Managing Risk in Motion Picture Project Development

Abstract

Movies are produced as unique prototypic media content toserve a highly uncertain demand. Film producers have to address theconsumption risk while their projects are still in their development phase. This paper provides a literature review of key risk dimensions ofmovie projects and how to control them. The interviews conducted withmovie producers have made it possible to compare the industry’s riskcontrol strategies. Content attributes, personnel, and funding emerge askey project resources and risk reducing elements both in theory and practice. Three distinct risk control strategies are identified and assigned to different resource configurations and market constraints of individual producers.

Key Words:

• project management
• project selection
• movie producer
• industry structure
• project resources