Coffee & Content: Why Producers Bet on People, Not Screenplays

Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have got something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week’s featured video comes from FilmCourage- Producers Don’t Invest In Screenplays, This Is What Really Matters.

The interview features producer, distributor, and sales executive Shaked Berenson, who has marketed, sold, and released over 1,000 films and television series. He comes at the business from both the creative side and the analytical side, and that combination makes for a very clear-eyed conversation about what actually gets projects moving.

Shaked puts it bluntly. Scripts can change. Projects can change. You can hire someone to rewrite or polish. But the people do not change. What investors, financiers, producers, and distributors are really betting on is whether they trust the people involved to deliver, solve problems, make adjustments, stay calm when things go sideways, and keep going when the process gets hard.

And if you have ever made anything, you know how true that is.

A film is not dating, it is a marriage. There will be bad weather on the day that was supposed to save you. Someone will get sick. Money will get tight. A location will fall apart. Something will go wrong. So much of this business comes down to whether the people involved can function as a team and whether they have proven they can carry something across the finish line.

Showing up with a completed project opens doors. Showing up with only a script and asking for funding is a very different conversation. That’s why so much of the business is built on trust, relationships, and track records. Another key theme in the conversation is grit. Not blind persistence, but the ability to keep moving forward, learn from failure, adapt, and improve.

Because when you hear “no,” the better question isn’t always “Why don’t they see how brilliant this is?” Sometimes the better question is “What can I learn from this?”

The creatives who last in this industry are the ones who stay curious, keep learning, and keep creating.

This conversation also connects to something I think more filmmakers need to embrace: the “best” filming location is not always the most glamorous one. It is the one that makes the most sense for your project.

Too many people still think in terms of prestige first. They ask where they want to shoot instead of where the project can be made most effectively, most affordably, and with the strongest support system around it.

The best locations usually have a few things working in their favor: strong incentives, a reliable crew base, accessible infrastructure, a film-friendly policy, and enough flexibility to help you stretch your budget without compromising the story. That is why I am always telling creatives to think more globally and more strategically. There are incredible opportunities opening up all over the world and all across the U.S. in places that may not have been on your radar ten years ago. And if you understand how to align your project with the right location, you can make the math work in your favor in a huge way.

Sometimes the best location is the one that looks like three places for the price of one. Sometimes it is the place where your budget goes farther because the crew base is strong and the incentives are real. Sometimes it is the place where the local support helps you move faster and smarter. This is another place where doing your homework pays off. The filmmakers who understand production realities, financing realities, and distribution realities are the ones who give themselves the best chance to actually get the film made.

What do you think matters more in getting a project off the ground: the concept itself, the team behind it, or the proof that the filmmakers can actually deliver? Tell me in the comments below!

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

FilmCourage | Producers Don't Invest In Screenplays

RBWalksIntoABar | Best Filming Location: LA vs. The World

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .