International distributors have full supply chains: Sony
Sony Pictures Releasing MD Stephen Basil-Jones admits that while the company is increasing its involvement with the local industry, “there would have to be a seismic shift” for it to change its purpose: to release Sony’s US productions.
What’s stopping Sony from making local films instead of just distributing them? What incentives are necessary to take that step?
It’s not just Sony; it’s most of the MPDAA studios. Our primary reason for being is to distribute and market films that are produced by our respective studios. We are their international local distribution office.
There would have to be a seismic shift in the supply chain and business model to change that principal purpose of business. The requirement and need to bolster the studio slate and offerings does vary from year to year, but for the most, we at SPR have a very full supply chain, which is bolstered by additional films from Sony Classics (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon),Screen Gems (Resident Evil 4, Burlesque) as well as CBS films (The Back-up Plan, Faster, Beastly) and the Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group (District 9) which acquires pics from all the film markets around the world.
