Exploring disiciplinary distances: Implications for film business and management

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master_Salmimies_Matias_2024.pdf (690.11 KB)

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School of Business | Master's thesis
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Date

2024

Department

Johtamisen laitos

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

International Design Business Management

Language

en

Pages

75 + 2

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Abstract

This thesis explores the concept of disciplinary distances and their impact on film business and management, with a focus on the Finnish film industry and the operations of Yellow Film & TV. With disciplinary distances I refer to the gaps in expectations, objectives, and communication between key stakeholders, in this case the producer, director, screenwriter, and financier. I’m intrigued to see how disciplinary distances affect the efficiency and outcomes of films and TV productions. I conducted the research with a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews with eight industry experts. The data was analysed thematically, with an emphasis on the nature of the collaboration between professionals, communication barriers, and how different roles are perceived among the stakeholders. The interviews revealed that although collaboration is generally effective, there are clear opportunities for improvement, most notably in communication and mutual understanding across disciplines. Key findings show that the film industry’s unique characteristics make disciplinary distances more severe. Most notably, differences in the approaches financiers and screenwriters take can create conflicts. While these are complex dynamics, the negative aspects can be mitigated through open dialogue and a candid attitude. The study also shows the importance of implementing interdisciplinary practices at an early stage, particularly during preproduction, for during that time it is the most cost-effective and impactful. The practical implications for Yellow Film & TV include recommendations for improving communication universally but also between specific stakeholders, fostering earlier collaboration between key personnel, and adopting more interdisciplinary practices during preproduction to mitigate the negative effects of disciplinary distances that may arise during the production. By addressing these gaps, Yellow Film & TV can achieve smoother productions and better management, leading to better outputs and stronger financial returns.

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Supervisor

Turunen, Taija

Thesis advisor

Turunen, Taija

Keywords

interdisciplinary collaboration, disciplinary distances, film management, creativity, communication

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202501191389

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