[dragonwriter]

> Based on this, why aren't movie studios creating trailers based on minimal treatments, releasing them with dates a year or two in the future and then only creating the movie if the data shows that it'd be a blockbuster? Basically Lean development for movies.

Because this might work for a little while, but then very quickly people would learn that most trailers were for movies that would never come out and start tuning them out.

Plus, getting cast, directors, etc., to sign on to a project when the only thing guaranteed is small payment for a trailer based on a minimal treatment would be difficult, and part of what the trailer promotes and audiences respond to is the cast, director, etc.

Lean in the movie business would look very different than lean in software (just as lean in software, while borrowing lots of ideas from lean in traditional manufacturing, looks different) because the context is different.