Waisbren propagates a pull-model instead of the actual push-model. He probably means that distributors are closer to consumers than producers, which is correct. But I think he does not mean a real consumer-driven model. I think he means distributors should work the way they always did, and that means “we think we know what the consumer wants.”

“Waisbren illustrated what he called the “normalised film finance paradigm” – the source material and who is attached creates “a demand pull by the distributor and that creates the capital to make the movie. During the recent boom years, this model changed. Finance became available even for films that “didn’t have a distribution solution locked up”. The result was a glut of specialty movies. Now, that glut is bound to end.
“It doesn’t mean that speciality films won’t be made but the gatekeeper is going to be the distributor and his economic projections (will matter) much more than the hedge fund saying ‘I want to be in the movie business’.””

Screen Daily ~ Waisbren – Don’t hesitate – consolidate! (17.02.2009)