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In a gathering in Netflix’s Amsterdam office on March 06, 2023, creatives discussed why the streaming giant was the best workplace to tell stories authentically and give their voices reach worldwide.
Mandla Walter Dube from South Africa (Jiva!, Silverton Siege), Belgian-Dutch writer/producer Nico Moolenaar (Undercover, Ferry), Norwegian director Roar Uthaug (Troll), Jordanian director Tima Shomali (Al Rawabi School for Girls) and German writer Katharina Eyssen (The Empress) shared the fondest experiences for a room full of press.
Creative Freedom
One of the most significant advantages of working with Netflix is the creative freedom it offers. The streaming giant is known for allowing creatives to explore their ideas without interference. It resulted in some of the most groundbreaking and innovative content available on any platform.
Shomali said creating for Netflix was about “freedom” to “tell stories that I believe in and want to be heard.” She added: “I always call Netflix the global village of the world where all the countries meet,” and creatives get to be seen.
Meanwhile, Dube said the streaming company opened opportunities to storytellers. “I always tell my students: don’t go to Hollywood anymore. Let Hollywood come to you,” he said. “I think this is a case in point of what Netflix has done.” And he shared that he also felt the end of traditional limitations.
“For me, being supported means that you can tell your story in your original language, and you’re like, ‘Are you serious?’ ‘Yes, you can do that.’ And it is decolonizing, for me, the lens. I don’t have to see my world, my soul in an English set-up.”
No to Puppetry
Uthuag, a Norwegian director, further stressed the practices making Netflix the best platform for creatives. “We were given great freedom” and “lots of support in making the movie I wanted to make and supporting my vision for the movie.” As a result, he could make an “authentically Norwegian” movie about trolls for Netflix rather than an Americanized version of his story.
Meanwhile, German creator Eyssen discussed The Empress and its success. Germany- and Austria-set royal drama was an overwhelming experience, following a massive response from the audience. Eyssen also told how working with Netflix back-and-forth made the show the best it could become.
“I was so moved by the messages I got from around the world, from people from Nigeria and South America, Colombia, the States a lot and the U.K. and Canada. I was completely overwhelmed. And we were successful in Ukraine, which is very important to us as Europeans.”
The Future of Netflix
Netflix ended 2022 with 230.75 million subscribers. Since then, they have expanded their presence and production operations in various international markets. As of writing, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa became the most significant region in terms of subscribers for the company. The areas overtook the U.S. and Canada with 76.7 million. Meanwhile, its revenue soared to $9.7 billion, with average revenue per user at $10.99, versus $15.99 in the U.S. and Canada.
Conclusion
Despite facing challenges such as the pandemic and increased competition, the company has continued to grow its subscriber base and revenue. The future looks bright for Netflix as it continues to innovate and adapt to changing consumer trends in the streaming industry.
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