ENSIDER:NEWS
Despite the booming global entertainment industry, German production companies are facing significant challenges. Public broadcasters are sorting themselves out and re-prioritizing their own program portfolio. This is leading to cancellations of orders that were believed to be secure or the reduction of established series. The reawakening cinema market also offers almost forgotten opportunities, but requires a well-considered balance in development. Targeted precision and a healthy balance were also required at the 25th "Filmszene Bayern auf Eis" at the end of the Munich Film Week - a great start to the 2023 production year, despite the emergency services being deployed.
Uncertainty, unpredictability, uncontrollability - we humans are increasingly having difficulty with this. Digitalization constantly suggests to us that we can control all factors and thus reduce our stressors. This is precisely why the crises of recent years have been such a big psychological problem for many: the individual himself can actually have little influence. Perhaps this primal fear was also the reason for the development of humans, away from success-dependent hunting and towards predictable harvests. If we have to realize after just a few weeks that our annual plan will probably not be implemented in this way, it is up to us to accept it. Accompaniment can be helpful here - but it can also look very different.
The new year promises exciting developments. Cinema is experiencing a successful renaissance. Long since declared dead during the pandemic, extra-long films in particular are generating box office results, as in the heyday of the big screen. With FAST (Free ad-supported TV, quasi advertising-financed streaming), specialty TV content is offered free of charge with advertising and complements the VOD world. In addition to tried-and-tested subscription models, AVOD (advertising-financed on-demand content) is to be enriched with a lot of current streaming content. Despite the impending strikes by American unions, especially those of the authors (WGA), and the reform of public broadcasting in Germany - which is painfully noticeable for the production landscape - further growth of the overall market can be expected. Comprehensive sustainability will have a significant impact on organization and training. Smart solutions will change everyday production. At the same time, the industry is rediscovering the value of personal encounters at industry events.
Solutions to the major challenges of sustainability and the shortage of skilled workers, the stabilization of personal networks and growing crisis resilience have shaped 2022. The vast majority of industry participants have recognized sustainability in particular as an opportunity and joined the respective initiatives. With the EU's new CSRD directive, we will see a legal framework for the mandatory implementation of ESG guidelines from 2023. Every link in the supply chain will have to be involved so that broadcasters, streamers and distributors can fulfill their sustainability reporting obligations. The training initiatives are slowly but steadily becoming effective, despite all the other crises. Despite the sobering election manifestos, the new federal government has its sights firmly set on culture with its impact on society as a whole and the economic power of the media. 2022 was not the hoped-for, comprehensive recovery for the economy and society, but the bottom line is that important steps in the right direction have been taken in many areas.
Young generations have always had to put up with the accusation that they are not hardworking enough - at least not as much as the generation before them. The many provocations by climate activists now speak against this prejudice, because they cannot be accused of not being active. Thanks to the discussion about the appropriateness of the actions, however, the real core is being lost focus. What can we all do about climate change?! Unfortunately, this topic is ideal for shifting responsibility onto politicians or "industry". This does not make the problem any smaller. Despite the overwhelming power, everyone can make their contribution. Sustainability goes beyond pure environmental protection, because climate protection and environmental protection do not always mean the same thing.
The stock market values of the American entertainment giants fell dramatically. The high costs of launching a product and investing in content for streaming services swallowed up billions. Disney is pulling the plug by freezing hiring and spending. Cinema is the old and new savior, with new concepts. An important signal for Germany, where public broadcasting is under pressure. However, the midterm elections in the USA also show the consequences of neutral reporting on opinion formation in a democracy. What will happen to us tomorrow can already be seen in the USA today.