“I wish that more people were willing to turn down upfront money in exchange for doing things that are more original. Turning down a seven-figure check has a ripple effect on the budget, which has a ripple effect on the storytelling. The higher the budget gets, the fewer storytelling risks you're able to take.”

American producer, founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions

Jason Ferus Blum is an American producer and the founder and chief executive of Blumhouse Productions. He is known for helping build a production company closely associated with modern horror filmmaking. Blumhouse is best known for horror franchises such as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge, and Halloween. Blum’s work is tied to some of the most recognizable commercial horror series of recent decades.