Studios Have Become Risk Adverse

I love the movie award shows and festivals where the winners are always thanking their backers for their bravery and courage..."we're so thankful that the studio had the bravery and foresight to make this film."

But this isn't the case. If anything, risk taking in Hollywood has and will continue to diminish. This caution is caused by a several factors, from consumers' changing habits to the major content streamers growing into predictable and safe corporate entities. 

Many film scripts are now viewed as too socially correct or too political to be distributed let alone funded. Message films, which were once embraced by the studios are now taboo. Studios are no longer in the risk-taking game. The days of opening their checkbooks to totally unproven, nameless productions without obvious and immediate box office success - are gone. 

Film making is now a vicious circle... studios take fewer risks, so audiences see fewer risky movies, so studios take fewer risks, and so on. What you wind up with is the 'same old' on the marquee.

I believe this is a sign of the times in which we live. No one wants to take a risk with anything...it's all about risk aversion and it's unfortunate.   

By: Jim Lavorato