Experts in My Industry

I chose to analyze Kevin Geiger and Kathleen Kennedy, whom are business experts in the film industry. Kevin Geiger was the digital artist for Reign of Fire (2002) and Fantasia (2000).  Additionally, he was the CG supervisor for Chicken Little (2005), the production supervisor for Henry’s Garden (2002), and held other titles with several other films. After researching Geiger, I found a video excerpt of him discussing indie film business plans. His main concern for several indie filmmakers is that they have the creative abilities, however, they lack business knowledge. Therefore this reasoning was my motivation to attend Full Sail University to become savvy in entertainment business.

Geiger listed a few critical and key components that investors look for in a business plan including:

•       How are the investors going to make their money back
•       Prepare a cash flow projection
•    Create a business plan presentation for investors
•        Select development and advisory teams

These are considered key, because having a plan that does not discuss how an investor would retain their money back, results in a low chance of distributors, banks, or even studios investing in a project. I’m considering all these factors, but most importantly how my investors will finance my projects and make their money back.

Kathleen Kennedy started as a production assistant for Steven Spielberg’s 1942, eventually landing a job as a producer. She is best known as producer on movies such as: The Sixth Sense (1999), Twister (1996), Jurassic Park (1993), and several of the Star Wars episodes, and Indiana Jones series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she is now the world's second best successful producer, earning the title of co-chairperson atop of the George Lucas empire, and was the president of the PGA ('02-'06).

According to Hollywood TV, when hiring new people she looks for individuals who are talented, have a lot of tenacity, strong work ethic and values to make it in the film industry. According to USA Today, Kennedy wants the demographics within the industry to reflect society including: more faces of color, more women, and gay people. She states that most of her meetings are in rooms with white males. Additionally, she also stated because she’s a women, she “makes a conscious effort to diversify the people I’m hiring.” 

I’m considering Kennedy’s rationale of the way people are changing viewing television content. She used the example; if a narrative needs five hours, then provide the audience with the opportunity to watch it anytime they want in 30-minute segments. She compared it to reading a novel, many don’t read it all at once, it’s incremental. Therefore, why can’t a movie experience be like that? Essentially, Kevin Geiger and Kathleen Kennedy’s background and experience has provided much insight on how to move forward with a concise and innovative business plan.