In his article, Longplay describes the much talked about predicament of the cultural sector. The situation boils down, for example, to a kind of visibility list, which few people agree to talk about.
Antti Holma told Longplay that Sanoma told him directly that they count the points of television presenters. Jenni Gästgivar
The plight of the culture and film industry and the deteriorated working situation of actors have been discussed for a long time. Longplay now tells how the choices of actors in Finnish films and TV series are increasingly guided by the wishes of financiers.
In its extensive article, Longplay describes the situation in the industry, which is descriptively condensed into rumored lists, which can significantly guide casting.
The production company receives from the subscriber a list with the names of suitable actors. Lists are understood to be based on visibility value. Social media followers, appearances in entertainment programs and viewership figures for previous leading roles bring points.
Longplay says that it interviewed several experts in the field for its article. Six of the people interviewed for the story said that they knew about the lists of television channels, where Actors are ranked in order of popularity. The only one who agreed to speak about the matter under his own name was actor-presenter Antti Holma.
– This is a shocking development for everyone. Everything sucks if the industry goes into a circle, where you don’t make any kind of careless moves, because you always have to aim for a million viewers. Before, I always thought that something exciting would come. I’m not so sure anymore.
Holma tells how ten years ago it seemed that the situation would probably only get worse. Counting Instagram followers or increasing the visibility of entertainment programs has nothing to do with the contents and their quality.
However, the power of social media presence is enormous. It was seen last year when it arrived on the big screen Cancelwhose leading roles featured familiar names from social media.
Especially those familiar from YouTube videos Niko Meuronen, Santeri Hännenen and by Henry Weckström starred Cancel– a film about domestic films fifth most watched last year.
In the lead roles of the movie Cancel, we saw familiar faces from social media. The film starring Niko Meurosen, Santeri Hänninen and Henry Weckström was one of the most watched last year. Pete Anikari
Many actors are now considering a change of industry, reported Yle about a year ago. Faces familiar to Iltalehte from movies and TV series have also described the plight of the industry in the past.
Domestic films and TV series are being made even fewer, with smaller budgets and tighter productions, i.e. as cost-effectively as possible.
– Shooting days are getting fewer all the time. It used to be normal to have 30 shooting days when making a film, now it’s 20 days. Still, the film should be the same length as before, he said, among other things Pihla Viitala previously for Iltalehti.
– Now we’re going to force down the entire industry. There are really anxious and burnt out people in the industry at the moment, he described.
Iina Kuustonen also described the work situation in the field in February 2025.
– I myself have been lucky and privileged to have had a job, Kuustonen said at the time.
– But almost all my friends who work in the cultural sector are unemployed. They are thinking about what other profession they should start studying. Artists are not doing well in the cultural sector at the moment.
