PETER J. DEKOM is a lawyer, management/marketing consultant and entrepreneur in entertainment, the internet, and telecommunications. Clients have included George Lucas, Ron Howard and JVC. As advisor to New Mexico, he was an architect of their film incentives. Honors include Forbes top 100 U.S. lawyers; Premiere’s 50 most powerful people in Hollywood; named Entertainment Lawyer of the Year by Beverly Hills and Century City Bar Associations. Peter is Vice-Chairman of Dick Cook Studios, lectures widely, and is the author of “Next: Reinventing Media.” Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
SCOTT SHOOMAN, Head of AMC Networks Film Group, leads acquisitions, development, production and theatrical distribution for IFC Films, RLJE Films and the Shudder streamer. As senior vice president of acquisitions and production for IFC Films, he acquired some 30 movies a year. Senior executive positions include Endeavor Content, CBS Films, Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group. Career highlights: THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, INSIDIOUS, HELL OR HIGH WATER, SKINCARE, and appearing on Variety’s New Power of New York List 2024. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
JOSEPH N. COHEN is a media investment banker and film financier who founded American Entertainment Investors, AEI, which has advised independent production companies including Alcon, known for THE BLIND SIDE, River Road (12 YEARS A SLAVE) and Black Label (SICARIO). Earlier, he held senior positions at Salomon Bros. and Lehman Brothers before becoming president of Largo Entertainment, with hits including POINT BREAK and MALCOLM X. With over 20 producing credits include WORDS AND PICTURES and KANDAHAR, he is also the author of “Investing in Movies.” Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
ARON LEVITZ is President of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, an innovative studio from WEBTOON Entertainment that combines technology, a diverse new generation of creators, and passionate global fans to create data-backed, audience-driven series, films, and books. Wattpad WEBTOON Studios develops content from the WEBTOON and Wattpad platforms and their global community reaches 170 million users across 150 countries, enjoying the content made by some 24 million creators who have been paid over $2.8 billion (between 2017 and 2023). Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
JOEL GOTLER is CEO of Intellectual Property Group, a literary management company based in Los Angeles, whose film clients include Michael Connelly, John Scalzi, Piers Anthony, Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Russo, Viet Nguyen, JD Barker, Debbie Macomber, David Wiesner and Andre Dubus III, as well as the estates of Sue Grafton, James M. Cain, Stephen Ambrose, Roger Ebert, Frank McCourt and John O’Hara. He is also executive producer of MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET and FERDINAND. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
RACHEL JOY VICTOR is a consultant and co-founder of FBRC.AI, which creates AI-supported tools for content production from films to games to location-based experiences. As a designer, Rachel draws from her education in computational neuroscience and spatial economics to facilitate the creation of data-informed emergent experiences where world simulation, systems design, and cognitive architectures intersect. These range from multiplatform narratives and gaming, to tools and platforms, spaces and cities. Clients have included Disney, HBO, Technicolor, Ford, and Nike, among others. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).
PETER JAROWEY is Partner at Vertical Entertainment, a leading global independent distributor, leveraging creative and platform relationships to maximize revenue across all media. Recent titles include the 2023 Cannes Film Festival opener JEANNE DU BARRY, directed by Maïwenn who stars alongside Johnny Depp; the 2023 Berlin Film Festival opening night movie SHE CAME TO ME directed by Rebecca Miller; the 2023 Independent Spirit Award winner EMILY THE CRIMINAL written & directed by John Patton Ford. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
DAN MINDEL worked his way up through the camera ranks, from camera loader, to assistant camera, to camera operator, second unit D.P., to director of photography, for directors including Tony and Ridley Scott, J.J. Abrams and Marc Webb. Credits include STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS, PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING, and STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. He is a member of both the American and British Society of Cinematographers. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
DANIELLE COSTA is Vice President, Visual Effects at Marvel Studios. Early in her career, she was visual effects coordinator on SPIDER-MAN 3 and SPEED RACER, then visual effects executive, then Vice President, Visual Effects. Credits include the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movies; the BLACK PANTHER movies; the ANT-MAN movies; the THOR movies; two DR. STRANGE movies; two CAPTAIN AMERICA movies; THE ETERNALS; BLACK WIDOW; SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS and CAPTAIN MARVEL. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
LLOYD KAUFMAN is president of independent producer-distributor Troma Entertainment, a cult-movie icon, co-founded with Michael Herz. They’ve distributed over 1,000 titles including early work of Hayao Miyazaki and South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker. When Lloyd and Michael co-directed The Toxic Avenger, its success spawned two sequels and Toxie became Troma’s mascot. Lloyd, a Yale graduate, has produced over 150 titles, directing nearly 60. He’s authored books including “Make Your Own Damn Movie” and is the consummate showman in marketing the Troma brand. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
DAVID A. GROSS is the creator of FranchiseRe, the free weekly box office newsletter that arrives in your in-box at 2am Pacific Sundays. He built a proprietary database covering box office performance of over 3,700 wide-release movies since 1997 and began sharing his thoughts with a few colleagues, friends, and press, based on 35 years of experience in the theatrical movie business. They liked the independent and objective approach, and FranchiseRe was launched in 2022. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
Here is our annual “Crystal Ball” episode, featuring predictions and year-end review for the entertainment business, with ILAN HAIMOFF, Partner and Profit Participation Services Practice Leader at accounting firm GHJ. His specialty includes forensic accounting on behalf of talent, investors, co-producers and distributors. With over 25 years serving clients in entertainment and financial services, he has overseen over 100 audits and studied the evolving business from a unique vantage point. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
DOUG LIMAN is an award-winning director and producer with credits including “Swingers,” “Go,” “The Bourne Identity,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Jumper,” “Fair Game,” “Live Die Repeat” (also known as “Edge of Tomorrow”)and Mena. Among his awards are the MTV Movie Award, the European Film Award, the Independent Spirit Award and the Hugo Award. Doug has also produced hit television series including “The O. C.,” “Covert Affairs” and “Suits.” He is politically active, continuing some of the work of his father, Arthur Liman. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
SCOTT CHAMBLISS is an award-winning Production Designer. Credits include “Citadel,” the Amazon series from executive producers The Russo Brothers; “Godzilla King of the Monsters“ with writer-director Michael Dougherty; “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2“ with writer-director James Gunn; “Tomorrowland” with writer-director Brad Bird; “Star Trek Into Darkness“ and “Star Trek“ with director J. J. Abrams; “Cowboys and Aliens“ with director Jon Favreau; and “Mission: Impossible 3“ with director J. J. Abrams. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
STEPHEN M. KRAVIT is executive vice president of the Gersh Agency, Beverly Hills. He has served as executive vice president of Kings Road Entertainment, senior vice president, business affairs, of Twentieth Century Fox and vice president, business-legal, of United Artists. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Stephen is a member of the California and New York bars and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Military Appeals and various other courts. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
ALAN HORN has served as head of three studios and founder of another. Most recently, he was Chairman of Walt Disney Studios. Before that, he was President and COO of Warner Bros. Earlier, he co-founded and was Chairman of Castle Rock Entertainment and President and COO of Twentieth Century Fox. During his tenures, Alan has overseen some of the most popular screen entertainment over 30 years. He has received several industry honors for his leadership, and also served on the board of the Natural Resources Defense Council for 30 years and Chair for the final 3 years. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
MICHAEL BARKER and TOM BERNARD are co-presidents and co-founders of Sony Pictures Classics, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. They have distributed and often produced some of the finest independent films including 41 Oscar wins. Highlights of their impressive catalogue are 186 Oscar nominations, including for best picture “The Father,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “Whiplash,” “Amour,” “Midnight In Paris,” “An Education,” “Capote” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” They have collaborated with some of the world’s great filmmakers, from Pedro Almodóvar to Chloé Zhao. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
JEWERL ROSS is founder of Silent R Management in Los Angeles. After graduating from Yale, he worked at ICM and Paradigm in LA, became an agent at a boutique firm, then transitioned to management and founded Silent R where his clients include Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins. This year, Jewerl produced three films. The first to be released is the critically acclaimed “Bruiser,” acquired by Disney’s Onyx Collective and Hulu before its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
ILAN HAIMOFF is a Partner at GHJ, the national accounting firm, where he leads the Profit Participation Services practice. His specialty includes forensic accounting on behalf of talent, investors, co-producers and distributors. With over 25 years serving clients in entertainment and financial services, he has overseen over 100 audits. Ilan is sought after for panels and articles, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF). Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
LINDA LICHTER is founding member and partner at Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler Feldman & Clark, representing talent and content across the entertainment horizon. She is perennially found on the Hollywood Reporter’s list of “100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” and “Power Lawyers” lists in the Reporter and the Los Angeles Times. Linda lectures widely and chairs the Board of Governors of the Telluride Film Festival. Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)