1 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties, weekly podcasts featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: guest is Dan McDermott, President of Entertainment for a MC 5 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: and AMC Studios. Dan is an industry veteran. He was 6 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: part of the early days of the Fox Network and 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: the early days of dream Works as an executive. He 8 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: also spent many years as a producer before joining AMC Networks. 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: In all of that experience gives him great perspective on 10 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: how the business of content development is changing. Ask anyone 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: who's ever tried, It's really hard to make a good pilot, 12 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: But now the art of TV seems to be in 13 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: franchise management. A MC is at the outset of a 14 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: huge swing in building a metaverse content around the works 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: of beloved Southern Gothic novelist and Rice. The effort will 16 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: start in the fall with the series rendition of one 17 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: of her best known novels, Interview with a Vampire. McDermott 18 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: here offers a case study on how programming executives are 19 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: trying to think two steps and three series ahead these days, 20 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: even at the pitch stage, he details the considerations that 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: come up as his team works out a plan for 22 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: shows stocked with characters worthy of spinoffs. He also contrasts 23 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: the building phase on an RICE with the work they're 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: doing now on The Walking Dead, which has been a 25 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: filler of AMC's schedule since but is coming to an 26 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: end later this year. On the other end of the spectrum, 27 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: AMC is also putting energy into crafting lower budget shows 28 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: for niche streaming services like Acorn TV, Sundance Now, and Shutter. 29 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: It's an interesting look at how a boutique player with 30 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: big brands is navigating a world of change. That's all 31 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: coming up After the break, and we're back with Dan McDermott, 32 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: President of AMC and AMC Studios. Dan McDermott, President of 33 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: AMC Entertainment and AMC Studios, thank you so much for 34 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: joining me today. Yeah, I'm really happy to be here. 35 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: It's good to see you. Yeah. I appreciate the chance 36 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: to sit down and talk with you because Dan, I 37 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: know you are just a died in the world creative executive. 38 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: You have been doing this as an executive, as a programmer, 39 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: as a producer for a long time, and I really 40 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: wanted to get your perspective on how the business of development, 41 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: the challenges of development are changing in this every in 42 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: our ever changing media landscape, but in a world where 43 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: people are truly thinking about franchises and meta verses and 44 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: people are thinking about building. You know, multiple series is 45 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: multiple extensions of all kind all of the content that 46 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: you invest in. You know, right now, AMC, a big 47 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: priority for you is building up a universe of of 48 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: properties tied to a Rice, the books of Ann Rice, 49 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: the famed author. AMC did a big deal with the 50 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: Rice Estate and has wide broad rights to a lot 51 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: of her books. So you do the deal, you have 52 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: the I P You kind of have your sandbox. Where 53 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: where do you start next? When you know you want 54 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: to not just one great show, but many great shows? 55 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: How do you start? That's a great question. Okay, So 56 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: let me just start from the big picture. Okay. So 57 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: we acquired eighteen books in the Vampire Chronicles cannon Um. 58 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: They sold a hundred and fifty million copies worldwide. And 59 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: I mentioned that just because it's great context for the 60 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: reality that there's a there's a dedicated and passionate fan base. 61 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: It's very familiar with the I P. Right, and that 62 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: has a history in a relationship with it, right and 63 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: very you know Anne Rice just her name evokes so much, 64 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, so very branded, very well branded. Yeah. Yeah, 65 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: and the and these are folks that, you know, they 66 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: care about the characters, they care about the stories, they 67 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: care about the world. So first and foremost, we had 68 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: to familiarize ourselves with all of it. I mean we 69 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: had big picture, big picture understanding, but you know, there's 70 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: there's dozens of characters that span you know, the story 71 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: spent two thousand years. Um uh and uh, they touch 72 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,679 Speaker 1: every continent, you know, from ancient Rome to contemporary Paris, 73 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: and you know the United States and New Orleans obviously 74 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: in New York, et cetera. So we first just sort 75 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: of familiar. We spent probably six months, six eight months, 76 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: who you know, to familiarize ourselves with the content, really 77 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: understand it. Um we didn't read all eighteen did not. 78 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: I don't have that much time, but we have, Yeah, 79 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: we had people we obviously have. We have teams of 80 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: folks here that are dedicated to reading all the books 81 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: and and you're rating, you know, and really encapsulating all 82 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: the contents that it's digestible enough so that I can 83 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: look at it say okay, here's you know, here's what 84 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: we need to do. UM. And uh. The first thing 85 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: we did was, you know, I turned to Mark Johnson, 86 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 1: who's the producer that we have a long term relationship with, 87 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: and said, a little show called Breaking Back exactly better 88 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: called Saul. He did, you know, other shows for us, 89 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: and he's been producing movies for years and he also 90 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: was very involved in UM for Disney, the C. S. 91 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: Lewis books, the Chronicles of Narnia, and he did all 92 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: those movies. So you know, I turned him and I 93 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: asked him to come in and come on board as 94 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: the chief creative steward of all this from a producer, 95 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: from a producer oil perspective, to work with us on 96 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: it UM, which he, fortunately for us, agreed to do. UM. 97 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: The second thing we did was we looked at all 98 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: the I p you know, and said, uh, okay, we 99 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: need to create three or four pillars, right, and pillars 100 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: being three or four series that will be the pillars 101 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: of this universe, the foundations of the house, you know. 102 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 1: And and we chose interview with the Vampire because for 103 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: the very obvious reasons, no surprise everybody. It's the most 104 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: famous of her books. Probably there was a great movie, 105 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: you know, a well known movie by you know that 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were in Um that everybody knows. 107 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 1: So that's probably one of her most, if not the 108 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: most recognizable titles. And also has had two primary characters 109 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: in Lestat and Louis Duponte Lack, who are sort of 110 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: really well known characters in the and Rice universe. And 111 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: that's the other sort of thing that's really important when 112 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: from my perspective when you're building out a universe, is 113 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: you have to have the you know, the really recognizable 114 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: I p and then two characters who can really break 115 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: through and break out. UM. And then the second the 116 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: second book, uh, that we are in production on right now, 117 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: UH is in the Mayfair, which is franchise, right, so 118 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: I think she had three books. It's a Gothic historical, 119 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: you know, fantasy romance story featuring UM the Mayfair Witches, 120 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: which is a line of of which is uh divinely uh, 121 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: I guess controlled inspired by Lasher, you know, who's a 122 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: demon character wants to come into human form. Right. UM, 123 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: we have Alexandre Dadario playing a lead in that that 124 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: that first that the series, um uh playing Rowan Mayfair 125 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: for her breakout in White Lotus exactly, you know, so 126 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: another great character, uh starting a great actress that's really 127 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: breaking out and having a moment right now. And then 128 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: we have a couple other series and developments too soon 129 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: to talk about that will be the sort of second, third, 130 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: and fourth pillar in the sort of franchise that will 131 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: get this universe up and on its feet. And if 132 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: you consider that each of these shows will in a 133 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: in a best case scenario or a positive case scenario, 134 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: maybe not the best but we'll run four to sixceed, right, um, 135 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: and we can get a couple of so I I 136 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: envisioned us getting five to seven series over the next 137 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: five or six years up on their feet, each one 138 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: running four to six seasons with primary main characters, right, 139 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: you know, significant lead characters featuring significant stars that will 140 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: get our universe up and on its feet for the 141 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: next five to ten years. Let's say, let's say let's 142 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: call it a decade, right, and so that's phase one, right, 143 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: and each of those will we stand alone stories? Can 144 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: I ask you, are you thinking like one series a year. 145 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: What's the what's the cadence of Uh? Probably well, the 146 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: first two are gonna be you know, uh, I think 147 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: Interviews Vampire was going to be coming out this fall, 148 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: and make Fair, which is pretty soon after that. So 149 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: that's that's that's quicker than just a year. But then 150 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: the third series will probably be a year to fifteen 151 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: sixteen months beyond that in the third and fourth series, 152 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: so you know, not quite one a year, but um, 153 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: you know, probably averaging out to that, I'd say, um 154 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: and um. So once we do that, then the second 155 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: thing that's really important for us to do is you 156 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: have to develop supporting characters underneath those significant leads that 157 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: can and this is a process of discovery. Some of 158 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: these are in the books. Some of these might be 159 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: new characters. Some of these might be characters that you know, 160 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: have a small role in the books but have created, 161 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: you know, an oversized impact in a series, but that 162 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: can ultimately, after two or three seasons or four seasons, 163 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: spin off and become the lead of their own series. 164 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: Right and uh, and then you then you really start 165 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: having fun because then you then you can start pulling 166 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: characters from different shows. I do envision us five or 167 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: six years down the road having an all star you 168 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: know series, if you will, an Avengers style series where 169 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: you know, we might have the stat and Rowan Mayfair 170 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: and a lead of another series ultimately cross paths in 171 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: a storyline that you know, that can that can play 172 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: out over two or three years, you know, seasons, things 173 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: like that. UM, so that's the beginning of it, you know, Uh, 174 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: I mean is that a broad enough answered specific Let 175 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: me ask you are when we say series, are we 176 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: thinking like all traditional scripted TV series? Are there other 177 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: platforms that you might see this playing out on well 178 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: where we certainly have plans for supporting content in and 179 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: around each of these series, whether it's digital series or 180 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: podcast or you know, other iterations and things like that 181 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: that we can we can take advantage of. UM, a 182 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: little too early to talk specifically about them, but I 183 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 1: think in today's world, in today's entertainment landscape, a series 184 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: is just a primary you know, uh, spear on a 185 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: you know, on on a larger apparatus that should be 186 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: that can support that content across everything in the entertainment ecosystem. 187 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 1: Of course, your first thing you got, you got a 188 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: very classy project manager in Mark Johnson who also for 189 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: listeners brought us Help Bring Us Rectify, which is also 190 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: a gift to fans of good television. UM, so clearly 191 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: great project manager. Is it hard with with the planning 192 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: for multiple series and multiple characters? Of course, television is 193 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: known as a writer's medium, that that you know, that's 194 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: something that comes from a writer. Is it challenging to 195 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,599 Speaker 1: work in that way where you know you're going to 196 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: have to work with multiple writers and multiple takes on 197 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: this world? Is it challenging to make sure that you 198 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 1: know that that what is developed is adaptable enough so 199 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: that multiple, multiple visions, multiple writers can come in. Would 200 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: that probably be kind of Marks job? Yes, that would be. 201 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 1: I mean that it's something that Mark is definitely um 202 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: responsible for keeping track of all the you know, the 203 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: specific characters and through lines. Um. I will say that, 204 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: you know totally we can we can afford to be 205 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: a little bit varied, you know, and we not only 206 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: can we afford to me we should be you know, 207 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: there should be We shouldn't feel like every series has 208 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: to be exactly you know the same, So you we 209 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: want different expressions and different different creative people coming in 210 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: with their own takes on you know, on on the 211 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: various stories and characters. Do you have a fair amount 212 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: of leeway with the estate. Of course, some authors can 213 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: be very very restrictive about what you can do, but 214 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: it sounds like you have you have some Yeah, this way, 215 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: these are definitely our adaptations of the books, you know, 216 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: and uh, you know into you know, none of them, 217 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: none of these are going to be sort of to 218 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: the letter, you know, adaptations of the books. We're definitely 219 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: bringing them into different time periods and creating different expressions. Uh, 220 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: it's very important to us to honor the spirit of 221 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: all the characters and the stories and and Rice and 222 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: everything that she's created. Um, but but we're definitely taking 223 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: license where we feel like it dramatically. Is is important 224 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 1: to do m interesting and again for you is this 225 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: is this a challenge for you as a development exect 226 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: to work in this way when we're developing just one 227 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: particular series that might be a piece of original you know, 228 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 1: an original idea of a writer. Um, you know, you're 229 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: thinking fairly linearly, linearly about just we need to make 230 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:20,439 Speaker 1: sure that this show is is great, you know, and 231 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: and really putting all of our time and energy into 232 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: ensuring that that particular pilot or those you know X 233 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: number of episodes are terrific. The the opportunity here, and 234 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: what's really cool about what we have with all these 235 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: books is we know we're building a universe, and so 236 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: we're we're thinking across four or six or seven shows 237 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: and twenty or thirty characters and five or six or 238 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: seven years down the line. You know, we're trying not 239 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: to get we we have a saying here, we don't 240 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 1: want to get out over our skis. We don't want 241 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: to get too far ahead of ourselves. Um, keep our 242 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: eye on the ball and focus on the task at hand. 243 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: But we're we're designing something that requires us to be thinking, 244 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, deeper and longer and further further on the 245 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,359 Speaker 1: horizon than in other scenarios. And Rice is a huge initiative, 246 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: and and you've kind of started from a blank slate. 247 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: You have been with AMC now going on about two 248 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: and a half years. So you have come in now 249 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: and you are also the manager that you know, the 250 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: ultimate overseer of another hugely important, now long established franchise 251 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: for the company, The Walking Dead. Can you talk about 252 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: what it's like now to be coming into something that 253 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: is well established but is also at a transitional point 254 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: in its life and and something that has been you know, 255 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: undeniably transformative for AMC Networks. Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, 256 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: The Walking Dead is the is the most successful series 257 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: in the history of cable television, you know, and for 258 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: a period of time was the most successful series on 259 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: all of television. So, um, it's it's a thrill to 260 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: be a part of UH. Just helping shape the sort 261 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: of final season of that show, UM, and and really 262 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: ensure that we land the plane with in the best 263 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: possible way and really deliver UH and ending to the 264 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: mothership show between the Walking Dead that will engage in 265 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: and throw all the fans and really um be a 266 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: great payoff for the years of investment and passionate enthusiasm, 267 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: while at the same time working to extend and and 268 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: build out from The Walking Dead into the universe right um, 269 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: with new expressions of of UH series in the universe. 270 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: So we have a show with Norman Rita's featuring the 271 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: Darryl Dixon character that's going to take place in Europe 272 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: that we're finalizing all the creative on right now. We've 273 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: got a show with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohen. 274 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: That's going to take place on the island of Manhattan, 275 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: which was left to the Walkers twelve years ago when 276 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: they overran Manhattan and the government decided to blow all 277 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: the bridges and tunnels and just leave the island to 278 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: the Walkers. And and it's now twelve years later, there's 279 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: a million walker herd that's sort of dominating the streets 280 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: of Manhattan. And uh, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren, you know, 281 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: Maggie and Negan have to journey onto the island where 282 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: the small civilian population that lives in Manhattan, UM lives 283 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: above the tenth floor of all the buildings, and they 284 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: zip line back and forth, you know, above the streets, 285 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: and they have hydroponic farms, et cetera in there, and 286 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: UM so and I say all that because it's it's 287 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: illustrative of one of the tenants that we hold dear 288 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: when we create shows out of an existing franchise, like 289 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: The Walking Dead, which is UM we want to maintain 290 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: the integrity of the universe, right and and ensure that 291 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: we don't do anything that invalidates all the history and 292 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: the lore of the universe. Uh. While at the same time, 293 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: um iterating and evolving and delivering something new for the 294 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: fan base. So that, um, you know, for us, when 295 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: we look at The Walking Dad, we don't look at 296 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: it as a horror show. We look at it as 297 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: a show about humanity, right about. It's about ultimately at 298 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 1: its core, it's about how do these characters maintain their 299 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: humanity in the wake of a pandemic and you know, 300 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: zombie apocalypse, when chaos and insanity is ruling the day, 301 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: just like today. Yeah, I was just gonna, I was 302 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: just gonna like, there's so many band jokes to be 303 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: made here, but I'm not gonna. But yeah, but you know, 304 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: but that is we look, you know, the show is 305 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: really it's a it's a human drama about you know, 306 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 1: connection and maintaining connection and when life like origins of 307 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: vampire fiction itself. Yeah yeah. So anyway, So, um, one 308 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: of the significant differences with The Walking Dead and and 309 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,479 Speaker 1: Um and the and Rice universe is we have just 310 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: the original graphic novel that we're that is our source 311 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: material here. So all the other iterations that we've done 312 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: in the Walking To universe, whether it's Fear the Walking 313 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: Dead or the Walking To the World Beyond or these 314 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: two other shows um are original pieces, right, material that 315 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: goes off of the but is not rooted in original 316 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 1: books or exactly. Yeah so, and you know, so we 317 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 1: really need to make sure we also have, by the way, 318 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: Tales of the Walking Dead um which is standalone anthology 319 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: stories set in the Walking Dead Universe, which is a 320 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: much more UMU adventurous uh and experimental um venture where 321 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: we tell stories that are all different kinds. You know, 322 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: we're telling stories that have sort of science fiction elements 323 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: to them or horror elements and things like that set 324 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: in the you know, it's a little bit of like 325 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: black Mirrors said, in the Walking Dead universe. In an 326 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: anthology format, you could do so much, like you just see, 327 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: you could do so much that would just just enliven 328 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: the fans. You can imagine just taking like slices of 329 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: beloved characters or moments. So I could say, that's what 330 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: we hope, you know, I mean, and we hope that 331 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: it's going to be really exciting for folks who love 332 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: the who love the shows to think, like, oh my gosh, 333 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: they're telling a story that's totally unique and different than 334 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: you know, you can never tell in one of the 335 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: others my other shows and don't draw the curtain. We'll 336 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: be right back with more from Dan McDermott of AMC Networks. 337 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: And we're back with more from AMC's Dan McDermott. As 338 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: we talk franchises, I mean really Breaking Bad has become 339 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: you know, AMC's has very creatively managed that property. I 340 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: gotta give credit to Peter and Vince. Um, you know, 341 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: I had to. I talked to them the other day because, 342 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: as we know, the final six episodes launched this Monday, 343 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: July eleven. Um, and it's it's a bitter sweet time. 344 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: It's an exciting time and a bitter sweet time because um, 345 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: they're so good and it's it really is such a 346 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: you know, and and yet we were so sad to 347 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: see the show go. But but when I was talking 348 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: to them, I was asking them about did you did 349 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: you have any idea when you created the Salt Goodman 350 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: character and Breaking Bad that there was even And they 351 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: said absolutely not. And what's what's great about them is 352 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: they their process is so unique and and um, and 353 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: they allow for a process of discovery, you know, like 354 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,719 Speaker 1: they like they just they could never have planned for 355 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: Saul Goodman to to have his own show. But when 356 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: Breaking Bad ended and they thought, you know, it was 357 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: so great working with Bob and the way they explained 358 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: it was like they thought, this character is so interesting. 359 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: I wonder if we went back and really explored how 360 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: he started as Jimmy McGill and became Saul Goodman and 361 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: ultimately found his way to Walter White, you know, and 362 00:20:58,160 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: that that was just it was just that little current 363 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: that started for them, and thank god it did. You know, 364 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: in your role here, you oversee a lot of You 365 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: oversee a number of other channels, and you also oversee 366 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 1: a number of growing niche streaming services. What is it 367 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: like for you juggling everything from the expansive world of 368 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: building an an Rice universe to programming for streamers that 369 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: target but you know, Shutter targets a horror audience. Sundance 370 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: now is a very kind of art Cso Terek some genre. 371 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: What does that like to balance all of those, um, 372 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: you know, kind of all those malvels that you need 373 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: to feed. It's it's thrilling and and it's really instructive 374 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: and insightful. I'll elaborate because on the one hand, yes, 375 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 1: interview with the Vampire in the and Rice Universe is 376 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: probably the biggest venture we've ever embarked upon at the 377 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: you know, from from the from the ground up at 378 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: at at a MC Networks, and yet working on shows 379 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: for shutter U, which has to a passionate fan base 380 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: and doesn't have nearly the budget of uh, just about anything. 381 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: I mean, one of the one of the value propositions 382 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: of those the target s FID services is we we 383 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: produce content for them that anywhere between I think the 384 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: average hour of content is five or six thousand dollars, 385 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 1: you know, cautify and and yet the fan base is 386 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 1: equally as enthusiastic and rabbit and and it's it's instructive 387 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: and enlightening because it's a reminder that that quality content 388 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: and great storytelling doesn't come with a price tag attached necessarily. 389 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: Of course, there's big shows that all all platforms and 390 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: networks do that that might cost you know, a lot 391 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: of money, but that's no guarantee of success. It's no 392 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 1: guarantee of engagement, UM, And a small budget is no 393 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: guarantee of of you know, UM, A lack of engagement 394 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: and enthusiasm on the part of your fan base and 395 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,360 Speaker 1: the what's interesting about Shutter and all I was talking 396 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,360 Speaker 1: about Acorn also, which is which is a wildly successful 397 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: platform focuses on British drama, right yeah, British drama, with 398 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 1: some Australia New Zealand as well. But um uh, these 399 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: platforms are they don't go broad, but they go incredibly deep, 400 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: you know, and get a lot of engagement. Yeah hours 401 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 1: with you exactly. And if you like one show or 402 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: movie on Shutter, you're gonna like another one. You're gonna 403 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: like that, you know, You're gonna like Creepshow. You're gonna 404 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: like Joe Bob Briggs. You're gonna like you know, the 405 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: movies that we're commissioning in or acquiring same thing with 406 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: with Acorn TV. If you like dog Leash, you're gonna 407 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: like My Life Is Murder. You're gonna like the Chelsea Detectives. 408 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: You're gonna like you know, um, a lot of the 409 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: content we have on the platform, because um it really 410 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: super serves those audiences that have a demonstrated enthusiasm for 411 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: the content that they program. You must love being able 412 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: to on on your streamers. You must love being able 413 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,640 Speaker 1: to see in real time what people are watching how 414 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: long they watch when they come to it is that 415 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: that's also got to be very eye opening. It's oh 416 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: my goodness, it's so eye opening. I mean, the the 417 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: amount of data you get in nearly real time is 418 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: so much more valuable than a Nielsen rating, you know, 419 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: with a you know, from four thousand houses in which 420 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 1: they have you know, it's at top boxes. Um. And 421 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: it's really instructive. And and to be able to see 422 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: what people watch first on your platform, what they watch 423 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: to completion, uh, and then what they watch after that 424 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: is really instructive and you can you'll learn far more 425 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: just following people's viewing patterns and viewing behavior than you 426 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: will by putting them in a room showing them a 427 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: couple episodes of television and giving them a free sandwich 428 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: in twenty bucks and saying what do you think? Yeah? Yeah, 429 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: you know. We we talk a lot about what what 430 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: is our value proposition in the marketplace? How do we 431 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: this this small company comparatively compete to the land of 432 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: giants of Warner Brothers, Discoveries and Disneys and ship and 433 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,640 Speaker 1: paramount globals. How do we create a profile for ourselves 434 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 1: that you know is bigger and more meaningful, you know, 435 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 1: or as big as meaningful as we can be, uh 436 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: in this landed giants. And we we always say, look, 437 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 1: we're not competitive. We're not competing with any of those 438 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: other streamers or complementary with them. It's not Netflix or 439 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,919 Speaker 1: a m C plus. It's Netflix and am C Plus. 440 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: And why is that is because our value proposition is 441 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: we aspire to be the best platform in the world 442 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: at delivering premium marquee content for adults. Um, that's the 443 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: only lane we swimming. You know. We don't do y A, 444 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,719 Speaker 1: we don't do kids, we don't do animation, sports news, 445 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: all that sort of stuff. We just want to do premium, 446 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 1: you know, we just want to live in the world 447 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:48,360 Speaker 1: of premium markets content for adults. And if we can 448 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: be great at that, you know, it's the it's the 449 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: analogy of we're not a big box store. We're your 450 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: favorite boutique, whether it's Can, it can be Gucci, it 451 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,479 Speaker 1: can be Nike, it can be Lulu, Lemon, whatever. But 452 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: you know, those those those stores, those those places that 453 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: they don't do everything, but what they do do they 454 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: do exceptionally well. And that's how that's how we view ourselves. 455 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: And uh, and if we continue to do that, will 456 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: continue to as you say, punch outside, you know, outside 457 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: our weight class and occupy a space in the cultural landscape. 458 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: That's that's genuinely meaningful and significant and stand for something, 459 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, that's what that's how we look 460 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 1: at how we how we source content, how we develop it, 461 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: how we produce it. M hm. Do you find I 462 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: mean there's so much competition, there is so much it's 463 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: an arms race of costs. COVID has added up. You know, 464 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: there's the fifteen COVID tax just in what it costs 465 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: you in in um masks and everything. How I mean, 466 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: do you see any any moderating of that. We're hearing 467 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 1: a little bit about people pulling back a little or 468 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: do you see that is that that's been spiraling for 469 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: about a year. Do you see any any slowdown? I 470 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 1: think people are talking about it, you know, we're we're 471 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: reading articles about it, and and you know, so it's 472 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: definitely on on folks minds. Um uh, you know. I 473 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: I believe that part of the problem for some of 474 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: the bigger, bigger streaming organizations is that they don't really 475 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: stand for anything other than we have a ton of stuff, 476 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: you know, and and that you know, when you talk 477 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: about value propositions in the marketplace, that is valuable. Sure, 478 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: you know for a lot of folks who maybe have 479 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: multiple generations and you know, in their household and they 480 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: want to be able to you know, um, but uh, 481 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: you can't beat standing for quality, you know, which is 482 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: what which is the pillar that is the most important 483 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: one for us, you know, And we also talk about uh, 484 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: you know, as I said, our mission statement, you know, 485 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 1: which is very important to us and and you know 486 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: is that we aspire to be recognized as the best 487 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: platform in the world for the premium market contemp for adults. 488 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: We have a real operational philosophy, which is that there 489 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: are three primary components to a great A MC show. 490 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: One is uh iconic breakout characters that are sort of 491 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: lightning in a bottle, you know, that become part of 492 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: the breakout and become a part of the cultural conversation. Um, 493 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: you know, Don Draper, Rick Grimes, Walter White, Villanelle Eve. 494 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:17,959 Speaker 1: I mean these are characters that you just mentioned their 495 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: name and you know exactly what show they're a part of. 496 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:22,360 Speaker 1: You can put them on a billboard without anything else, 497 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 1: and everybody say, oh, that's madman, that's killing eve that 498 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: you know. Um. The second component is that they usher 499 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: the audience into unique worlds or subcultures that we either 500 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: haven't seen before or haven't seen featured in this particular way. 501 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,479 Speaker 1: You know, in nineteen sixties, Madison Avenue ad firm at 502 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: the dawn of the feminist movement, the civil rights movement, 503 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: the beginning of the end of the unchecked dominant or 504 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: the unchecked dominance of the white male patriarchy, you know, right, 505 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: and and really and and by putting that show on 506 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: the air in two thousand eight or nine, we were 507 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: able to take a very clear look back at a 508 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: moment in time and you evaluate, like, how how far 509 00:28:57,840 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: have we or have we not come today? You know, 510 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,239 Speaker 1: I mean it did the what period is supposed to do, 511 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: which has put a lens on today by looking at yeah, yeah, right. 512 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: And and then the third component that's really important to 513 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: us as are we want to show us to entertain 514 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: and engage, of course, but as importantly we want them 515 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: to say something about the world we live in. We 516 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: want them to shine a light on our collective humanity, 517 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Uh and and 518 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: we don't think that's pretentious. We think that's actually a grounding, 519 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: uh elevating touchstone that really makes these shows relevant, you know, 520 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: whether even you know, whether it's Killing Eve or as 521 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: I said, you know earlier about with the Walking Dad 522 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: or Breaking Bad or mad Men, you know, and you'll 523 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: see that in interviews the Vampire in Mayfair, which is 524 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: in moon Haven, which you know just launched yesterday, or 525 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: Dark Dark Wins, I know is a big priority for you. Yeah, 526 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: that's a world that is you know, we have not 527 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: definitely not seen as much of. Yeah, and it's why 528 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: I know it's it's it's why we talked a lot 529 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: about making sure it's authentic. You know, it doesn't work 530 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: if it's not authentic, you know, let mean, if if 531 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: it's a uh, you know, a sort of water down 532 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: version of what we think a Navajo reservation is, like 533 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: written from Manhattan. Yeah, exactly, Dan, Thank you so much. 534 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: I appreciate you. I appreciate you letting me kind of 535 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: twenty questions with a really veteran, veteran development person. Let 536 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: me let me close by asking you this one. What 537 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 1: would you say from all it, from the experiences in 538 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: your career, what would you say, is the best experience 539 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: that you've had in the past that set you up 540 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: for where you are now? What what allowed you to 541 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: kind of get to the place you are now. I'll 542 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: give you two Okay, So, uh my, it was my 543 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: second job in the business, but it was my first 544 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: sort of like right in the middle of the series 545 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: television business. Started working at the Fox Network when we 546 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: were on the year two nights a week, and it 547 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: was get you to the company maybe, and I got 548 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: to I was it was my I was a really 549 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 1: young person, and I got to be in a lot 550 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: of meetings with Barry Diller and Peter Chernon and Ruper Murdoch. 551 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 1: And it was a time when Brandon tartakof famously called 552 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: the company a coat hanger network and said it would 553 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 1: never succeed, and he got mad when they moved the 554 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 1: sixth Thursday. But we really believed that we had we 555 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: had something, and we had a mission and and it 556 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: was informed by this notion of we will only do 557 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: a show that nobody else would do if any other 558 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: network would do it. We went to any that came 559 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: to Simpsons and in Living Color and uh you know, 560 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: Married with Children and uh nine O two and O 561 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 1: and Melos placing Party of Five and X Files. I 562 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: mean it's a it's yeah, it's a Murders one of 563 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: great shows. And so that was really that sort of 564 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: entrepreneurial spirit has stuck with me throughout my career, and 565 00:31:55,760 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: I think we have to constantly be thinking, be leaning 566 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: forward and leaning into new ideas and new thought, new 567 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 1: talent and you know, etcetera, etcetera. So that was one thing. Secondly, 568 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: we're pretty formative experience to the right place, right time, 569 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: right yeah. And and the second thing was working for 570 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: Stevensfield Oregon and Jeffrey Catzenberg and you know, David was 571 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: you know, to a less. I had less contact with David, 572 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: but and and just the two of them were absolutely 573 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: obsessed with telling great stories. And you know, we we 574 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: can get we can all get distracted by a big name, 575 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: you know, a big a list writer or a piece 576 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 1: of talent. But at the end of the day, we're 577 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: storytellers and we have to just tell great stories. And 578 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: that has to be that has to be the thing 579 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 1: that is the first, you know, the first thing we 580 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: think about when we get up in the morning, and 581 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 1: the last thing we think about when we go to sleep, 582 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: and are we telling great stories? Why are we telling 583 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: this story? Whose story is it? How does it meaningful? 584 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: What is it? Matt? Why does it matter? You know? 585 00:32:57,480 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: And are we doing the best job we can telling it? 586 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 1: You know. Jeffrey obviously an animation and and working you know, 587 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 1: I got to work for him in the TV company. 588 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: Amazing guy, you know, and so I really bring have 589 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: brought those those two just sort of a calumn experiences 590 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: are just you know, environments have informed everything I've done, 591 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: you know, for the rest of my career. Thanks for listening. 592 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 1: Be sure to leave us a review at Apple Podcasts. 593 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: We love to hear from listeners. Please go to Variety 594 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: dot com and subscribe to the free Strictly Business newsletter, 595 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: and don't forget to tune in next week for another 596 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: episode of Strictly Business.