Netflix Is Making Movies Shunned by Studios

Just like my last article about Gucci, this article as well has caught my eye because the company (Netflix) is doing something that truly does not follow the mainstream system of society. Netflix, as many of us already know, was a shock wave that not only rocked our nation, but the world as well. In a world where we had to go to Blockbuster, and or Hollywood Store to rent out DVDs, Netflix became the ultimate way to watch movies and or shows.

  

Now we all know the usual process of Netflix; you pay a monthly amount to have unlimited access to all the shows and movies they have on their site, and you can even pay a little extra to have certain movies sent to your home that they cannot post on their sites do to legality and or prices. The difference that we do not see here in Netflix, as compared to the movie theaters as well as other movie/show providers, is that they are showing and promoting low budget "indie" films. In the article it reads, "Even on that basis it fared poorly though, grossing just $50,699—a sign that perhaps few people are willing to buy tickets to a film they can watch at no extra cost if they already pay for Netflix." Netflix may not be making millions of dollars from promoting these films in theaters, but later on it says, "one of Netflix’s goals was simply to make “Beasts of No Nation” eligible for Academy Awards, which is why it had to be released in some theaters, not just to watch at home via streaming."

Netflix is not just looking to make a quick buck, but they are looking to invest in the future of movies and shows as we know it. Netflix has gone on their own to make tens of shows which have grossed higher than many popular shows from big sponsors such as TNT and AMC. They are doing what no other service has been able to do in a long time, which is be original. The catch with Netflix is that they are not just taking time to make their own shows, but also giving these independent film makers the opportunity to shine. This has truly taken the nation by surprise, and if it were not for Netflix, films like Beast of No Nation would never have been a relevant discussion this week.

The way this article applies to what we have learned in class is the "product"  as well as the service of the four P's. They are offering the public a product that is unlike any other company. It started with online movie and show services, and has gone to a level of making and marketing their own movies and shows. The new service that they are providing, which in some ways is a revival from the past is the support of low budget independent films. These are qualities of a company that will not only be around for the next year or so, but for the next few generations. If Netflix can continue to remain original, as well as bring small budget companies under their wing, it will be a long time before we see another competitor come in and challenge them.

The Questions at hand are as follows: Is supporting the small independent companies a good idea? Are Netflix's self made shows as popular as they sound? What other companies are rising up to challenge this movie giant?

http://www.wsj.com/articles/netflix-is-making-movies-shunned-by-studios-1445201653

Posted by Joseph Brown at 7:15 PM