Project Management on the Biggest Stage with Marvel, DC, and Actsoft

Marvel and Detective Comics (DC) have been household names for the better part of the last century, having woven a complete mythology using comic books since the early 1900s. The mere mention of these franchises evokes iconic images of caped crusaders and web-slingers doing battle with countless villains. Marvel led the charge with Iron-Man (2008), and the concept of a shared cinematic universe for superheroes was born and grew with several solo hero films in the years following. DC stepped into the cinematic arena with its Man of Steel (2013). Each company followed a different route for establishing their cinematic universe (both intent on giving flesh to the gods of American mythology).

The Marvel Cinematic Universe and the “All Roads” Model

Marvel Studios has orchestrated its entire cinematic universe around an “All Roads” model where all the individual paths eventually come to a head. Imagine several trains, traveling individual routes, intersecting at a massive hub. This provides a wide, but defined space for the smaller, independent films to operate within.

• By breaking their cinematic universe into phases, Marvel can designate a single film as the destination or lynchpin for the individual films (Avengers, Avengers Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War).
• This tactic creates a sprawling web of a universe, requiring precise organization to remain on schedule.

The DC Expanded Universe and the “Big Bang” Model

DC made its first concerted step into the cinematic playground half-a-decade after Marvel. With its chief competitor racking up success after success, DC didn’t have the luxury of playing the long-game like Marvel did.

• The “Big Bang” model involves a single movie (Batman vs. Superman, 2016) packed with the foundational information or “matter” the audience needs to build upon.
• From that point, DC can form the rest of its movie universe based off of these first films.
• DC must be able to manage all of their pieces efficiently in order to contend with their opposition.

Project Management with Marvel, DC, and Actsoft

The primary issue facing these massive film companies is project management. With the task of creating and cultivating an entire cinematic universe on the agenda, the costs can become hefty; making a ton of money doesn’t guarantee success when you consider operating costs. Fortunately, Actsoft specializes in project management — reducing costs by ensuring every facet of your business is running as smoothly as possible.

Here are some specific features that can help with business project management:

• Timekeeping: Marvel and DC already face the lofty costs of paying actors. Actsoft’s timekeeping feature makes it possible to track clock-ins, clock-outs, lunches, and breaks from an employee’s mobile device. Accurate timekeeping could prevent both companies from paying out wages for hours that were not worked, driving down costs, and potentially maintaining the movie’s budget.
• GPS Tracking: These movie franchises often film in remote locations. Cast and crew can both get lost, which causes delays. With the Actsoft’s geofence feature either company could mark and monitor activity around specific landmarks or locations. Cast and crew, through the mobile app, could then find the quickest route to their locations through a near real-time map interface.
• Messaging: Constant channels of communication can be the difference between staying on schedule or costly delays. With messaging, directors could better communicate and ensure the cast is where they need to be when they need to be there. The crew could benefit from the ability to relay information quickly and efficiently around a shoot without traveling from one point to another.

When it comes to the movies, we’re dealing with project management on the world’s biggest stage. Marvel has created a multi-billion-dollar cinematic universe and DC is poised to do the same. Actsoft’s software could simplify procedures, drive down costs over the course of production, and elevate these franchises to Olympian heights.

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