Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal: "Producing a film or a series is instinct and Excel tables"

Madame

6:30 a.m.

If we have to go back to the origin?

Native of Auckland, in New Zealand, I dreamed of Europe, of its cultures.

I discovered elsewhere through films, and Paris attracted me.

My challenge: to leave a reassuring home to study in France.

The first Christmas on the HEC campus was not easy, everyone was reunited with their families.

Fortunately, a Milanese invited me to her home.

I discovered the panettone and the

 !

The fourth edition of the Madame Figaro

cinema dinner

A decisive moment?

My internship, then my first job, in Simone Harari's production company.

Producing a film or a series means bringing art and business together.

Instinct and Excel spreadsheets.

I love this brain gymnastics of cultivating a creative passion and anchoring it in the numbers to make it profitable.

A rather Anglo-Saxon approach that sometimes surprises in France!

To see an idea come to life on the screen that we saw born is to create, I hope, the classics of tomorrow.

Who trusted you?

The men at the head of the Canal+ group, in particular Maxime Saada and Simon Gillham, of Vivendi, who supported me from my arrival in 2008 as head of international sales, then at each stage, including the management of the subsidiary England in 2019. The confidence of my teams is vital, as my decisions could affect their careers.

That of the producers who entrust me with their projects, too.

Obstacles as a woman in cinema?

I came from a country led by a woman, the first in the world to have granted them the right to vote.

At Simone Harari, in key positions, there were only women.

Later, it may have been less obvious, but hard work always pays off.

I have a rather Anglo-Saxon approach which is sometimes surprising in France!

Anna Marsh

The pitch of your position?

Managing Director of Studiocanal and member of the management board of the Canal+ group.

This presupposes believing in a common strategy in order to achieve, or even exceed, the objectives.

Producing and distributing requires passion, flexibility, attention to detail and everyone's contribution, openness to all players in the sector, including outside the group.

I go from a production meeting to a shoot, from reviewing budgets to Zooming in with Los Angeles or Beijing, and in the evening, late, reading scripts.

Results to be given here and now?

Turnover of approximately 500 million euros, 80% of which is international, and nearly 1 billion in investment over the next three years.

On average, 50 films and 30 series per year.

A challenge for tomorrow?

Continue to make our European culture travel through our catalog of 6,500 titles and imagine the films of tomorrow.

A moment off?

With my 10 year old twins and my Franco-Dutch husband.