Since the inception of cinema in the world, there has been one method of funding that has stayed the same even after decades. This is the traditional studio system. There were wealthy businessmen that opened studios to provide money to the teams wanting to make movies. Initially, there was a monopoly by the five most famous studios, namely Warner Brothers, MGM, 20th Century Fox, RKO Pictures and Paramount Pictures. These were called the ‘Big Five’ in the filmmaking industry. They dominated the market in such a way that every aspiring film director would only approach one of these five studios for making a film. It was a strong oligopoly and no other production house dared to break it. The legacy has been so strong that four out of five studios still function successfully! As film and filmmaking evolved, the studios started losing their hold. As the gates to world cinema opened, more and more independent filmmakers started coming into the limelight, reducing the power and influence of these studios. Today, there are several studios in the market, all having competing on an equal footing. There is a rise of independent movies and many other sources of funding. Though the studio system has reduced in influence, it still remains the first choice of anyone wanting to make a movie. This is because the legacy and reputation the studio system holds. If a renowned studio agrees to finance your film, you can consider half of your job done. It takes care of all your expenses and provides you with all the money to make the film you always wanted to make.
If you want to follow the studio model to get finances for your film, you need to have 3-5 films with you on paper when you approach the studios. You need to make sure that these films belong to similar genres. This will give you multiple opportunities in a single shot. If you have more options, the studio can scan through all of them and choose the one they find the best. All you have to do is get your movies on paper and persuade the studio to invest in them. If they are impressed by your pitch and see potential in your movies, you would get the money to make the film. If you have studio backing, there are chances of them interfering with your process. This may get a bit distracting as it meddles with your creativity, but if you are okay with it, the studio system can work wonders for you!
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