Today, international is not just about recouping costs on American films but also about the discovery of new talent. Said Maraval: “What you need to succeed is the exception. The exception is coming from everywhere today. I think the market has become more global and less American.”The streamers have changed the importance of international voices.
One example is changes to the pre-sales business to international territories – something that has long been key to the business. The cost of the film has increasingly become an important key for pre-sales because if it’s too much for each territory, the film will not happen.”Said Flynn: “I think you have to make a film that’s really good. I saw a guy watching ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on his phone on the underground. That’s the mindset of the younger generation. Make it really good and get someone to see it. I don’t think you can really be fussy in 2023 about how they see it.
Said Maraval: The theatrical market is recovering quite well after COVID. The audience is there. It’s about giving them something exceptional and a reason to get out of the house.”