To the outsider, Hollywood seems like a big place that is always producing innovation forms of creativity. Those on the inside, know that there are only a few major film studios, and video streaming services are on the rise which eventually may become more popular to create in Hollywood than those from traditional studios.
Since the popularity of video streaming services indicates that it will continue to rise as more networks are developing apps for TV, smartphones and other devices, it is safe to assume that the days of watching family films and television on networks alone is something that still occurs, but is becoming less frequent.
Particularly for 90s sitcoms and family TV shows, the networks seemed to catch the butterfly in a jar. There are countless productions that were extremely successful during the decade and some of them are even coming back as reboots on streaming services. In those days, the biggest decision for consumers were the ways in which they choose to connect with the content, either through the traditional TV channels, cable or satellite options.
The goal of every video streaming service is to recapture the butterfly, but with so many different options from Netflix to Disney+, it is impossible for one streaming service to dominate the market and make family programming more accessible than their competitors. Since there are so many options, it seems that consumers are making their choices based on brand loyalty.
If you enjoy the productions created by Disney Studios, including Marvel, National Geographic and other popular content, it would be safe to assume that the consumer that is looking for family content would be more likely to signup for Disney+ before any other service. Therefore, the paradigm for each individual video streaming network is to provide the most variety of content possible and make family shows as accessible as possible.
Actor David Oyelowo is no stranger to the big screen, but a conversation with his son has led him to want to get behind the camera and maybe even produce shows that display a family aesthetic that is diverse and reflective of America today. He plans to show representative characters that are authentic and from a variety of cultures, including his own.
The conversation inspired the actor to develop Yoruba Saxon his TV and film company that will be developing and releasing primarily family-friendly content for a variety of audiences. After gaining inspiration from his son, and reflecting on his personal family image, the actor stated “I am not just going to aim for these things that show a level of representation of my world,” Oyelowo continued. “Now I have to fight for them.”
Oyelowo is correct about his need to remain focus on family projects that are not currently being displayed on TV and film. The greatest challenge is probably getting the funding in order to produce these shows. Some investors may not back the projects because there has not yet been a golden age on video streaming services where family content has dominated in the number of video streams or ratings on television. While Oyelowo is committed to depicting authentic family images, there are other actors in Hollywood who have the same goals. Their collective efforts could produce a renaissance of family content. While the task may be difficult, Oyelowo and many of his peers are ready for the challenge