Decision-making in film production : Applying paradox theory and cognitive science to Finnish film production

Abstract

The success of a film depends on producers and creative teams making correct decisions during the production process. Decisions in film production create tension that arises from the internal organization of the companies, the nature of the film product and the type of decision-making processes before and during filming. Our aim is to focus on decision-making as a critical issue for production research. Furthermore, we highlight the distinctive features of the Finnish film context that may influence the way decisions are made. To this end, we combine our theoretical review with comments and reflections from an in-depth interview with the Finnish producer Jussi Rauntamäki about his multiple works. Our conceptual framework combines paradox theory with insights from film studies and cognitive science that can be used in studies aimed at unravelling paradoxes in the context of Finnish film production that are brought to light in the interview.