Recent content by Max

It was interesting to finally experience the first TIFF Market in person and talk with other attendees about how they saw the event. One recurring theme I heard was that it has become much harder to get quick decisions or firm commitments. The interest is still there, but buyers, sales...

Everyone starts somewhere. I think those of us who have gained some experience along the way should always try to help newcomers when we can whether it's with advice, feedback, a useful introduction, or simply encouragement. Sometimes even a little support can make a real difference at the...

Really interesting to hear how the experience has shaped you as a director, DJ. You mentioned that IN DA RAQ is only the beginning for Cockrell Content have you already decided what you want to work on next? I'd be interested to hear whether another project is already in development and when...

Finally! The delegate list has been available in the TIFF app and on Cinando for about a week now, and I’ve already started sending out meeting requests. With the market starting next week, I hope everyone attending has a great and productive TIFF. Hopefully there will be some good meetings and...

Adam, your point about timing made me think about another side of packaging. Can a project actually be packaged too early? An actor might add real value in one territory but mean very little to buyers somewhere else. The same could be true of financing structures or even an attached sales...

One thing I’d be curious about is how you’re defining the audience for RAVANGA. There’s been a lot of discussion here about making the production financially realistic, but even a lean version still needs a clear commercial identity. Who do you see as the core audience for the series, and what...

Interesting contrast between Alexander and Peter here. Alexander seems completely absorbed in Marrakech, while Peter clearly has something else on his mind. I’m curious whether Peter’s distraction is setting up something that happens later in the story. Are you looking for feedback on the...

I think there’s another tough side to this as well. Breaking into the film industry is difficult, but staying in it can be just as challenging. You can study, take courses and workshops, but when you’re trying to get that first real opportunity, people already want experience. And once you...

Barry, $375K feels like a much clearer proposition. At that level, I’d start thinking not only about where the money goes, but which elements create the most market value. For a project like STEVEN, North America would obviously be an important primary market, but ideally the package should also...

Hannah, I think there’s an important difference between identifying an audience and actually validating one. A script can tell us who the film is for, but not necessarily whether those people will show up. Testing the hook early through concept materials, targeted communities or proof-of-concept...

I’ve now come across something that makes this even more confusing. It’s August 14, and with TIFF: The Market starting on September 10, the official delegate list still doesn’t appear to be available through the usual channels. Interestingly, someone I know contacted the organizers directly...

What I find most interesting here is what happens when budget stops being the main limitation. Indie filmmakers have always been forced to write around what they couldn’t afford. If AI starts removing that limitation, we may see stories that simply would never have made it past the script stage...

I like your idea of treating the proof of concept as a rehearsal. One thing I'd add is to test how quickly the scene can be reset. I'd shoot the same 20–30 seconds several times in a row, just as you would on the actual production. That's often when the hidden problems appear. Continuity starts...

The rock musician angle is a brilliant anchor for a fantasy series. Are you picturing a specific musical tone or soundtrack style that defines the atmosphere of this Heaven? In projects like this, the sonic identity can be just as strong of a selling point for producers as the pitch deck...

Another long-term consequence may be on film financing. Mid-budget films have traditionally offered investors a balance between creative ambition and commercial potential. If that segment continues to shrink, financing becomes increasingly polarized as well, leaving fewer opportunities for...