Recent content by norwest

I think this is very accurate and one of the biggest gaps in the industry is that people are rarely taught how to handle these “silent” decision points. What often makes the difference is not talent, but having some basic structure around decisions. Even simple habits can help avoid long-term...

I think one important layer to this discussion is how packaging is no longer just about who is attached, but about how clearly a project signals its path to market. Buyers today are not only looking for talent, but for projects that already show some level of validation whether that’s partial...

Reading through this thread, it feels like everyone is circling the same issue from different angles, but what’s still missing is something practical that productions can actually apply immediately. From what we’re seeing in real productions, the main challenge isn’t understanding the SAG-AFTRA...

I don’t think this is just about micro-genres emerging it’s that the underlying logic of filmmaking has shifted. You’re no longer developing a story first, you’re developing an audience. Most projects fail at the same point: they still start with (I have a good idea.) That’s no longer enough...

At the end of the day, this is a business decision studios will always move in the direction of scale and profitability. The hesitation from actors and creators is understandable though. As consolidation grows, the number of decision-makers shrinks, and with that, the room for creative risk and...

I think the key shift here is that building an audience early only works if it’s tied to a clear path to action later. A lot of filmmakers are now good at building awareness, even engagement, but that still doesn’t translate unless there’s a defined conversion moment. Interest without a next...

I think what we’re seeing isn’t just increased selectivity, but a shift in responsibility. Sales agents used to help shape the marketability of a project. Now they expect it to be already solved before they come in. If the positioning, audience, and territory logic aren’t clear upfront, they...

I think “fake demand” is a misleading term. Demand hasn’t disappeared, conversion has. The real question today isn’t whether there is interest, but who can and will actually execute. Interest has become cheap, execution is the bottleneck. What matters now is real payment track record, not...

We’ve definitely felt this shift recently. It’s getting much harder to move projects forward unless the commercial angle is already clear. Interest is still there, but converting that into actual deals is taking longer, and many conversations just don’t progress beyond early stages. From what...

This sounds like a well-timed project for Cannes. A completed 98-minute drama/thriller with festival exposure is definitely in a position where it can attract the right kind of attention at the Marché, especially if the materials (trailer, screener, press kit) are already in place. Out of...

I think John’s right about the cycle, but the key difference now is where the risk goes. The industry isn’t suddenly braver about original projects. It’s just better at packaging them to feel safe. That’s what all these unfinished projects are really about. Cannes has become less about finished...

I think what you're getting at with the (product vs soul) question is actually a bit misleading. The system doesn’t kill originality it just exposes weak ideas faster. Most of what people experience as (loss of soul) is really just the removal of ambiguity that doesn’t survive contact with...

You’re not wrong, but I think people are overselling the (story over stars) angle here. This isn’t some random indie script getting $45M this is Element Pictures, post-Poor Things. That brand alone de-risks the project massively. Buyers aren’t suddenly brave, they’re just shifting where they...

Look, I read the post, and guys... it’s a gut punch because it’s 100% true. Anyone who thinks signing a sales deal means popping champagne in Cannes has clearly never seen the bottom of a /Waterfall/ statement, where the filmmaker’s share is usually a big, fat zero. In this predatory world, a...

This is a massive wake-up call for the global market. While the West is still navigating the ethical and legal stalemate of AI integration, Bollywood is treating it as a fundamental tool for scaling. Slashing production costs to 20% for mythological epics is a creative game-changer. It means a...