The panel, introduced by Daniela Stanikova of the MEDIA Desk and Helen McMahon of the training programme, the panel looked at new business models employing new media strategies. Panelists included Peter Buckingham, most recently of the British Film Institute, Hilary Perkins of Britain's Chanel 4, Pasa Mustafa who founded his own multiplatform company after working at Endomol, and Philip Pratt of the German digital distribution company Jakun Media, with moderator Jan Macola, a Czech producer and former Screen Leaders participant.
With the number of films on the rise everywhere over the last decade (up from 14 films in 2002 to 37 films in 2010 in the Czech Republic), but attendance staying flat, the panel addressed the issue of attracting audiences and extending the viewer experience through creative online experiences and twitter accounts. And while TV viewing is on the rise, viewing habits have been drastically altered by new technologies, ranging from binge viewing to "snacking" (via bits on You Tube).
Public funders have yet to catch up with the new media producers, and the advertising slump hit the market just as the new media productions were launching. The panelist agreed that consumers will outperform advertisers as the funding source for the new media programmes.
Western Europe began experimenting with the new distribution models ten years ago, but in Central Europe it's still in its infancy. Czech producers tried their first forays into new media distribution and programme add-ons as early as 2008, but so with limited results. Said one, "The models don't always work for a small country like the Czech Republic."
The Screen Leaders programme held the final session of its five part, six month training programme in Prague, focusing on strategic company development. Eight companies were selected to participate, including two from Poland and two from the Czech Republic, with two key executives attending from each participating company. The 2011 participants from Central Europe included Bionaut Films/Film Brigade/Filmbreak (www.bionaut.cz, www.filmbrigade.cz, www.filmbreak.cz); Poland's Eureka Media (www.eurekamedia.info); Plan B of the Czech Republic; and Xantus (www.xantus.pl).
