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)