In a newly online paper, forthcoming in a Special Issue of the Journal of Cultural Economics, Dr Michael Franklin and co-authors examine how data analytics can be used by producers to help create profitable and compelling films.

The article, Leveraging Analytics to Produce Compelling and Profitable Film Content, which will feature as part of the Special Issue Economics of Filmed Entertainment in the Digital Era derives from extended work begun at the Mallen Conference at StudioBabelsberg with colleagues from France, Germany, Spain and the USA.  This European and Atlantic effort addresses advances in digital technologies, increasing availabilities of granular big data, rapid diffusion of analytic techniques, and intensified competition from user-generated and original content produced by subscription video on demand platforms, which have created unparalleled needs and opportunities for film producers to leverage analytics in content production.

The publication comes at a time of heightened interest in the role of algorithmic culture, AI applications in creative domains, and the widely heralded streaming wars, as major competing VOD services ramp up activity across the globe. The research forms part of Dr Franklin’s film industry work that combines attention to risk, valuation and organisation.

Alongside academic literature outputs, Dr Franklin presents research directly to industry. One recent example being the invited presentation: Thoughts on using data effectively for the UK independent film industry at the British Screen Advisory Council Business Seminar – UK Independent Film: proven talent incubator with mounting commercial challenges kindly hosted by Reed Smith in the City of London.