SUMMIT TOP 5: Ted Hope on Navigating the Future of Entertainment

At its core, I organized my 5 day virtual summit about Navigating the Future of Entertainment to help us creatives, artists, and storytellers answer two key questions:

What the hell is happening to our beloved film industry? And how can we shape the future of cinema?

With over 70 producing credits and 60 more as the former Co-Head of Movies at Amazon Studios, Ted Hope (connect with Ted here on Substack) has had a front-row seat to decades of disruption in Hollywood. In this conversation, Ted and I break down exactly why Hollywood’s business models are fundamentally broken and how that’s affected the quality (or lack thereof) in most movies today. Ted shares how the (broken) streaming business model has changed both our attention spans and also the way studios now prioritize content—shifting from quality to quantity. We also explore where storytelling is headed in the age of the creator economy, and what it means for filmmakers trying to do meaningful work in a shifting landscape.

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Key Takeaways

• Create work that captures attention, not just clicks. In today’s “Age of Distraction”, you’re competing not just with films but with social media, games, and the endless scroll. To stand out, craft stories that demand intentional engagement and honor deep, nuanced storytelling.
• Embrace a generalist mindset and connect directly with your audience. With traditional gatekeepers fading, becoming entrepreneurial and deeply understanding your audience is key. Use new platforms like Substack to build your own community and distribution channels, essentially casting your own marketing and distribution teams.
• Harness the power of authentic, human-centered storytelling. Like the "garage band" era of music, today’s accessible tools—including responsible AI use—empower creators to share raw, idiosyncratic stories that connect deeply and explore complex emotions. This human touch will always set your work apart in a crowded landscape.

Episode Highlights

• How the indie film landscape has shrunk and what it means for filmmakers today
• The massive 40 to 60 percent “perceived value” gap forcing filmmakers to compromise on quality and sustainability
• Why films used to be “launched” with big campaigns but are now simply “dropped” by streamers with little fanfare
• How frustration with the movies of his youth became Ted Hope’s unexpected creative catalyst
• The rise of the “Clydesdale” creative — those workhorse artists committed to pushing the final 10 percent for timeless art
• Why the industry is pushing creatives back toward a generalist mindset with diverse skills for survival
• Hope’s optimism about cinema’s “garage band” moment as new tools and hunger for authentic stories ignite fresh voices

Recommended Next Episode

From Five Emmys to Trader Joe’s: The Realities of Working In Hollywood In 2025 | with Mark Keefer

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Guest Bio

Ted Hope describes himself as a "filmworker" and has over 70 producing credits to his name, 60 credits as a studio executive, and was the Co-Head of Movies at Amazon Studios where he led them to 19 Oscar nominations and 5 wins. Ted also helped launch the feature film careers of Ang Lee, Nicole Holofcener, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry, and many others.

Ted’s Substack, Website, Facebook, Newsletter, IMDb

Ted’s Book: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}