@ LATV Festival: State Of The Industry: Money Might Be Tight, But Opportunities Abound
This story was written by Matt Kapko.
Money's drying up and networks are taking less risk. That's one of the messages coming out of the LATV Festival in Hollywoodand that's from the people offering encouragement, a panel of veteran TV executives, producers and talent. John Ferriter, SVP, William Morris Agency, was blunt: "They are in a position to take risks. They're chicken." Or as Philip Gurin, president and CEO of The Gurin Company, put it: Decision makers want to see something familiar, that's been done and generated success elsewhere. It's like having a pilot right off the bat. Mark L. Wahlberg, host of Moment of the Truth, says content creators "are definitely willing to take risks" but they have very little control. "What you can control is your performance." Which brings up another message: you don't have to wait for the networks anymore.
How hard is it to get things done in this economy? Katy Wallin of Mystic Arts Pictures: "...this business is a human rollercoaster ... there's always going to be ups and downs." The most important thing in this industry is having a champion, someone who believes in you and your passion. "Everything I have done is from passion When the economy's unsettling, in my opinion, that's when the networks need you to be innovative."
Latest trends: Anthony Eaton, president, Tall Pony Productions: "They're looking for whatever's not going to embarrass the people that hired them." People in this industry are constantly worried about getting fired when the ratings come in. "It's just a constant accelerating problem." You simply have to convince them it's something that won't get them fired and that it's a show with merit. "You can increase your chances of selling the project if the project is in some way funded." Gurin added: There's a tendency to pitch knockoff shows on previous success, but they're already being pitched. Look for something new to market.
It's not all doom and gloom, Wahlberg said near the close of the panel. Some things have gotten easier, particularly do-it-yourself opportunities that were unimaginable even a decade ago. In the past you had to pitch your idea to the networks and hope they'd greenlight a pilot and invest $100,000 in its production, but now you can record, produce and publish a new pilot on personal equipment every day.
By Matt Kapko