In previous posts we have alluded to this but, for both the initiated and the uninitiated, a reminder: film and television are businesses. I say that because as writers and content creators, it’s so easy to just focus on the creative. And while that is admirable, if you ask any executive what they want, ANY executive, they will undoubtedly say: “a hit.”
So obviously, the business aspect is pivotal. We say this as a gentle reminder to look around the media landscape. What do you see? What is working and what is missing? If you are at the very beginning of the concept phase, think about these questions. But not only from a conceptual standpoint but even from a tone standpoint what are people looking to consume in a post-pandemic era? Not to put anyone in a box, I don’t look to cut any writer off at the knees creatively. Rather, it’s just a reminder of the intersection between the art of writing, and the business of media companies.
To that end, yes you want the story you are telling to be fresh and inventive while at the same time not tone deaf or duplicative. Be aware of the landscape, consider the collective consciousness. All of this is to say, what about your material is relevant and fills a void yet is also truthful and compelling?
I am a firm believer that when an executive says they want “a hit”, there are some universal elements that exist within this answer-that-is-a-non-answer. Those are: great writing, great storytelling, great direction, great casting, great execution, great relevance/engagement, great marketing, a whole confluence of things – no matter the medium.
But what among these can you control? The execution of the concept, the storytelling and the emotional resonance therein. And that’s where you start, that’s where WE start. With something that’s going to draw in and engage or resonate with the reader so that your compelling art can become big business.