Bill Mechanic's advice to film-makers (and how it applies to us, too)

Bill Mechanic (formerly of Disney and Fox) recently gave a keynote speech to the annual Independent Film & Television Alliance Production Conference.

 He pointed out that the audience is being lured away from cinemas by variety of other sources of entertainment and that independent producers won’t succeed by trying to copy the big block-busters but without their big budgets. He said:

 “If it’s any consolation, it will be harder on the studios than the independents. Not only is it harder for big companies to change, to adapt, but there are legacy issues in terms of personnel. And within the next few years, their big market advantage, the bricks and mortar of their distribution operations, will become a disadvantage in the democratic age of digital. I would assume at least two of the majors to be sold or consolidated by the middle of the decade.”

 Citing “District 9” as a film that found a way to tell a sci-fi story without depending on massive special effects, Mechanic made his main point: do something different. I think the ideas of playing to your strengths (in the case of independent films, stories rather than big effects) and being unique also comprise the right strategy for any artist or creative person who wants to thrive in this marketplace.

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