Code Bear Media | Independent Film Company

AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE MEDIA COMPANY
BASED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Code Bear Media is a creative team based in Northern California. Through the medium of film, we offer services through all parts of the production process. We specialize in creating and strategizing social marketing content for independent films.

LEARN MORE

Tomorrow’s the day! 🎬✨ After years of writing, filming, and bringing this story to life, “Stages” officially releases tomorrow, March 1st! This film has been a surreal personal journey, and I can’t wait to finally share it with you all.

Make sure you’re following @codebearmedia so you don’t miss the premiere on YouTube. Set your reminders, grab some popcorn, and get ready—“Stages” is almost here.

#codebearmedia #independentfilm #indiefilm #womeninfilm #sacfilm #stagesfilm #thriller #supportindiefilm #covidstories

🩸Practical effects bring the nightmares to life. One of the most exciting parts of making “Stages” was developing the creature that haunts Dalila’s grief. This idea evolved through collaboration between @aka_saz and director @hmbhaines, shaping a presence that feels both terrifying and symbolic.

Bringing the vision to reality took an incredible team:
👹 Costume, Mask & Gloves Design – @leila.kg
🎭 Special Effects Makeup – @waltimusprime
🖌️ Makeup Assistance – @sierra_nevin

From fabrication and costuming to detailed SFX makeup, every piece was crafted with care to create a memorable creature. We can’t wait for you to experience it when “Stages” premieres March 1st!

Follow @codebearmedia for more behind-the-scenes looks at indie filmmaking.

#codebearmedia #indiefilm #indiefilmmaking #womeninfilm #sfxmakeup #creaturedesign #sacfilm #thriller #independentfilm

When your best friend shows up without calling…😳😱

Lighting is everything. ✨🎬 In “Stages”, every frame was carefully lit to enhance the emotion of the moment. Lighting is one of the most time-consuming parts of filmmaking, but it makes all the difference. We were lucky to have an incredible team bringing this vision to life:

🎥 DP: @iamjordyngrace
💡 Gaffer: Avery Hudson
⚡️ Grip: Sage Lillaheart

Their work shaped the mood, the depth, and the visual storytelling of “Stages” in a way that wouldn’t be possible without them.

Catch their artistry in action when “Stages” premieres March 1st! Follow @codebearmedia to support indie filmmaking and be the first to watch. 🎥

#codebearmedia #independentfilm #indiefilm #womeninfilm #stagesfilm #sacfilm #supportindiefilm #cinemalighting

📝 From script to screen, this scene from award-winning script and short film, “Stages”

Grief isn’t linear. In this moment, Dalila confides in her friend about the loss of her husband, caught between denial and the creeping edge of anger. The dialogue reflects the complexity of mourning and how words can be both a shield and a release. Actors @momtreprenista and @elanajswartz took the words and made it their own, adding more to their characters in this intense exchange between friends.

Writer/director @hmbhaines crafted Stages to explore the quiet, messy, and deeply human sides of grief during the time of COVID. We can’t wait to share it with you when it releases March 1st.

Follow @codebearmedia for more behind-the-scenes looks at the writing, filmmaking, and performances that make “Stages”.

#codebearmedia #womeninfilm #ScriptToScreen #Filmmaking #IndieFilm #Screenwriting #stagesfilm #SupportIndieFilm #grief #independentfilm #sacfilm #supportindiefilm #thriller #covidstories

🎥 Dalila and Scott are in the early days of COVID when Scott tests positive for the first time. Fear sets in, of the unknown, of what could happen, of keeping the people you love safe.

This moment was inspired by Director @hmbhaines own experience testing positive for COVID, self-isolation, and need to protect family. That fear, that helplessness, is something so many lived through, and “Stages” captures it in an honest and intimate way.

Stages is about grief, love, and the quiet moments that shape us. We can’t wait to share it with you all on March 1st. Stay tuned for more. 🎬✨

#codebearmedia #independentfilm #indiefilm #womeninfilm #stagesfilm #sacfilm #thriller #COVIDStories #SupportIndieFilm

🎬 “Stages” is officially releasing March 1st on YouTube! We can’t wait to share this story with you.

In this scene, Dalila sits down for dinner with her friend Brooke, who’s checking in on her after the loss of her husband to COVID in 2020. As they talk, their conversation highlights the ways people process grief differently—how life moves forward, even when the weight of loss lingers.

Writer/director @hmbhaines wanted this moment to feel raw and real, capturing the contrast between everyday frustrations and the deep, quiet pain of losing someone. Filmed in an intimate, lived-in space, this scene is a glimpse into Dalila’s journey of navigating life after loss, with the support of those who care about her.

We’re so excited to finally share Stages with the world. Mark your calendars for March 1st, and stay tuned for more BTS and release details! 🎭✨

#codebearmedia #independentfilm #indiefilm #thrillermovie #bts #stagesfilm #womeninfilm #womendirectors #sacfilm

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow for content and updates

@codebearmedia

FEATURED PROJECT

A short film about a woman who loses her husband during COVID, that quickly realizes the spirit in her home is not her husband trying to reach out to her, but a malevolent spirit feeding off her grief.

LEARN MORE

AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE MEDIA COMPANY BASED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

​

Follow for content and updates

FEATURED PROJECT

AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE MEDIA COMPANY
BASED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA