This report analyses the Take 12 Digital Innovation In Film initiative set up by the UK Film Council and Nesta.

Key findings:

• The Take 12 programmes saw that the time to exploit change is, for the daring, at the start, when a small minority might reap the high-risk rewards as an ‘early adopter’ or during the maturing phase when it becomes real business.

• Most of the participants were explicitly seeking new ways to get their films to audiences – digital cinema, downloads, streaming and mobile.

• The opportunities that emerged were more than just seeing a gap in the market. Rather, there was recognition that change will challenge the existing system of rights, windows and the role of the theatrical release.

Take 12 Digital Innovation in Film programme was created in 2008 that responded to two changes in the film industry. The first was digital change and audience demand and the second was the opportunities and challenges this entailed for small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Take 12 brought together a dozen businesses along the film value chain and experts from digital and business consultancies, whose work would normally be beyond the financial reach of most individual SMEs. Through working on a range of business plans and ideas, the programme created a framework for the ‘innovation ready’ business.

Author:
Michael Gubbins