About Stephen Mitchell: In 1980, Stephen founded an entertainment industry think tank labeled The New Hollywood Studio System in the guise of a repertory company for film and television. He authored the Action/ReAction technique for actors and founded a film school with curricula for writers and directors. Stephen supervised the group until 2001. In 1985, Stephen launched his cable TV series (Interview). The series, lauded by critics, attracted a cult following that included Oscar, Emmy, Peabody and Grammy winners. It attracted buyers for Stephen's story ideas and generated a first-look deal for him with TriStar Pictures. In 2001, Stephen wrote How to Start a Hollywood Career Without Having to Go There: An Instruction Manual For Actors with Kathi Carey. He was a CableAce Awards judge for nine years. Over the years, Stephen has made a dozen independent movies none of which are on IMDB, but that's a story for a blog post and will be part of the discussion in his webinar for Stage 32. Stephen is producing a documentary on the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of which he used to own. He produced Carrera Panamericana (1950-54) and was a co-producer on Addiction Incorporated with Charlie Evans Jr. (The Aviator). He is currently producing a DVD series Elys'ee Wednesday: Drive! and a TV series Tennessee Long Haulers. Last year, he wrote his first novels, Ignorance is Bliss, and Ray D. Shosay's Journal: Dispatches from a (junior) suite in Paris and is now writing a book about his Ferrari GTO which is worth forty million dollars and is currently owned by Ralph Lauren. Full Bio »
Stage 32 presents a webinar by Stephen Mitchell on how to make movies using a logical, if unconventional, approach that will establish your brand as a filmmaker and accelerate your career.
There is nothing like having a movie producing credit to separate you from the crowd. Whether you are a writer, director or actor, the quickest way to move your career forward is to produce a movie. Find out how to get it done while everyone else is waiting for Divine Intervention.
Stephen Mitchell
This is an special webinar event exclusively for Stage 32 members.
Stephen Mitchell
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"I originally started working with Stephen as an actress, but he very quickly decided that I needed to learn writing, producing and directing. I protested, at first, but boy am I glad he insisted. Under his guidance and mentorship I learned everything I use today in my career as a filmmaker. To date, I have had two films go out worldwide on the festival circuit that I wrote, produced and directed, both of which won numerous awards and accolades and the second of which was in the pool to be nominated for an Academy Award in 2011. I currently have two more films that are just starting their festival journeys, along with several projects in development. Stephen's approach combines real-world practicalities with proven techniques, so you're not just learning a methodology taught from a book or a classroom, you're learning practical, useful tools that you can immediately apply to your own work." - Kathi Carey, Stage 32 member, Actress/Writer/Producer/Director
"I had the opportunity to work with Stephen on EW:Drive! and really enjoyed the way he approached directing. His natural ease behind the camera put all of us in front of it at ease while driving some very expensive classic supercars. Stephen knows how to bring out the best in a moment and let the performer's personality shine through, while highlighting the important points in the storyline. I think I speak for all of us involved when I say that I look forward to filming the next episode with him!" - Kira Gurnee, Stage 32 member, Actress/Producer/Director
"Stephen Mitchell is a lover of cinema . From my chats with Stephen, I have learned so much about the magic of cinema, especially about the subliminal on the screen and breaking down scenes that make audience members swoon--from acting, directing, producing and writing. He has enriched me with breakdowns on blocking, cinematography, actors actions and reactions, to branding and why is important and how to connect with as many constitute groups in the audience as possible. Stephen is an encyclopedia about movies, from old Hollywood to the new and beyond, mixed with interesting stories about the industry and the stars themselves! Take a webinar with Stephen and you will walk away much wiser and entertained!" - Rachael Wegener, Stage 32 member, Actress/Producer/Director
"The gift of being around and working with Stephen is not only to witness how his brilliant, avant-garde mind works but to also be the beneficiary of his innate filmmaking intelligence." - Tom Gurnee, Stage 32 member, Actor/Writer, author of Moving to L.A. for Acting
ANNOUNCING A NEW EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR Your chance to learn from a documentary filmmaker who's worked with Questlove, Mick Jagger, Vice President Kamala Harris, and more! Plus! Receive exclusive handouts to asses partnerships from Deborah! Did you know that brands big and small often subsidize the making or distribution of documentary films of all genres and lengths? They do. It's an incredibly valuable opportunity for you, as a filmmaker, to get what you need to complete your project and share it with the world. These brand partnerships can generate valuable resources for documentary production, including publicity, funding, and access to people. So how do you create a partnership with a brand or an organization? How do you choose which brands makes this right partners? What should a brand partnership even look like for your film? Stage 32 is here to teach you all about it. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll identify the impact you hope your film will make and dive into discovering how to tie your mission to a brand, partner, or organization to help bring your documentary to life. Marketing leaders and brand teams seek innovative partnerships to reach their audiences. This means that brands are increasingly becoming interested in activations that align their mission with content that can positively impact the communities they serve. And this brand interest is your project’s opportunity. Your host, Deborah Riley Draper, is a compelling and award-winning filmmaker who is currently directing the A&E four-part James Brown docu-series SAY IT LOUD, produced by Academy Award-winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Mick Jagger. Riley previously made the docu-series THE LEGACY OF BLACK WALL STREET, which earned her a third NAACP Image Award nomination. She also released TWENTY PEARLS, a documentary featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, OLYMPIC PRIDE AMERICAN JUSTICE, and VERSAILLES ‘73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION, which opened New York Fashion Week in 2012. Deborah’s success is tied to her ability to know her message, determine what partnerships best align with that message, and lock those partnerships down by knowing your documentary’s potential return on investment, even if that return isn't financially motivated. In addition to providing you with exclusive handouts to asses potential partnerships, Deborah will show you how to find like-minded partners, how to create a blueprint for your partnership, and the legal aspects of these relationships. With such an incredible background, Deborah provides invaluable information for filmmakers like yourself. Don’t miss out on learning how a partnership can support your message in this exclusive webinar. Praise for Deborah's Talent & Knowledge: "I have had the pleasure of working with Deborah and must say that she's one of the most talented, innovative, multifaceted people I've ever known. She has a ravenous appetite for understanding a challenge from every angle, but also the rare ability to discern exactly what (and where) to focus on to solve it. She is not bound by channels, attitudes, dogmas or barriers--she finds a way to break through it all, always with a human perspective, and weave a compelling story that people can't help jumping into with both feet." -- Laura Davis Taylor, Brand Marketer
Learn directly from Paul Barry, top Los Angeles-based Australian acting coach with 20 years of worldwide audition, memorization, and on-screen teaching experience (current and former clients are represented by WME, CAA, Paradigm, and UTA, and have secured work with CBS, NBC, ABC, Netflix, Starz, Disney and many others)! For a set to run smoothly, the actor-director relationship must be a symbiotic one. Too often directors struggle to effectively communicate their ideas to actors, and actors feel confused by generalized direction. If the actors and director aren’t speaking a common language, they will begin to separate from each other and diminish the desired results for the shot. Whether you’re an actor or director, knowing how to effectively communicate with a common vocabulary, regardless of your training, is a must for understanding what is wanted and needed from one another. This will take the subjectivity and guesswork out of the equation, allowing both sides of the creative process to break down the barriers that often separate them. In this exclusive Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, host Paul Barry will teach you 3 very specific techniques that will eradicate the guesswork when it comes to the communication process between actors and directors. Drawing from his 20 years of experience as an acting and directing coach, as well as a professional reader, he will teach you how to translate generalized direction into specific action, harness the power of counter-intuition and create real drama in your scenes by defining the “rules” you both can play by. This webinar is essential for both actors and directors, and you will leave understanding how to create a clearer, stronger form of communication on set that will allow you to elevate the performance every time. PRAISE FOR PAUL'S TEACHINGS: "I’ve been using Paul’s approach for about 7 years now starting off in my work in co-op theatre around Sydney and now... Paul’s approach to acting is direct, effective and completely doable. More importantly, it elevates material to a level that’s exciting to play and gives it an edge that is exciting to watch." - Stephen Peacocke (three-time Logie award-winning actor) "I have been acting in film, television and theatre for the past twenty five years, and have attended a number of courses and classes throughout this time. Paul's course proved to be the most practicable, useful, and inspiring I have been to. His methods are immediately usable. They both expand and simplify what you've previously learnt, and they avoid mystification and obfuscation. And his teaching is all about the process and you." - Nicholas Hope (AFI award-winning actor) “Paul really made things clearer. As an actor I complicate things and working with him really articulated a process that helps me work effectively. He is great” - Dichen Lachman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Shameless, The 100) “I cannot think of a teacher that an actor in Los Angeles (or elsewhere) could gain better training from, in order to gain a well rounded education and perspective for a career working in Film,TV or Theater than with Paul Barry.” - Lisa Kowalski "The tricks and techniques Paul gives his students are effective and acquirable that you can apply and experiment with... Rewarding and enjoyable don’t pass up the opportunity to be taught by Paul." - Clare Cholerton “Very helpful! Practical tips I can use at my 5pm audition today! Really charismatic, cool teacher who knows what he is doing” - Joanna Folino
How do you best package and sell your projects in this ever changing industry? In this exclusive Stage 32 Webinar, we will teach your to push your projects and connect with industry executives to package and sell your projects from the development stage to distribution. Since joining Ramo Law in 2009, Tiffany Boyle has leveraged her business-oriented sales and packaging skills to bring hundreds of films and documentaries to fruition. Tiffany connects filmmakers with producers, co-producers, executive producers, co-finance partners, distributors, agencies and other industry representatives. Through her critical review of content and strategic use of Ramo Law resources, Tiffany creates successful content packaging that bridges the needs of both client and industry demands. In addition to all these skills, Tiffany served as a Co-Executive Producer and brought in financing for films SOMETHING ELSE (Tribeca 2019) and ARKANSAS starring Liam Hemsworth and Vince Vaughn. She led the sales and packaging for TRAGEDY GIRLS (SXSW 2017) and FREAKS (Toronto IFF 2018), she brought foreign financing to ASHES IN THE SNOW (Los Angeles FF 2018) starring Bel Powley, and she sold an autobiography to Hulu for development into a limited television series. Tiffany will provide you with the pertinent and actionable information you need to package a project in the current environment. She will begin by discussing the packaging and sales world before COVID-19, what is happening right now and what can be expected once we're in the clear. She will discuss packaging and selling of all budget levels and dive deep into the world of attachments including landing valuable producers, directors, actors, and even financiers. From there, Tiffany will tell you how to build your relationships to help enhance and accelerate your path to getting your project packaged and sold. She will discuss sales and the current state of the marketplace. And finally, Tiffany will even include some outside the box methods and resources toward packaging and selling your project outside the traditional model. "Let's do a deep dive into everything happening right now and what to expect down the road so you can take action. We will focus on who to approach first for attachments and how to build the project from there in order to make it the most sellable and attractive package it can be." - Tiffany Boyle
Learn how to "make your day" on time and on budget while achieving your creative vision from a director who has made over 25 feature films and has screened at Sundance, South by Southwest, and more! PLUS! You will receive exclusive handouts including Director Duties, Shot List Components, and a Director's Reading List to help you on your next project! The number one expense facing all filmmakers (indie or otherwise) will always be... time. Falling behind just one day quickly leads to another, and another…and a domino effect! You suddenly have a runaway production. It doesn’t matter how creative or inspired you are, if you can’t get it “in the can” on time and on budget, you’re going to have a difficult career. This is especially true in the indie space, where your budget limitations are often quite rigid and not at all conducive to any directorial hesitancy or indecision. Thankfully there’s a proven method to keep you on track, while still allowing for spontaneous inspiration and experimentation on set. It also happens to be the industry standard, and applies to any level of filmmaking - from student short to studio feature. You don’t have to toss the creative baby out with the budgetary bathwater, contrary to popular belief. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn where to put the emphasis in your pre-production process and a specific method for planning shots and scenes (shot lists, top down lighting plots) optimized for making your day without turning you into a budgetary bean-counter. This course also serves as a strong “trouble-shooting” guide applicable to the vast majority of scheduling issues that seem to always arise on set. You will gain a confidence in the time management necessary to focus on what really matters - performance and “the visuals.” Here to guide you through all the considerations you should take to best make your day while maintaining your creative process is Clay Liford, a graduate of the University of Texas film program who now teaches all aspects of film production at his alma mater. Clay has made over 25 feature films that have garnered numerous accolades and screened at Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest, and more. Clay is excited to share his plethora of knowledge and experience with the Stage 32 community so your next project will be a success! PLUS! Clay will provide you with exclusive handouts to help you on your next project. Downloads include: Director's Duties Shot List Components Director's Reading List You no longer have to choose between being “fast” or “good.” In fact, you’ll quickly learn that those two elements are actually intrinsically tied together, rather than mutually exclusive! Praise For Clay's Webinar: "Clay had great energy and pace. He was able to explain things in different ways and with excellent examples." --Magi A. "Clay didn't sugar coat anything - keeping the short within a tight budget and length is smart strategy & practical. I appreciated his honesty." --Shaan D.
Faith based and faith friendly films have been a steady, popular, and profitable industry and one of the hottest genres for success. It could be considered a niche audience, but it’s a powerful and dependable niche audience that has helped catapult films and filmmakers to success. Recent films like I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, GOD’S NOT DEAD, and THE SHACK have found popularity and impressive box office numbers by tapping into this audience and bringing out church-goers and other faith-friendly communities that might not be as eager to seek out films outside of this genre. And it makes sense that faith-based films are doing well. In challenging or negative times, people will more actively seek out positivity and inspiration, two ingredients almost guaranteed to be featured in a faith-based film. Considering how challenging and negative our current world can be, there might not be a better time to break into the world of faith-based films and write a script that can shine in this market. Writing a faith based or faith friendly script can be tricky, as you don't want to fall into cliches and lose your audience. You might have a great idea for a script with an uplifting message and inspirational ending, but when does it cross the line from a traditional genre script to faith-friendly? What does that audience actually look for and what do faith-based production companies seek out when considering a script? What elements in your story are off-limits and which will help you sell your script? There’s no crystal ball that can tell us 100% what works and what doesn’t in this genre, but there are patterns and constants that can be gleaned and applied to your own script. With a proper lay of the land, you’ll be able to better tackle this genre and write a script that can not only get on the screen, but inspire and uplift viewers at the same time. Brad Wilson is the Co-founder of Higher Purpose Entertainment (HPE), a production company dedicated to telling stories in film and TV that encompass truth of character and strive to embrace inspirationally redeeming qualities. While at HPE he's produced a number of films including THREE BLIND SAINTS, CHRISTMAS ON SALVATION STREET, MY MANY SONS, THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS, and THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE, which was released last year in 1,100 theaters across the country. Brad is well-versed in the business of faith based films and has a keen sense of how projects thrive in this genre. He’s ready to share what he knows exclusively with the Stage 32 community. Brad will walk you through how to create a faith based script that can both sell and have a positive impact within this specific community. Brad will begin with an overview of the faith based/faith friendly landscape and will give you a rundown of how this genre works both at a studio and in the independent space. He’ll then break down major screenwriting points of an effective faith based scripts, including average page count, characters, and plot structure. He’ll outline what makes a script faith based or faith friendly and at what point a drama script would be considered by a faith based production company. He will delve into what the faith based audience looks like and the best ways to reach them. Brad will teach you the elements that work best for a faith based script, including employing romance and a specific message. He will also go over elements to stay away from and how to balance a cross over script with “preaching to the choir”. He will also give tips on how to drive the story forward within this genre. He’ll discuss when to take feedback on your script and when to trust your gut and will give you tips on how to keep your writing real, even when it’s made up. Brad will also discuss the types of budget you should keep in mind for the best chance of success with your faith based script. Brad’s valuable rundown of the faith based genre will give you the tips and tools you need to create an amazing script that will excel within the faith friendly community. Like what you heard from Brad during this webinar? Brad will read your script and speak with you for a half-hour if you click here. Praise for Brad's Stage 32 Webinar: "Brad was terrific! This was an excellent real world webinar. Very helpful in reinforcing some of the trends that I have been seeing in this category, and I learned a lot from today's discussion." -Lew S. "Brad was amazing. He laid out so clearly the genre and how to write for it in a practical way. He was an awesome instructor who combined practical info, inspiration, and was so "real." Loved it." -Ricki L. "This was the best webinar I've had so far at Stage 32. Brad's very seasoned and gave wonderful tips that will help me make my faith-friendly script" more marketable." -Gayle R. "A very honest, forth right presentation from a guy whose been there and done that, and knows the pitfalls and promises of the biz." -Dennis H.
Learn How To Close Deals With Investors And Financiers Once You Meet Them From A Multi-Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker Whose New Film, NIGHT TRAIN, is currently #1 on Hulu! There is an art to the business of fundraising that is essential to understand if you are planning on raising money for your project. How do you first approach an investor for your project? How long does it take for your relationship with your potential investor to develop into a business partnership? What financial projections and creative materials do you need to have already prepared to show them? And how can you ultimately close the deal? All these questions and more will be answered in this exclusive Stage 32 four-part on-demand class taught by multi–Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and best-selling author Shane Stanley. Shane is the founder of Visual Arts Entertainment, a film and television production company based in Los Angeles and is best-known for producing the #1 Box Office hit, GRIDIRON GANG starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for Sony Pictures and directing several Music Videos that landed in the Top 20 on VH1. Shane has successfully raised independent capital for countless films and knows how to make and keep investors happy so you can build the relationship into consistent funding for your projects forbears to come. Shane's new film, NIGHT TRAIN, that he directed, edited, and produced is currently #1 on Hulu! Shane’s recent projects include MISTRUST starring Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress, Jane Seymour, the surprise smash-hit action film DOUBLE THREAT starring Dawn Olivieri and Danielle C. Ryan, and NIGHT TRAIN starring Danielle C. Ryan and Diora Baird, among many others. Over 4 information-packed sessions, Shane will teach you his secrets to raising money to help get your projects made and give you essential tips to maintain a lasting relationship with your investors. You will learn how to target potential investors for your project, how to forge a lasting relationship with them, the dos and don’ts on how to approach business conversations with your potential investor, how to effectively present your business plan, and most importantly, how to close the deal. PLUS! Shane will give you exclusive handouts to help with your own fundraising. Downloads include: An ASK and TAKE sheet from a sales agent Email templates on how to approach investors For anyone looking to make their film or series a reality by raising capital, this class is an extraordinarily beneficial and unique opportunity to learn the art and science of private capital fundraising from an industry pro! Testimonials for Shane's Previous Webinars: "Shane was thorough and encouraging. Easy to listen to and follow. I'll be signing up for other classes he teaches in the future." -Karena K. "Just straight-forward, real, the kind of producer most of us would kill to work alongside." -Clark T. "Shane was relevant, knew what was happening, and could walk the walk." -Chuck R.