JON REISS is a filmmaker, writer, media strategist, and author of “Think Outside the Box Office.” His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and theatrical experiences for independent films. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations globally, most recently for THE LIBRARIANS documentary. In 2023, he created the 8 Above Distribution Lab, teaching filmmakers distribution and marketing. Also, he is co-founder of the Future Film Coalition and writes about distribution and marketing on his 8 Above Substack.  

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

ALYSSA WEISBERG is an Emmy and Artios award-winning Casting Director with over 90 credits in features and TV. These include STAR TREK BEYOND for director Justin Lin, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL and TOMORROWLAND for Brad Bird, projects for J.J. Abrams including SUPER 8, STAR TREK, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; also THE LAST HOUSE for Louis Leterrier and SPACEBALLS 2, produced by and starring Mel Brooks.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

ALYSSA WEISBERG is an Emmy and Artios award-winning Casting Director with over 90 credits in features and TV. These include STAR TREK BEYOND for director Justin Lin, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL and TOMORROWLAND for Brad Bird, projects for J.J. Abrams including SUPER 8, STAR TREK, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; also finished 11817 for Louis Leterrier and SPACEBALLS 2, produced by and starring Mel Brooks.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

FRED MILSTEIN is CEO of Media Guarantors, a CAC Group Company, with over 30 years of independent film production, completion guarantee and financing experience. Fred was the prior Global Head of Production at Miramax and also held senior-level positions at Aon and ProSight, focusing on film. Career highlights include BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD, directed by Sidney Lumet, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, directed by Terry Gilliam, SILENT NIGHT, from director John Woo and ROOFMAN, from director Derek Cianfrance.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

BLAIR RICH, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer at Legendary Entertainment, drives marketing, branding and communications, emphasizing new technologies and data analytics. Earlier, she was President and Chief Business Officer of Virgin Galactic's Commercial and Consumer Operations, leading marketing for the groundbreaking Unity 22 spaceflight. Blair served over 20 years at Warner Bros., rising to President of Worldwide Marketing, heading a global team of over 700 and marketing hundreds of titles in Theatrical and Home Entertainment, including franchises Harry Potter and the DC Multiverse.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

MARYANN BRANDON, A.C.E. is a film and television editor, best known as a frequent collaborator with director J.J. Abrams. She earned an Oscar nomination for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII -THE FORCE AWAKENS and an Emmy nomination for the series ALIAS. Other film credits include VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE, STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, VENOM, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, SUPER 8, KUNG FU PANDA 2, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

DAMIÁN ROMAY is an Argentinean American film and television producer, writer, and director with some 79 producing credits on TV movies. His production company, Sunshine Films, based in Miami, has made nearly 100 movies for Tubi, Netflix,  Amazon Prime, Lifetime, BET and Marvista Entertainment, among others. For example, Damián wrote and directed ISLE OF HOPE, starring Diane Ladd and based on the play “Dias Contados.” Among his prizes is the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival award for Best Story for a motion picture.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

NEVILLE SPITERI is founder and CEO of WEVR, a creative development and production studio, pioneering the field of immersive interactive experiences. Signature projects include “Harry Potter VR” with Warner Brothers, “Gnomes & Goblins” created with Jon Favreau, an Emmy finalist for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Media, and the immersive underwater VR experience “The Blu,” discovered at Sundance and presented at the LA County Natural History Museum. WEVR was named one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in AR/VR” by Fast Company. 

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

Once again, presenting our annual “Crystal Ball” episode, featuring predictions and a review of the entertainment business, with ILAN HAIMOFF, Partner and Entertainment Practice Leader at accounting firm GHJ. His specialty includes forensic accounting on behalf of talent, investors, co-producers and distributors. With over 30 years serving clients in entertainment and financial services, he has overseen countless audits and studied the evolving business from a unique vantage point.

Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 

Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

VINCENT LANDAY, Oscar-nominated producer, is renowned for his collaboration with director Spike Jonze on BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, ADAPTATION, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and HER. They’ve worked on music videos for artists including Jay Z and R-E-M, and a range of commercials. Vincent has collaborated with other creatives, from David Fincher to David Lynch; helped co-create Vice Studios; created virtual reality content for Facebook and Google; and served as Executive Producer on season 5 of Noah Hawley's Emmy Award-winning series “Fargo.”  

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).