Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Woodruff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

They say that Hollywood is dead. Or, at the very least dying… This is something that we’re hearing more and more regularly. And, in some ways, it’s true. Many of the numbers support the claim at least. And, basic observation supports the idea… Just look at how much the industry has changed in the past 25 years… Since things REALLY went digital…. and then remote… and now AI… throw in a dash of streaming and the longest strike in Hollywood and you can make a solid claim that Hollywood is dying… But IS it? Or is it just changing?

It’s crazy to walk around LA and look at the amount of office space and studio space the majors once occupied. Sure, they still OWN it, but I mean OCCUPIED. Like, all of those offices were FULL. Secretaries, operators, couriers, handlers, maintenance… think of the amount of support staff…. how many people (and how much space) it took just to get dailies together and then view them. How many jobs there were in just one aspect of production… and look how many of those jobs have been eradicated with the digital revolution… Now many of those offices sit vacant and I don’t think the studio lots will EVER be as busy as they once were. It’s expensive to have all of those people there… and, sadly, unnecessary.

Physical media is all but dead and theatrical is limping along between the few and far between box office hits like Maverick, Barbie and Oppenheimer, but it sure seems like there are more misses than hits these days… And there is so much content dropped on streaming sites now that most new stuff is barely a flash in the pan… It’s gone almost as quick as it hits. Replaced by the next shiny new thing…

Plus, now we have this AI threat on top of it all… IS Hollywood dead? Maybe. But I don’t think so. Not by a long shot. It’s just being reborn. Reinvented. Evolving. And change doesn’t always come easy.

Now we can make feature films on laptops. And we have more ways to reach an audience than ever before. Sure, there is more competition than ever before too, but, we have a safeguard. And that safeguard is… US. People. And our inherent need to tell stories. To bond and connect through story. This has been the case since the beginning of time and it isn’t going to change now. The only thing that is going to change is the way we tell stories. And (in my humble opinion), it will force us to get back to telling BETTER stories. People aren’t going to drop 25 bucks on a movie ticket to see a mediocre movie any more, or the same recycled schlock they’ve seen 100 times before…. The biggest budget film won’t always win (look at Godzilla X Kong: New Empire vs Godzilla Minus One)… No. We have to get back to the heart of story. Unique perspective, relatability, originality and shared experience. We have to tell stories better than ever before in order to get them to stick. And, often, we have to do it for less money than ever before because of changing (and reduced) revenue streams. But, in my opinion that’s a good thing. It’s time for a system reset. And these challenges, along with advances in technology equip us with the tools necessary to meet them head on both from within and outside of the studio system. So, is Hollywood dead? Is it dying? Maybe the old Hollywood is dying… but the new Hollywood is coming…. and I think, if we stick to what we as a species have known since the start of time, we will find that we have countless great new stories to tell… And nothing will ever be able to replace that.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an LA-based writer, director and producer specializing in feature films, corporate/advertising videos and creative consultation. Originally from Brookville, Ohio I’ve spent the past twenty years working in entertainment and production. From building sets for POP SUGAR, LOWES and HOME DEPOT, to working in development with former UNIVERSAL STUDIOS president Thom Mount, my versatile experience in production set me up for success with my debut feature film ANIMAL AMONG US starring Christian Oliver, Larisa Oleynik, Erin Daniels, Heather Tom and Don Frye. Since its worldwide release in 2019, I have produced and directed multiple projects on an international level including videos for AMAZON, TOXIPETS, WEBBER LAW GROUP and ABN AMRO BANK. I have done creative consultation for PROCTOR AND GAMBLE, IAMS, HARLEY DAVIDSON and am currently deep in development on my upcoming feature film KILL THE GIRL which was optioned by one of the top 10 highest grossing film producers of all time. I am always open to exploring partnership and investment opportunities in regard to all aspects of production and am currently seeking investors for several features I have in development .

Have you ever had to pivot?

Things are changing faster than ever. Global pandemics, the longest strike in the history of Hollywood, technology… AI… All of which require us to change faster than ever. Our business models, our strategies, even our philosophies. It seems like every time the dust settles on one of these world changing events, there is another development just waiting to change everything again. And that can be scary… But what’s that old saying? Evolve or die?

I suppose it’s true now more than ever. But for me, staying true to my core philosophies is more important than ever in navigating these challenges.

When the pandemic hit, it demanded that so much of our industry shift to working remotely. Even after things returned to ‘normal,’ people weren’t taking lunches like they used to, meeting up for coffee, going to screenings and networking events. There were less than ever. BUT. It opened up a whole new level of accessibility through connecting with people remotely. It became the new norm. The new standard. You didn’t have to meet in person to get that contact or that number any more, you could just reach out online. And for me, that opened a lot of doors. The setting changed, but in the end it is still all about relationships. Who you invest your time, effort and energy into and who invests in yours. The only difference now is that instead of sitting in Hollywood, you can be anywhere in the world and that’s fine by me! I actually find it opening up more doors and creating more opportunity than ever before because we are no longer bound by geographical location… I’ve always loved the saying ‘it’s not where you’re at that matters, it’s what you’re doing where you’re at.” And that is more true now than ever. But it still all goes back to a core fundamental philosophy based upon building quality relationships.

I have found that most people’s core values and goals haven’t changed. They want to work. They want to create art and they want to tell stories. They want to build. And so I lean into that. If you can get enough people together with a common goal or dream anything is possible. And everyone wins. So I’m always looking for that story that everyone relates to and wants to see brought to life, or that project that speaks to the greater good that allows us to unite people behind a good cause… Because if we can come together as artists and professionals, as people, we can all benefit each other by creating opportunities for one another in spite of the above listed challenges.

So, while it is necessary to pivot in these rapidly changing times, now more than ever, it is also important to adhere to the fundamental ideas and philosophies that so many have built success upon. After all, where’s the fun in dictating an idea to a computer only to have it spit it out like a cheap piece of candy? It defeats the entire purpose! The real fun is in people working together to grow, learn, discover and create. And I think we can all agree on that.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Collaboration. Communication. Investing in and bringing a hope/dream/vision to life with a group of people who each bring different skill sets, perspectives, backgrounds and talents to the process. There is nothing more rewarding than getting to hire someone and pay them to do what they have always dreamed of doing… Shooting a movie or editing it… writing music, building sound… acting… What could be more rewarding than investing in someone’s passion and in working side by side with them to bring a hope/dream/vision to life? It’s all about collaboration, team building, working together to try to create something that will touch people’s lives, inspire and entertain… and if we can continue to come together in that way, to connect and create in that way, the above listed challenges start to become a bit less daunting… because at the core of everything, this need to experience the human condition through creating and consuming art can never be fully eradicated. So again; if anyone wants to make anything, hit me up! Hah-hah!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johnwoodruffproductions.com
• Instagram: @therealjohnwoodruff
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejohnwoodruff
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-woodruff-11670556/
• Other: https://www.storymind.co

Image Credits

Photos by: Dan Buckley