Its worth rethinking how to approach working with the creative community moving forward.
Recently Ive been teaching a course at the UCLA Anderson school about the streaming business.
Remember when one of the advantages of working at a streamer was less interference?
Susanne DanielsCourtesy
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I was lucky enough to start my career as an assistant to Lorne Michaels.
Lorne is a producer who earned the ability to gamble every week on unusual ideas.
Without web link interference, he fearlessly promotes unexpected points of view.
(L-R) Kim Delaney, Brigid Brannagh, Catherine Bell and Sally Pressman in ‘Army Wives’Guy D’Alemai / Lifetime / Courtesy Everett Collection
At the time, I didnt know just how rare that scenario was.
He asked me if I had any questions for him.
Just one, I naively responded.
How do you know if a show is going to be a hit?
Stu smiled and casually explained that no one ever knows and he had his share of hits and misses.
At Lifetime, I would not have predicted thatArmy Wiveswould connect with audiences the way that it did.
Im not saying all notes are bad.
Most notes are given with the best of intentions.
And I am certainly guilty of imposing heavy-handed interference in my various jobs as a content buyer.
Ive argued about show titles with George Clooney and Joss Whedon.
Just ask the patient producers behindAre You The One?if Im shy about expressing my point of view.
Netflix recently announced a $2 billion-plus commitment to Korean content.
Too many notes translates to diminished variety and impact among the final products which are offered to the viewers.
Yet writers often tell me that some buyers can be rude, dismissive and seemingly arrogant.
They work hard to prepare a pitch and its the job of the buyer to thoughtfully respond.
Try not to look at your phone during pitches.
Start meetings on time.
Make a decision to pass or buy the pitch within 10 business days of hearing it.
When Peter Roth was running Warner Bros, he called me to preview theSmallvillepitch.
I remember telling him something along the churlish lines of Superman didnt feel exciting and fresh to me.
Later that week, I bought the show halfway through Gough & Millars remarkable pitch.
SUPPORT THE WRITERS VISIONAsk yourself how you might best promote the writers unique vision and voice.
and get everyone on the same page, contributing to bringing the project to life in the best light.
Making good TV isnt easy.
Lastly, move quickly to give promising shows a second season to come into their own.
In the words of the soulful Ava DuVernay, Creativity is an energy.
Its a precious energy, and its something to be protected.
