President and Managing Director, Motion Picture Association EMEA
Stan, please can you tell us a bit about the MPA?
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is the leading advocate of the film, television, and streaming industry around the world. Our members are Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. One of the key missions of the MPA is to champion legal protection of creative works. This way our members can continue to make the films and TV series that you enjoy watching. We very often work with film makers and creative communities in pursuit of common interests, such as the reduction of online piracy, which harms the millions of women and men working in the wider creative sector.
And what is your role at the MPA?
I am the President and Managing Director of the region encompassing Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), which means I’m responsible for policy, operations, advocacy, and personnel across the territory. My office is based in Brussels, Belgium, and I work with dozens of professionals of more than 15 nationalities. As a specialist in intellectual property and innovation policy, my key responsibility is to work with partners across the region to promote policies and enforcement practices that help the region to enjoy the jobs, growth and cultural dividends of a vibrant creative sector.
What do you like most about your job?
For me, it is an honour to do a job where I can support creators from script to screen, and champion the economic and cultural power of film and television to communities around the EMEA region. I also tremendously enjoy working with such a diverse team as they all bring their own unique perspectives and creative visions to the mission, which enlivens our team. I am also very fortunate as no two days look the same – some days I work with Government officials and other days with law enforcement professionals. It is quite an exciting job and I am passionate about promoting and protecting the commercial and creative interests of screen communities in the digital age.
What was it that made you want to go into this industry?
I think as a society we value stories – stories we tell about ourselves, our communities and our history; they are what helps us understand our past, and to imagine a future. The magic of connecting with people through storytelling is why I wanted to go into the film industry and why I still love it today.
For example, one of my all-time favourite films is The Wizard of Oz. In 1939 it was one of the first great special effects films, as well as one of the first popular films to be produced in colour – in fact they adapted the novel to make Dorothy’s shoes red specially for it. I see so many echoes of that film in modern cinema. A hundred years before JK Rowling gave us the story of Harry Potter, Frank Baum gave us the story of Dorothy. And the magic of those stories forms part of our culture.
What do you think the current trends are in the movie industry right now?
Film and television that delves into the reality of our experiences has been fundamental this year. Many of the Academy Award nominees were grounded in social realism, such as Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland. Similarly, as we’ve seen a drive for communities fighting for better representation, we’ve also seen this force for good reflected on screen. It’s been wonderful to see stories of remarkable people never in the spotlight before now brought to life, and underrepresented and marginalised communities given a platform. Our cinema needs to pave the way for what the world can imagine for people who have been previously underrepresented.
What would be your top tip to a budding filmmaker reading this?
Write the story that you want to write. It sounds obvious, but the temptation is to try and write what you think producers, or other people will want. In reality, the story that will be the most authentic is the one you want to write. You can see the passion, excitement and curiosity within artists’ work, so pursue the things that excite you, because that will always translate to the audience.
Can you describe the first time you saw a film at the cinema?
I remember standing in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977, at the age of six. I remember an x-wing fighter on display outside the cinema. It must have been cardboard, but I was very impressed. A few years later we got a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) – the old kind with dials and a pop-top – and a copy of Star Wars on VHS. I must have watched it a hundred times. I’ve been hooked for life, including loving The Mandalorian on Disney+ a few months ago.