Want to Build an Audience? Start Thinking Like a Studio Exec

Think Like an Executive, Create Like an Artist

The Filmmaker’s New Job Description

There’s a quiet revolution underway in the entertainment industry, and it’s not just about AI, streaming, or vertical video. It’s about who is expected to understand the audience.

For decades, the studio executive served as a stand-in for the viewer. Their job wasn’t just to fund movies or give notes. Their job was to guess what people would love — or at least what they’d pay to see. But today, that skillset is no longer confined to the C-suite. It’s now required of the creator.

If you want a career in entertainment that lasts, you can’t just think like a storyteller. You have to think like an executive. And the creators who understand this — and act on it — are the ones winning.

What Executives Actually Do (And Why Creators Should Care)

There’s a misconception in creative circles that executives exist to water down ideas, or worse, to block them entirely. But that’s not their real function.

A film or TV executive’s job is to evaluate creative ideas based on how well they’ll connect with an audience and generate returns. In interviews with studio execs from Disney, Netflix, and A24, the most common responsibilities include:

• Understanding market trends (What’s hot? What’s oversaturated?)

• Evaluating comps (What’s this like? How has it performed?)

• Giving feedback on scripts to improve clarity, pacing, and impact

• Packaging projects with talent, producers, and financing

• Overseeing marketing and positioning to ensure audience appeal

In The Hollywood Economist, journalist Edward Jay Epstein puts it plainly: “The studios are not in the movie business. They’re in the audience business.”

Executives serve as early-stage audience proxies. That’s why they emphasize clarity. That’s why they flag likeability. That’s why test screenings exist. It’s not because they lack imagination — it’s because they fear disinterest.

The Power Shift — Creators Are Now Closer to the Audience Than Studios Are

The traditional executive model was built for a world with limited access. Greenlights were rare. Budgets were massive. You got one shot, and the executive was the bridge between the artist and the masses.

But now that bridge is being replaced — or rerouted.

With YouTube, TikTok, Substack, Patreon, and direct streaming, creators have real-time access to their audiences. They no longer need an executive to guess what works. They can post, observe, and evolve.

Take YouTube’s retention analytics. Creators can see exactly when viewers drop off or replay a moment. TikTok’s algorithm rewards videos that hook people in under three seconds. Substack shows open rates and engagement by the hour.

This kind of data used to require expensive research and third-party testing. Now it comes free with your Gmail login.

Dhar Mann Didn’t Need Gatekeepers — He Built His Own Studio

Look at Dhar Mann.

Dismissed by some in traditional Hollywood as “low-brow,” Mann has built a $100 million-plus operation through YouTube moral stories, complete with merchandise, licensing, and global distribution. His videos generate billions of views. His reach rivals major children’s networks.

What’s his secret? He thinks like an executive.

He saw a white space in kids and teen content that was underdeveloped by cable networks. While linear TV was busy optimizing syndication and franchise IP, Mann built a scalable, vertically integrated machine that delivered:

• Clear emotional payoffs

• Data-backed tweaks in runtime, thumbnails, and content framing

• High-frequency posting and production

• Merchandise and fan engagement built into the DNA of his brand

He didn’t ignore the executive mindset — he internalized it. And he didn’t wait for a greenlight. He gave himself one.

Art vs Commerce Is a Tension, Not a Binary

Here’s where most artists get stuck: they treat art and commerce as a war.

But the best creators don’t pick a side. They balance both.

Spielberg, Gerwig, Peele, and Chazelle have all blended strong creative vision with acute audience awareness. They understand when to push boundaries and when to guide the viewer. They write for themselves, but they craft for others.

Thinking like an executive isn’t selling out. It’s understanding the delivery system. It’s asking whether your work connects — not just with you, but with the people you want to reach.

Ignoring the audience doesn’t make your work purer. It just makes it less likely to land.

What “Thinking Like an Executive” Means for Today’s Creators

If you’re a filmmaker, showrunner, or storyteller, here’s what this mindset looks like in practice:

1. Know Your Audience
Be specific. Don’t say “general audiences.” Say, “Gen Z rom-com fans who miss sincerity” or “sci-fi lovers who prefer slow-burn tension.” Know what they already love, and how you slot into that world.

2. Study Performance, Not Just Taste
Where do people stop watching your short film? Where do readers disengage from your script? What kind of pitches get traction? Feedback and performance data are gold — use them.

3. Develop Like It’s Your Own Money
If you had $50K of your own savings to make this short, would you still shoot that version of the script? Would you bet your year on it?

4. Package for a Platform
Don’t make a Vimeo short and expect it to go viral on TikTok. Each platform has a different audience contract. Learn the rhythms. Adapt your storytelling. Tailor your vision.

You Have What Executives Don’t — Speed, Control, and Community

Here’s the part most creators underestimate: you’re not just making content. You’re building a relationship. And unlike execs, you can shape that relationship in real time.

Today’s filmmaker isn’t just a director or writer. They’re a community builder. Whether it’s posting behind-the-scenes looks, sharing in-progress pages, or talking through your process, you’re creating connection. And connection is what leads to loyalty.

This is what I call thoughtful community building — the act of growing an audience through trust, value, and participation. It’s not about pandering. It’s about inviting people in.

That means:

• Sharing progress in a way that feels human and honest

• Asking your audience what they love, what confuses them, what they want next

• Giving your biggest supporters access to more of your world

• Creating a two-way relationship, not just a feed

Executives don’t get to do that. They only see data once the movie hits the market. But you can learn, adapt, and refine as you go.

You’re not just responsible for making something great. You’re now responsible for building the audience that wants to see it.

Real-World Strategies for Thoughtful Community Building

So how do you actually do it? Here are a few tools and tactics you can start using now:

1. Build in Public (But With Boundaries)
Share your development process in digestible, engaging ways. Use Instagram Stories, Substack posts, or dev diaries to let people in. Make them feel invested in the journey.

2. Use Your Platform Like a Studio Lot
Post deleted scenes, do live watch-alongs, host Q&As. Let your feed feel like a working studio where people can drop in anytime and see what’s coming next.

3. Create Feedback Loops, Not Just Feeds
Ask questions. Test ideas. Poll your community before locking a title. Let your audience co-shape the experience without letting them drive it off a cliff.

4. Launch a Private Community Hub
Create a free Discord or Slack space where fans and collaborators can gather. It’s the best way to build long-term connection without relying on social media algorithms.

5. Reward Long-Term Engagement
Shout out supporters, offer early access, and share exclusive versions of your work. Let people know it matters that they’ve stuck around.

Final Thought

You’re not just a filmmaker anymore. You’re a studio. You’re a brand. You’re a platform.

And like any great platform, your real asset isn’t just your content — it’s your community.

So take the storytelling seriously. Take the art seriously. But take the audience seriously too. They’re not just spectators anymore. They’re stakeholders.

You want a future in this industry? Don’t just write the thing. Build the reason people will care.

That’s what executives have been trying to do for a hundred years.

Now, it’s your turn.