How much TRUTH can you take?
The collected HFF Truth's about this thing that once was the film business
This is another compilation of past posts; I’ve linked to them below. I think the next step will be to reorder them into categories. For now they are just in the order I wrote them.
Any suggestions on how to make this sort of list more useful that you have are greatly appreciated.
Personally I suggest printing them out several times and using them as the wallpaper in your study.
The full list is a perk for the paying subscribers. I really appreciate your support. I am going to try to do more for you…
100 HopeForFilm “Film Industry” Truths v1.0
Film is a cultural industry — thus combining art with commerce. Both aspects are necessary to focus on and enhance for success.
Film is a cultural industry of abundance. There is more than enough to satisfy anyone for their entire lifetime. To entice audience engagement, distinction and urgency must be displayed.
Film is generally a customer experience of access. We have been groomed to believe we can get anything anywhere at anytime and that that is a positive attribute. Satisfying this or denying it is a choice to be considered.
Like other cultural goods, our anticipation of a film greatly influences our experience of it.
Film will never be a predictable performance industry other than occasionally around some high recognition IP and then it will only be partially predictable and still predicated on a wide range of inputs.
As Film will never be a predictable performance industry, the financiers, as well the manufacturers and distributors, must accept a level of risk and should adopt a portfolio approach.
Film of quality and any degree of sophistication will generally be execution-dependent and thus requires valuing that which improves execution outcome. Other than talent and good fortune, it is process, communication and time that are the leading factors that contribute to positive outcome.
Films collapse more often than not and as such financial planning across a slate is only valid upon Greenlight, locked lead cast, and the start of prep — and even then some movies will collapse or need to be halted.
Testing of finished or work-in-progress films by audiences or critics is not a science, but only a data point, and must be treated as no more than that. Poor testing films can be a success and vice versa.
After capital, talent control, and distribution, the Film business is driven by reputation and respect. We must treat our partners well and honor our agreements. Short term thinking around individual project decisions will harm brand’s reputation.
