Dear Friends,
If you missed our special guest at Network 168, no worries. For a limited time, you can stream our interview with Josh Nadler, Director of Development & Acquisitions at Affirm Films / Sony Pictures Entertainment. See a summary of the information below.
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This video will be available for two weeks only (ends March 15).
Password: Affirm168
Network 168 Discussion with Josh Nadler, Director of Development & Acquisitions Affirm Films / Sony Pictures Entertainment (1:07:33 TRT)
Bonus ?s: (1:08:08 – 1:13:38)
(Held Feb 15, 2021)
Josh told us what Sony is looking for, citing “The Blindside” as an example. "’Blindside’ doesn't hit you over the head with faith, it's a subtle portrayal. We also do films like ‘Paul, Apostle of Christ,’ and that movie, it's impossible to tone down the faith journey. It's organic to the story." -- Josh Nadler
For Directors: “I tend to need directors who have at least one or two features under their belt that are pretty good.” -- Josh Nadler
OUTLINE:
- How did you get started at Sony? What is your daily job at Sony?
- How do you work with Rich Peluso, Executive Vice President of Affirm Films? - What makes a story right for becoming a film? "We make sure it will speak to the faith audience and also in some ways speak to a broader audience... stories that have an inherent faith journey. Josh mentioned the film "Blindside" as a good example because of subtlety, "it doesn't hit you over the head with faith, it's a subtle portrayal." "We also do films like the story of Paul, Apostle of Christ," he said, "And that movie, it's impossible to tone down the faith journey. It's organic to the story."
- Green lighting "Risen" (w/Joseph Fiennes). The film premiered at 168 Film Fest 2015.
- Was it conceived as a sort of "sequel to The Passion?"
- History of the "Faith Genre," shaped by collapse of DVD revenue stream?
- In the early years, the studios experimented with the "Faith Genre." How much should they spend on production, marketing?
- "Facing the Giants" (rated PG for proselytizing). The "protest" ticket buy.
- The wisdom of using Aramaic in an American Movie.
- "Facing the Giants" ties to So. Baptist Convention and $10 Million Dollar Box office on a $100K budget.
- The rise of the "Sermons on Film" genre.
- Soul Surfer, Distribution: Affirm, Pure Flix & the future.
- HBO Max model: Day and Date
- Covid Implications for the Cinema Experience
- Evolution of Netflix: Market Expectations of Tech Company vs. Movie Studio
- Self-Critique: Should you really make that film?
- How to get a green light.
- What sort of project is Sony looking for? Existing IP?
- What is the future for Pure Flix? For Affirm?
- The Queen’s Gambit
- Can we pitch with only a treatment, no script? - What is Sony Looking for with Affirm? With Pure Flix?
- Do streaming audiences care less about quality?
- Christian Film Quality. Kids/Animated, Napoleon Dynamite, Broad Comedy?
- What is Sony’s Distribution? How can we pitch to Sony?
- Blindside meets Napoleon Dynamite
- “The Absence of Bad.”
- Would you look at short films?
- Goodbye & Thanks Josh! 1:07:33
- Bonus ?s: (1:08:08 – 1:13:38)
- Do I need an agent to pitch my project?
- The importance of relationships.
- Credibility, Being brief and to the point is much appreciated!
- What’s on the top of your list? The rule of 3’s.
