Whenever I watch a movie I get the same thought- The director and her team would most likely have worked on it for a year or two at great cost, treating it like some secret project, but in less than three hours the audience will deliver their verdict. Couldn’t they first design some sort of test or create a pilot to see if the concept clicks with the audience? I was sure design thinking and lean startup principles could be used in filmmaking.
I soon discovered that writer-producer Rishi Bhilawadikar and director Rucha Humnabadkar consciously used design thinking when making their well-received independent film ‘For Here or to Go?’. They conducted interviews (empathy), made a concept video (prototyping), got anonymous feedback (testing) to market and raise funds for their film. You can learn more about their approach here: https://www.foundingfuel.com/podcast/a-design-thinking-approach-to- film-making/
In my view, most movies are made based on the director or screenwriter’s deep attachment to the story. While commitment to your vision is a good thing, you have to first consider the needs to your user. In this case of movies, this is the audience which may or may not connect with the movie, which ultimately determines whether it is a hit or a flop.
The bottom line is that whether it is a movie, software product or anything else, the USER is king and we need to fulfill their desires and wishes, not our own.
