Archives for Sundance

Sundance and BrandStorytelling quick takes.

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Park City in January. Again. This was my 21st year attending Sundance/Slamdance, so I was old enough to drink…damn that Dry-January though! And for the past several years, I’ve also been attending Brand Storytelling, up in Deer Valley, which has become a must-attend event for those who dabble in anything to do with brands and content. Many in the industry complain about attending Sundance each year, or express joy when they can skip it, but I consider it a privilege to be so lucky as to be able to work in an industry that allows me to attend, even if it can be ridiculous at times. Anyway, here’s my quick takeaway’s (QuiTa’s in Quibi speak) from Park City 2020 (no film reviews here, as I didn’t see enough films to comment):

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Ten Predictions for Indie/Arthouse Film

Posted on by in brands, budget, crowdfunding, festivals, film, film art future, future, kickstarter, social media, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Ten Predictions for Indie/Arthouse Film

Last week, I ran my predictions for branded content, both here and in a guest post for Brand Storytelling. This week, I’ve got my predictions and wishes for indie/arthouse films in 2020. I say wishes, not just predictions, because as you’ll see below, some of these are clearly more about what I wish, or hope, will happen than what I predict with any certainty. Not that I hope all of my predictions come true either – in fact, I hope I am wrong about the more pessimistic predictions. I’ve been writing predictions for the film world since 2006, and while I haven’t kept a running total, I’ll admit that some of them have been dead-wrong, while more than a few have been pretty accurate, if sometimes off by a year. So I freely admit in advance that I might be wildly wrong. At any rate, here goes:

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Ten Predictions (Hopes) for Branded Content in 2020

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I’ve been writing top-ten prediction lists for film and media since 2006 – yes, back when my predictions included the final end of VHS (!) and what Google buying Youtube (Oct. 2006) would mean for indies. Last year’s predictions included Netflix buying a theater (pretty much), more brand studios (yes, again), and that Amazon would buy MoviePass and merge it with Prime (nope). Ok, sometimes I strike out, but my list is as much a wish-list as a prediction, so without further ado, here’s my inaugural Top Ten Predictions (and Hopes) for Branded Content in 2020.
This full article is running on the BrandStorytelling Newsletter as a Guest Post – read the full post there. Here’s prediction number one:

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Some Facts from the Streaming Wars

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Via StreamingObserver

A few tidbits from the streaming wars, just this week:

  • It is now estimated that the major streamers – Netflix, Apple+, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max – will spend more than $30 Billion on content in 2020. This doesn’t even include Peacock, CBS All Access or the numerous other platforms. 
  • And in the fight for eyeballs to watch that content, they’re pouring billions into advertising, making up for the decline in advertising from other sectors (see below);
  • But less of that money is going into films, as more of it goes into episodic (tv) shows, originals and licensing of major library titles. Netflix’s film library has now dropped 40% since 2014, according to StreamingObserver. in 2014, Netflix had around 6,500 movies, and now it’s got 3,849. 
  • Yet even with that drop, Netflix dominated the “indie” Gotham Awards – winning more than half the awards given this week.
  • One could lament this fact, but let’s face it – one of those awards was for When They See Us, by Ava DuVernay (who was also honored), and while Netflix and other SVODs may be lessening their support for indie film overall, they are leading the way with diversity. This is no small matter. 
  • And let’s face it – Netflix is also a data company. If there was a compelling case for investing in buying more films – especially indie/arthouse films – they would be doing it. The data is showing them that too few people watch these films. The StreamingObserver article above makes it seem like film is losing out due to original content spend, but it’s losing out because that’s what people want.
  • Meanwhile, 3853 feature films were submitted to Sundance this year. Yes, that’s 4 more than Netflix offers. Let that sink in for awhile.
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Surviving Sundance Notification Time

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Short newsletter this week due to the US Holiday. It’s that time of year again – when filmmakers and their colleagues pretend to enjoy Turkey over Thanksgiving while waiting for the notification from Sundance on whether they are accepted or rejected. Literally every film person I know is waiting to hear. Some heard already – mainly no’s but a few yes’s, but most people tend to hear over Thanksgiving weekend if they were accepted, and just after if not. 

This year, I am somehow attached to about ten projects stuck in this limbo – from a mix of clients to personal projects, both indie films and branded content, and let me tell you – the wait sucks. There’s no getting around it. Even filmmakers who won’t truly have a good cut until February, 2020 (after Sundance) or later usually submitted anyway just in case (I don’t like this strategy, but it’s common). And while they’ve called everyone they know and tried to position their films with sales agents or whoever, it basically comes down to the taste of a small group of programmers, and you don’t have much control over that process.

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Five Sundance Takeaways, the death of Media and More Sub-Genre news

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Pre-Sundance 2019 Sub-Genre News – what I’ll be talking about at the Dance

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On not Submitting to Sundance next week, and other post-vacation news

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The Next Marwencol? More MoviePass, Unrest report is out, and more.

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