pari sur le regard

16:55 Jul 8, 2017 

i would go for: a bet (or a gamble) on the audience

05:21 Jul 7, 2017 

Now that mrrafe has found the actual source text for us, all becomes clear! If only askers would provide proper context in the first place!
With respect to 'regard', I find it often helpful to think of it in the first instance as 'someone's way of looking at something' — that usually sets me off in the right direction!

22:20 Jul 6, 2017 

For "pari" here, "gamble" is an excellent solution. It is close to the idea of "bet" and highlightss the element of risk, common to both terms. It conveys the key meaning in context.

As for "regard", like Tony, I find this unclear. I don't think "outlook" works well though. "Outlook" here would mean with reference to X's point of view, from the inside looking out. I don't see how that can fit. I read this a little more from the outside looking in, even implying a critical stance, for example. To be honest though, I am not really sure.

07:53 Jul 6, 2017 

I do think the author means wager or gamble, because they're discussing the investment of resources in a film project that may not pay off in terms of audience appeal. They're evoking William Goldman's famous remark that when it comes to making a successful motion picture, "nobody knows anything."

07:50 Jul 6, 2017 

It could perhaps be rendered by "...faces the challenge of" and 'Regard' here could mean contemporary mindsets/perceptions.

06:26 Jul 6, 2017 

Have just seen the rest of your comment. Yes, this "regard" is really "flou" - and yes I see what you mean :)

06:23 Jul 6, 2017 

not sure whether it really is "bet" here
"it is audience-dependent" I don't know why this is stuck in my brain. What I mean is the screening of such films really only depends on whether there are any audiences for them? Am I making sense?

06:10 Jul 6, 2017 

Yes, I think it means gamble = bet = wager. Gamble probably best in this context.

06:06 Jul 6, 2017 

I've a feeling 'pari' may be being used in a slightly different way here: maybe there'd be some mileage in considering it instead as 'taking a gamble'?
But I confess I am mystified by the 'regard' — are they saying 'gamble on the fact that anyone will even want to watch it'? Or more along the lines of 'gamble on how it will be perceived through modern eyes' — you know, e.g. the way some social documentaries from the '50s and '60s now seem cringeingly condescending from our modern perspective.