CISAC@WIPO: Screenwriters, Directors and Producers Gather to Share Insight into the Film Creation Process

The process of bringing an audiovisual work to the screen is long and uncertain, and the collaboration of creators and producers is often the critical factor in its success. This was the key message of the panel that brought together authors, screenwriters, directors and producers for the first time at WIPO in Geneva on 7 October.

The special session titled “Framing Dreams: Creative cooperation in the film-making process” was held at the invitation of CISAC, together with the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAFP) and Writers & Directors Worldwide (W&DW).  Co-chaired by FIAFP Senior Expert of International Affairs Bertrand Mouillier and W&DW President Yves Nilly, the discussion enabled WIPO delegates to learn more about the challenges of trying to make a living as an audiovisual creator.

First to speak was Writers' Guild of Great Britain Chair and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed. Analysing the process of bringing

Girl with the Pearl Earring” to the screen, Ms Hetreed explained how “trust is the key ingredient of a good relationship between creators and producers”.

The film’s producer Andy Paterson reinforced this sentiment and explained why it is essential that all parties share a common vision for the end product. He said.

It’s a very complex industrial and financial process and the risks you are going to embark on are huge. So it’s important that producers are trying to make the same film as the screenwriter.”

Indian director and producer Bobby Bedi spoke next, giving detailed insight into both the financial dependency of creators and producers and the particular challenges in India, which today hosts the world’s largest film industry. Bedi highlighted the importance of strong copyright laws in enabling creators to make a living. He said,

It’s a difficult business and success is very rare. You need to ensure that your revenue stream is secure over a lifetime rather than just over your films.”

Senegalese director Angèle Diabang then shared her experience of the audiovisual industry in Africa, stressing the importance and the need for efficient author’s societies. She explained how the quality of the finished work also depended on proper funding. She said,

When one has the prospect of being able to finance a film successfully, one can take more time for the creative film process."

The last speaker was renowned French writer of comic books, screenwriter and novelist Benjamin Legrand. He spoke about the great explosion in animated cinema where Just as in live-action however, cooperation and fair remuneration are the key factors to preserving the quality of work.

Twenty years ago we would make one animation movie every 15 years but today, we make 15 animation movies per year”.

In their conclusions, writers, filmmakers and producers all agreed that strong copyright frameworks and sound financial mechanisms were necessary to keep the film industry going and provide creators with the right platform to express their visions.

W&DW President Yves Nilly closed the event by saying,

We wanted to share experiences about the process of making a film. It requires a long creative chain that can take years to complete and where creators and producers need to collaborate to succeed. The role of copyright is to protect this chain and these relationships."