Publications

September 2006 (Revised August 2007)
Case

Warner Bros. and BitTorrent

Involves the copyright issues associated with Bram Cohen's revolutionary program BitTorrent, which makes it possible to transfer very large files, such as movies, at a high speed over the Internet. The program, which is available for free over the Internet, is used for... View Details

Keywords: Technological Innovation; Copyright; Lawfulness; Distribution; Internet and the Web; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

May 2007 (Revised April 2009)
Case

Netflix

By: Willy C. Shih, Stephen P. Kaufman and David Spinola

Reed Hastings founded Netflix with a vision to provide a home movie service that would do a better job satisfying customers than the traditional retail rental model. But as it encouraged challenges it underwent several major strategy shifts, ultimately developing a... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Film Entertainment; Disruptive Innovation; Growth and Development Strategy; Distribution Channels; Service Delivery; Renting or Rental; Competitive Strategy; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

November 2009 (Revised August 2011)
Case

Warner Bros. Entertainment

By: Gary P. Pisano and Alison Berkley Wagonfeld

Examines the process used by a major motion picture studio to develop and select movie projects. Warner Bros.' strategy is to focus its efforts on a small number of major "event" films (i.e., films with the potential to generate gross box office receipts of $300... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Film Entertainment; Risk Management; Product Development; Strategic Planning; Projects; Sales; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

05 Jul 2006
Working Paper Summaries

Advertising and Expectations: The Effectiveness of Pre-Release Advertising for Motion Pictures

Keywords: by Anita Elberse & Bharat N. Anand; Entertainment & Recreation; Advertising; Motion Pictures & Video

2007
Other Unpublished Work

Effects of Inventory on Demand for Rentals in the Home Video Market

By: Ioannis Ioannou, Julie Mortimer and Richard Mortimer

Retailer inventory decisions can greatly influence observed demand for a product by affecting, among other things, product availability (stock-outs) and product visibility in the store. These inventory decisions are affected by numerous factors including vertical... View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Demand and Consumers; Supply Chain Management; Competition; Contracts; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States

August 2014
Teaching Note

Peter Guber: The 'Me' vs. 'We' Brand

By: Stephen A. Greyser, William Ellet and Nelson Gayton

Well-known film producer Peter Guber must decide whether to commit to a time-consuming personal project. He is about to sign a contract for a business book in which he will share what he has learned in his long career. At the same time, he is keenly aware of problems... View Details

Keywords: Work-Life Balance; Entrepreneurship; Brands and Branding; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

August 2014
Case

Peter Guber: The 'Me' vs. 'We' Brand

By: Stephen A. Greyser, William Ellet and Nelson Gayton

Well-known film producer Peter Guber must decide whether to commit to a time-consuming personal project. He is about to sign a contract for a business book in which he will share what he has learned in his long career. At the same time, he is keenly aware of problems... View Details

Keywords: Work-Life Balance; Entrepreneurship; Brands and Branding; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

05 Jul 2006
Working Paper Summaries

The Power of Stars: Do Stars Drive Success in Creative Industries?

Keywords: by Anita Elberse; Entertainment & Recreation; Motion Pictures & Video; Financial Services

August 1981 (Revised December 1995)
Background Note

Orientation for Viewing ""Twelve O'Clock High""

Orients the student to the film "Twelve O'Clock High." Contains a list of the characters and exhibits summarizing the evolution of the organization structure of the 918th bomber group during the film. Also provides for student note taking on various stages in the... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Structure

October 2014 (Revised January 2016)
Case

IDEO: Human-Centered Service Design

By: Ryan W. Buell and Andrew Otazo

The case describes IDEO, one of the world's leading design firms, and its human-centered innovation culture and processes. It is an example of what managers can do to make their own organizations more innovative. In reaction to a rapidly changing competitive landscape,... View Details

Keywords: Design Thinking; Innovation; Service Management; Service; Design; Service Delivery; Innovation and Management; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Peru

12 Feb 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, February 12, 2019

immigrants. Download working paper: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54963 Judgment Aggregation in Creative Production: Evidence from the Movie Industry By: Luo, Hong, Jeffrey T. Macher, and Michael Wahlen Abstract— This... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

January 2006
Case

Negotiating for the Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Association: Jack Valenti (A)

By: James K. Sebenius, Ellen Knebel and Erin Egan

Summarizes the background and career highlights of Jack Valenti, longtime head of the Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Association. Sets up three difficult negotiation challenges facing Valenti over a rating system for movies, the financial... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Film Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Negotiation; Problems and Challenges; United States

February 2004 (Revised November 2005)
Case

Orientation for viewing "Path to War"

Prepares students to view "Path to War"--a movie that depicts the decision-making processes employed by President Lyndon Johnson and his advisers during the Vietnam War. Provides a brief history of the conflict in Vietnam prior to Johnson's decision to commit American... View Details

Keywords: History; War; Decision Making; United States

December 2008 (Revised March 2009)
Supplement

The Metropolitan Opera (B)

By: Anita Elberse and Crissy Perez

In April 2007, the New York City Metropolitan Opera's general manager Peter Gelb looks back on the first season of a daring experiment to broadcast performances live in high-definition to movie theaters across North America. While the "Live in HD" program has received... View Details

Keywords: Technology Adoption; Arts; Fine Arts Industry

December 2008 (Revised March 2009)
Case

The Metropolitan Opera (A)

By: Anita Elberse and Crissy Perez

In April 2007, the New York City Metropolitan Opera's general manager Peter Gelb looks back on the first season of a daring experiment to broadcast performances live in high-definition to movie theaters across North America. While the "Live in HD" program has received... View Details

Keywords: Arts; Technological Innovation; Marketing Strategy; Nonprofit Organizations; Competitive Advantage; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

July 1996 (Revised September 1998)
Case

Coming Soon: A Theater Near You

Designed to illustrate the complexity of buyer-seller arrangements in an established industry. When movie studios negotiate with theater operators to show new films, the costs to the studios of making the films are largely sunk. Similarly, the costs to the theaters of... View Details

Keywords: Competitive Advantage; Industry Structures; Film Entertainment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

October 2013 (Revised October 2013)
Case

Rhythm & Blues

By: Willy Shih

The bankruptcy filing of Rhythm & Hues, who received an Oscar for the arresting visual effects in Life of Pi, raised questions about the challenges faced by the firms like it as well as the broader post-production industry. The rapid pace of technology certainly... View Details

Keywords: Post-production; Visual Effects; Digital; Entertainment; Animation Entertainment; Film Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Theater Entertainment; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Information Technology; Internet and the Web; Applications and Software; Information Infrastructure; Motion Pictures and Video Industry; Los Angeles

August 2014
Case

Netflix in 2011

By: Willy Shih and Stephen Kaufman

Reed Hastings founded Netflix to provide a home movie service that would do a better job satisfying customers than the traditional retail rental model. But as it encountered challenges it underwent several major strategy shifts, ultimately developing a business model... View Details