Cannes Roll Call - Who's Going? Who Has Films?

Well, this is exciting. As you all know Stage 32 has has worked directly with and have had an official presence at the Cannes Film Festival for the last 4 years. This year, our role with Cannes has grown. We are thrilled to announce that we are an official education workshop partner with the Cannes Marche du Film!  Stage 32 will be presenting an official workshop to producers, filmmakers and other content creators on the importance of audience building, branding and crowdsourcing at the Marche titled: Crowdsourcing is not Crowdfunding - How to Build an Audience for You and Your Film. Additionally, Cannes, as supporters of our mission at Stage 32, and recognizing our place as the global leaders in online education for all film creatives, will be presenting all badge holders a free Stage 32 webinar! Our workshop will be presented by Stage 32 Managing Director and yours truly on Thursday, May 10th at 11:30am (more information below). We will be discussing many of the topics covered in Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd and will include industry case studies and crowdsourcing success stories featuring such filmmakers as Zach Braff, Ana Lily Amirpour, Lake Bell and Justin Simien. Last year, Stage 32 members from 8 countries had films screen at the festival. This year, Stage 32 member Michel Merkt, has two films as official selections competing for the Palme d’Or, UNDER THE SILVER LAKE and YOMEDDINE. Do you have a film screening at the festival? Let us know in the comments section below! Finally, once again Stage 32 will be hosting a meetup during Cannes. More details on the time/venue can be found below! If you're attending Cannes, let's start the official roll call. We (and the producers and executives we work with who will be at the fest) are specifically interested in knowing: - What dates will you be attending?- What brings you to Cannes?- What projects do you have screening or are you bringing to the market?- Are you planning on attending any workshops or events? If so, which ones?- What is your goal during the Cannes Film Festival? We look forward to hearing from you! RB   Please make sure to mark your calendars!   Producer's Workshop: Crowdsourcing is not Crowdfunding - How to Build An Audience for You and Your Film Date: Thursday, May 10 Time: 11:30am-1:00pm Location: Les Ambassadeurs - Palais des Festivals - Level 4 - Cannes Film Festival Speakers: Stage 32 Founder & CEO Richard "RB" Botto, Producer, Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney Event: Education workshop for Marche du Film Producer's Network  (Click here for more info) Credentials: Must have Marche du Film Badge We will workshop best practices for crowdsourcing (which is not the same as crowdfunding) for you as a filmmaker. You will learn how to identify, engage and move an international audience using online and offline practices to build an army of support for you and your film. We will provide case studies on how various filmmakers have successfully used crowdsourcing to help make their films and build an audience while in development!     Official Stage 32 Meetup Date: Thursday, May 10 Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Location: Le Bar à Vin, 10 Rue Marceau, 06400 Cannes, France (more info) Credentials: Open to all Stage 32 members and colleagues of Stage 32 members (no badge required) Please: RSVP Here Stage 32 Founder & CEO, Richard "RB" Botto would like to welcome all Stage 32 members who are in Cannes this year to a the official Stage 32 meetup. The meetup takes place Thursday, May 10, 2018 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Come network with other Stage 32 members who have films screening and meet Stage 32 Founder & CEO, Richard "RB" Botto and Stage 32 Managing Director, Amanda Toney. We hope you will join us!       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...  Read More

Success Story - Script Picked Up at Higher Purpose Entertainment

Since I've been with Stage 32, I’ve seen hundreds of writers land reads and requests or get signed by agents, managers and attorneys. All of these successes are causes for celebration, but few compare to the feeling we get connecting the perfect screenwriter to the right exec at the ideal time and seeing them sell or option their script! Stage 32 is thrilled to announce Stage 32 Happy Writer Lynne Logan from Orange County, California recently optioned her feature script, A Relative Unknown, to Higher Purpose Entertainment (HPE) after submitting her script to HPE Producer Brad Wilson for Premium Coverage!      Brad is a producer who started his career with Acadaemy Award winning actor Robert Duvall operating Robert Duvall Productions, covering films like Colors (starring Sean Penn), Days of Thunder (starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman), and the CBS miniseries Lonesome Dove. Brad went on to become the Vice President of Production at Greystone Films which produced films including Lunker Lake, Inside Outdoors before co-founding Higher Purpose Entertainment. With HPE he's produced a number of films including Three Blind Saints, Christmas on Salvation Street, My Many Sons, and The Meanest Man in Texas. He also most recently produced The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, which releases this year into 1,100 theaters across the country! Brad is partnered in HIGHER PURPOSE ENTERTAINMENT with Casey Bond. I was lucky enough to watch the process unfold as these two talented individual shared their experience with me. Now they’ve graciously offered to share their experience with the Stage 32 community. With their permission, I'm republishing our written exchanges to share their story in their own words...     Lynne Logan, Screenwriter Brad Wilson, Producer, Higher Purpose Entertainment _____ To: Allen From: Lynne Here's my story. After reading my script, A RELATIVE UNKNOWN through Stage 32 Coverage, producer Brad Wilson asked you to introduce the two of us. That same night, we talked on the phone for over an hour. Brad sent me an email afterward, ”You’ve made my day! It was such a blessing to visit with you. The hour did indeed pass fast! That gives us more to look forward to when we meet! I'm happy you could feel the passion I have for your script.” Next, he asked to set up an in-person meeting to get to know each other a little bit more. A week later, we met for lunch! _____ To: Allen From: Brad  This has been a "red letter day"! I drove down to Orange County and had a great lunch with Lynne Logan!! She is terrific and I think things went very well. I think we are going to proceed down the path to work together and get her film made. I LOVE working with you and meeting all of these amazing writers! Thanks again so much for sending me Lynne Logan's amazing script! _____ To: Allen From: Lynne  A week later, the Option Agreement came in. I talked with my script consultant and an entertainment attorney and we started the process this past Monday, and now on Friday, just four days later, I have an Option Agreement from Higher Purpose Entertainment for my script A RELATIVE UNKNOWN. _____ To: Allen From: Brad We've made our deal with Lynne Logan regarding A RELATIVE UNKNOWN! SO happy about it! She is SO talented and so wonderful. Had it not been for you thinking to introduce me to Lynne's writing none of this would be happening. Always ready to read scripts so keep em' coming! _____ To: Allen From: Lynne I'm still in awe as to how fast this is all happening. It's really a surreal experience. I hope my words speak for themselves. There is no feeling or validation like a producer wanting your script and having the kind of excitement and passion for it that this producer expressed. _____ With the deal signed, Lynne had a moment to reflect on the whole experience. I had the opportunity to ask her what was the best piece of advice she could give to all of the Stage 32 writers.   To: Allen From: Lynne Pay for coverage from a producer in your genre. When you pay for coverage, the person is reading your ENTIRE script and you have a captive audience. If your script is great and the story is the right fit for that producer, at least interest will be stirred. Make sure the producer has similar films as your script. I don't think it matters where you live. If a producer is interested in talking about your script, they will do it via email, phone, Skype or whatever means. So don't let location stop you! This never would have happened without Stage 32. Never. I can't thank all of you enough for opening doors and offering opportunities for writers to network and make contact with "the big guys".   Please join us in congratulating Lynne and Brad on their deal in the comments section below & please share!...    Read More