Independent film

• Streaming services have dramatically transformed the media landscape, allowing consumers unparalleled access to vast libraries of content.
• This increase in competition has created many challenges for streaming services and resulted in many services recently reporting losses of both subscribers and profits.

Content removal: for the consumer experience or just a tax write-off?

• Previously, content has been usually removed from streaming services due to licensing agreements.
• But the more recent content removal discussion raises questions associated with streaming services – and their overarching corporations – wanting to save money.
• The removal of original content from streaming services, in most instances, means they will not be accessible to viewers anywhere.
• More content is expected to disappear in upcoming quarters, which could also include original content.

Has the streaming bubble burst?

• It was reported Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers worldwide, the complete opposite of Wall Street’s expectation that the service would add 2.5 million subscribers.
• This was only exacerbated by the loss of 3.8 million subscribers to its Disney+ Hotstar streaming services (the Disney+ service offered in India and parts of Southeast Asia).
• Warner Bros Discovery also reported a financial loss of US$217 million across its streaming services.

The impact on viewers and creators

• Eliza Skinner, head writer for Earth to Ned, which was removed from Disney+, says they were not aware of the decision until seeing it reported in an article.
• Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Six Feet Under and Ballers will also be available on Netflix as part of the deal.
• This is a significant shift in the previous approach by streaming services to create “originals” as a way to increase subscriptions.

Too many chefs in the production kitchen

• For television series, licensing and agreements can become extremely complicated when multiple studios are involved across multiple seasons.
• This resulted in the first three seasons streaming on Disney’s Hulu service, while Netlfix had all five on its service.
• This was due to a “first run” agreement Foxtel had signed many years prior to Netflix’s involvement.

Will there be resurgence of physical media?

• That is, if you can find a store that sells physical media – Kmart removed the sale of physical media more than five years ago.
• But for much of the new content being produced, physical media are not available.
• This means consumers will not be able to access the content once it has been removed from a streaming service.

• Since 1984, the well-known, long-established IFTA Tribunal has resolved disputes among companies in the worldwide film and television production, distribution, financing, and sales industry.
• "We are honored that IFTA has designated and entrusted the ICDR to provide dispute resolution services to their international film and television industry constituents," said Eric Tuchmann, SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the AAA-ICDR.
• Arbitrations filed under all versions of the IFTA Rules, including newly promulgated Rules effective January 1, 2022, will be administered by ICDR.
• The International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) is the international division of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the largest international provider of dispute resolution services.

• Still working, still planning, still hungry for more, Gould sat down for an interview with Benjamin Oberman, an independent film advocate and film festival industry leader, to swap stories of life, connection, and the industry.
• Oberman's company, Film Festival Flix, is celebrating a ten-year anniversary this month, and Gould has appearedas a guest, as a fan, as a star at multiple festivals over the years.
• "The two things that saved my life," Gould reveals, "were the movie camera and philosophy."
• Visit FilmFestivalFlix.com for quality, curated Film Festival cinema.

• LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Vision Films Inc. ("Vision") announces the theatrical and subsequent VOD and DVD release of About Hope from filmmaker David D. Dietrich.
• The film, acquired from Glass House Distribution who is also handling international sales, is in limited theatrical release as of January 22, 2021 as the first in a new, monthly series of faith-based film releases in partnership with Nova Vento Entertainment.
• Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms.
• Find out more and find out how you can join us at: www.creatorfilms.com
  Nova Vento Entertainment is a theatrical distribution company based in the United States focused on US theatrical releases of independent films into independent theaters.