Help! Where Does My Story Belong?

TV, Streamers, Theatrical Release, VOD, Digital…there’s a seemingly endless variety of platforms for storytellers to choose from. So how do we choose the proper target, and how does this shape our narrative?

Once upon a time there were only two choices: theatrical release and network television. (Hard to believe, I know…) Then came the rise of Cable Television, video and DVD, and ultimately streaming services. As writers, it can be challenging to know what market best suits our story. Something that we might have released theatrically ten years ago — ala romantic comedies — now live almost exclusively on streamers. So how do we know which direction to pick? Here are a few questions that can help point you in the right direction:

- Is my movie idea so big that it requires a theatrical release? MAVERICK, STAR WARS, THE AVENGERS…these all pretty much demand a big screen with a kicking sound system. TED LASSO? Not so much. Smaller, more intimate fare tends to skew more towards the streamers than theatrical. (That said, it’s noteworthy that several streamers are trying to make bigger budget, action-based fare like THE GRAY MAN. It remains to be seen how this will shake out.)

- Does my television idea have enough content to drive an entire series? A common question that television writers get asked in a pitch is “What’s the 100th episode?” That’s more relevant for network than streamers, but writers should know how long their idea can run and write/pitch accordingly. It may be that your idea can only carry a single, great season in which case it’s probably best suited as a limited series. Or, maybe it’s better as a feature after all.

- What’s my intended market? Procedurals (cops, law, medical) still generally work on traditional networks while edgier dramas like MARE OF EAST TOWN are perfectly suited for cable and streaming services.

- Who’s my audience? Horror still works in theaters because the primary audience — teens and young adults — have disposable income and want to go out. An intimate drama about a relationship ala MARRIAGE STORY is geared for an older audience that likely has a harder time making the trek to theaters, especially if they have children of their own. Hence, it’s a perfect fit for a streamer rather than a theatrical release.

There are no set rules for what plays where, but pay attention to trends and note which genres seem to land on differing platforms.