Chris Moore Chris Moore Has Some Ideas About the Entertainment Industry

THE COVER CHRIS MOORE CHRIS MOORE HAS SOME IDEAS ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. HE’D LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. interview by chris green Photographed by Kremer Johnson Photography

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UR COVER STORIES ARE GENERALLY PRETTY And that’s not for lack of a backstory, because Chris RETROSPECTIVE. WE Moore’s includes playing lacrosse for Harvard, selling USUALLY TAKE SOME TIME a sequence of blockbuster scripts as a young agent, OWITH A SUBJECT’S BACKSTORY, BEING setting out as an independent producer and within the SURE TO HIT THE REQUISITE CAREER space of three years, delivering a pair of legit modern HIGHLIGHTS, HOW THEY GOT TO classics, in the Oscar-winning buddy drama Good Will WHERE THEY ARE, AND ALL THAT. Hunting—his second-ever feature—and the considerably THIS ONE DOESN’T DO THAT. less refined but equally bighearted teen comedy American Pie. And then comes the part where Chris Moore decided to not just produce movies, but produce them in public, as one of the creators of HBO’s seminal doc series Project Greenlight and more recently on the Starz series The Chair. Honestly, before this magazine came along—and arguably even since then—the best way to learn what the producer’s job looked like was to watch those first seasons ofProject Greenlight and pay attention to whatever that big guy was doing. Chris Moore has been carrying the banner for producers for a long time, since before we even had a banner, honestly. We’d have loved to cover all that stuff here. We didn’t. Now in the middle of his career, Moore has emerged as one of Hollywood’s truly restless minds, a furious, almost compulsive analyst of the changes that technology has wrought upon the business, and of the ways the machinery of the industry have failed to serve the interests of storytellers and creative entrepreneurs. No one breaks down the shifting tides and big-picture paradoxes of contempo- rary film distribution, finance and marketing as accessibly (and zealously) as Moore does. If his diagno- sis is subtle, his means of expressing it are a good deal less so. Chris Moore does not do sugarcoating, and readers of this interview should be prepared for some aggressively informal language throughout. Moore joined Produced By editor Chris Green (and a trio of lucky PGA interns) at the PGA offices in Beverly Hills, and all but refused to leave until he’d answered every single question posed by anyone else in the room. It was quite a morning. But when all was said and done, we had recorded a one-man cyclone of an interview, which managed to connect the dots between the misplaced priorities of the industry’s marketing arm, the commercial implications of binge-watching Perry Mason, the fracturing of the movies’ “contract with the audience” and the reparative prospects of radical transparency.

SO, AS ONE OF THE GUYS WHO assuming it’s with two guys no one has almost impossible. Nobody has any idea GOT GOOD WILL HUNTING ever heard of, like Matt and Ben were back how to sell those movies today. Nobody MADE, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE then. If it was trying to get it made today has any idea how to get anybody to come TO GET GOOD WILL HUNTING with Matt and Ben starring in it, it would see them. That means people putting up MADE TODAY? take one phone call. But if you wanted to the money have no idea how to get their I’ll start by saying I think it would be impos- make it today with two unknowns and a money back, which makes them totally sible to get Good Will Hunting made now, non-commercial script, I think it would be paralyzed to make those kinds of movies. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

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SO WHAT HAPPENED? DID WE I want to watch?” see it. For instance, do you know what I wouldn’t have gone and seen it back in and maybe this makes me old, of watch- JUST FORGET HOW TO REACH So what all that means is the audience What Fandango should say is, “Hey, binge-watched over the last two months the day— ing shit with other people. I think it’s fun. THAT AUDIENCE? IT’S NOT LIKE for the “Good Will Huntings” is hard to Keanu is the big moving coming out, because a friend told me about it? Perry When people laugh, more people laugh. THAT AUDIENCE EVAPORATED. find at one place at one time. Look, I and here are the four specialty movies Mason. A friend of mine said, “Do you NOW FEELS COMPELLED TO GO People cry, and then more people cry. What I would say—and I’m probably thought Spotlight was a great movie. I coming out too.” But nobody takes that like crime shows? Well, Perry Mason SEE IT. You’re having a communal experience; going to be a zealot for this point over was happy it won the Oscar this year. role. The problem isn’t that the audience was the first one, and it’s awesome.” It’s even more than that. They’re so over- it’s just different, psychologically. If you the next few years—is that we as an But it’s made less than 25% of what Good disappeared. It’s that nobody can find And I thought, “You know, I do like that whelmed that they feel like they have no watch it by yourself on your iPad, you still industry did ourselves a disservice Will Hunting made, and we didn’t even them in a single place over a controllable show.” I watched a couple of episodes and other option! So when the kid goes, “Dad, I might like the movie but it’s a totally dif- because we blew up what I affectionately win the Oscar. It’s not that Good Will period of time. thought, “This show is great.” So I binge- want to go see Civil War,” Dad doesn’t say, ferent experience than if you’re watching call the “contract with the audience.” Hunting is a better movie than Spotlight. That’s our first problem. What used watched all 200 episodes. “Well, how about going to see Good Will it with other people. People are super busy, but they love It’s that when Good Will Hunting came to be our contract with the audience Now, if you’re a guy who spent the Hunting?” because he’s never heard of Like, I had some rough things happen seeing movies. However, they don’t out, we flipped two switches and that has turned into just letting them fly last two months trying to convince me Good Will Hunting. He has no idea it’s out in my childhood, and Star Wars bailed want to have to do a shitload of research told every person on earth who likes out in the wind and figure it out for to watch a new show on TV or to go there. So they go see Civil War. Every ad me out. Over two days, I saw that movie to figure out what movies they want that kind of movie, “Here’s Good Will themselves. That’s bullshit. We’ve got watch a movie in the theater, and you he sees is for Civil War. There’s not going 11 times in the theater. My parents were to go see, because they’re super busy, to help the audience figure out how to read this article and you learn that I, as to be a square on a ticketing website getting divorced, and there was some- remember? In the ‘90s, when we were find the movies they like. Secondly, we your core audience, spent five hours each that says, “Oscar winner Spotlight, still in thing about Luke Skywalker and Han doing Good Will Hunting, there was make too much stuff. I hate to say that, week over the last 10 weeks watching theaters.” There’s not a chance he’s going Solo that just calmed me down. Didn’t very clear communication with the as a producer. But back in the day you’d Perry Mason, you want to shoot yourself! to stand up to his kids and say, “No, I matter that it was a fantasy world, I audience about what different kinds of have maybe one or two big movies a year, You’re thinking, “Perry fucking Mason? don’t feel like watching two superheroes looked at it and thought, “You know, the distribution meant. There were theaters. with smaller movies in between. Now What are you doing? We have Criminal fight each other,” when he doesn’t know world is okay.” That experience of going After theaters there was pay television, every weekend there’s a big movie. Half Minds: Beyond Borders! We spent $70 there are other options. So the things into a story and escaping my life really then home video, and then after that, the time there’s a big movie that comes million dollars to make that show!” Well, I in the Jungle Book/Civil War category helped me get through it. And yeah, you regular TV, where you watch it with out in theaters but also there’s another haven’t watched one episode. But yeah, I make huge bank and everything else is could do that with an iPad. You plug ads, or on the plane. In the theatrical watched all of Perry Mason. making a fraction of what it used to make, those earbuds in, and there’s escape category you had art house, independent Everything is available. We’ve because nobody knows how to get their happening, for sure. But the thing that theaters. Everyone who is reading this flooded the market with old stuff and audience to behave in a consistent way. I would miss is the communal aspect— article who saw Good Will Hunting in the “Why is the whole film we’re making too much new stuff. And Because what’s Netflix saying? Netflix feeling like you’re not alone. That helped theater remembers which theater they remember, on top of that, we’ve literally doesn’t want you to behave the way me through it as much as the movie did. saw it in, the theater where they’d go business built around destroyed all the communication with you used to behave. They’ve got a huge So to me that’s the basis for this deep see the Miramax-type movies. And you the audience. Back in the day, if a movie marketing campaign saying, “Don’t watch belief in storytelling and in community. had guys like the Weinsteins pushing got released straight to DVD, what did movies the way you used to.” Meanwhile, But not every movie needs to be seen those kind of movies. So the audience the opening weekend? that mean? It must have sucked! Today, if the theaters are out there going, “No, no, that way. For instance, I did The Adjust- understood, if I’m the kind of person who a movie premieres on Netflix for its first do it the way you used to do it! “ And then ment Bureau with Matt. That’s a perfect likes Cinema Paradiso or Howard’s End, Because that’s the run, it’s probably awesome. So how are you’ve got all the TV channels, which example. People love that movie. But it these are the dudes who are going to find we, as a business, telling the audience, each have their own theories. Some say didn’t do that well in theaters. If Matt and those movies for me, and these are the longest the lie can last.” “That movie wasn’t that good—this one is you can binge-watch it. Others say you the studio had sat down and said to the theaters I’m going to watch them in. It great”? We’re not. can watch it anytime you want, 12 hours audience, “You know what? This movie is was fundamentally a different experience So if you’re an audience member, you after it first airs. So naturally, audiences great. You’re gonna like it. But it’s a little than if I was going to go see a big movie, get overwhelmed. You end up feeling think, “I don’t have to follow any shows. cerebral. You know what? We’ll put it like Star Wars. Hunting!” Today you have to flip 50 big movie that’s coming out on your pay- like you only have one option: going to I can just catch up later.” Circling back to in theaters for a little while because we But we’ve lost that. There’s no con- switches and all 50 of those switches are per-view that you’d like, but you think, films that will make your kid happy, like Good Will Hunting, I think today if some- know some of you like to see it that way. tract with the audience anymore. Now, aiming people at different things all the “I don’t have time to see both.” The sheer seeing The Jungle Book in IMAX 3D, on its body was doing it, the first thing they’d But we really hope you guys watch it at the audience thinks, “Well, do I need to time. So the audience is totally confused. numbers are astronomical. I heard there first weekend. Would that have been my suggest is turning it into a television home with your families.” And so then see it in a theater? I can get Netflix. But if They have no idea what to listen to, so was something like 700 movies and 4,000 choice for those four hours of my life? No. series. For a story like Good Will Hunting, we take the marketing money that we I subscribe to Netflix, what if they don’t they’re sitting around waiting for one new hours of television that got made last But I know my kids want to go see it, so you could’ve done that. would’ve used for the theatrical release get the movie? But wait, I can always of their friends to tell them what movie year. There’s not enough hours in the day I’m going to go see it. And fact is, someone and really push it when it’s on Netflix and buy everything on iTunes. I’ll just wait is good. Fandango is giving me nothing. for somebody who’s interested to watch will be talking about that movie at work STILL, FOR A MOVIE THAT’S Amazon. It’s not that we don’t believe in for it to be on iTunes. But wait, Amazon Fandango will email me and say, “Hey, it all. So that compounds the problem, the next day. When you pick your kids up GOT THOSE EMOTIONAL HIGH the movie. But we don’t believe it requires Prime just sent me an ad saying that for Keanu is coming out this weekend.” I because there’s nobody communicating from soccer practice, those parents had to POINTS, THERE’S SOMETHING the theatrical experience to enjoy it. I eight bucks, I get 40,000 titles along with already know Keanu is coming out this with the audience to say, “Hey, there’s a go see it too. It becomes your “water cool- TO BE SAID ABOUT HAVING think there would be just as many people free shipping. So maybe I should watch it weekend. The chance of me going to see ton of content over here. Let’s divide it up er” thing. Those movies are getting more SEEN IT IN A THEATER. who would go to see it in the theater, there. So how am I supposed to pick what Keanu is zero unless my kids want to go and explain it to you.” people because the guy who probably I do think there’s a unique experience, because we were so honest about it, as

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Still Chasing Paper?

Go for ETC – the only secure, digital on-boarding and Chris Moore (left) joins fellow speakers Carl Kurlander, Bernie Goldmann and time keeping entertainment payroll solution. John Dellaverson at the 2013 Produced By Conference at 20th Century Fox.

there would be people who would watch products just because we’re us. We own and say “Any device you want to watch!” it at home. Then you’re living on whether the straight pipeline to the theaters. Now It’s driving filmmakers crazy. But the the movie is good or not, not how much they’re realizing they’re a real consumer studios don’t know what to do because you spent on marketing. products business. That’s why Disney is they know there’s a ton of kids out there Contact us today for an ETC demo. killing it—they have the best consumer who are ready to watch the movie on IS THERE A WAY TO FIND THAT products in the entertainment business. their phones. They used to be able to tell [email protected] AUDIENCE THAT WE JUST Because Walt was a genius and he all of those kids, “You know what? You’re HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT YET? realized we’re in the consumer product going to the movies to see this.” Today OR ON THE OTHER HAND, business before anyone else did. they’re petrified because most of those Go for IF WE ARE DEALING WITH A Disney is going to crush everybody kids are going to say, “Screw that, I’m just PERMANENTLY CONFUSED until these other idiots figure that going to wait a couple days then watch it AUDIENCE, IS THERE ANY out. That’s what’s behind “Available on my phone.” MEANS, OTHER THAN SHEER anywhere on any device.” That’s not I think we have to push back a little bit CIVIL WAR-LEVEL VOLUME, TO actually what you want to be saying. on the audience. We have to stand firm REACH ANYONE? The filmmaker doesn’t want anyone that we are smarter than the audience I believe we can do both. But the enter- watching their movie on a phone. They about how to watch a movie. It’s okay, in tainment business has to get its head out didn’t make the movie to be on a phone. my opinion, for Disney to say, “This movie of its own ass. We’ve been so spoiled But the studio—even Disney—will put it is only going to be available in theaters because we’ve owned this space for 100 up for a little while in theaters and then for the next six months. You want to see www.capspayroll.com years. Only Hollywood gets to sell its pretty soon the ad is going to come out this movie? Go to the theater. If we’re

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“HOLLYWOOD GOT SPOILED, BECAUSE CONSUMERS HAD TO PAY US BEFORE THEY EVER SAMPLED THE ACTUAL PRODUCT. TRY AND NAME ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHERE YOU GET TO DO THAT. THERE’S NOT ONE.”

wrong, and you didn’t have a good time, a great movie. We love it. It’s going to be HAPPEN? IS THERE AN EXEC, then we’ll lose money and won’t make just as good on your iPad, on your phone, OR A COMPANY EVEN, THAT’S another one. But if we’re right, you’re whatever. We just wanted to tell this CAPABLE OF PIVOTING LIKE going to have a blast, and you’re going to story. Watch it however you want.” If they THAT? be happy you were in the theater.” aren’t honest about the smaller movies, no Well, there are legacy problems for the Hollywood Atlanta New Orleans New York City But for the same reason, they’ve got one will trust them about the big movies. big companies, because they have deals 323.956.5391 770.333.9280 504.736.2177 718.706.9610 to be really honest when they make with theaters. It made sense in the 90s, something small, and say, “You don’t WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO because the film business was totally have to watch this in the theater. This is MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT internal. You, as a producer, didn’t have

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to sit in your office and figure out how walk out, you don’t get a voucher for specific movie. We just lie to you! I’ve “We spent $100 million dollars on this Howard Stern did the same thing in radio. Sometimes your products don’t turn out a movie was going to sell. That wasn’t another free movie. Think about the psy- been on movies where we actually shot movie. We thought it was going to be He decided that his relationship with his the way you want them to. Sometimes your problem. Your problem is how you’re chology behind that view of marketing. extra days of bullshit that’s not even in good at first, but didn’t turn out that way. fans was more important than CBS, so you put your name on too much content going to sell your movie to the 10 guys the movie, just for the trailer. I’ve seen all Watch it on your iPad.” Just be honest. he went to satellite. If Howard Stern was and you start to lose control of what your who might pay for it. It’s a shitload easier kinds of lying. Because all we’ve got to do Right now, the marketers’ loyalty is to 20 years younger, he’d have the biggest name means in the marketplace. in your life to think about only selling is get you to buy the fucking ticket. Why the wrong people. Their loyalty is to the podcast in the world right now. The But filmmakers are curious. They want to 10 guys, versus selling to 20 million is the whole film business built around filmmaker or the studio or the stars— not Internet would’ve given him the ability to to make different kinds of movies. And people or whatever. You had other people the opening weekend? Because that’s the to the audience. distribute his material, market his mate- even though marketers try to lie about to figure out the marketing. longest the lie can last. rial, sell his own advertising. He could’ve it, there are still artists out there that are Today it’s the producer who has to Now, that was the industry 10 years ago. BUT ANY EXEC OR PRODUCER done whatever he wanted because that totally honest with the audience. Peter figure out the marketing because A) Today, because of social media, there are IN TODAY’S INDUSTRY WHO guy has 50 million people who listen to Jackson does it. You watch the extra there’s not 10, there’s 50 guys, and B) dudes who go to the first show on Thurs- CAME OUT AND SAID THAT him. And Howard Stern knows that those features on The Lord of the Rings stuff, each one of those guys has a bit different day and they’ve already blogged it out and WOULD BE ACCUSED OF 50 million people are way more import- and he’ll tell the audience, “This shot view of what’s going to sell. I don’t think tweeted by 10 p.m. that evening, ahead NOT “STANDING BEHIND THE ant to him than whoever’s in charge of didn’t work. It was a bad idea.” And when you’ll ever see Netflix saying “We’re going of the midnight “premiere.” [laughs] So MOVIE.” DO WE HAVE TO RE- CBS Radio. it comes to marketing, Peter Jackson will to make the next Star Wars and it has Someone literally by the nighttime show on Friday, FRAME WHAT IT MEANS TO say, “The Lovely Bones isn’t the same as to be in the theaters for a period of time it’s pretty obvious how good the movie is. SUPPORT A FILM? THAT’S TRUE, BUT THESE Lord of the Rings. So if you want guys before it comes on Netflix.” They know is going Rotten Tomatoes already has what every- Maybe. If a person is taking on the job of PEOPLE YOU’VE MENTIONED, jumping on horses and fighting with where people are watching Netflix: on body thinks. The industry has never had to marketer, they put themselves squarely in HOWARD AND KEVIN, HAVE swords, none of that happens in this their phone, on their laptop, on their TV. to have to deal with that kind of word of mouth. And between the audience and the film. And PRETTY PUBLIC PROFILES, movie. But here’s why I made it.” But So they’re making stories that fit on a they are petrified. Because none of these over the last 20 years, because of good WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING A because we’ve been getting away with smaller screen. They know that their push stand up marketers has been selling quality, ever. agents and smart filmmakers, these guys LOT OF PRODUCERS HAVE. lying to everybody for the last hundred isn’t, “Come see House of Cards in Dolby The thing about the conversation with the are way more nervous about pleasing That’s why my big message to producers years, the industry at large doesn’t know surround sound IMAX 3D!” But a company audience is that you’ve actually got to get the filmmaker, to the point of outright is get the fuck out there. That’s actually how to be honest with audiences. that has a deal with Regal will be looking and say, ‘We the audience to trust you. lying to the audience. The truth of the my first step. Tell people why you’re to put their stories in IMAX 3D. And as a matter is there are no filmmakers who doing it. For me, I love the experience SO YOU GET A BUSINESS producer, you have to sell to both of them. spent $100 SO WHAT ARE THEY SELLING, IF have consistently been worth more than of telling stories. I still get people who THAT’S SO RISK-AVERSE THAT So today, if you’re a producer, you have NOT QUALITY? the relationship to the audience. Maybe walk up to me today and talk about how THEY LITERALLY CAN’T HELP to think about marketing. And right now, million on Most of the time, they’re just selling the Clint Eastwood and Warner Bros. have a much Good Will Hunting affected them. THEMSELVES FROM MARKETING it’s hard to pin anyone down on how to stars. Time after time, marketing cam- relationship that’s lasted long enough and It makes me happy to have created a IT AS THE “THE LOVELY BONES! do the marketing. But what I fundamen- this movie. paigns are built around who the stars are. been good enough to say that they should meaningful experience for those people. FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE tally believe is the biggest problem—and It’s not that the audience said, “Oh, tell lie for Clint. But that’s about the only rela- So that’s why I do it. And what my name LORD OF THE RINGS!” this just me alone on this; I will take We thought me who the stars are. That’s what I care tionship in the business worth lying for. hopefully stands for is simply quality. It Right. What Hollywood still hasn’t the bullets as they come—is Hollywood about.” It’s clearly not. I have movies in But we’ve gotten addicted to lying, doesn’t mean that I can’t make a movie accepted is that entire dialogues now got spoiled, because even though we’re it was going my career that were huge hits that didn’t even though being honest is smart busi- about a guy drinking a glass of cum and happen between people before anyone in the consumer product business, we have anybody in them that anybody had ness! You see some smaller filmmakers throwing up in a bathroom. But honestly, buys a ticket. Audiences know who Peter controlled it. And what we controlled was ever heard of. And you see movies with who’ve done it and it’s wildly successful. if you try to do that in a meaningful way, Jackson is. They know who the stars that consumers had to pay us before they to be good, the “safest” stars in the world tank all Kevin Smith is a perfect example. Kevin that movie will carry over. I still get peo- are. They’ve looked at Rotten Tomatoes. ever sampled the actual product. Try and the time. The reason they do that is they can do whatever the hell he wants. He ple stopping me to say, “That one time, No one is walking into a movie anymore name any other business where you get but it didn’t have no idea how to sell the movie, and talks directly to the audience. He goes out in band camp…” I hope that what I make where the only thing they know is the to do that. There’s not one. You test drive it’s easier to just throw Matt Damon’s and he raises money for his $3-5 million is quality, and that you know that I gave title and the three lines on the poster. a car. You try shoes on, you walk around turn out face on a poster and say, “Oh, everybody movies. Kevin has figured out the math of a shit about you, the audience member, Instead of hiding behind a marketing in them, you see if you like them. I can loves Matt. They’ll come see the movie.” his life so that everything works and his when I was making the movie. campaign, the industry needs to embrace go to any ice cream shop and say, “Can I that way. Audiences can see right through that. fans show up. Someone will say, “Well, Another example: J.J. [Abrams] has that the more the audience knows, the taste that?” and try a flavor before I buy it. he’s fringe.” Kevin isn’t “fringe.” He’s done a great job of putting himself out more they’re going to buy. It’s why you Name another business where all you’ve Watch it on SO COMING BACK TO made big movies for Universal and Mira- there. If J.J. declared, “I’m only making can test-drive a car. They’ll tell you how seen is an ad and then they make you pay THAT QUESTION—HOW DO max. He just decided, “Fuck it. I’m going stuff for Amazon Prime now,” I actually they built the engine! If the film industry for it. your iPad.’” PRODUCERS OR MARKETERS to start talking honestly to these people. think 10 million people would sign up did that, we’d actually get more people That’s the entertainment business for CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE My relationship to my people is more im- for Amazon Prime because they want to back into our business. And yes, some the last hundred years. Here’s a 30-second IN A WAY THAT’S AUTHENTIC? portant than any of these Hollywood ass- see whatever J.J. is doing. There aren’t a things would fail. But they’d fail because ad for a movie. Now pay me my $11 and In the entertainment business, marketing We’ve lost the audience’s trust. Someone holes.” That said, he has a ceiling, because lot of those guys. Everybody’s trying to they sucked, not just because nobody walk in the theater. If you hate it and is not driven by what’s good about a is going to have to stand up and say, he has a pretty specific audience. But become a brand, but it’s just really hard. heard of them.

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There’s nothing wrong with telling the audience, “Look. This is a smaller Chris Moore on the movie.” or “Maybe you don’t need to see set of The Chair this movie right away.” I know a lot of people right now who would love to see Room. Everybody knows Brie Larson won the Oscar. People say it’s really good. But there wasn’t a lick of marketing. No one was out there telling anybody how to see Room. The guys who owned Room, they’re not involved with the marketing because they sold it to another company. And the other company is now marketing the next movie. They would probably make more money on a per-dollar basis by telling people how to go see Room than they will on whatever new movie they’re about to put out, because that new movie is competing against all the other new movies. Room is not. So tell the audience how to findRoom . I truly believe that there is a way to “EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE open up this dialogue with the audience. It’s going be ugly and violent at first. Some people are going to lose their jobs, some THEY’RE BEING CONNED, ALL companies are going to be the last ones to do it, and some filmmakers will never do THE TIME. SO PEOPLE IN OUR it. But over time it’s going to re-create this contract with the audience again where INDUSTRY HAVE TO FIGURE they know how to pick. Right now, there’s so many layers OUT A WAY TO BE AUTHENTIC, of distrust. We can trick the audience. THE BEAUTY SHOTS YOU EXPECT, WITH We can lie to the talent. We’re here just BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THE raking in money by screwing everybody THE DIVERSITY OF LOCATIONS YOU DON’T. over. But what’s happening now, which I love, is that the audience is getting smart- AUDIENCE WANTS.” Filming in the U.S. Virgin Islands is one unbelievable shot after another. You’ll fi nd a diversity er. We can’t lie to them like we used to. And talent is starting, like Kevin Smith, to of locations from rural farmland, lush rain forest and rolling hills to quaint European towns, go out there and talk to their fans directly cosmopolitan settings and colorful Caribbean architecture. Not to mention picturesque about their work. There’s a friend of mine I put out there. Yes, I want that. I’m admitting that. beaches. You’ll also fi nd an experienced fi lm community with English-speaking crews in the marketing world that came up with Does that make me more authentic? Does that make the phrase, “radical transparency.” That’s me more honest? I don’t know. I don’t know how to and the convenience of U.S. currency. For more opportunities in St. Croix, St. John the goal. Everybody feels like they’re make people trust me except to be truly honest and and St. Thomas, call 340.775.1444 ext. 2243. Plan your production at fi lmUSVI.com. being conned, all the time. So people in talk about stuff that didn’t work, stuff that did work, our industry have to figure out a way to whatever it is. But it’s going to get easier. Old farts be authentic, because that’s what the like me are going to figure out how Instagram works. VISIT OUR BOOTH AT Produced By Conference. audience wants. I have a chance to learn how things go, and catch up Now, I’m sure people reading this to the audience. And that’s why it’s a fun time to be a article will say “Chris has an agenda. He’s producer right now. ¢ trying to sell me something.” And you know what? You’re right. I want every- The editor wishes to acknowledge the work of Kelsey Download the FilmUSVI app one to trust me and go buy the shit that Hockmuller in preparing this feature.

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