Hollywood and Big Data

In a Nutshell
Developed and presented data-backed pitch for original streaming series.

The Challenge
During my senior fall at Wesleyan University, I took “Hollywood and Big Data,” a course taught by a former HBO executive. We used SQL to analyze exclusive film and TV datasets, examining how data drives decision-making in the entertainment industry.

Students worked in groups to produce a 20-minute pitch for an original film or series. With one other classmate, I pitched my concept Trouble in Paradise—a dark comedy/drama/mystery series about dating show contestants. We needed to convince our classmates that my idea was both compelling and viable. 

My Process
First, my groupmate and I conducted a Qualtrics survey for audience research purposes, examining viewing habits, genre preferences and interest in my pitch. As predicted, Trouble in Paradise resonated most strongly with Millennial and Gen Z women.

Next, we selected 6 film and TV ‘comparables’ and evaluated them across multiple measures, using Excel to visualize our results. For instance, Lost earned 1.26 billion Netflix viewing hours and made the Weekly Top 10 list, while The White Lotus was the most-watched show on HBO during its Season 3 release.

Collaboration and project management were vital. My groupmate and I divided up research and analysis, scheduled shared work sessions, and rehearsed extensively before delivering our pitch.

Results

• Planned and presented 20-minute original series pitch supported by primary audience research and industry data
• Used SQL to analyze 6 comparable film and TV titles across audience, performance and cultural impact metrics

Reflection
Incorporating industry data forced me to evaluate my idea through a commercial lens. I had to translate raw data into a convincing story, pick out the most interesting findings and use them to build a case. This combination of storytelling and analytical thinking is something I hope to continue applying in marketing.