Where is the industry heading? Three trends are defining the next decade:

Not all popular entertainment studios are billion-dollar conglomerates. The rise of YouTube, TikTok, and independent digital media has given birth to a new class of "micro-studios."

Founded by George Lucas, ILM is the production studio behind the effects of every major blockbuster. While they aren't a "studio" in the narrative sense, you cannot have Avatar or The Mandalorian without them.

Volume walls (like the one used in The Mandalorian) are replacing green screens. Studios like Industrial Light & Magic are blending real-time game engine graphics with live-action filming. This reduces costs and allows directors to "see" the final shot on set. AI scriptwriting and de-aging technology (as seen in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) will challenge union regulations but will inevitably become standard.