Celebrating thirty years in the industry, the Fries Film Group, is one of those companies resilient enough to navigate the huge changes of the last three decades. Their success is due in large measure to the man whose name is on the door, Charles M. Fries.

In the midst of a very busy day at the American Film Market, Mr. Fries (pronounced frēz.) sat down to talk to Boxoffice® about the future of the industry, sales agents, and Mathew Perry.

Boxoffice®: A lot of distributors and sales agents came into the business in the early 1980s with the advent of video. In the mid-nineties with the addition of DVD more companies entered the business. Ten years from now what are we going to be talking about?

Fries: The future will certainly include digital downloads and digital television throughout the world. It’s where we’re going. It’s difficult to predict how quickly.

Our discussion is interrupted as a buyer arrives to sign his contract. It is after all a market. Fries and a lean staff smoothly juggle several clients at a time. They appear to be professional and efficient, which are probably keys to the Fries Film Group surviving as an international sales agent since 1977. Mr. Fries returns.

Boxoffice®: You’re all over the world. How do you keep tabs on what’s developing in the different territories?

Fries: Territories are constantly in flux. A territory that’s hot now may not be next year. You never know exactly where the growth will come from. It’s changing all the time.

Boxoffice®: Like Russian was suddenly hot last year.

Fries: Exactly. We talk to a buyer in a particular territory to understand the trends and what they’re dealing with. We’re engaged with more than one buyer in a territory, so we cross check what we’re being told in our conversations. Plus you’re in the industry long enough you carry all that around in your head. There’s no book you can buy.

Boxoffice®: That’s one of the benefits of using a sales agent.

Fries: I think any independent project has to be represented by an international sales agent. That’s just smart.

Boxoffice®: You’re on the road a lot to markets and festivals around the world. How does AFM compare to Berlin or Cannes or some of the Asian markets.

Fries: We treat the US just like any other territory. That said, AFM is important. Berlin is more of a festival, although the market there is growing, but Cannes is still the big market.

We’re interrupted again. I get a chance to take in the posters hanging over my head. Mathew Perry looks down at me from the poster of Numb. When Mr. Fries returns we talk about this new project.

Boxoffice®: The conventional wisdom is that comedy doesn’t travel well. You have a new project starring Matthew Perry and Mary Steenburgen. How do you deal with comedy as an international sales agent?

Fries: You’re right. Comedy, say in the style of Seinfeld is tougher for foreign audiences because his type of comedy is about things that are unique to America and much of his (comedy) is based on the language. Where as Matthew Perry, much of what he does is physical as well and that translates. Also, Friends has been sold in just about every territory around the world. Matthew is a recognized name.

Boxoffice®: Will you take Numb to US theaters?

Fries: Yes. In February.

Boxoffice®: I like the poster. A little edgy.

From where we are sitting, I can see more buyers have entered the suite, greeted by a poster of Numb.

Boxoffice®: Thank you for your time. We’ll be watching in February.