netflix's I CARE A LOT and THE HONEST THIEF alongside Liam Neeson, and on television such as Netflix's THE GOOD COP and THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, Hulu's CASTLE ROCK, AMC's BETTER CALL SAUL and many others. Tara Gore has produced over 300 live shows and original content for MLB including Avicii, Billy Joel, Demi Lovato, Zac Brown Band, One Republic, Elton John, John Legend, Jason Aldean, Ziggy Marley and many more. Kristen and Tara attribute their success to hustling to find opportunity where others find dead ends. Their long history of creative networking has built them a vast network of contacts across all areas of entertainment and business and allowed them to ensure the success of their clients and projects. Working together, Kristen and Tara will outline the six main apps and platforms they use to network and find connections and clients: Clubhouse, Instagram, Twitter, Stage 32, IMDB, and LinkedIn. For each they will lay out how the app works, how you can best operate within it, and the mistakes to avoid. Along the way they'll dive into success stories each platform has provided and why they worked, as well as horror stories and how you can avoid similar fates. Online networking doesn’t need to be scary and it's something you can master no matter what your background is. Expect to leave this with a bunch of ideas, real world examples, and inspiration to master these apps, continue meeting new people online, and finding your place in this industry.
How To Produce A Short Film
A New Exclusive Webinar Learn From A Producer Of 45 Short Films! PLUS! Get A Production Resource Guide When you start your career with your first short film, you may not have a full grasp of the how to approach the process to achieve the highest levels of success. While making any first short film is an effective way of learning, making films costs a lot of money and every opportunity should be for your maximum creative experience and benefit. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, award winning short filmmaker Tash Ann will help give young filmmakers an edge as she shares the four biggest things she wishes she knew before she made her first short film. Tash wants you to succeed so you now have a chance to learn from the mistakes she made when she was starting out. For most beginning filmmakers, making your first short film can be a daunting concept. For some people it’s so daunting that they don’t even start. Even in many film schools, people aren’t taught a no nonsense, step-by-step guide to self produce their own small projects. So when you write (or get access to) that first amazing short script you want to make, you may be completely in the dark about what happens next. Luckily, Tash has stumbled through her early producing experiences and has emerged with meaningful knowledge to share and she is here to teach you how to make the most of your opportunity when you set out to make your first short film. Plus! Tash will provide her production resource guide and links to her early short films, which she will also discuss in the webinar. Don't miss your chance to learn short filmmaking from one of the best in the business! PLUS! You'll receive: Production Resource Guide TESTIMONIALS FOR TASH'S WORK: "Tash is very dynamic and extremely hard working. She is very passionate about her work and creating meaningful and powerful stories. She's an extraordinary talent with a beautiful vision for crafting and producing films and videos that truly impact her audiences." -- Aastha Lal Vice President of Operations, Icon Media
Stage 32 TV Horror Lab: Develop Your Horror Series and Build an Season and Pilot Outline With a Veteran TV Horror Exec
Horror genre television series are now in demand in a BIG way. Many production companies and buyers are actively looking for stories that provide thrills, chills and scares. In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in developing and producing popular shows for cable, steamers and network television. Shows like AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, A&E’s BATES MOTEL, Netflix’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and BLY MANOR, FX’s AMERICAN HORROR STORY, and HBO’s LOVECRAFT COUNTY have been paving the way for a new era of high quality, diverse, and ambitious horror series unlike anything that’s ever been created before. And according to the ratings, the appetite for this TV genre only continues to grow. If you have ever thought about writing, producing or selling your own horror television series, now is the time. You want to capitalize on this hot genre if you have a horror project you're thinking about creating or if you're interested in going to market with one you already have. But even with this opportunity, you still need to have a dynamite show to present if you want to be noticed. That’s why it’s critical you have a clear understanding of your series, your story, your world and your characters to draw from. Building a strong foundation for your horror series is not easy, but if you can ace all of these elements, you may have just found your way in and the piece of material that will fire you off the launch pad. Let us give you the guidance to make your horror series as good as it can be and help you springboard your writing career. Kevin Nicklaus is a veteran development executive with a long tenure with the The Wolper Organization, which has a first-look deal with Warner Bros., including HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros. features, and more. He has been integral to the early development and sales of BATES MOTEL for A&E, the Emmy-nominated ROOTS for History, STEPHEN KING'S SALEM'S LOT for TNT, THE MISTS OF AVALON for TNT, HELTER SKELTER for CBS, THE BAD SEED for Lifetime and more. Kevin has been active in the world of horror television for years now and knows better than most what it takes to get a scary series off the ground. Over the course of five weeks, you will work closely with Kevin in a virtual class setting to develop your horror series and build your pilot and series outlines in order to work towards a market-ready and standout show. Kevin will guide you through teasing out in on your idea based on the marketplace, sharpening your logline, breaking down your characters, outlining your first season and pilot and working in effective beginnings and endings. If you already have a concept, or even a completed pilot, Kevin will use the same tools to help you hone your material. Throughout the course of this exclusive online lab, you will have direct access to Kevin as a mentor by email and via video conferencing as you develop your horror series. Students who sign up for this lab with Kevin will be eligible to participate in a Level 2 Lab where Kevin will work with you on putting together your pitch documents and developing your pitch! WHAT TO EXPECT This lab is designed for writers and creators of all levels looking to get their horror TV project ready to put together. This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar. By the end of this 5-week writing lab, you will have a sharpened, more market-ready and clearly developed television series along with a working outline. This lab will consist of five weekly sessions, each roughly two hours in duration. In addition to the lessons where Kevin teaches the class, you will have the opportunity to ask him questions during each session as well as multiple chances to speak with her directly about your specific project. Plus, to keep you motivated and inspired, you will have access to a private, dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the development process. To see the full writing lab schedule, see below under "What You Will Learn". PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 15 writers and will be booked on a first come, first served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with a working executive and an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please do book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good. Payment plans are available - please contact Harrison at h.glaser@stage32.com for more information
How to Write, Produce, Shoot & Distribute Your Micro-budget Film
Learn directly from Tatiana Kelly who has produced 12 independent films including Wristcutters: A Love Story and The Words (Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana), and The Procession. The barrier of entry for the micro-budget / DIY / indie filmmaker has never been lower, making the landscape of independent film more exciting than ever. With box office and VOD sales at an all time high and more distribution opportunities than ever, independent films are enjoying a resurgence. Throw into the mix that many studios and larger production companies are committed to producing numerous micro-budget films each year (see Paramount Insurge) and independent producers such as Jason Blum (Blumhouse) have made a living in the space, and the demand for films with micro-budgets has never been higher. Additionally, many creatives are taking matters into their own hands by making micro-budget films as a calling card for their talents.Some examples of micro-budget films include Napoleon Dynamite, Halloween, Clerks, The Blair Witch Project, Mad Max, Eraserhead, Open Water, Catfish, Saw, Once, Pi.Story and style win the day as a result of the passion and dedication put into micro-budget films. If you are a screenwriter, producer, filmmaker or any other creative that values control of your story and film and has decided to write, develop, shoot or distribute a film in the micro-budget space, this is the webinar for you.
Stage 32 TV Animation Lab: Build an Outline and Pitch Deck for Your Animated Television Show
**Only 15 Spots Available-3 Spots Remain** Work one on one with a director and producer of animated shows on Netflix, FOX, Disney and more as he helps you prepare and develop your own animated TV pilot. Animated television is currently experiencing a boom like we’ve never seen before. Since it’s possible for the bulk of the work to be completed from home or while socially distanced, animation has been flourishing as more players are turning to this format. New shows like SOLAR OPPOSITES on Hulu, CLOSE ENOUGH on HBO Max, FINAL SPACE on TBS and BLOOD OF ZEUS on Netflix are hugely popular, and this is just the beginning. Scores of upcoming animated shows are in the pipeline and just around the corner. Considering this appetite, it doesn’t look like this trend is fading any time soon. And more interest in animation means there are more opportunities for your own project to get noticed and get picked up. The opportunities may be extra plentiful right now, but you still need to have a dynamite show to present if you want to be noticed. This means a great concept, a fantastic pitch deck, and a knockout pilot script. And all of these elements don’t need to just be good; they all need to lend themselves to the format and industry that is animated TV. But if you can ace all of these elements, you may have just found your way in and the piece of material that will fire you off the launch pad. Let us give you the guidance to make your animated pilot as good as it can be and help you springboard your writing career. Mike Disa is an accomplished director, producer, writer, and artist who directed on shows like the hit Netflix series PARADISE PD and has been in the animation industry for over twenty-five years. Mike found success working with studios such as Dreamworks, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and many others. Over a fascinating career, Mike has worked with some of the greatest and most infamous people in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Eric Goldberg, Ralph Bakshi, Glenn Close, Steve Oedekerk, David Tennant, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler, Jeffery Katzenberg and Roy Disney. A favorite and fixture among the Stage 32 community, Mike is deeply entrenched in the world of animated TV and knows better than most what it takes to get an animated show off the ground. In this lab, you will be working directly with Mike in a virtual class setting and also during one-on-one online sessions to hone your concept and build your pilot outline and pitch deck for a fantastic, market-ready animated pilot. Whether you are interested in creating a “prime time” adult comedy series, action, dramedy, or children’s animation, Mike is here to help you. He will guide you through creating engaging characters, building your world, perfecting your structure, constructing an outline and building your bible or pitch deck to sell your show. If you already have a concept, or even a completed pilot, Mike will use the same tools to help you hone and sharpen your material. Throughout the course of this exclusive online lab, you will have direct access to Mike as a mentor by email and via video conferencing as you develop your animated series. Students who sign up for this lab with Mike will be eligible to participate in a Level 2 Lab where Mike will continue to mentor you in writing your pilot!
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