HBR IdeaCast
A Hollywood Producer’s Formula for Taking Bigger Risks
Dec 10, 2024
Larry Kasanoff, a maverick movie producer known for hits like Platoon and Dirty Dancing, shares his bold approach to risk-taking in Hollywood. He critiques the industry's current trend of playing it safe and outlines his three-part framework for innovation: Create, Ask, and Play. Kasanoff recounts how passionate pursuits lead to iconic successes and emphasizes the importance of balancing instinct with audience expectations. Through anecdotes from Mortal Kombat and creative collaborations, he illustrates how humor and playfulness can unlock greater creativity.
27:49
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast underscores the film industry's need to embrace innovation and take creative risks instead of relying on safe franchises and remakes.
- Larry Kasanoff emphasizes that fostering a culture of play and fun in workplaces can significantly enhance creativity and problem-solving.
Deep dives
Embracing Creative Risks in Hollywood
The current Hollywood landscape is criticized for its reluctance to take creative risks, often favoring safe bets such as remakes and franchises over innovative storytelling. The guest highlights that audiences crave new and diverse ideas, and that the safest option is often the riskiest, as it can lead to failure in an industry reliant on creative swings. He emphasizes that the fear of failure stifles creativity, and successful films have historically emerged from those willing to embrace the unconventional. By rejecting a conservative approach, filmmakers can tap into the original and innovative narratives that resonate with audiences.
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