Amazon and Netflix are writing big checks, but some filmmakers still want a classic Hollywood studio

The battle over original video content — particularly original video content targeted at Hollywood’s big movie houses — is intense. The arrival of Netflix and Amazon into the fray has only heightened the competition.

But even though Netflix and Amazon are spending big to get their hands on films, the big studios still have some pull, said Stacey Snider, CEO of 20th Century Fox, who spoke Tuesday at the Code Media conference at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point, Calif.

Snider specifically mentioned two movies 20th Century Fox locked down at Sundance this year, “Step” and “Patti Cake$,” which she claims they acquired for less than what competitors were offering.

“There is, when it comes to those films, a curated, hand-carried approach to market that comes with years and years of experience,” Snider explained. “That’s not to say that it can’t be modeled, but the people that have been doing it with such incredible success ... speak an artist’s language that’s important to speak.”

In other words, it sounds like big studios still have the marketing chops that new competitors haven’t figured out. At least Snider believes so.

Big studios with big parent companies, like 20th Century Fox, also have the resources to bring a film beyond the big screen. Snider says her team will pitch ideas like turning a film into a TV series or a Broadway play when talking to filmmakers looking for a studio.

“There’s no area that we’re not in,” she said. “Why wouldn’t you want to play in that sandbox?”

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?

Most news outlets make their money through advertising or subscriptions. But when it comes to what we’re trying to do at Vox, there are a couple reasons that we can't rely only on ads and subscriptions to keep the lights on.

First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead.

Second, we’re not in the subscriptions business. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. We can’t do that if we have a paywall.

That’s why we also turn to you, our readers, to help us keep Vox free. If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today?

One-Time Monthly Annual

$5/month

$10/month

$25/month

$50/month

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $5/month

Yes, I'll give $5/month

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via