The Business of Film: 5 (very) Short Articles
(c) Peter D. Marshall
Here are 5 (very) short articles I’ve written about surviving in the
film and TV business.
Why Hollywood is Not the Only Game in Town.
Filmmaking is an artistic expression – but it’s also a huge
business and the economics of the industry are quite complex.
Here’s a warning from a February 23, 2013 article in The
Economist: “The business model within film is broken. The
economics of the film industry are changing.
Profits are down, even though Hollywood is making splashier films
for new, fast-growing markets. Meanwhile, television, once the
unglamorous sister, is enjoying record earnings and unprecedented
critical acclaim.”
For Hollywood studios, the decision on whether or not a movie is
a hit or a bomb is usually based on box office gross.
If a movie has made money, it’s called a “success.” But if a
movie doesn’t recoup it’s costs, it’s called a “failure.” (In
which case somebody usually gets fired!)
Many times, artistic excellence and technical proficiency are
usually ignored.
Awards are welcome, but, for the most part, studio bosses don’t
care if a movie becomes a cult classic or if it changes popular
culture. They only care about the monetary gain!!!
But thankfully, Hollywood is not the only game in town.
There are thousands of filmmakers worldwide (just like yourself)
who all have different reasons to be in the industry – as well as
different distribution platforms for their work.
Some people work for the art; others hope to have an impact on
history; and others are just craftsmen, artisans, and contractors
working in the industry.
But what we all need to understand is that the film industry is
a huge enterprise. And the indie filmmakers are the
entrepreneurs.
When they make a new film, they are gambling more than just
money – they’re gambling their reputations and their
livelihoods.
Find Producers who can Balance Your Skills
Good directors know their strengths and weaknesses when it comes
to the business of filmmaking. So they partner up with a producer
who they trust and who can balance them out.
A good producer knows the importance of balancing their artistic
interests with a thorough understanding of the business of
filmmaking and the entertainment industry as a whole.
There’s a great deal of money and hundreds of careers on the line
every time the camera rolls. And when you enter this business,
you step into the world of ”entertainment.”
Television and movies are just one part of this “make-believe”
environment – dance, theatre and music are other examples.
A Recipe for Disaster
This is a business of artistic expression, massive egos and huge
amounts of cash – a recipe for disaster if I ever saw one! It’s
also a business where you can lose your soul if you’re not
careful.
So always remember the often cited (and industry changeable)
quote from Hunter S. Thompson:
“The (television) business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a
long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good
men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
Getting a Job in “The Business”
Getting a job in this business is not just about how many credits
you have. It’s also about:
1. Who you know.
2. Who you’ve previously worked with.
3. Who you’ve upset (Executives, Producers, Actors)
And sometimes, getting a job in this business, is just about
timing and good luck – being at the right place at the right
time when the phone rings!
Burning Your Bridges
Always be aware of what the consequences will be if you “burn a
bridge” with any studio, production company, director or crew.
In other words, before you say or do something that you may
regret, ask yourself these two questions:
1. What is the short term benefit of my action going to be?
2. What will the result of this action have on any future work?
Copyright (c) 2014 Peter D. Marshall / All Rights Reserved
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