ABSTRACT

Examining the independent film sector as a business on an international scale, author Angus Finney addresses the specific skills and knowledge required to successfully navigate the international film business.

Finney describes and analyses the present structure of the film industry as a business, with a specific focus on the film (and entertainment) value chain and takes readers through the status of current digital technology, exploring ways in which this is changing the structure and opportunities offered by the industry in the future. The textbook provides information and advice on the different business and management skills and strategies that students and emerging practitioners will need to effectively engage with the industry in an international context. Case studies of films and TV, including Squid Game (2021), Parasite (2019), Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), are supplemented by company case studies on Redbus, Renaissance, Pixar, with additional new chapters focusing on Netflix, TikTok and the Metaverse.

This third edition of The International Film Business includes up-to-date information on the status of the international film industry during and post COVID-19; expanded content looking at the TV industry and streaming services; new case studies and dedicated sections on the Streaming Wars and the Chinese Film Industry and a new chapter looking at the changes in digital production in the context of the global and territorial film and TV industry.

Written for students of Film Business and emerging practitioners, this book will take readers through the successes and failures of a variety of real film companies and projects and features exclusive interviews with leading practitioners in all sectors of the industry, from production to exhibition.

part I|143 pages

The film value chain

chapter 1|5 pages

The winds of change

chapter 2|14 pages

The film value chain

chapter 3|12 pages

Development and the producer's roles

chapter 4|12 pages

Development

The writer and the agent

chapter 5|9 pages

Green lighting films

chapter 6|12 pages

Sales and markets

chapter 7|11 pages

The festival circuit

chapter 8|15 pages

Film finance

chapter 9|9 pages

Financing

The $20m investment exercise

chapter 10|12 pages

Risk management

The role of the completion guarantor

chapter 11|9 pages

Co-production and co-financing

chapter 13|8 pages

Production

Global challenges and change

part II|86 pages

Users and the changing digital market

chapter 15|18 pages

Marketing

From traditional to digital

chapter 16|10 pages

The streaming wars

chapter 17|10 pages

“Catch me if you can”

The rise and rise of Netflix

chapter 18|13 pages

“Fandom land”

The Chinese star system

chapter 19|11 pages

“Winter is coming”

The Game of Thrones case study

chapter 20|11 pages

The “metaverse”

Generation Z and the Ticking Tok

part III|109 pages

Business, leadership and management strategies

chapter 21|12 pages

The legal masterclass

chapter 22|15 pages

Project management and cognitive bias

chapter 23|8 pages

Business strategy

chapter 25|7 pages

Business models 2.0

chapter 26|25 pages

The challenge of creative management

chapter 27|9 pages

“To infinity and beyond”

The Pixar case study

chapter 28|12 pages

The entrepreneur

Interview with Simon Franks, Redbus Group

chapter 29|4 pages

Case study

Squid Game's fame

chapter 30|3 pages

Conclusions