> "At what point the tail started wagging the dog, or whether it actually has, is anyone's guess." If you've read about the industry at all in the last 20 year

> "At what point the tail started wagging the dog, or whether it actually has, is anyone's guess." If you've read about the industry at all in the last 20 years, you'd know that point came and went and no-one even questions it anymore. Movie concepts are passed to accounting departments who will tell you what rating you can go for, what your cast composition will be, what your production cost will be, whether you sign the talent for sequels, expected merchandising revenue, international appeal, etc. Only a very few people can get a movie made in Hollywood without getting their concept first blessed by said accountants as likely-profitable. And those generally only do-so based on their ability to find additional financing themselves, to take on higher-risk positions. (e.g. the bank-via-the-studio will kick in X%, but they get paid first, so the underperformance that they expect doesn't get in the way of them making money)