“News Companies See Movies as Opportunity for Growth”

As much chatter as there is going around about the supposed decline of movies as a viable narrative form in today’s binge-watching-short-attention-span culture, there’s this:

In a surprising turn, some of the most aggressive contemporary purveyors of information, journalistic and otherwise, are seeking future growth from what has not seemed novel since Edison’s day: the feature-length motion picture.

In the last several years, BuzzFeed Media, Vice Media, CNN, Condé Nast and Newsweek have all built units or alliances aimed in part at creating long-form narrative or documentary films that will be seen in theaters. They will use time-tested promotional apparatus — including festivals, awards and brightly lit marquees — to draw viewers, many of whom will ultimately see the movies online or on television.

Distributors of short form news stories are creating divisions focusing on long-form feature films, both scripted and documentary. Why?

While they vary, the operations are all planted in the notion that classic movie formats have immense power to open cultural conversations, and to hold viewers who might otherwise be lost to a competitor with the next bold headline, or two-minute video.

If the goal still exists to create content that draws eyeballs that stick around for longer than it takes to click a mouse, movies can be a sound solution, landing a person’s attention for 90–120 minutes. This from Ze Frank, president of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures:

Why bother?

Because, Mr. Frank said, long-form visual storytelling seems the best way to deal with life’s deeper themes: “sex, love, war, jealousy and betrayal,” for instance.

“The Russian novel was the standard for a while,” he said. “Right now, I really feel it’s the feature.”

Cycles. The entertainment business is always about cycles. Something’s hot. Then it’s not. Then it’s hot again. That’s just one reason why I’m absolutely certain that while we may be in the middle of the so-called Second Golden Age of TV, there will be a renaissance on the movie side of things.

Who knows? Maybe it’s emerging right now.

For the rest of the NYT article, go here.