My Thoughts on the Film Industry Entering 2025: Sound Speeds Podcast 27

[@Ranger7Studios]

Happy New Year Allen! Disney has been a mess for sometime now and it will probably remain so, unfortunately. I think we're going to see a lot of independent studios and productions taking over from the bigger studios. Indie film IS on the rise. Now that you can make it from home, we'll see a lot of these studios investing in "content creators" and less in industry professional. Not to say that the content creators aren't professional, but it's definitely a paradigm shift in the way films are bought and sold. I've actually returned to acting on the stage as there are more opportunities available to me there that behind the camera at the moment. I'm still in the KZbin game, but I'm shifting out of reviews and talking about things I like, enjoy and things I use as a professional filmmaker. I think the days of reviews or shilling for companies for free or profit are coming to an end. I've noticed an uptick in channel comments where people calling out other content creators as shills. So I don't know if the brand deal market for content creators will hold much longer. In the end, I think people are craving authenticity and a return to the "good ol' days". And the times, they are a changing (as they always do). Hopefully things will circle around like how streaming has become the new cable (with a worse connection) and we'll get some instance of the studio system back. Time will tell. The rise of AI will also play a part in dictating the future of film making. But that's another rant for another time. Best of luck in the new year and I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing your thoughts as the film world progresses!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I pretty much agree. Let's hope 2025 is better than the past couple years.

[@dannepedersen]

I can agree about this. Look at the music industries when people start to make this at home, in good enough quality, not better than the big commercials studios but good enough. Then the streaming comes around and you can even distribute the music by your self. The possibilities for reach out have been easier than before when you need a recording company to sign you. Big artist like Michael J and Queen, Beatles and what ever will not be…. Because today everyone can reach out, but in smaller scale. I can see the same are going on at the film industry. Everything has become very accessible for anyone.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😪

[@HubLocationSound]

Wishing you a better 2025(and beyond), Allen. Bleak topic, but comforting to hear/read some discussion on it. It seems that the overall issue is that the US cannot compete globally on labor or goods (except maybe radar and missile systems).

[@SoundSpeeds]

That's not exactly it. There's a lot that I didn't cover and it wouldn't be wise for me to discuss openly in a video.

[@ekufilm]

Thank you, Allan! As a tiny indie film creator from a tiny country of Estonia with only 1.3 million population, it is very interesting to hear from such a high tier professional like you talk about this stuff! I also remember Alex Knickerbocker's video from over 3 years ago about the unions and all that. I'm not a professional by any means, I am not yet earning a living from making films and so I have very limited knowledge about all of the professional and financial side of the industry but I also feel like small creators are going to be taking over everything in the upcoming years, and of course already have been... now, just a small group of friends can make Hollywood level films if they work hard and learn a lot and learn from their mistakes and experiences, and of course we are getting better and better gear for less and less money to the point where a 2000 dollar camera can look like a 100 000 dollar camera (same thing for audio equipment of course) and it's very hard to tell a difference so as long as people are willing to learn and work hard for their passion projects, we can just go out right now and make amazing stuff!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yes indeed. Thanks for watching and the input.

[@zachvalenti]

I would tune into this format weekly. I’ve worked part-time in fiction podcasting for the last decade (some recording and voiceover, mostly audio editing, sound design, and re-recording mixing). Can confirm it’s been rough out there, although I’ve felt relatively insulated in my niche next to my friends in VFX. Beware the bean-counters, especially as a/v synthesis techniques mature. “More with less” will make “number go up” at the expense of creative expertise, which may go unnoticed by anyone outside the field until it’s gone.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Exactly

[@daniel_s_torres]

20:43 Please, don't be sorry, I highly appreciate that you speak out the truth from your personal experience. It's really useful to hear all of this, even if it's hard to process. Thank you, and thank you for all the great content you publish. Cheers from Spain.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. 😎

[@kriswouters2736]

Hi Allen, i work as a sound engineer in Belgium. I have most of the time day to day jobs, sometimes a show of a couple weeks, 3 days a week. I do also audiovisual installations as freelance to fill up my week. But i see also more and more shows that where produced without a sound guy (and most of the time with crappy sound). I think it is a global trend .

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sadly, you're right.

[@imark7777777]

Well said, I hope you get some thing solid for a little while. Same for me. Not in the industry but would like to be a little bit. I think we're all struggling right now. I currently have in this window 2879 tabs open of video I want to watch, over 25 windows and 11072 total tabs. I keep seeing lots and lots of cool content I want to watch but I have to run it at double speed if it's gonna be a 30 minute thing and slow it down where there's something I want to enjoy. There's also KZbin being stupid I'm struggling to play videos because I use Firefox not Google Chrome and I'm not paying them and they just keep hitting me with the most ridiculous Inappropriate ads. I like a good movie and thankfully I've made an arrangement with my local 1920s movie theater that I pretty much sneak/get into free but I still struggle to get down there for the 2 free movies and barely make it once or twice a month for the features. I didn't really want to see wicked from what I saw from the previews thinking it might be us and them kind of thing. then I watched a video on KZbin where they talked about the behind the scenes and sound aspect of it which really made me want to see it. I messaged the owner because I missed the 6 showings and they said they were going to do a another one I was assuming it was gonna be a private showing. No enough people wanted to see it that they booked it for another week nine showings all together. I went to the last Sunday 3pm showing and as I walked up at 2:55 to find a line out the door and next thing I know after getting through the door I was serving popcorn. Between all the segmentation in the streaming marketplace and everybody trying to keep a roof over their head it's really hard to justify entertainment. I'm currently working as a facilities manager for a nonprofit with a maximum of 25 hours biweekly. It's been slow with the band for Sound. And I'm currently in this weird limbo with the corporate crazy futurist guy. And thankfully I got hired to do Christmas music DJ outdoors for 3 days which ended up being 2 days after the weather came in. I have hardly anything but equipment and I live at home and do maintenance and all of my money is going to the IRS because my taxes got so messed up. one of these days I'll watch that seminar that I paid for (which should've been a tax deductible business expense but the place I went to wouldn't think so for anything hence how much I owe, they just kept saying I made a lot and I'm like then why are there crickets in my bank account). Unfortunately I think the next 4+ years are going to be hard.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I hate to say it but you're probably right

[@JamesClark1991]

Here in the UK things have been pretty grim this past year... Everyone I know bar one or two have been struggling with lack of work, lots have gotten part-time jobs to fill the void. I have had a few really talented friends leave the industry which was really sad to see. There have been a few continous TV series axed here in the past few years and some of my local ones which still remain have had their filming calender chopped down by a significant percentage. The barrier to access this industry is lower than ever thanks to technology which has led to overcrowding I think, and I also know that 70% of my viewing time has been on KZbin for at least the past two years, which I think speaks volumes.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Exactly.

[@knowyourjoe8826]

Allen, I wish you and yours the best and a prosperous 2025! I also believe it is kinda of a self fulfilling prophecy of sorts. The decline of "good" big production movies have driven away audiences and people have filled that entertainment void with other things. No there is a lack of interest in people wanting to go see "meh/sucky" big movie productions. They have lost their way. I feel they will probably not recover for several reasons the foremost being their lack desire under any circumstances to return to the "old way" of doing things when movies were epic. I hope I am wrong and they turn things around. Thank for sharing your thoughts on this.

[@SoundSpeeds]

People are watching TikTok and other short form videos instead of movies and TV. That's not healthy.

[@rodrigofeiteira]

I live and operate in a small European country and only know our reality. We don't really have a film industry to the point that I fell rear backwards into production so I can do my small passion projects. I find that the projects that have the most success both critically and commercial are the small passion projects that people may not get a lot of money but WE HAVE FUN. From late December to now I had the most jobs since i started 6 years ago. All because I just started saying yes to jobs not because I get my full day rate but because the project sounds fun. And something incredible happened. I'm enjoying being on set again. The crew is all laughing and the end product shows that fun. Are the projects B movies made on weekends? Yes but who cares. Everyone on set had a blast. And I haven't seen anything like that since I was kid making dumb films with friends

[@SoundSpeeds]

That's awesome. I can't wait to get back on set again.

[@salzstreuer8065]

Honestly, I'd enjoy you just rambling. Simple as that. Maybe you could do some thing like a Story-Time KZbin Series, where you tell us about your experiences and funny stories/encounters in your 20+ years of working in the industry. I just want to say, that I came here to this channel, because of your technical knowledge, but stayed because of your personality. I think that might be one reason, why your reaction videos do well.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Yeah, I thought about telling stories as segment two since I'm not getting questions to answer

[@techmed-rainer]

Obviously, I'm not in the film industry. I just love movies and shows. And I love everything audio related. My first love is making and listening to music, though. Thank you for sharing your insights in the industry, especially how you're affected personally. My best wishes that you will get the kind of show you're looking for. I'm firmly believing it will happen. Don't bother about not making more KZbin videos for now. I can personally relate to your problem of not being at home due to my day job. Keep up producing longer videos instead of TikTokking our world even more, please (I know you will).

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'll never do TikTok. I'm too much of a blabbermouth. 😁 Thanks for having my back on this.

[@wesleybrehm9386]

I’m in a small market in the US. There are about 30 good sound people where I am. I’m booked through next August, but that’s because I do sound design and composing as well. But it’s non-union work; we’re a right to work state and almost nothing here is IATSE. I can think of one IATSE film made here in the last two years since I’ve been in the industry. I am that new guy who is hungry and willing to work for less. I’m not trying to snipe the big players; quite the opposite. I look up to them and love when I get the chance to work with them. Thing is, they aren’t willing to work for next to nothing, understandably. So they do the big stuff and I snatch up the little stuff. I’d love to be working on bigger stuff, but I make a decent living doing small films and commercials. The more experienced folks will turn down a two day shoot for $400 a day. I’m fine with that. On average I get $1000 a day to split between myself and the boom op or utilities, which has to cover my kit fee as well. I feel blessed to be in a small market where people are trying to make artful films, not just content. But even the feature length movies I’m working on are only two or three week shoots. I love the sound design work I do, but if I’m being honest I could make more money working at Home Depot. There’s a time in life for working a job you hate to pay the bills, and a time to do work that doesn’t pay well but is emotionally fulfilling.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks for adding this as a comment. It may help some viewers.

[@wesleybrehm9386]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks for the comment. You’re easily one of the reasons I got into this business.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Awesome. 😎

[@QuestionMan]

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again. Not in the industry, but I feel like mini-deaths of the industry have happened a couple of times. I'm afraid to say that this most recent industry standard is in its late stages. Sadly, it's often the "doers" that suffer.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yeah...

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke! Accept my marvellous remake of Super Thanks, please. (No pun intended 😉)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yes sir and thank you.

[@ColinZiemer1]

It’s pretty grim up in NYC. Luckily I’ve been able to stay busy with my freelance jobs in corporate as well as news television. Do about 5-10 stand alone sound jobs a year with hopes of getting into IATSE 52 someday but honestly been feeling less optimistic about that future (had high hopes pre 2020) maybe I get there someday maybe I quit, move to Vegas and play poker professionally lol. I’ll be holding out on my IATSE dream for a long time but I have Vegas in my back pocket

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@ColinZiemer1]

@ wanted to add some more context. A lot of my Steadi op/camera friends have been struggling but I still see a good amount of filming going around the city. Gaffer friends have been staying busy…not sure what to make of the current situation out in New York…

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@QuestionMan]

Breaking out the popcorn.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@QuestionMan]

The industry has fooled itself into believing that THEY get to decide what I will watch. No, they get to decide what they will MAKE, but I will decide what I will spend my money to watch. And I'VE figured out that I don't need them. I LOVED movies and shows, but it turns out, my life rolls along just as well without them (especially considering the quality). They complain about their fans, but do things to intentionally and maliciously insult us and alienate us. Entertain me, don't preach, prod, or push me. I'm afraid we all live in the world where everything is run by finance bros now, who are obnoxious, entitled, twits. [END RANT]

[@SoundSpeeds]

I agree with that.

[@jamesraub3985]

You should speak like this in all of your videos.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sometimes it's not the right format but thank you for your insight and support.

[@rebel200794]

I'm not sure why exactly but the UK seems to be suffering the same lack of work, which seems odd considering I would have thought that if US based shows were moving more to Europe then the UK would be seeing more work, not less as it appears to be. I am in the same boat as you, no proper Film/TV in over 2 years. I'm hopeful that will change this year but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's the studios being run by money people instead of people that love making movies.

[@wesleybrehm9386]

I can’t speak for the whole UK, but I know a lot of VFX work is getting outsourced to Romania and Estonia. A few projects I’ve done production sound got shipped to the Baltics for editing or VFX, then sent back to me for sound design.

[@danniv13]

@@SoundSpeeds Same thing that happened to the music industry when there was one.

[@nathanksimpson]

Someone I know is trying to do some Korea Canada coproductions. I am going to go back to South Korea soon. Gonna see what’s happening there.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Good luck

[@stevestussey1928]

The reality is the film industry has always been a ponzi scheme, Studios have alway funded projects to use as write offs. Watch the Revenge of the Nerds anniversary panel. Timothy Busfield said that Revenge was supposed to be a write off against Return of the Jedi. So when people were hoping after the strikes thought that the studios would come back like post covid. That was never going to happen. When you were talking about content creators and attention spans, what the studios want is 2nd screen because as you pointed out, people are looking at their phones while they have something on in the background. It's easy to blame the studios, and yes, some of it is the studio heads aren't creatives, but the studio heads have to answer the private equity firms, and they answer to shareholders. The comment about everything going overseas, which some is, but the studios have been shooting overseas for years, it's just more apparent now because of the lack of work here. But what is often overlooked in this statement is that a lot of productions still are being shot in the U.S., they're just not in hubs that everyone expects. If you look at the number of shows that Kentucky, Oklahoma, North Carolina, New Mexico, etc, have gone up. If you took all those projects and put them into the hubs, it wouldn't look so dire. Add in during the post covid boom, the number of people who got into the business grew 25-40%. depending on where and which union. Many of those new people have never experienced a normal year, much less a slow year. Unless you've been in the business since 2007/08, you've never been thru a strike. Being in Georgia, we also have to deal with politicians throwing their xtian beliefs out there, which then Hollywood doesn't want to shoot there. I saw a graphic showing the number of man days and it was hard to just look at figure out. Basically over the past 2yrs, it showed that less people worked more hours, so that it looked like it wasn't so bad. To put it. perspective, in 2024, only 30% of local 600 members worked 30 days or more, and 600 has around 10,000 members nationally. At the meeting that graphic was shown, it was said, 2025 will pick up, but, there still won't be enough work for most members. So 2025 will be the year of reckoning for a lot of ppl.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Great insight.

[@stevestussey1928]

A couple things I forgot. People talk about incentives to keep work in their state and the U.S., a couple things of why that won't stop work from going overseas. People are quick to blame unions. Except some other countries, like the UK have unions. One of the biggest costs of union productions is member's insurance. It's 1 of the reasons why it's hard for unions to really fight because the AMPTP holds insurance hostage. Whereas anywhere else in the world that has universal healthcare will always be cheaper. With the new administration coming in and putting chairs in departments that are to gaslight people, it's only going to get worse. To defend my gaslighting statement, the people taking charge believe trickle down economics work and that corporations shouldn't be hindered by regulations and antitrust. That that stifles competition. Which is the actual opposite of what deregulation does. We've already seen consolidation, but once the new regime comes in, it's going to get worse not just for unions and its members but workers overall, and that's not even factoring in AI. So 2025 and beyond will something to behold.

[@SoundSpeeds]

We'll see what happens. I didn't go down some rabbit holes but like you, I'm very up on what is going on in the US with IATSE and other unions like... the Teamsters. It goes far deeper than you've written about.

[@managherroad]

Really sorry for your troubles. Iife's a bit of a shit show these days. I haven't done a narrative film job myself, in 1.5 years. Lots of corporate Ad type crap, yes, but very little thats creatively fulfilling. I mixed an hour long Audio Drama last year, that was a total delight, with no camera department.. So i'd love to do more of that, but so far nothing since. I also work as a photographer, so i'm lucky enough to have an income that still comes from something i enjoy. Here's hoping things turn around soon. Good luck out there.

[@SoundSpeeds]

You too