People have been worrying about Hollywood since its inception, like America’s beautiful but sickly child, but they seem extra worried now — for studios, for creators and for customers.
I think this (sort of) qualifies for my "If I ran a studio" FilmStack challenge, Roy, even if you did not submit it... Great collection when paired with your prior post. I wish we could roll back time...
I think it would help if watching TV reverted back to a simpler procedure. Now, every streamer is a little different, different remotes, etc. Cable was easier. Seems to me it's thus tougher to have a show be noticed these days, unless you are a mad success like Shogun or White Lotus S3. Both were fantastic and big hits with critics and audience alike, and also, speaking of better stories, neither contained markers of youth culture or drug culture or political culture. Just fantastic stories well told about humans under pressure. I wonder if a streamer would do better to produce one of these per season rather than packing their catalogue with all the others.
Great points but one of the ideas that continues to go unheeded is the need to trust-bust the MPA. I believe that studios need to be successful, but as the theatrical system works today, when they’re not, no one is, and no one else even has a shot. That’s an unhealthy system.
Ted, these thoughts are all so well laid out and a lot to digest. What resonates for me the most personally are the sections on Windows and Open Development, perhaps because they’re the easiest for me to wrap my head around. Figuring out the Windows situation seems absolutely crucial in my mind and Open Development, the way you’ve describe it, is already off to the races as far as I can tell. Everything else is certainly food for thought, which I will continue to ponder on this lovely Sunday…
Film and television have always seemed like separate business propositions to me. Would it help to think of it that way now? Longform has made a forced comeback during the recent era of decline but I think it's been a mistake to coax audiences out of TV's more popular and economically sustainable genres: open-ended, mostly standalone comedy and drama series.
In this household we patiently await a comedy as funny as Seinfeld or as smart as the original Frasier. We also still rerun scripted cop shows and mysteries (including imports) where the police protagonists are heroes, someone has a sense of humor, and a certain underlying thematic optimism steadies the tone. As for longform, how about a few "wheel" mysteries more intelligent than Hallmark fodder? Or just more series offerings with casts led by mature adults?
The business of TV isn't ailing. It's the content choices which need fixing. What makes U.S. originals inferior today is the lingering omnipresence of the woke mind virus, and the endless pandering to the sensibilities of callow youth. Show more respect for the values of the audience, and aim just above our expectations to elevate us.
The AI point seems directly opposite the ownership and windows points. What value would these 100 AI microwave-popcorn episodes had against a show that you are eager to watch and is not airing the whole year? What about "absence makes the heart grow fonder"?
Hmm, the points raised are certainly legitimate. And written from a studio leadership position. However, there's one major point that was overlooked: contemporary movies and TV shows are retreads (at best) and unimaginative (at worst). There are no creative risk takers, or if there are, they're buried so deeply as to be virtually undetectable. Honestly, the best thing about Prime is its back-catalog. Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, Ronald D Moore, hell even Shonda Rhimes --- where are they? Does no one consider the actual audience anymore?
I think this (sort of) qualifies for my "If I ran a studio" FilmStack challenge, Roy, even if you did not submit it... Great collection when paired with your prior post. I wish we could roll back time...
This is a great overview that few analysts could write in any industry.
Roy Price is the #1 thought leader in an industry that needs new thinking.
To fully appreciate the potential, think about the upside of getting into the film and TV business compared to almost every other industry.
Investment creators and promoters on Wall Street are out of ideas.
The problem with Hollywood is the long history of investors being exploited in multiple ways.
New business formulas that treat all the players fairly will emerge.
I think it would help if watching TV reverted back to a simpler procedure. Now, every streamer is a little different, different remotes, etc. Cable was easier. Seems to me it's thus tougher to have a show be noticed these days, unless you are a mad success like Shogun or White Lotus S3. Both were fantastic and big hits with critics and audience alike, and also, speaking of better stories, neither contained markers of youth culture or drug culture or political culture. Just fantastic stories well told about humans under pressure. I wonder if a streamer would do better to produce one of these per season rather than packing their catalogue with all the others.
My two cents. Thanks for the great post.
$20 if you can recall which show first got the new profit definition at Amazon back in the day.
Hint: its initials are TOTDY......
Ha. Nic!
Great points but one of the ideas that continues to go unheeded is the need to trust-bust the MPA. I believe that studios need to be successful, but as the theatrical system works today, when they’re not, no one is, and no one else even has a shot. That’s an unhealthy system.
Ted, these thoughts are all so well laid out and a lot to digest. What resonates for me the most personally are the sections on Windows and Open Development, perhaps because they’re the easiest for me to wrap my head around. Figuring out the Windows situation seems absolutely crucial in my mind and Open Development, the way you’ve describe it, is already off to the races as far as I can tell. Everything else is certainly food for thought, which I will continue to ponder on this lovely Sunday…
Film and television have always seemed like separate business propositions to me. Would it help to think of it that way now? Longform has made a forced comeback during the recent era of decline but I think it's been a mistake to coax audiences out of TV's more popular and economically sustainable genres: open-ended, mostly standalone comedy and drama series.
In this household we patiently await a comedy as funny as Seinfeld or as smart as the original Frasier. We also still rerun scripted cop shows and mysteries (including imports) where the police protagonists are heroes, someone has a sense of humor, and a certain underlying thematic optimism steadies the tone. As for longform, how about a few "wheel" mysteries more intelligent than Hallmark fodder? Or just more series offerings with casts led by mature adults?
The business of TV isn't ailing. It's the content choices which need fixing. What makes U.S. originals inferior today is the lingering omnipresence of the woke mind virus, and the endless pandering to the sensibilities of callow youth. Show more respect for the values of the audience, and aim just above our expectations to elevate us.
The AI point seems directly opposite the ownership and windows points. What value would these 100 AI microwave-popcorn episodes had against a show that you are eager to watch and is not airing the whole year? What about "absence makes the heart grow fonder"?
AI eps are nevertheless something on the horizon to be aware of.
Hmm, the points raised are certainly legitimate. And written from a studio leadership position. However, there's one major point that was overlooked: contemporary movies and TV shows are retreads (at best) and unimaginative (at worst). There are no creative risk takers, or if there are, they're buried so deeply as to be virtually undetectable. Honestly, the best thing about Prime is its back-catalog. Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, Ronald D Moore, hell even Shonda Rhimes --- where are they? Does no one consider the actual audience anymore?
Yes will there is always the “make better movies” plan, which is certainly needed and would of course help. A topic for another day…
The infinite torrent of scenarios kind of close the debate… I use AI platforms for our movies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBmk7EWz4Pc&t=682s
But in the end I know that the AI will in turn use me as merely a spectator for its own creation