Elements of Success – rethinking audience and production studies as practice
Conference 4th – 5th of December 2017, Helsinki, Finland
Elements of Success in the Finnish film industry (EoS) is a research group at the Department of Film, Television and Scenograpy, at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, which studies the film-making processes, film production cultures and contemporary film audiences. The focus is on the actual film-making process and the factors that contribute to a film’s success. The aim is to facilitate decision-making and contribute to the business know-how of film production companies. The project is funded by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, for the years 2017-2018.
The film and television industries are changing and digitalisation, in particular, causes both challenges and opportunities. Not only has film production gone digital but also new models for distribution and exhibition strategies have emerged.
At the other end of a film’s lifecycle, we have the audience. Audiences have access to films in more ways than ever before. Viewing on a range of devices through multiple online platforms and engaging with a range of other media related practices are activities that are closely integrated with our everyday lives. On the other hand, we are witnessing that cinema-going is still a popular way of watching films and is more than capable of co-existing with other modes of viewing.
Theoretically, we are interested in conceptualising the film production processes and contemporary film audiences as practice. This approach is in line with the rising interest in studying the media industries as well as the aim of bridging the gap between researchers and filmmakers. Furthermore, a comparative and cognitive approach is at the centre of our interest as is researching the film audience within the framework of user experience.
As the group is situated at the only university level film school in Finland, we are combining the practice of film production with the more conceptual orientation of film production studies. We welcome contributions of both researchers and film and television practitioners on the following topics:
· Theorising about the success and quality films
· Decision making processes in film production
· Unraveling the tacit knowledge of film practitioners
· The ecology of production modes
· Methodology of production research from the practice point of view
· Questions of multiplatform production/distribution
· Coping with digital markets
· Challenges of distribution windows
· Contemporary film audiences and consumption
Other papers that productively challenge these themes are most welcome.
We invite abstracts of 250 words for individual 20 minute paper presentations and 45 minute panels consisting of at least three presenters. The conference is interested in the full spectrum of presentations both practice-based and theory oriented. We wish to create a true dialogue between industry professionals and researchers. The deadline is August 30, 2017. Please e-mail your abstract to kirsi.rinne@aalto.fi
The confirmed keynotes include:
– Professor John Caldwell, University of Los Angeles California
http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2011/09/faculty-john-caldwell/
– Associate Professor Eva Novrup Redvall, University of Copenhagen http://mcc.ku.dk/staff/?pure=en%2Fpersons%2Feva-novrup-redvall(fc809983-e37f-4f44-b71a-a0b1d36295b9)%2Fcv.html
Venue: The Finnish Film Foundation
http://ses.fi/en/home/
KEY DATES
23 March 2017: Call for papers
30 August 2017: Deadline for abstract
30 September 2017: Notification of acceptances
1 October – 30 November 2017: Registration and payment
4-5 December 2017: Conference
Organizing committee
Professor Aleksi Bardy
Research coordinator, Dr. Kirsi Rinne
Researcher Heidi Grundström
Aalto University
http://elo.aalto.fi/en/
Conference website:
https://blogs.aalto.fi/elementsofsuccess/eos-conference-2017/