NEXT LEVEL EDUCATION

Do you ever wonder why some creatives get ahead and have more opportunities than others? It's because they treat their creative pursuits as an entrepreneur. It's not just important to hone your craft - whether you're an actor, writer, director, producer, post-production, composer or anything in between - it's also important the you become the CEO of "You". Our fearless leader, RB, paid the podcast The 5 O'Clock Hustle a visit and talked about how being a creative is a lot like being an entrepreneur.  In this episode, they identify the many parallels of filmmaking and entrepreneurship. While the two may seem words apart on the surface, RB has a candid discussion with the 5 O'Clock Hustle on how some, if not all, of the same concepts apply. They touch on the importance of personal branding, how to make use of your immediate resources and then RB offers some invaluable advice on how to use crowdsourcing to bolster your startup or making your first film. He also breaks down how crowdfunding and crowdsourcing are not interchangeable and how he used crowdsourcing to build up Stage 32 as well as his career in the film industry.     Here are just some of the things gone over in the podcast: Who is RB and what is Stage32? [02:30] What was growing Stage32 like in the early days? [10:57] How is crowdsourcing more important than traditional advertising? [15:10] What makes a good Stage32 user? [20:00] What is a day in the life of RB like and how does he juggle so many projects? [34:00] What are some suggestions for first time filmmakers and entrepreneurs? [47:13]     Additionally, here are some links and resources from the episode: Episode Page: https://5oclockhustle.com/stage32 Episode Trancsript Page: https://www.5oclockhustle.com/transcripts/stage32   More About The 5 O'Clock Hustle The 5 O’Clock Hustle is an interactive business podcast for after-hours entrepreneurs and weekend warriors who are ready to challenge the status quo and take control of their destiny by way of immeasurable growth and drive. These Hustlers, who embrace the steep learning curve of a leader, proactively participate in the 5 O'Clock Hustle community to leverage the insight and experience of thought pioneers and industry leaders around the globe. From shaping your mindset to building your empire, they exist to fuel passions and de-mystify business models by breaking down the conventional barriers of entrepreneurship.   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hello, creative army! You've all heard me preach about the importance of relationships as it relates to accelerating your path toward success.  In my humble opinion, the daily work you put into your craft should be matched by the time and effort you put into building and nurturing relationships.  I'm not alone in this thinking.  Just yesterday, I was having lunch with my screenwriting manager, a guy who has been around and seen it all.  When I asked him the biggest mistake creatives make in their pursuit of a life in the business, he replied, "Not understanding just how important relationships are and not taking the time to learn how to build them." Building bonds with like-minded creatives not only helps fuel the passion within, but creates opportunities.  This is something we've seen time and time again on Stage 32.  Connections made years ago bloom over time, trust is built and, ultimately, artistic and creative collaborations are born.  On a personal level, I've been fortunate to have a few projects move forward over the last few months, and when I reflect back on the origins of how all of this came to happen, I realize that the connections made which helped spur these projects forward happened years ago.  The cultivating of those relationships led to the reveal of compatibility, shared interests and a desire to work together. Rewarding to say the least.   In Alex's studio watching a cut of On the Corner of Ego and Desire (who's that guy on screen?)   A few years back, I met Alex Ferrari, creator of Indie Film Hustle.  At first, I was just grateful to be a guest on Alex's fantastic podcast.  But immediately, Alex and I realized we not only shared many interests (including helping creatives in any and every way possible), but we got along really well and enjoyed being in each other's company.  Over the last few years, we've sought to help one another in whatever way possible be it creatively or within our business pursuits.  We've given talks together at numerous festivals and conferences and next week we'll be teaching students at USC. Further, when Alex called me up one day and said, "Dude, I'm thinking about filming a movie AT Sundance this year, will you be in it?", I said, "Of course.  When and where do you need me?"  And last week, I made my 6th appearance on Indie Film Hustle, making me the all time leading guest in the 220+ episodes of the show (damn right I'm bragging).  And ALL of this began with Alex and I connecting on Twitter and mutually saying (and I'm paraphrasing), "Dude, I dig what you do." Relationship building. Below you'll find my latest appearance with Alex on Indie Film Hustle where we speak about so many topics including how to best build these important and priceless relationships, do's and don'ts as it relates to approach, why you're underselling yourself as a master networker, things you can do today to up your online presence, all sorts of industry related talk and, of course, my stunning turn in Alex's new epic film - again, filmed completely at Sundance - On the Corner of Ego and Desire. I promise you you'll learn a ton and you'll laugh your ass off (especially in the last half hour!) Enjoy, and please share! Cheers! RB       Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hey guys. Very often, I hear from members of the community who are having a difficult time navigating the business side of the industry.  Honing their craft, no problem.  Building relationships, winning champions and getting past the gatekeepers, a challenge that not only puts many through the wringer, but dampens their creative spirit as well. I'm here to tell ya, the fear, the resistance, the reluctance can all be overcome.  And it doesn't take much.  In fact, just a few changes in commitment, approach and attitude can not only help you move from neutral to drive, but give you an immediate competitive advantage.  A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Indie Film Grit podcast and we talked about the best practices of navigating the business and creative sides of the business.  We also discussed common mistakes that hold people back from making the connections and building the relationships necessary to succeed in this business. In addition to this very important topic, host Tim Patrick and I spoke about: The origin of Stage 32 and the education it provides filmmakers Building relationships and networks Crowdsourcing vs Crowdfunding The brand of content vs. the brand of self The future of filmmaking and where we're headed Writing "Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers" and why crowdsourcing is such a now strategy So here's some free content with actionable advice and information you can listen to anywhere at any time. I hope you enjoy it and share it where possible. And, of course, I welcome questions and thoughts in the comments section below. Cheers. RB   Listen to the podcast below!           Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Recently our fearless leader, RB, had a chance to chat with Giles Alderson from The Filmmakers Podcast from London and the conversation could not be more fun! If anything, you have to tune in for their accents. Together on the podcast they chatted about film-making, screenwriting and crowdsourcing your film, building your tribe, your army, your boots on the ground and the most important factors of being a filmmaker. They discuss how to bring value to a project, how to stand out from the crowd, what makes a good low budget indie, how he first got into filmmaking and, of course, RB's excellent book Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers.   Click Here To Listen To The Podcast RB is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32 (www.stage32.com), the world’s largest social media site and educational hub for film, television and theater creatives.Buy RB’s excellent book CROWDSOURCING FOR FILMMAKERS HERE:http://crowdsourcingforfilmmakers.com/Follow Rich Botto here: Twitter @RBwalksintoabar @stage32 Follow Giles Alderson here: Twitter @GilesAlderson or his website www.directedbygiles.comFollow the podcast www.TheFilmmakersPodcast.com Twitter: @filmmakerspod      Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Our fearless leader, RB, spent some time with Stage 32er Dave Bullis on his uber-popular filmmaking podcast recently. On the podcast, RB and Dave discuss a wide variety of topics including:     1. Why RB thinks it's never been a better time to be a content creator   2. How do you get studios attention?   3. What does star power mean now?   4. With so much content being created and competition, how do you find your tribe (aka audience)?   5. The power of community from film to your local police force   6. What RB learned doing 100 interviews for his book on crowdsourcing.There is a lot of information to learn, so get your pen and paper (or your keyboard) out! We hope you enjoy it. Please share where possible! Thank you!     Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

We want to give a huge shout out to Ron Newcomb for having our fearless leader, RB, as a guest on the Film Trooper podcast. This is an inspirational and motivating podcast filled with a ton of advice and information to help you as a creative. RB talks about how many filmmakers get wrapped up in how to "crowdfund". Most filmmakers are too focused on having people give them money to help make their movie. Most filmmakers don't stop and ask, "What can I give back to the people I'm asking money from?" Some will say, "People will get my movie." But the reality is ... most people don't want your movie. The real question should be, "How do I rise above the noise to get support for my movie?" That's where this podcast comes in.   Listen to the Podcast I'd recommend taking some time to plug in your ear buds because this is one hell of a motivational podcast where RB goes over: RB's new book Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers The origins of Stage 32  Best practices and tips on how to use Stage 32 Advice on crowdsourcing Advice on crowdfunding Advice on how to get yourself out there in the entertainment industry Advice on how to stay motivated Stage 32 success stories Lots and lots of laughs & motivation!   To play the podcast, click here    Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

To all celebrating, a very happy Easter to you. (And a very happy Sunday to everyone else!) I always believe the holidays are for sharing, so I wanted to take a minute to post some podcats, webcasts and interviews that I hope will provide some inspiration today and as you move along in your creative pursuits. There's something here for creatives of all disciplines and all those multi-hyphenates out there!   National Screenwriters Day with Spencer Robinson, Caytha Jentis, Richard Botto and Hal Croasman Literary Manager Spencer Robinson, Amazon Writer/Director Caytha Jentis, Screenwriter Richard Botto and Screenwriting U's Hal Croasman talk about the current state of the industry - from craft to business and everything in between.       Actors Anonymous Podcast with Weesam Keesh & Jordan Burbank Rich "RB" Botto, was a guest on the extremely popular Actor's Anonymous podcast hosted by Jordan Burbank and Weesam Keesh of MTV's Awkward, The Mentalist and NCIS: Los Angeles. In a lively and spirited hour or so (filmed at the Stage 32 offices), the trio discussed a life in the arts including RB's early days of acting and his pursuits in screenwriting and producing. They also discussed the importance of support in a creative's life, as well as the need to embrace a collaborative and selfless spirit in an effort to win every day.       Industry Spotlight: Jason Roberts (DGA AD for Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Doug Liman, Angelina Jolie) The hardest working man in show business, Jason Roberts, hosted an exclusive FREE Stage 32 Webcast. Jason spent over an hour answering questions and speaking to how he's maintained such a long career while working with such prolific and prominent directors as Doug Liman, Michael Bay, Angelina Jolie and more.        Crowdsourcing and Using Social Media as a Filmmaker  RB sat down with Cineuropa, founded by industry veteran Domenico La Porta. In this video, RB goes over: More about Stage 32 Do's and don'ts for your online presence as a creative What is crowdfunding? What is crowdsourcing? Where the future of film will go in a digital world        The Dave Bullis Podcast - Indie Filmmaking: Festivals, Marketing & More! On the podcast, RB and Dave discuss a wide variety of topics including the Sundance Film Festival, how to market yourself, the state of the film industry and were they think it's headed. If you're a filmmaker this is a must-listen to podcast!       Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hello friends and fellow creatives! Erik here from the Stage 32 Happy Writers. We are very excited to be continuing our fall series of "30 Minutes with...", an online web-series where we bring in executives across the industry for a live interview and Q&A session with writers like you! As a writer myself, I have an undoubted advantage that most new writers never get: I get to look behind the curtain, I get to hear first hand what executives are really looking for, what they're tired of hearing, and what's currently hot in the ever-changing development world. With our "30 Minutes with..." series, I can finally share that information with you all, and give you the opportunity to ask whatever questions you have! These live webinars are recorded and available to watch at any time on the Stage 32 Youtube channel. Can't make a live session but still have a question you want to ask? Leave it in the comments below! It's crazy how fast time flies in these interviews so we don't always get to them all, but we try to answer as many as we can! This series is aimed at giving you unfiltered access to some of the executives working with Stage 32 to find their next project or star writer. We're going to have agents, producers, development executives, creative executives and representatives - and best of all, this series is FREE to participate in! Simply register using the link below and join us live!   Sign Up for the Next "30 Minutes With..." Session This Saturday:  Saturday, October 1st: 11:00AM PDT - Sarah Cornelius, Creative Executive with Whitewater Films - Click here to register for the live webinar! Sarah Cornelius is a creative development and production executive at Whitewater Films, an independent production company. Whitewater is the production company behind the Oscar-nominated Cartel Land, First Girl I Loved, Mean Creek, Punching the Clown, Fat Kid Rules the World, Cold Comes the Night, and Band of Robbers. Wednesday, October 5th 11:30AM PDT - Catherine Keithley, Director of Development for Brian Graden Media - Click here to register for the live webinar! Catherine Keithley is the Director of Development at Brian Graden Media. BGM produced series like 4th and Forever (Current), Men of the Strip (E!), Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special (E!), Walk of Shame Shuttle (VH1), Todrick (MTV), Gay Skit Happens (Logo), and the Emmy Award-winning HitRECord on TV (Pivot). They also produced the Youtube Red hit, Escape the night. BGM is headed by Brian Graden who executive produced South Park and helped make it into the cultural phenomenon that it is today.   Our fall series started off with Dan Ingram, Head of the Story Department for Dino De Laurentiis Company (the production company behind NBC's Hannibal, U-571, The Last Legion, Red Dragon, Army of Darkness). Click here to watch 30 Minutes with... Dan Ingram from Dino De Laurentiis Company!   Next up, we brought in Dion York Foley, an independent producer who JUST wrapped his next feature, Running Away. Dion has worked on over 35 films in production and development. Last year he theatrically released Final Girl starring Oscar-nominee Abigail Breslin & Alexander Ludwig. Click here to watch 30 Minutes with... Producer Dion York Foley!      More will be announced soon! Stay tuned!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hopefully you are enjoying a productive Sunday and working on your creative pursuits! I love seeing our community in our Next Level educational webinars and classes and it thrills me to be able to provide you tools to help your craft or help you navigate the industry. Some of you may not know about all the incredible education resources we have on Stage 32, including a 2 year archive of our monthly "On Stage With RB" webcasts. If you're not familiar with our "On Stage With RB" webcast, our fearless leader, Founder & CEO Richard "RB" Botto, hosts a FREE monthly webcast exclusively for Stage 32 members where he interviews professionals who work in the industry and opens up the floor to you to ask any questions about the craft or the industry. This show is remarkably popular and contains a ton of great advice. If you're not sure how to access On Stage With RB, just go to your top menu bar and click "EDUCATION" and then "ON STAGE WITH RB" - there you'll see our archive. I encourage you to take advantage of 2 years worth of shows we've broadcasted with our guests including development executives, producers, screenwriters, distributors, marketers, managers and agents!     Click here to start listening & learning!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Our very own fearless leader, Richard "RB" Botto was a guest on the Small Business Society podcast, and holy h*ll, did he have a lot to talk about! This is 45-minutes jam-packed with motivational, actionable advice. If you're not familiar with Bidsy it features today's most dynamic entrepreneurs talking about what makes their business successful.  Guests include multi-millionaire entrepreneurs, international best-selling authors, world-renowned motivational speakers and coaches, and award-winning artists, all taking you on their up close and personal journey to success! Run by Rob Barisoff, his goal is to get his guests to entertain, excite, and inspire the entrepreneur on their own journey to entrepreneurial success. A life as a creative is similar to an entrepreneur, so I'd recommend you listen and take notes, this is extremely educational! In this inspirational 45 minute podcast RB goes over: What is Stage 32 and how was it established? RB talks about LinkedIn, Lynda & Microsoft and how that relates to Stage 32. How to utilize networking to help your career. How to cultivate relationships to build credibility and how to build your brand online (great tips!) How did RB get started in the industry? What are the biggest challenges and how do you overcome them? Why do you need another social network when you're already on Facebook and LinkedIn? 33 Stage 32 members had films at Cannes - does that prove social proof of the network? How do you gain initial traction and establish your brand on social media? (more great tips! Rob sums it up in 3 steps.) Why you lose the word "social" in social media. You need to do 1 thing. What is crowdsourcing? Is it rewarding for RB to be the head of Stage 32? Is it important to have a coach or mentor in this business? How to approach influencers - digest and mold your opinions of them. How to control being attached to your phone. How to control your creative plan and adapt to your environment. As a screenwriter, producer, actor, and filmmaker, RB understands the challenges that creatives will face in their careers, and Stage 32 acts as a resource and community that people can lean on when they are facing challenges of their own. Sit, back, relax, download and pop in your ear buds... it's time to listen to the podcast:   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hey Everyone! Today we have a GREAT interview with our CEO, RB, with Forest Day Jr, from the video podcast, Rolling Tape. Whether you are new to the site or if you've been with us forever, you will really enjoy watching RB talk about Stage 32, what the site means to him and how it can benefit members. You can view the podcast below... RB explains what Stage 32 is all about and how he came up with the idea, as well as the importance of regular connecting and networking. RB gives examples of successes, such as how film crews are brought together from all over the world and that films are scored, purely through the collaborative efforts of members from the site. He explains how easy it is to navigate around the site, what the job and education sections are all about and what it meant to him to attend the Cannes Film Festival. Enjoy! Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

 Meet Stage 32 members from all over the world who have had success using Stage32.com!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Now this is a fun watch! Stage 32 Founder & CEO, Richard Botto and Indie Film Hustle podcast host, Alex Ferrari, got together last week to broadcast a LIVE 2-hour Oscars and Film Industry webcast breaking down and analyzing the upcoming awards! Now, it's available for you to watch on-demand! From diversity to the industry standards to snubs to shoe-ins and possible upsets, this is one fun and exciting webcast. Click below to see who the gents are picking to rule Oscar night!     Plus, if you haven't submitted your picks for the 4th Annual Stage 32 Oscars Contest, make sure to get your choices in by clicking below! The top 3 will win prizes! Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

No Weekend Blog this week as RB attends to Stage 32 and personal business at the Sundance Film Festival. Should be noted, the Stage 32 panels have been incredibly well received. We'll be posting clips over the coming weeks! In the meantime, we wanted to bring you a recent interview RB did for the radio show Acting Up Radio hosted by Will Roberts. In this interview RB goes over when he was producing the Sundance Award-Winning film, Another Happy Day, how that helped spur the idea of Stage 32. He then goes over how you can network better as a creative online and why networking is just as important to doing the work.  Will and RB go over the benefits of choosing what social network(s) you should use to help your career, and why it's important to also take your networking offline to the streets.  This interview has a lot of tips and advice and inspiration to help you, as a creative, shape up and achieve your goals. RB's interview starts around the 7:00 mark - enjoy!   To listen to dozens of free podcasts, videos and interviews available through Stage 32 Next Level Education click here! (or you can click 'EDUCATION' on your top menu bar, then click 'PODCASTS'.)   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

When considering your options with a script you've written (or even one that you are producing) it's important to consider all avenues for its exposure to development, including contests and coverage. Today our Founder & CEO, RB, goes over why it is important that you know the keys to each. In this 5-minute clip (which is part of his Film Courage interview series), RB goes over the #1 one most important criteria to consider when entering a screenwriting contest. In addition, gives 3 pieces of advice as to whether or not you should enter lesser-known contests that you have an easier chance of winning...and he follows it up with tremendous advice on the best way to spend your money to give you the best chance for success.     (To view the success stories RB references in the video above, click here and click here.)   The entire wide-ranging interview covered a plethora of subjects including filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, distribution, indie film, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Film Courage continues to release the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog. If you've missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here:   30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Identifying A Narcissist on Social Media is Easy The #1 Reason Why Creatives Get No Results on Social Media Networking in Hollywood Advice on Receiving Script Coverage Crowdsourcing vs. Crowdfunding When Should Someone Be Fired Off A Movie Production? The #1 Reason Why People Fail in Hollywood Creatives Need to Know that Producers are Looking at Their Social Media   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Hey guys.   Right before the holiday, we posted a link to the Actor's Anonymous podcast. Many of you wrote in wondering where the video podcast was available. Well, we rushed into things a bit unaware that the video had not yet been made live. But, now it has, and we're happy to say that you can not only listen to the podcast, but watch it as well! (Note: Recorded from my office!)   Enjoy!   RB

Indie Film Hustle's Alex Ferrari sat down and picked RB’s brain about what it really takes to make it in the film business. What came out was an remarkable conversation where you really feel like a fly on the wall. Many would’ve killed for the information covered in this podcast when they were starting out.

You can tell a lot about a person the way he or she handles themselves online.  Today our Founder & CEO, RB, goes over why it is so important that you "complete the circle" of who you are online on social media. He talks about how it is a key place for producers and employers to look at who you are and why you should put your best foot forward.  In this 7-minute clip (which is part of his Film Courage interview series), RB goes over why you shouldn't do anything online that you wouldn't do in the real world. Plus, he discusses the ever-present "big balls syndrome." You'll have to watch it to find out what that means!     The entire wide-ranging interview covered a plethora of subjects including filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, distribution, indie film, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Film Courage continues to release the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog. If you've missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here:   30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Identifying A Narcissist on Social Media is Easy The #1 Reason Why Creatives Get No Results on Social Media Networking in Hollywood Advice on Receiving Script Coverage Crowdsourcing vs. Crowdfunding When Should Someone Be Fired Off A Movie Production? The #1 Reason Why People Fail in Hollywood   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

Today we bring you another installment of the Film Courage series with Stage 32 Founder & CEO, Richard Botto. In this 3-minutue cilp you will learn The #1 Reason Why People Fail In Hollywood. RB goes over what is available now (but wasn't available 10 years ago) that helps creatives avoid making this mistake.      The entire wide-ranging interview covered a plethora of subjects including filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, distribution, indie film, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Film Courage continues to release the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog. If you've missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here:   30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Identifying A Narcissist on Social Media is Easy The #1 Reason Why Creatives Get No Results on Social Media Networking in Hollywood Advice on Receiving Script Coverage Crowdsourcing vs. Crowdfunding When Should Someone Be Fired Off A Movie Production?

This summer I ran the popular "30 Minutes With..." series where I interviewed some of the executives we work with at Stage 32 Happy Writers. In each of these highly informative interviews I went over all things screenwriting, development, marketplace and the industry.  Today I'm bringing you my interview with Agustine Calderon, who is a creative executive in the feature film development department at RatPac Entertainment. At RatPac, Agustine has been responsible for bringing in various projects for development at the company as well as day to day operations. RatPac has a production deal with Warner Bros. and is led by producer/director Brett Ratner (X-Men, Horrible Bosses, Rush Hour). Most recently, RatPac partnered with James Packer from Australia to secure a $150M credit line leaving them with $225M at their disposal to finance projects with. Read the article here!   I brought Agustine in to talk about studio-level comedies and now I'm bringing this information to you, our Stage 32 members! This is what we went over: What do studios look for in comedies? Do you feel like studio level comedies tend to be exaggerated or do you feel they are more grounded? How do you feel about raunch in comedy? What’s the nice juxtaposition between edgy comedy and raunchy? What are your thoughts on the trend skewing towards more female comedy lately? What do you feel is the #1 common mistake writers make when they are writing comedies? Should comedy writers do comedy or improve classes to hone their craft? Mel Brooks or Woody Allen? When you're considering a project, by what page on a script do you know what type of comedy it is? Is there anything you feel are off limits or tiring for comedy? How many pages do you feel a good comedy should come in at? Can we pull back the curtain of the development process and talk about what happens to a script once it goes into development? To listen to this informative interview, click below!     For those of you who weren't able to attend any of the 30 Minutes With... sessions, don't worry! I'll be bringing you these interviews periodically right here on the Stage 32 Blog.   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...  

In today's digital age everyone is vying for attention and engagement on social media. Today we're excited to bring you another clip in the 3-hour installment of our Founder & CEO RB's Film Courage interview, which discusses how to identify narcissistic behavior from creatives on social media. In this 4-minute clip, Identifying A Narcissist on Social Media is Easy, RB talks about the characteristics of a filmmaking, acting, producing, screenwriting narcissist and the mistakes they make by using this tactic. He talks about why the "hey look at me" approach won't work and why the give and take is important for your social presence as a creative. The wide ranging interview covered a plethora of subjects including filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, distribution, indie film, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Film Courage has begun releasing the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog. If you've missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here: 30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on of the content above in the Comments section below...

Today we bring you another clip in the 3-hour installment of our Founder & CEO RB's interview with Film Courage. Film Courage has begun releasing the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog. The wide ranging interview covered a plethora of subjects including filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, distribution, indie film, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Today's video is on the subject of How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career, however it can apply to ANY professional creative career. RB talks about how social media helped him land his screenwriting manager, he shares the amount of time you should put into your craft vs. networking and the amount of time you should spend effectively on social media. Plus, if you missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here: 30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At CrowdfundingMistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on the content above in the Comments section below...

At the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Stage 32 had the 2nd largest attended panel at the Marche du Film next to Netflix! Our fearless leader, RB, and managing director Amanda Toney spoke about crowdsourcing and the importance of using social media as a filmmaker to a packed pavilion where over 300 people attended! Following Stage 32's standing-room only panel, RB sat down with Cineuropa, founded by industry veteran Domenico La Porta to chat some more. In this video, RB goes over: More about Stage 32 Do's and don'ts for your online presence as a creative What is crowdfunding? What is crowdsourcing? Where the future of film will go in a digital world Take some time to watch this 4 minute clip from the Cannes Film Festival NEXT Pavilion filled with invaluable information to help you as a creative. Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

Over the past month we've been posting clips from the awesome interview Film Courage did with Stage 32 CEO RB Botto. These clips cover a variety of subjects including screenwriting, filmmaking, acting, distribution, indiefilm, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few, and serve to provide you with some free educational tips and advice. Film Courage has begun releasing the interview in segments and we're thrilled to be able to bring these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog.Today's video is on the subject of 30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True. RB talks about the success stories of 2 Stage 32 members - one who was staffed on The Black List after a successful Happy Writers Pitch Session and one who used Stage 32 to staff over 30 cast and crew members on two films which were released theatrically. RB goes on to give advice for how to best use Stage 32 to accomplish success stories like these for yourself. The entire interview will be online in a couple of months. When it comes available, we'll have it right here! Here are links to the previous entries in this series: Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix ThemHow Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

Last month, the awesome owners of Film Courage came to the Stage 32 offices to interview our CEO, RB Botto. The wide ranging, over 3-hour interview covered a plethora of subjects including screenwriting, filmmaking, acting, distribution, indiefilm, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few.   Film Courage has begun releasing the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog.Today's video is on the subject of Most Likely Reason Why People Fail At Crowdfunding. RB talks about how to build social currency, why relationships are so important, how to engage an audience and why you need to focus on moving a crowd, not an individual, to be successful.The entire interview will be online in a couple of months. When it comes available, we'll have it right here!   Plus, if you missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here: 30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came True Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them How Networking Can Help A Screenwriting Career Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

Last month, the awesome owners of Film Courage came to the Stage 32 offices to interview our CEO, RB Botto. The wide ranging, over 3-hour interview covered a plethora of subjects including screenwriting, filmmaking, acting, distribution, indiefilm, the state or the industry, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, social media, and networking in person, online and outside of LA to name a few. Film Courage has begun releasing the interview in segments and we're happy to announce that we'll be bringing these videos to the community right here on the Stage 32 Blog.Today's video is on the subject of Mistakes Artists Make On Social Media & How To Fix Them. RB talks about the pros and cons of creatives networking on social media, why the "look at me" attitude never works and what a good approach is when using social media as a creative. The entire interview will be online in a couple of months. When it comes available, we'll have it right here! Plus, if you missed the other Film Courage video posts so far, don't worry! You can access them here:30 Years Of Chasing The Dream Of Being A Television Writer and How It Came TrueMost Likely Reason Why People Fail At CrowdfundingHow Networking Can Help A Screenwriting CareerLike this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

RB was on the highly popular podcast Entrepreneur On Fire hosted by John Lee Dumas and it is jam-packed with great advice! It's important for every creative to treat their career like an entrepreneur. This free podcast will help you, as a creative, apply some practical entrepreneurial tips to your career. RB talks about the first 60 minutes of your day, mentors, motivation, mistakes and successes - you don't want to miss it! "The only bet in life that's worth taking, in a lot of ways, is in yourself." - Stage 32 Founder & CEO, Richard Botto To listen, click below! Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

Our fearless leader, Founder & CEO, RB, was on the Hollywood Insight podcast hosted by Steven Trautmann, a longtime comedy writer in Hollywood. Joining them was actress Allira Jaques, a Stage 32 member who - just this year - used Stage 32 to help her move from Australia to Los Angeles. For a lively 45 minutes, Steve talked with RB about all things revolving around the industry - writing, filmmaking, producing, acting, education, the global reach of projects and so much more. And, Allira shared how Stage 32 provided her access, networking and education to help her with her big move.   Here's are some of the topics discussed during the podcast:   A fun story of how Allira Jaques started her career as an actress in Sydney, Australia, and used Stage 32 to help with her ultimate move to Los Angeles The globalization of filmmaking and how Stage 32 is helping bring filmmakers together Success story of a Stage 32 member from Ireland scoring a film for a Stage 32 in LA Success story of a UK editor editing a film for a filmmaker in Chicago Working with film commissions regarding tax examples Breakdown of Stage 32 professions on Stage 32 - acting, filmmakers screenwriters The importance of filling out your profile on Stage 32 Breakdown of Stage 32 Next Level Education Webinars & podcasts available for people who are changing disciplines in the industry The transition from being a writer to a filmmaker, or an actor to a producer RB's background running RAZOR Magazine and how that transitioned him into working in the industry The state of RB's script that is in development Short films as proof of concept and how WHIPLASH developed from a short to a feature How you can get a top talent actor attached to your indie project Ability to meet and network with others via social media Global success story for a New Zealand writer working in LA Distribution of CUT! from Stage 32 director David Rountree Future of Stage 32 To listen click below!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you.   As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks in the Comments section below...

We are honored that Film Reverie had our fearless leader, Richard "RB" Botto on their popular podcast. For 90 minutes RB talked with hosts Michael Bekemeyer and Brad Kingston about all things creative, industry, networking, filmmaking and more. Just some of the things that RB, Michael and Brad go over are: What you can do to help your networking to improve your career How social media is playing a large part into today's independent filmmaking Fears that all filmmakers go through and advice on how to combat that What are the top 3 things that people need to know about Stage 32? Why do you want to be on Stage 32? How Stage 32 works with hundreds of executives in production and management Some of the several hundred sucess stories that have come as a result of the Stage 32 Happy Writers Crowdsourcing - the definition and how and why it's important Crowdfunding - tips and tricks and examples of creating a successful crowdfunding campaign The pressures and stress you feel as a creative and what you can do to help manage that In addition, Michael and Brad turned the tables over to RB as a screenwriter to talk about his own projects - including the book he's writing for Focal Press on crowdsourcing, as well as his script that is in development.   This is a fun talk about filmmaking and industry, but also creativity and finding balance in your life between the things that need to be done and the things you would like to do.   To listen, click here!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our new social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you.   As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on the content above in the Comments section below...

Our fearless leader, Founder & CEO, Richard Botto was featured on the enormously popular podcast Entertainment Drive Thru hosted by Anna and Dan Zerin. In the nearly 45 minute broadcast Anna, Dan and RB talked about all things industry, including:   The origin of Stage 32 Orson Welles connection to Stage 32 Today’s evolving business, Stage 32 is creating opportunity for free Independent theater scene The importance of collaborating around the world The story of how a writer stationed in Afghanistan pitched through Stage 32 and got signed The story of a composer in Florida who's composing a film for a Director in India Too many creatives leave the game because they don't know how to network The industry is in a state of flux The barrier of entry for filmmakers has never been lower The lack of resources on Facebook and LinkedIn for the creative business If youre serious about your craft and spending more than 5-10 minutes of day on Facebook its a waste Stage 32 education and why it's important Evolution of technology and how it's affecting the industry QUOTES "We’re living in a virtual world" "My passion is education and bringing education to the masses." "This is a business of who you know." RB'S ADVICE FOR ALL CREATIVES Relax and Listen!   RB'S MUST READ BOOKS           Enjoy the podcast!  We look forward to your thoughts!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our   social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you!  

A special thanks goes out to Stage 32 member Dave Bullis, who had RB on his popular filmmaking podcast. On the podcast, RB and Dave discuss a wide variety of topics including RB's experiences at this year's Sundance Film Festival, how to market yourself, the state of the film industry and were they think it's headed, RB's latest screenplay and then closed the discussion with RB going into depth about his new book on crowdsourcing. There is a lot of information to learn, so get your pen and paper (or your keyboard) out!  We hope you enjoy it.  Please share where possible!  Thank you! To listen, click below:   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below...

We are pleased to announce that our own founder and CEO, RB, was a guest on Pilar Alessandra's podcast, On the Page. Pilar is the founder of Page Writer's Studio in Sherman Oaks, CA and also the author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter. Over the 45 minute broadcast Pilar and RB talked about writing, the industry and touched on some of the best indie films out right now, including Boyhood, A Girl Who Walks Home Alone at Night, Nightcrawler and Whiplash. It's a fun, educational and funny podcast - one you don't want to miss. To listen to the podcast, click on the link below.     To listen to the podcast, click below!   Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using our shiny new social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you. As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks about the podcast in the Comments section below...

A very big thank you to Duane Barnhart not only for having me on his terrific and popular podcast, but for asking such insightful and thoughtful questions.  I thoroughly enjoyed the time.  I hope you find the podcast interesting and informative! RB

I was a guest on Ashely Scott Myers fantastic podcast, Selling Your Screenplay. Ashley and I discussed all things 32 past, present and future, how I used the site to land options and development deals, managers and agents, the state of the industry as it relates to screenwriters and filmmakers, and much more. I hope you enjoy and welcome your feedback! http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/podcasts/sys-podcast-episode-012-an-interview-with-screenwriter-producer-entrepreneur-and-ceo-of-stage-32-richard-botto/

Drive. Desire. Passion. As a creative, we must motivate ourselves every day. External forces work against us; it's the nature of the pursuit. It's how we rise above it all, the strength of the fire in our souls, that defines who we are, and the lengths we'll go to make our dreams a reality. So the question is: What have you done today to take another step toward your goal? Maybe you've joined a class suited to your creative endeavors. Maybe you've practiced a monologue in front of a mirror. Perhaps you set the alarm an hour early so you can bang out five pages of a screenplay or tinker with that piece of music that's been rattling around your head. Maybe you've researched and created a target list of managers and agents worth querying. Maybe you've made a difference in the life of another creative by performing a selfless act - running lines, reading pages, watching a reel... Controlling your own destiny...Making a difference in another creative's pursuit...Finding a way, every day, to take a step forward. These are some of the many topics I discussed on VIRTUAL NEWSMAKERS, a terrific, spirited show hosted by Stage 32 members, Debbie Elicksen and Cynthia K Seymour. I also shared some tips on how Stage 32 members are using the site to their benefit, shared some recent success stories, and offered advice on how every creative can get the upper hand toward achieving their goals. Enjoy. RB As always, I am available for questions and remarks in the Comments section below.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Ajay Jhaveri, founder of Headshot Café, for a wide ranging interview regarding Stage 32's origins, what the site has to offer creatives from around the world, and the present and future plans for the community. Before we get to the video, my thanks to the multi-talented actor, writer, producer, Christian Meoli, for his comprehensive coverage of Stage 32 - and yours truly - for Yahoo Entertainment and Yahoo Tech. You can read Christian's article here: Why You Need to Be on Stage 32 If You Are in Entertainment Also a BIG shoutout to Stage 32 members Wendy Casey and Ricardo Andres. In 1986, Wendy wrote a novel called Seven Nights. In 1998, she converted the novel into a screenplay. And in 2012, right here on Stage 32, Wendy met Ricardo. Now, 26 years later - a testament to the perseverance of the creative spirit - Wendy is in pre-production on a film based on her script with Ricardo serving as producer. The $7M budget has been raised, the cast is almost set, and final filming locations are being scouted. Wendy was one of the earliest members of Stage 32. Always positive, always supportive, and, most importantly, always working - not only at her craft, but at making connections. I couldn't be more thrilled for her... And, of course, for Ricardo. I'll be watching their journey closely and rooting hard from the sidelines. For more on their story - and to witness Wendy's fabulous taste in t-shirts! - read here: $7 million movie to be filmed at Licking County sites Now, back to the video. Again, my thanks to Ajay for the hospitality as well as his interest. I enjoyed the time immensely. I ask you to please "LIKE". Please share. Post it. Tweet it. Email it. Support the cause, the concept, the community. Thank you. Enjoy. RB As always, I am available for remarks or questions in the Comments section below. Besides being a working actor, writer, and producer, Christian Meoli also runs Arena Screen at 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. It's an indie screen theater right in the middle of Hollywood. For more information regarding screenings and bookings, contact Christian at info@arenascreen.com or (323) 306-0676. When he's not interviewing creatives for the Headshot Café, Ajay Jhaveri runs Argentum Photo Lab at 6550 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. For the last 25 years, Argentum has provided headshots for over 30,000 actors, including some of the biggest stars of the stage and screen. Ajay invites all to drop by the shop or shoot him an email (ajay@argentum.com) to learn how Argentum can get you set up with professional headshots which will truly make a difference.

I'm very grateful to have been asked by Marc Whitehead to be a guest on his terrific podcast, Web Of Intrigue. Marc, his co-host, Peter, and I discussed the origins of Stage 32, the benefits of membership, and what the future holds for the network. I hope you enjoy it. As always, feel free to ask questions or leave remarks in the comments section below! -- RB Marc and Peter welcome Richard Botto, CEO and co-founder of film, TV and theatre social network site stage32.com. Richard explains the inspiration for the site, how it works, why it works, and why anyone working in, or with a desire to work in the business - anywhere in the world, should become a member. He also tells listeners about the award winning blog featuring guest contributors, and drops a hint about plans for the future... Click here to listen...