[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
The core principle — know your market
So, like any product that you’re designing for a commercial enterprise, you need to know that there’s an audience there that wants to see what you’re making or wants to buy what you’re putting out. They have to do research. They have to understand what’s working in the market, what the formula is, and then you can try to repeat the formula of other successful films.
The current formula — name actors
Right now it seems to be big names. If you want to make a film that makes a profit, you need to get name actors. And if you can get name actors to come in and work for less than their rate and you make a film that’s less than what you normally would have to spend, then you can make a profit on it or it can break out if you make a really good film.
The importance of studying what works
It’s really about research. There aren’t a lot of films that are making profits so you have to really study the ones that are and say:
‘Okay, why did that one make it and why did this one not?’
And really understand that rather than just jumping in and making the film you want to make.
Story Questions book — Now on Payhip here!
One big name vs. multiple smaller names
I think the more I’d rather have one big name than three kind of smaller names for a film. But it just depends. It’s formulas. It’s looking.
Domestic vs. international market considerations
Some work better domestically than internationally. Some work better internationally than domestically. It depends on your formula for financing it. If you need strong international pre-sales, you might have kind of a different set of names that appeal to the big territories in Europe from, you know, Germany and France and Spain or to Asia…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Zac Reeder is an Emmy-nominated producer and seasoned media executive with leadership roles at Netflix, Hallmark, and MarVista. Now as a producer’s rep and distribution/financing consultant, he helps independent film and TV producers secure deals, maximize exposure, and navigate the evolving media landscape through his company, Lucky 27 Media. His website is Lucky27 (dot) com.
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New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
