Global Doesn’t Mean Generic: Ann Shin on Stories Without Borders

What if the secret to making a story an international hit is making it more niche?

That was one of the ideas at the heart of Fathom Film Group producer and filmmaker Ann Shin’s keynote at the International Broadcasting Conference & Content (IBCC) in Seoul, Korea.

In “Stories Without Borders: Creating Content that Resonates,” Shin explored why stories rooted in a particular culture, place, genre or audience can find audiences far beyond their original market.

Korean series like Teach You a Lesson and Crash Landing on You are powerful examples. So is Heated Rivalry — a Canadian hockey story with a lot of gay romance. Who would have guessed that would be a huge global hit? 

But a distinctive story still needs the right team behind it.

For independent producers, that means thinking beyond a single buyer or commissioning deal. Co-productions, pre-sales, format licensing and IP strategies can create different routes to market - and different ways to build value over time. The right international partner can also bring much more than money: financing, talent, distribution, market access, creative expertise and production infrastructure.

The takeaway is simple:

Don’t make a story less distinctive so it can travel. Build the strategy that helps it travel further.