Brent Weinstein and Eric Kuhn stopped by the studio to talk about technology in entertainment, and these guys are worth listening to. Brent is Head of Digital Media for United Talent Agency in Los Angeles, where he oversees the agency’s work in online entertainment, social media, video games, and the agency’s digital consulting practice. Eric is the department’s Head of Social Media. UTA is one of the premier agencies in Hollywood, repping the likes of Johnny Depp, Seth Rogen and Ice Cube. So, these guys are kind of a big deal. Ever read the NBA’s Twitter feed? Eric is the guy who started it, and he also created and ran the social media operations for CBS News and CNN before moving to Los Angeles (and UTA).
Brent is one of the frontline guys on the convergence of technology and entertainment. He wants to find the best digital content and then put it somewhere that you can see it. Recently, he’s been working closely with YouTube and their 100 million dollar investment into original content. He helped structure the deal that put channels like Young Hollywood on YouTube’s programming slate. Brent actually started UTA’s broadband division in 2006 making the agency the pioneer in this area. According to Brent, there’s a lot of money to be made in digital content, and it looks like a lot of technology companies are willing to bet that he’s right.
Eric works closely with clients advising them on their social media presence which has become so important in entertainment, that the bigger your online presence is, the more likely you’re desired by studios and directors. He explains the importance of managing a public image through the use of technology and the implications of success. But it’s not all about public image, it’s also about consumer response, and organizing that information. These days, companies can predict box office success up to a year in advance using social media feedback.
Brent Weinstein is Head of Digital Media at leading talent and literary agency UTA, where he helped form the department in 2003, and also helped launch the agency’s dedicated online entertainment (2006) and social media practices (2011), both first amongst talent agencies. Weinstein leads the department’s team of dedicated digital media agents to create, identify and evaluate opportunities for UTA clients including actors, writers, directors, producers, transmedia producers, recording artists and technology entrepreneurs. Weinstein and his team also...
Eric Kuhn is Hollywood’s first social media agent, working at United Talent Agency, one of the entertainment industry’s leading talent and literary agencies. Constantly building bridges between Silicon Valley and Hollywood, he represents emerging technology companies and provides advisory services to Fortune 500 corporations and some of the biggest writers, directors, actors and producers. Prior to UTA, Kuhn was the first-ever Audience Interaction Producer at CNN, where he ran social media and focused on television-web integration for the network. ...
United Talent Agency (UTA) is based in Beverly Hills, California, where they represent actors, writers, directors, recording artists, emerging technology companies, and corporate brands in a variety of industries, including film, television, music, digital media, intellectual property, computer and video games, commercials, voiceovers, endorsements, and entertainment marketing. Some of their clients are Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Giamatti, Anthony Hopkins, Tim Robbins, Seth Rogen, James McAvoy, Ewan McGregor, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd,...
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