The Opportunities I'm Most Looking Forward To In 2024
+ what's in store for you?
This probably isn’t my last newsletter of the year but the last one before Christmas. By the way, Happy Holidays to you and yours whichever holiday you’re celebrating!
I want to thank everyone for your support this year as I embarked on this new platform here - Substack - for my newsletter. Welcome to all of the new subscribers who have joined since (and found us through the recommendation engine) and to all the O.G’s who have been around since the beginnings way back when, I still appreciate each and every note from you guys!
Next year, we’ll keep on trucking here on Substack and perhaps add a few more layers to the Film Specific ecosystem along the way.
To start, I’m kicking off the year with my Funding Strategies Playbook course which will be delivered via a separate Substack directly to inboxes of those who have registered.
Speaking of, the earliest of early bird rates is expired but you can still save on registration by signing up before the end of the year. Check out this link here to reserve a space:
The course will begin mid-January and go till the end of February, and right into the lead up to EFM.
If this one goes well, maybe I’ll roll out another course afterwards in the lead up to MIPTV on Series Playbooks. (hit reply and let me know if you’d be interested in that!)
My slate next year is 50/50 features and series, scripted and unscripted - you know how I feel about diversification!
Which brings me to the opportunities I’m most looking forward to in 2024….
Here’s just a few:
• leaning into international partnerships and co-productions in a big way. leveraging funding sources beyond US borders and deepening my relationship with buyers and distributors in other parts of the world.
• if six months of strike-induced industry shut down taught us anything, it’s diversify not only your slate but the territories and countries you’re savvy operating in
• mastering the low cost series model for both scripted and unscripted projects
• doing more one-off Docs created specifically for, and in partnership with, broadcasters and niche streamers (not on spec and hope to sell it later!)
• exploring new financial models for films and series to make profitability realistic for equity participants. Demonstrate a low friction pathway to recoupment via long tail distributions strategies and retaining rights.
• leveraging the vast ad-supported distribution landscape. (hint: if you’re sitting on a catalogue of films or series don’t sleep on this!) including how to make a CTV strategy sustainable
• leaning into my background and expertise in sales and distribution to help publishers and brands define media strategies that extend beyond social platforms (see above on leveraging the vast and growing world of CTV and ad-supported platforms)
Those are just a few off the top of my head. What about you? Please comment below with what opportunities you’re most looking forward to in 2024!
On that note, I’ll wrap things up for today. I’d love to hear from you so feel free to drop me a line at stacey@filmspecific.com and let me know what you’re working on.
Talk to you again soon!
Stacey
PS: If you want to join my community of film and series professionals FS Pro for next year apply now for the 2024 cohort where I’m able to advise on projects in a private group setting and one-on-one. Look forward to working with more of you in there!
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"My slate next year is 50/50 features and series, scripted and unscripted" ...ditto.
I am glad to see your enthusiasm for co-producing with foreign companies as I am in a negotiation with a company in Australia.