Lights... Camera... Spreadsheets?

Emile Sherman and his production company See-Saw Films have produced some of the most beloved films and TV shows of the last few decades, including The King’s Speech, Lion, Heartstopper and Slow Horses. It’s a job he loves, but it’s not all glitz and glamour. In fact, it's similar to running a business in almost any other field... 

Whether you're trying to spot the next big thing or learn when to say “no” to the big money, running a production company is far more business than “show.” Emile explains how he and his business partner Ian Canning transformed See-Saw from a scrappy startup into a global production house, how their early bid for independence informed the way they work today, and why the risky decision is often the smartest one.  

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The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. 

This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Claire Annesley. 

The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here. 

You can listen to Emile's podcast Principle of Charity here. He also has The Sandbox: A See-Saw Podcast On Creativity which you can find here.

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We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.