As the streaming wars intensify between giants such as Hulu, Disney Plus and Netflix, the latter is taking a radically different approach to accruing to new viewers by releasing original films from first-time filmmakers.
As The Los Angeles Times reports, Netflix released 19 original movies from first-time directors in 2019, with half of the first-time directors being women and directors of color whose films include diverse casts and characters.
The films included the Spike Lee-produced See You Yesterday, directed by Stefon Bristol. The film, which stars Eden Duncan-Smith and Dante Crichlow, earned positive reviews and currently has a fresh score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. And there’s still more to come.
The streaming giant is slated to release 11 original films from first-time directors in 2020.
“Let’s be that home where we can find the next Spike Lee, find the next Kathryn Bigelow and be there from the beginning with them,” said Scott Stuber, Netflix’s film chief, to the Los Angeles Times.
Stuber also revealed that the streaming giant does not have a set number of first-time directors it wants to amplify.
“There is not a quota around it,” he continued. “It’s just, let’s find great voices. Let’s find people who are uniquely talented.”
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Photo: Netflix
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