Cinema's Secret Formulas: Why We Do Not Improve Things In Our Cinema Ecosystem

#4 in the series, and again with a new set of LP&W's

I find myself returning to some core concepts in my writing about the business of film and the creative process in general… concepts that may not be as commonplace as I would like. Each time I write them, I have to explain them, again. I thought it might be best to offer them as posts that I can link to when I mention them and for those that need the explanation, they can easily find them.

just sit back and watch the river flow, why don’t you?

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Why We Do Not Improve Things In Our Cinema Ecosystem

In any closed ecosystem where the dominant power, capital, or participant feels that things are “good enough”, we will not invest in improvements to the product or the process, as the opportunity costs are too high (it’s more lucrative to invest elsewhere).

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this will lead to decay within said ecosystem. And you can quickly recognize why I refer to “Indie” film as “forty years of doing the wrong thing”.

That said, it also brings with it tremendous opportunity if you have the will to dig in.

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PS. HopeForFilm will raise subscription rates in 2025. Lock in the low one now and get a 20% discount on an annual subscript if you use this link and subscribe by January 7, 2025

https://tedhope.substack.com/2024YearEndSpecial

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It is not too late… Get Your Tickets for INVISIBLE NATION

Limited Time Only Virtual Screening!!!

Now thru December 9th! Only on GATHR!

Tickets here: https://gathr.com/vod/a998bc7e/invisible-nation

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Previous SECRET FORMULAS revealed!

Cinema's Secret Formulas: Why Change Is Slow

Cinema’s Secret Formulas: How To Build An Audience

Cinema’s Secret Formulas: The Closed Triangle Of Audience Elevation

And if you liked this sort of post, you might want to check out this… you might even call it a secret formula:

Why Everything Is So Hard

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Links, Ponders, & Wonders, 12.8.24 edition

1

Some things do get better: diversity on screen

The Entertainment Strategy gets props once again for spotting this otherwise ignored report. On screen diversity has gotten better:

https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/11/04/with-the-help-of-ai-uc-berkeley-researchers-confirm-hollywood-is-getting-more-diverse/

2