The Movie Business Podcast

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)

ATTICUS ROSS ~ musician, composer, audio engineer and record producer ~ collaborates with Trent Reznor on Nine-Inch Nails and on movie scores including “Empire of Light,” ”Bones and All,” “Mank” “Gone Girl,” Grammy winner “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” Oscar and Golden Globe winner “Social Network” and Oscar, British BAFTA and Golden Globe winner “Soul” with Jon Batiste. He also received an Emmy Award for the HBO limited series “Watchmen.” 

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)

TOMLINSON HOLMAN, the “TH” in the THX sound standard for theatres and devices, has served in technical roles to advance sound for film and television at companies including Lucasfilm, TMH, Audyssey, and Apple. At USC, Tom taught thousands of students over 25 years. He is also the author of Focal Press books “Sound for Film and Television” and “Sound for Digital Video.”

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 LONDON is an Academy Award® and Emmy®-nominated producer and the founder of Groundswell Productions, an independent film and television company. His  films include “Sideways,” “Milk,” “Trumbo,” “The Family Stone,” “Thirteen,” “The Illusionist,” and “House of Sand and Fog.” Television credits include Golden-Globe nominated “SMILF” on Showtime, “The Magicians” for Syfy, and “Snowfall” for FX.

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)

KEVIN FEIGE is president of Marvel Studios and producer of every Marvel movie since “Iron Man” in 2008. He oversees every aspect of the company’s feature film and streaming activities and has built The Marvel Cinematic Universe into the most successful franchise in film history. The Producers Guild of America honored him with the annual David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures.

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)

Courtesy of GHJ Media Clips, here are our annual “Crystal Ball" predictions for the entertainment business, recorded December, 2022, with Ilan Haimoff, GHJ Partner and Profit Participation Services Practice Leader and Jason E. Squire, Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

2nd AD CHRISTINA FONG has an impressive range of movie credits including “Amsterdam,” “Birds of Prey,” “Ad Astra,” “Bright,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” two “National Treasure” movies, two “Charlie’s Angels” movies and “Office Space,” among others. Christina started in the business as a production assistant and rose through the ranks to become 2nd AD.

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)

STEVE MONTAL, CEO of software company Caucho Technology, has worked with over 100 film and music festivals around the world including Slamdance, Stockholm, Brussels, the World Festival of Animated Films and Indie Memphis. Read Steve’s chapter “Film Festivals and Markets” in The Movie Business Book.

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)

DADE HAYES, the New York Business Editor at Deadline Hollywood, writes about the media business as well as television, film, advertising and theater. During a 10-year run at Variety, he led the New York editorial team after serving in Los Angeles as an editor and reporter. He is the author, with Dawn Chmielewski, of “Binge Times: Inside Hollywood’s Furious Billion-Dollar Battle to Take Down Netflix.”

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)

JEFFREY KORCHEK is Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Strategy for Sony Pictures Animation, overseeing all business and legal affairs for features, TV series and home entertainment.

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)

GREG LAEMMLE is President and CEO of Laemmle Theatres, the LA-based family-owned arthouse theatre chain. Due to his professional, community and charitable work, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, an honor extended to very few exhibitors. Read Greg’s chapter “The Independent Exhibitor” in The Movie Business Book.

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)

BEN FEINGOLD is CEO of Samuel Goldwyn Films, the independent distribution company based in Los Angeles. Previously, he served as Sony Pictures President, Worldwide Home Entertainment, Digital Distribution and Product Acquisitions and also as President, Columbia-TriStar Home Video.

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)

HAROLD L. VOGEL is the author of Entertainment Industry Economics. Ranked the top industry analyst at Merrill Lynch for many years, he heads an independent investment and consulting firm based in New York City. Read Hal’s chapter in The Movie Business Book, “Analyzing Movie Companies.”

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)

ERIC B. FLEISCHMAN is a prolific independent producer who has made 33 movies in 9 years, some as official selections at Sundance, Tribeca and South By Southwest. Read Eric’s chapter in The Movie Business Book, “Producing in the DIY Model.”

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)

ROB AFT is president of Compliance Consulting, an LA-based film finance and distribution consultancy serving banks, law firms, producers and distributors. Read Rob’s chapter in The Movie Business Book, “Getting Paid!”

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)

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, February, 2021, veteran entertainment lawyer PETER DEKOM returns to expand upon his earlier episode about the state of the film and Television Industry during Covid. Peter been listed in Forbes among the top 100 lawyers in the country and in Premiere Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in Hollywood. His strategic consulting and trend analysis helps entertainment entities cope with change.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, here are my “Crystal Ball” predictions for the entertainment business, recorded January, 2022, and interviewed by GHJ Partner Ilan Haimoff.

Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, November, 2021, RAYMOND ZHOU covers trends in the Chinese film industry. He is the foremost English and Chinese bilingual film and theatre scholar and critic, previously based in China, The Los Angeles Times called him the Roger Ebert of China. Raymond has served as Executive editor-in-chief, China Daily Online; Senior columnist and editor, China Daily and Executive Vice-President, Legendary East.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, July, 2021, STEVE MANGEL, president, UniFi Completion Guarantors in Los Angeles, deconstructs the mysterious, complex world of completion bonds. Throughout his career, Steve has supervised bonding hundreds of film and television productions with aggregate production budgets exceeding $10 billion.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, here are my “Crystal Ball” predictions for the entertainment business, recorded December, 2020, and interviewed by GHJ Partner Ilan Haimoff.

Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive recorded in October, 2020, KEVIN GOETZ, founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI, talks about the highly influential area of market research. He has tested over 6,000 film titles and countless TV programs worldwide and is a trusted consultant to numerous top executives and talent. Kevin is also the author of “Audience-ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love.”

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, recorded March, 2020, Executive Producer MICHAEL GRILLO discusses the nature of big-budget production management. Credits include Marvel’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, CAPT. AMERICA: WINTER SOLDER, ANT-MAN, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS: ENDGAME, one of the highest-grossing movies in history.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, June, 2020, veteran entertainment lawyer PETER DEKOM offers an overview of the state of the business. Peter has been listed in Forbes among the top 100 U.S. lawyers and in Premiere Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in Hollywood. He is the author of “Next: Reinventing Media, Marketing and Entertainment.”

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, recorded in July, 2020, IMAX Senior Vice President, Entertainment Business Affairs and Operations LINDA BENJAMIN describes the uniqueness of the IMAX business model. Prior positions include Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business and Legal Affairs at Covert Media; President, Global Strategy and Business Affairs at Reading Rainbow’s media company; and Executive Vice President, business and legal affairs, for Relativity Media.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, recorded March, 2020, veteran media analyst HAROLD L. VOGEL discusses issues of entertainment industry economics. Ranked the top industry analyst at Merrill Lynch for many years, he heads an independent investment and consulting firm based in New York City and is the author of the groundbreaking textbook Entertainment Industry Economics.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, recorded April, 2020, Producer ERIC B. FLEISCHMAN covers the world of the independent producer. He has made 33 movies in 9 years, some as official selections at Sundance, Tribeca and South By Southwest and was also honored as one of Forbes “30 Under 30” in Hollywood and Entertainment.

Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ. Co-host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, here are my 2020 “Crystal Ball” predictions for the entertainment business, recorded December 2019, as interviewed by GHJ Partner Ilan Haimoff.

Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, here are my “Crystal Ball” predictions for the entertainment business, recorded January 2019, and interviewed by GHJ Partner Ilan Haimoff.

Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ.

From the GHJ “Media Clips” Archive, here’s my first podcast, discussing the state of the movie business, November, 2017, with my co-host, GHJ Partner Ilan Haimoff.

Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Host Ilan Haimoff leads the Profit Participation Services practice at GHJ.