Whistler Film Festival ‘23

Co-hosted the talent lunch with Warner Brothers

We co-sponsored the Whistler Film Festival talent lunch with Warner Bros (Nov 29 - Dec 3). Great to see many of you there.

Here were our key takeaways.

Consensus among broadcasters and streamers was that comedy TV series projects were underrepresented in the market at present. This view was expressed by Amazon and Paramount, who also noted that executing comedy is difficult for emerging filmmakers who need skilled comedy actors, whereas thriller and horror films can perform well with newer actors.

Also at the festival, there was a panel hosted by Jason Gold at Blumhouse and Amazon where they expressed that to initiate a development deal with a creative team for a new TV series, there were commonly five criteria that studios or production companies like Blumhouse consider before picking up a project:

1. Exceptional Creative Material (Script): Do I love the script and does it have a strong vision from the writers, such as addressing a current issue in the world or featuring an important personal connection to the writer(s)

2. Company Alignment: Is the creative material able to fit with the studios or production company goals? For example, Blumhouse leans into horror and thriller, whereas Apple leans towards epic stories and drama

3. Appeal to Other Buyers: Is there a buyer or other distributors who also believe the creative will fit with them? This is especially relevant for production companies that need additional funding and is less of a concern for Netflix, which can fully fund the project

4. Execution Ability of the Writer and Producer: Can the writers execute on the vision? Since it is easier to write a great 30-page pilot than it is to complete the entire series and manage production with all the logistical challenges, belief in the team's ability to execute is a major factor. If the team is new, or has limited credits then they should know their first season like the back of their hand, including every cliffhanger, character arc, and the season finale.

5. Profitability: Is there commercial appeal to the package, either with a commercial concept in a hot segment of the market or another highly profitable element such as a major actor attached?

If a project can meet all 5/5 of the above criteria, then there is a good chance that buyers or production companies will execute a development deal.

Toronto International Film Festival ‘23

We sponsored Content Canada 2023 alongside Lionsgate, Rogers, Blue Ant, and others. Special thanks to Ferne Cohen and Joel Fecht for organizing a special event.

It was a unique TIFF experience given it was hosted in the throes of the writers and actors strikes. The recent insights gathered from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) shed light on several emerging trends and shifts within the industry that are poised to influence the landscape:

Evolution of Streaming Services

Future industry trends indicate a significant rise in ad-supported streaming (AVOD) from major providers like Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu. This growth is attributed to the escalating costs associated with premium subscriptions, which are encouraging a shift towards ad-supported models.

Changes in Script Sales

There has been a noticeable decline in spec script sales in 2022/2023 as studios and agencies pivot towards reworking existing Intellectual Property (IP) rather than investing in new scripts.

Shifting Focus of Independent Production Houses

Independent production companies like Neon and A24, traditionally recognized for their dramatic content, are expressing interest in seeking franchisable IP, particularly in the realm of action-based content with slightly higher budgets. This shift signifies a notable change in their strategic content direction.

Updates in Canadian Content Guidelines

Revisions in Canadian content guidelines have led major streaming platforms such as Netflix and Paramount to increase budgets for Canadian divisions, primarily to bolster domestic programming in compliance with the new regulations.

Insights on Set Tracker

Following the recent strike, it has become evident that productions are increasingly emphasizing maximum efficiency due to tighter budget constraints. Security has become a paramount concern for our clients, prompting the integration of new features like digital document watermarking. Additionally, valuable feedback on the app interface has been received. Experienced producers and filmmakers appreciate how our mobile app mirrors the functionality of a call sheet, emphasizing the prioritization of essential information such as key contacts, weather and location maps.