1st Edition
The Business Strategies of the Major Hollywood Film Studios (1929–2024)
Surveying the strategies employed by film studios to market and produce their most successful films between 1929 and present day, this book incorporates multilayered comprehensive analysis on the media industry and how it works.
Author and business strategist Guy Di Piazza draws on over 25 years of experience and provides insights into the corporate, business, market and production strategies of the leading motion picture companies through a 95- year history. Investigating the initiatives employed particularly for the most successful (or premium) films allows Guy to evaluate the commercial and creative strategies of the major film studios during four distinct historical periods: The golden age of Hollywood (1929– 1949); Hollywood in decline and in transition (1950– 1966); The new American cinema (1967– 1976); and The era of media giants (1977– 2024).
With extensive business strategy analysis, this book assesses the film industry from a commercial and economic perspective to bring better understanding to readers as to how the major studios have evolved over time and what that means for today’s digitally connected world. Ideal for researchers and advanced students studying film business and the media industry, as well as professionals in the film business.
Chapter 1 The Golden Age of Hollywood (1929 to 1949)
Early developments in the American film industry
Theatre wars and the business of exhibition
The studio system and the business of production
The Paramount Pictures et al anti-trust case
Premium movies and market shares
The business, market and film production strategies of the leading motion picture companies
Assessments of the 475 premium movies of the period 1929 to 1949
Analysis of the strategies of the leading motion picture companies
Chapter 2 Hollywood in Decline and in Transition (1950 to 1966)
Structural changes in the American film industry
Big production budgets and the business of ‘hits’
Changes in production-financing and distribution
The importance of film distribution and the rise of independent productions
The development of commercial television
The availability of Hollywood films on television
Premium movies and market shares
The business, market and film production strategies of the leading movie companies
Assessments of the 370 premium movies of the period 1950 to 1966
Analysis of the strategies of the leading movie companies
Chapter 3 The New American Cinema (1967 to 1976)
Changes and continuities in the American film industry
The conglomerates that saved Hollywood
A renaissance in American films
Wide releases and the business of distribution
Premium movies and market shares
The strategies of the eight major film companies
Assessments of the 200 premium movies of the period 1967 to 1976
Analysis of the strategies of the major film companies
Chapter 4 The Era of Media Giants (1977 to 2024)
A proliferation of media outlets
New media opportunities and the business of tiered releasing
Transitioning into focused media conglomerates
One house, many windows
Going digital
The media giants’ struggle with digital distribution
Disrupting the multiple-media ecosystem
A re-shaping of strategies and the business of franchise films
Premium movies and market shares
The business, market and film production strategies of the major film companies
Assessments of the 955 premium movies of the period 1977 to 2024
Current and future strategic challenges
Biography
Guy Di Piazza is a leading media and entertainment specialist and has over 25 years of experience as a management consultant and corporate finance executive in the field of media and entertainment. His experience spans globally at some of the world’s leading film and television companies, helping business leaders shape their future business, market and product strategies. During the past 25 years, Guy has worked with Motion Picture Association (MPA), NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, AMC Networks, Mitsui Media, BBC, ITV and many other media organisations.
