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The Manager - Why The Entertainment Business Needs a Reboot

November 24, 2009

I was just in an interesting situation that reminded me why this business needs a reboot or will fail. We sold to a network an animated tv idea that “had the potential to be the next Simpsons” (the network’s quote).

Excitement! Bubbly champagne! Celebration!

Now here is what actually happened: We sold the project with the attachment of a production company that had a deal at - let’s call it Studio A. But we sold the project to a network that only wants to work with the network’s own in-house studio — let’s call it Studio B.

Now this network told us that Studio A had to partner with Studio B or the deal couldn’t be done. Of course Studio A had never before partnered with Studio B on an animated project. And rather than figuring out a deal that would make everyone happy — neither side could come to an agreement so the deal fall apart!

Which to me seems crazy. Because in this marketplace why let go a great project that has the potential to make, literally, billions of dollars. Wouldn’t it be better to find a solution that works for everyone instead of just walking away from an amazing project?

Apparently not…

Clearly, this is another example of how it is extremely important to think outside the studio system in order to put projects together and actually have these projects see the light of day. If you rely on the studio system — you are liable to work hard on a project and even be lucky enough to sell it — and still never see it come to fruition!

So get creative when you are working on a project and think of several ideas on how to sell it!