Positive Trends for Indie Filmmakers

You don’t have to listen to critics — it is a great moment to be a filmmaker.

Bardya ZIaian, Canadian fintech entrepreneur and filmmaker, sees it that way.

Bardya Ziaian is a fintech-based startup entrepreneur who launched Virtual Brokers (BBS Securities) and other startups. Bardya Pictures Ltd. was established by him to expand his filmmaking.

Ziaian says that even though it’s easy get caught up in the drama surrounding the movie industry, such as criticism of the dominance in superhero stories and worries about the future of theaters, it’s actually a great time in filmmaking.

These are just a few of the reasons Bardya Ziaian believes there is reason for optimism among indie filmmakers in 2022.

Streaming is on the rise

Worldwide streaming services reached 1.1 Billion subscribers in early 2020, just a few months after Apple TV launched Disney+.

Research and Markets stated that streaming subscriptions could increase by Bardya Ziaian 529,000,000 in 2019, 2025 and 1.17 Million by 2025. Additionally, streaming revenues for 138 nations will reach $100 Billion by 2025.

Disney+ was one example of how rapidly streaming has reached the global marketplace. They originally planned to reach 60 to 90 million subscribers by 2024. However, they exceeded that goal within a year of launching their service in fall 2019.

It is unclear how streaming will impact the media landscape. Ziaian stated that many long-standing practices of viewing content have returned. These include airing new episodes of TV every week, different services maintaining rights to specific content and a la carte approach, which is not unlike the numerous cable options in years past.

Record Spending On Indie Projects

While media critics are often focused on Disney and Marvel Studios’ dominance, the numbers give a more balanced picture of what’s going on in the film industry.

Indie-created content has seen record spending. According to Purely streamingonomics, independently produced and acquired content now generates twice the global revenue of the five major Hollywood studios.

Ziaian stated, “There is so much more diversity as far as where and how people get their material.” “Many people are creating content on YouTube and other platforms which are more friendly to independent creators.” Even big streaming services are looking to get new ideas from people outside the industry.

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