Taku's Blog

  This week, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of industries such as Hollywood, Bollywood, and Nollywood in particular, and how they shape the global business of filmmaking. Each of these industries carries a distinct identity, culture, and system of operation, yet they all share one thing in common: influence. Hollywood, for instance, has long stood as the benchmark for global cinema. It built its empire through storytelling, distribution networks, and an unmatched ability to market both films and the culture surrounding them. Hollywood didn’t just create movies; it created dreams and turned those dreams into business models that continue to shape how the rest of the world makes films. Bollywood, on the other hand, thrives on scale and emotion. It produces hundreds of films every year, blending music, drama, and color into an art form that connects deeply with audiences both in India and across the diaspora. What’s fascinating is how Bollywood films are not only cultural export...

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned while studying marketing and distribution in the film industry is this simple truth: everything is negotiable. In filmmaking, negotiation shows up everywhere, from contracts with talent, to licensing deals, to distribution agreements. Nothing is ever fully set in stone. A budget can shift, a release window can change, and even revenue splits can be adjusted, all depending on the power of negotiation. This flexibility reveals an important reality about the business side of film. Unlike the creative process, which often thrives on structure, the business landscape is fluid. The ability to negotiate can determine whether a film secures wide distribution or fades into obscurity, whether a project stays under budget or spirals out of control. What I find most interesting is how negotiation is not only about numbers. It is about relationships, leverage, and timing. Knowing when to push, when to compromise, and when to walk away are skills that I...

  When we think about intellectual property in film, copyright usually gets the spotlight. But trademarks are just as important for building a sustainable creative business. A trademark is a word, symbol, phrase, or design that distinguishes your brand from others. In entertainment, this could mean the name of your studio, a unique logo, or even a catchphrase that becomes recognizable to audiences. Think about the Disney castle logo before every film or Marvel’s comic flip intro. These are trademarks that immediately communicate brand identity and trust. For an independent filmmaker, trademarks are a way to transform creative work into a lasting brand. If I create a character, story, or even a production company name that gains recognition, protecting it as a trademark ensures that I can expand it into other areas of business. That might be merchandise, clothing, toys, or even a theme park experience. While copyright protects the story itself, trademarks protect the way that story ...

  This week, I had the chance to attend the NYU Reality Show, a tradition prepared for freshmen during their orientation week. For context, I am currently a junior at NYU Abu Dhabi, and back on my home campus, I had already experienced our own version of the show titled Real AD . While spending a semester in New York, I signed up to watch their version of the show, a live musical performance designed to give incoming students a glimpse of what college life is like. While the performers on stage were the main focus, I found myself equally drawn to the screens scattered throughout the venue. These monitors were broadcasting the performance in real time. It may look simple, but when you pause to consider it, there is sophisticated technology at play. The Basics of Live Broadcasting At its core, live broadcasting is about capturing an event and transmitting it in real time to an audience. Cameras are set up to capture different angles, microphones gather sound, and all of that informat...