Stage 32 + Hollyshorts Short Film Program - Q&A With Filmmakers [Video]

This weekend we premiered the 2nd Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program in Los Angeles at the 2017 Hollyshorts Film Festival. In one word, it was inspiring. We had the pleasure of showcasing a program of 7 films representing 4 different countries - all with varying creativity. The audience included Stage 32 members and executives from Lionsgate, Samaco Films, Whitewater Films, Kodak, Legion M, CAA and more who all told us how blown away they were with the talent here in the Stage 32 community. After the screening we brought the filmmakers up on stage to discuss their projects lead by our very own CEO Richard "RB" Botto. We wanted to share the Q&A which included (L-R): “Six Letter Word” directed by Lisanne Sartor (US)  “Monsters” directed by Steve Desmond (US) “Must Escape” directed by Vadyam Shapran (Ukraine)  "The Light in the Afternoon" directed by David Steiner (France), represented by Mathilde Chartier (France)    Enjoy!                  Congratulations again To The 2017 Stage 32 Short Film Program Filmmakers: “Must Escape” directed by Vadyam Shapran (Ukraine) – A man discovers he’s the protagonist in a cliché, short student film and struggles to get out of it. “Sisters” directed by Taylor Shortall (US) – Part exercise of passion, and part love letter, "Sisters" is a fragment of some lost, tragic opera. “Monsters” directed by Steve Desmond (US) – Jenn lives in an underground bunker with her family, protected from the monsters that now ravage the world. This is the day that she goes outside… “Eliza” directed by Mikko Lopponen (Finland) – When a vicious drug gang discovers they’ve been infiltrated by an undercover cop, they move in killing him and leaving his wife stranded – little did they know that they just signed their own death warrants. “Dryad” directed by Thomas Vernay Cumulus (France) – The wind blows and lightning approaches ominously, while a knight escorts a damsel through the woods. He can sense the end is near. "The Light in the Afternoon" directed by David Steiner (France) - He had no family, no father, no model. No one had told him life was just... that. When he ran into her after 7 years, she suggested it. “Six Letter Word” directed by Lisanne Sartor (US) – An unlikely mother is forced to come to terms her young son’s autism after an unexpected encounter with one her johns.       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

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