1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties, weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of entertainment. I'm Cynthia Littleton, 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: business editor of Variety Today. My guest in New York 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: is Steve Moscow, the newly appointed CEO of Village road 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: Show and the former head of Sony Pictures Television. Village 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: road Show has its roots in film financing and has 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: had a long relationship with Warner Brothers. Moscow is on 8 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: a mission to build out the company so that it 9 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: can produce its own movies and TV shows for the 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: first time. Here, Steve speaks candidly about making the shift 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: from studio boss to launching a lean and scrappy start 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: up operation. He also shares some intriguing examples of what 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: he learned about the media market place last year before 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: he joined Village road Show, when he teamed with producer 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: Jeff Robinov to raise money for Robinov's studio aid venture. 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: Steve Moscow, CEO of Village road Show Entertainment Group, thank 17 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: you so much for stopping by to talk to us today, 18 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: Sintia Littleton. Good to see you. How long have we 19 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: known each other? It is going back to I want 20 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: to say years right. I think Bill Clinton was definitely 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: in office. I think it was a nappy We got 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: to know each other. We both had many different bosses 23 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: over the years, but here we are correct. It's good 24 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: to see you. Yeah, it's good to see you, and 25 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: it's a very very exciting move for you. He had 26 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: a long run at one of the major studios, leading 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: Sony Pictures Television at a at a very prosperous time, 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: difficult time in the business. Now, it was always good 29 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 1: to me. Always it was hard, but it was always good. 30 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: If you can't have fun in this business and and 31 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: sort of enjoy, and you know, every time you walk 32 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: on a studio a lot, if you don't have a 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: little bit of a like a how lucky are we 34 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: to be in this business, then you're probably in the 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: wrong business. And you've always had that spirit. I feel 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: felt blessed every day got up in the morning and 37 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: gone to work up well in October, starting in October, 38 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: getting up in the morning and going to work has 39 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: been your new gig as CEO of Village Road Show Entertainment. 40 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: Tell us how, tell us how you became recruited to 41 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: a company that has its roots in Australia and is 42 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: largely known for film production. Sure, it's actually an interesting story. 43 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: So there was a period of time when I left Sony. 44 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: I was looking a lot of different things. When I 45 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: was trying to initially looked at buying Tribune and something's 46 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: changed in the political landscape, or the CAF for broadcast 47 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: stations went up and just made that a little bit 48 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: more difficult, and some other things came along. But I 49 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: was for a while I was out raising money with 50 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: Jeff Robinov, who was a terrific executive and was at 51 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: Warner Brothers, and you know, I was talking to him 52 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: about joining Studio eight. And we were out raising money, 53 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: uh and making the rounds in New York and had 54 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: met with the folks who owned Villa Droo with the 55 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: people from Vine and um this is a funny story now, 56 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: by the way, and just just a level set. This 57 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: is Vine Alternative Investments and this is one of two 58 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: private equity companies that in acquired a majority ownership in 59 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,519 Speaker 1: Villa trod Show Vinds the majority owner gotch Okay. Anyway, 60 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: we were going around and seeing KKR and I like 61 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: all the big one, big private equity firms and we're 62 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: having great meetings, and you know, I mean you typically 63 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: you always get even if they're not interested, the meeting 64 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: goes great. And I've been through enough meetings in my 65 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: life to know what the good ones and bad ones are. 66 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: But the meeting we actually have a Vine was horrible 67 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: and for a lot of different reasons I won't get into, 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: but it was no one's fault, but they really didn't 69 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: invest in startups similar what we were doing. And anyway, 70 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: long story short to meeting did not go well. I've 71 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: been to a lot of that meetings. Like I said, 72 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: for me, it's just just let's get in and out 73 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: of here pretty quickly. But I said the gentleman of Vine, 74 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: I said, it might be a good idea of you 75 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: and I have breakfast because I don't like the end 76 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: meetings on a bad note. Right, So we have breakfast 77 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: at Shutters in Los Angeles and had a great breakfast 78 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: and couldn't have gone better. And signing the check and 79 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: he says to me, go, so what are you doing 80 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: this weekend? I said, well, I'm actually giving the commencement 81 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: in my alma monitor in a couple of weeks. So 82 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: at University of Delaware, so I'm finalizing the speech and 83 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: he said, you're kidding me, Like I went to Delaware 84 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: so on What that led to was this great another 85 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: hour conversation about a lot of things we shared in 86 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: common with the University of Delaware, what have you? And 87 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: I said, look, if we're considering some things at Village 88 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: road Show and if you're interested, I'd love to talk 89 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: to you. For a lot of different reasons, it didn't 90 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: work out with Studio Aid, so I called the folks 91 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: at at vying about Village Road Show and and here 92 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: we are, so it would say it was the right decision. 93 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: And it's been amazing. It's only been a few months, 94 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: but we're hanging on this great track and I just 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: think it's you know, it's been a it's a great 96 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: time to be in entertainment business. And I know that 97 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: seems contrary to a lot of things you're here these 98 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: days because there's all these big shifts which we will 99 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: look back in his a few years ago, Wow, like 100 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: that was historical moment. We have Disney and Fox getting together, 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: some of the things going on with A T and 102 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: T and Warners, and there's just a lot of seismatic shifts. Uh, 103 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:27,239 Speaker 1: but within that for someone like ourselves, it's great opportunity. 104 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: You can almost feel the winds of change literally literally 105 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: blowing your hair. Let me ask you before I want 106 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: to talk about strategy at Villa road Show, but what 107 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,559 Speaker 1: did you learn from that process of you were you were? 108 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: You were working with Jeff robin offro has a film 109 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 1: production venture that's based at Sony called Studio eight, And 110 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: what did you learn in that process of making the 111 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: round the money rounds of trying to raise money? What 112 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: did you learn about what what the market is interested in, 113 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: where investors focus is. Because I would imagine that would 114 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: have been a very instructive process for somebody who was 115 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: about to take right the job that you have now. Well, 116 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: a couple of things. One is, I think and rightly so. 117 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: Jeff and I were banking on the fact that we 118 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 1: had great reputations in our respective fields, and I think 119 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: people also respect the fact we were two very different 120 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: personalities that match together very well. Um. But now that 121 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: I'm involved with Village Roacho, I do see that one 122 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: of the things that's very important is having access to 123 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 1: I P Because like I said, I think it's Studio eight. 124 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: It would have been a trickier road for us, um 125 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: for the television piece at least um not having i 126 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: P to start with. And we can talk a little 127 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: bit about Village, but you know, there's access to i 128 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: P at Village Road Show, which is absolutely giving us 129 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: a jump start in building our businesses, both on the 130 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: film and TV side. So what you learned is if 131 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: you're going to go out and raise money for any 132 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 1: kind of studio or production business, it's extremely helpful to 133 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: own or have access to IP. You kind of have 134 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: to bring something other than I worked for twenty five 135 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: years and Sony I worked so many years. Warners not 136 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: by the way, not that that's not important, believe me. 137 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: I mean because I don't. I think we got through 138 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: the door and we actually we're able to raise the money. 139 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: It was so it wasn't you know, it was impossible, 140 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: But in terms of building the business only going forward basis, 141 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: it's it's pretty Uh, it helps have I PICK. Yeah, 142 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: So you like your chances at Villa. I love our chances, 143 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: very excited. So the company was has been historically known 144 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: for films. Did you know why there was a was 145 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: there a sense of films as our mission? And we 146 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: don't we we just don't know how to do TV 147 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: or was it was it even a more conscious decision, 148 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: We're just not going to be in that market until obviously, 149 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: in this day and age, you can't be a content 150 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: producer without being in some kind of TV or digital content. Well, 151 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: here's the good news of the Drow show is an 152 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: amazing brand and what I've learned in might travel so 153 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: far is that it has great I mean you mentioned 154 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: Villa Droo. People have a great feeling towards it, certainly 155 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: in the industry at consumers too because people I've mentioned 156 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: that nothing to do with the business, Remember Villa Droho. 157 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: I saw that there production you know, their logo before 158 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: the matrix, and I saw it before I analyzed this, 159 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: and I saw, you know, for Mad Max. So all 160 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: the movies that they invested in, um no, I think 161 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: it was the strategy of the prior ownership the Australian 162 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: company that their job was to finance films for Warner 163 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: Brothers and by the way, did a very successful job 164 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: over decades building this library with Warner Brothers of some 165 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: pretty amazing films which we obviously go on or have financed. 166 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: So that's what they did and that's what they were 167 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: good at and I'm very grateful that they built that. 168 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: So I think when Vine came in, UM, I think 169 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: they looked at the business and said, well, you know, 170 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: if we're gonna grow the company, we need to get 171 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: into production. So um that's where I come in, and 172 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: I think they recognized that a while ago. Unfortunately, UM, 173 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: we hit it off and I was the right person 174 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: to be to run the company. So essentially, we're gonna 175 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: here's what the company's gonna look like going forward. It's 176 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: and it's four major tempoles. One is we're going to 177 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: continue to do film financing and we're currently doing the 178 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: same thing with one of brothers. We've done it for 179 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: decades and and uh, that's gonna be an important part 180 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: of our business. We're also, i'd say tempole two is 181 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: we're going to develop our own movies two to four 182 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: year um, primarily for streaming services, but not not. If 183 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: we find a film we like that we like to 184 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: release theatrically, will consider that as well. But two to 185 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: four films per year, uh probably be what we'll do there. 186 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: We're gonna build a television business, not unlike what I 187 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: did at Sony. Just say a smaller version of it, 188 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: but will be in comedy and drama all platforms. Early days, 189 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: we'll be looking mostly at streaming services um to deliver 190 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: the content. It's much more predictable from a financial standpoint. UM, 191 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: So we'll do that, and then we're gonna be in 192 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: the production services business. Uh. So we will be producing 193 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: our own content, but we'll also be worked for hire 194 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: for others who need to help, uh to produce their 195 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,719 Speaker 1: own shows. But what I found there's are a lot 196 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: of people that have great ideas sell them to cable 197 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: networks or streaming platforms, but don't know how to produce them. 198 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: So we will offer that service up to those who 199 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: need it. So you're really in the process right now. 200 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 1: You're you're beefing up and building all this infrastr You're 201 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: based in Los Angeles, right, so we have our offices 202 00:10:57,679 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: are in Century City. We also have an office on 203 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: the ward of those a lot. What's really interesting is 204 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: and I feel very grateful that this happened. Although at 205 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: the time, UM, it was hard and you were you 206 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: were actually remember this, uh, when Howard Stranger put me 207 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: in charge of Sony's television business. Yeah, it was Look, 208 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: it was really hard, and I think a lot of 209 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 1: people didn't believe we could actually build it at that 210 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: time from where we were and it wasn't doing very 211 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: well at all. And you remember that there was a 212 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: network division and the one that iran which was cable 213 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: and syndication. And over the years we built a pretty 214 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: good company and we did a brick by brick and 215 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: very smart about how we you know, jumped into it 216 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: at the time. We got the basic cable first and 217 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: then worked our way in the broadcast network and we're 218 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: all genres what have you? That experience of building a 219 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: company rebuilding for that, but it was it was it 220 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: was rebuilding, but it was also building however you want 221 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: to phrase it. But that experience was very, very valuable 222 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: to what I'm doing today because the good part of 223 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: it is, you know, back then when I when I 224 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: took over Sony's business, we laid off about a third 225 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: of the workforce, which was very painful and not not 226 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: a good situation. But in order to build a business 227 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: coming forward to had be done, I think we did 228 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: the right way as good as you can do it. 229 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: Um this we're kind of starting from ground zero. I mean, 230 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: they've never had been the production business. So it's a 231 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 1: much more productive. Um it's a happier way of doing, 232 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: a nicer way because we're building it. We weren't. We 233 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: didn't have to clean up anything, and um, it's it's 234 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: very exciting. And there was a good core group of 235 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: people there, um and finance and legal and Bruce Berman 236 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: has been there for a while, came from Waters has 237 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: overseeing the future division. Right, so we have a great 238 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: core group. Now we're hiring out our team and so yeah, 239 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: but that experience back then was was very helpful, just 240 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: in terms of like how you position a new company 241 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: like this, how you approach the market. You don't want 242 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: to overpromise, but at the same time you want to 243 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: communicate to people what exactly what you're doing, UM, what 244 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: your focus is. So I'm glad and I and I 245 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: and there's a part of me it thinks like all 246 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: the things I've done in my career, both working on 247 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: the broadcast side and studio, had actually prepared me for 248 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: this moment, which is, like I said, we think a 249 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: great opportunity. Um it sounds like for all of this, 250 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: you've gotten a real commitment for some serious resources Vine 251 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: to put into the because obviously you can't hire people. 252 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: We have enough. Yeah, we're just fine. I want to 253 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: build a lean, mean company. I don't the mistakes some 254 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: people make when they do these types of startups, as 255 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: they just get a little too far ahead of themselves 256 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: in terms of hiring too many people. You know. So 257 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: we're gonna have a what we're gonna do, which I 258 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: think is fascinating, which I wish it was. It would 259 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: be difficult to do with Sony just because of the 260 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: way it was structured. But um, we're gonna build. I 261 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: would call the studio the future in terms of how 262 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: we view development. So you know, as I mentioned Bruce 263 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: overseas the feature team, UM, Jillian Applebaum who works for him, 264 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: her lanes primarily for features. UM. But if she as 265 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: she developing a project, if it turns out it goes 266 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: from being a movie to a television I would say, 267 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: a long form television series, still she'll stick with it. 268 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: On the same token, one of our our VP of 269 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: development on TV, Adam Dunlap, if he's developing a TV 270 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: show and wait a minute, turns into a movie, he'll 271 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: stick with as well. So what we're trying to do 272 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: is create a development situation where people kind of have 273 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: their lane, but they can also crossover depending upon where 274 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: the development goes. Because in the end, what you want 275 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: to be able to do is tell a story the 276 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: right way, delivered on the right plat form in order 277 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: to make the most money and haven't be seen by 278 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: as many people as possible. So we're kind of taking 279 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: an approach which I think some of the platforms actually 280 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: take in terms of crossing over. But I will tell 281 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: you in terms as we recruit people talk about the company, 282 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: that's more than one of the more exciting parts of it, 283 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: which is, you know, not being a siloed, old school 284 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: development type studio. You don't have a lot of trip 285 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: wars because you're you're just bringing in the people. It's 286 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: funny because Shannon Perry, who's doing unscripted for Uce, actually 287 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: has a relationship with a company has a lot of 288 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: ideas for scripted both TV and film, and so she's 289 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: working closely with our with Jillian and Adam and you know, 290 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: everybody's working collaboratively, and it's it's a nice it's nice 291 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: to watch as I think from the type of company 292 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: we are, it's the most effective way to do things. 293 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: But and again just to reinforce like this, this is 294 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: a new level of activity for the company that has 295 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: been completely Yes in the finance side were so when 296 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: I came in. Uh, it was funny because when we 297 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: made the change, I wanted to meet with the team 298 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: in person and uh, you know, having come from a company, 299 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: when you you make those transitional announcements, it's lots of people, 300 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: we said in the conference and I think it was 301 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: nine people and you know there we have some people 302 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: in Australia. Is still there were in finance. UM, we're 303 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: building out the rest of our team. So it's I 304 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: love at this point in my life. It's like I said, 305 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: I've never felt more energized or more interested in the business. 306 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: And sometimes we here in the bigger companies you tend 307 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: to have you know, it's it's there's a lot, a 308 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: lot of moving pieces and in this it's just it's 309 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: just it's a startup in some respects. It's a startup 310 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: with I P with the real business behind it. UM. 311 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: So the startup portion of it's really on the original production. 312 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: So it's used to come into it. It's nice to 313 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: come in when you think of a startup that you 314 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: think like Okay, you have nobody. We we had a 315 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: core team of people there that we're running the business. 316 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: Now we're kind of bolting on this original production feature 317 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: and TV. But in terms of the i P, is 318 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: that what is the source of that is that older 319 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: films or no. So, um, we'll see how it works 320 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: out with some of the water product that's that's in 321 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: the library. But mine actually owns several libraries, one of 322 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: which is the Rights Your Library, so we have the 323 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: ability to make agreements with them to access that i P. 324 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: So things like Star Search and Nash Bridges and Lifestyles 325 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: which and famous there's a lot of really you know, 326 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: the Great Santini. There's some really interesting i P in there, 327 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: which you know, we're getting a lot of interest in 328 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: and uh so that part's exciting and what we don't 329 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: want to become is a company that's just folks Is 330 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: on Remax. But at the same time, UM, we think 331 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: we can take some of this branded i P and 332 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: use it as the way to kind of get a 333 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: get ball rolling and get get out the door with 334 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: some ideas and uh we'll go from there. But we're 335 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: going to develop original i P as well. But there's 336 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: some really great stuff in these libraries. We're gonna exploit 337 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: knowing you and your sales prowess. If Lifestyles are the 338 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: Rich and Famous isn't back on the air by next year, 339 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: I'll be disappointed. I'm hoping it is. We We've got 340 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: a lot of really good Uh you'll hear a couple 341 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: of things coming up in near future with some of 342 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: the I p but it's it's exciting. Do you think 343 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: does Vine have an appetite for for additional acquisitions. I'd 344 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: say it this way, Um, I think that there's plenty 345 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: of opportunity with all the things going on in the 346 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: world in terms of these companies coming together. You know, 347 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: there could be some things that naturally fall out that 348 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: our core to these new merged companies. So I would 349 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: say it this way that you know, it's something I'm 350 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: curious about and interested to keep my eye on building 351 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: the company outside of what you currently see. So as 352 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: much as we want to, you know, create original content 353 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: both in future and TV side, Um, I think it's 354 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 1: gonna be important to we look different ways to grow 355 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: the company. Yeah, um interesting. Obviously streaming is important. I 356 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: mean it's that they're huge buyers of programming. But I've 357 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: had a lot of producers talk to me about one 358 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: of the one of the sort of game changing things 359 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: about streaming is the way that shows or finance and 360 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: the way they're paid for. And typically content is paid 361 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: for on a cost plus model, which basically means paying 362 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: the license fee plus whatever you negotiate, you know, ten 363 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: twenties on a high end, thirty percent margin, and that 364 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: money comes much sooner to the producer than under the 365 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: old syndication model. Does that fundamentally does that shift in 366 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: this market? Does that fundamentally make it easier, less um 367 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: less costly than a for a producer to to for 368 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: a production company Villa Drow show to enter the market 369 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: as opposed to having to in the old model, having 370 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: to be able to deficit finance you know, four or 371 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: five seasons of a show if you're lucky to before 372 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: you get to that profitability. I think a couple of things. 373 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: One is, uh, it's I think this new model is 374 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: allowing us to get into the business because there's been 375 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: several people, big names, who have tried to get into 376 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: television business and didn't really understand how it worked. So 377 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 1: they thought, wow, I've got making twenty pilots and we 378 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: got five picked up and it's fantastic. Well, the math 379 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 1: on that's not great. You've lost a lot of money 380 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: on the fifteen that didn't get picked up. And if 381 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: I that did get picked up, you're not You weren't 382 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: going to make any money until four or five years 383 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: down the road, and then that's over a period of time. 384 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: So it's easier now in some ways if you're our 385 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: type of company to come into a business where there's 386 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: predictable returns on your investment. Now some people would are you, 387 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: I know, but you missed a huge upside. The flip 388 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: side of that is if you look at the failure 389 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: rate on some of these network shows in terms of 390 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: going from the success ray I should say, from script 391 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: to syndication hit. You know, it's like it's like kids 392 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: who go to college to play basketball but think you're 393 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: gonna go the NBA. Of course, you know, there are 394 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: people go the NBA, but there are a lot of 395 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: kids who are sitting at home not playing in the NBA. 396 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: So look, it's a predictable business. I mean, there are 397 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: predictable earnings attached to these streaming deals. Uh, for a 398 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: big studio that's doing those kinds of deals. It's not great. 399 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: That's what you're living off because you've built this huge infrastructure, 400 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: global infrastructure, lots of people, lots of expensive real estate 401 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 1: where the big where you're the ideas, I gotta get 402 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: these network shows that I can then sell internationally. That 403 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: justifies this big overhead. And for us, we don't. I mean, 404 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: it can predictable a Netflix deal or an Amazon deal 405 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 1: or an Apple deal where it's you know, we go 406 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: to Sirius say we have a series picked up. It's predictable, upside, 407 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: we cash flow of the production, we get paid at 408 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: the end. That's that's you know, that's the business friend, 409 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: and it's great for us. Will we do network programs absolutely? 410 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: Will we be a more measured approach to it? Absolutely? 411 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: I think sometimes and look, part of our thing is 412 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: and this was the thing we were when I was 413 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: at Sony. I mean, we're Switzerland. We will be. We 414 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: want to be in business with everybody, right, which includes 415 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: cable networks and syndication and where it makes sense, right. 416 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: So I think as you know, you you talk about 417 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: you know, what we're doing as a company, there's there's 418 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: a lot of opportunity to the fringe on the fringes 419 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: in the business outside just the streaming services, or I 420 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: think we can make smart business arrangements and haven't makes 421 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: sense for our company be involved in. So yeah, it's 422 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: are you finding I mean right now there's no shortage 423 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 1: of there's no shortage of buyers, but there's also no 424 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: shortage of producers and production companies. Are you finding a 425 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: welcome reception when you I mean, are you at the 426 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: point of going out to pitch people ideas at this point? 427 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: Were There have been a couple of things that come 428 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: out of our library that we kind of initiated early 429 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: on that we've had great response to. But there's a 430 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: couple more hires I need to make before we get 431 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 1: like full on. Um, So we're like I said, I 432 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, you know me well enough to know there's 433 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: a part of me which I want to run out 434 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: the door like on fire day one going look at 435 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: you know, we're in business. But like I said, I learned, 436 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: I learned a lot of valuable lessons back in the 437 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: day when you know, we started up at Sony, you know, 438 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,879 Speaker 1: kind of re engineering the company that you don't want 439 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: to get too far ahead of yourself I mean, I 440 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: I plan on this being a long term, you know venture, 441 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: So kind of the steps we make early days have 442 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: to be the right ones. I don't want them to 443 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: be missteps. So we get a couple of the right 444 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 1: people in place, But there were a couple of obvious things, 445 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: um that we had an opportunity to take out, and 446 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: we're working on. But but yeah, so the response, Look, 447 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: there's spons has been great and there's one. Not to 448 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: sound like the get off your lawn, get off my 449 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: law guy, but the one valuable lessons I passed on 450 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: to my kids and I pass on any the younger 451 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: people I bump into through I mean, on the board 452 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: of l m U and speak to a lot of 453 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: colleges and high schools. You know, it does matter. Um, 454 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: your reputation is important, and how you handle yourself through 455 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: your career is important, and how you treat people is important. 456 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: And the one thing I learned during my I took 457 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: time off in between my time with Sony and al 458 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: Villa Drow show, is you know, all those things you 459 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: think maybe that matters to you but didn't matter other 460 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: people's people, they do matter. So not only have I 461 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: been overwhelmed by the rest Fonst. Village road Show and 462 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 1: the good feelings forwards them. It's been I'm grateful for 463 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: some of the nice things people said to me about 464 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 1: coming back into the business and re entering it with 465 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: this company. And uh so the people stuff has always 466 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: mattered to me. And uh you know, when you're in 467 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: a big company, there's a lot of political forces and 468 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: it's tough doing business and you gotta make difficult decisions, 469 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: but you can do it in a way where you 470 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: maintain your dignity and friendships and morals and ethics. And 471 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: I think you know, I did my best along the 472 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 1: way to keep all those things in check. So the 473 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: Steve Moscow brand is strong. Well, it gives me faith 474 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 1: in humans when that stuff matters. So what would you 475 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: say has been the hardest or the most surprising thing 476 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: that you have found as you are starting to build 477 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: out these other areas. I'll be honest with you. I've 478 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: enjoyed every minute of it. I Mean I knew coming 479 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 1: in that it would be different than working for a 480 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: big studio. So things like um, like when you thinks 481 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 1: that would have been done by people that work for you, 482 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: I'm doing them now, right, You are so and I 483 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: not really, but you know, but they're like things like, um, 484 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: you just have to work a little harder to prove 485 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: the people how you know, how much you want to 486 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: be in business with them. So things like like there 487 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 1: were meetings in the past where I was said, oh, 488 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: if you want to do that, come to my office. 489 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: Now it's like I'm going to them. So I think 490 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: so if there's and my making this up because you know, 491 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: but like Jimmy Miller is a friend of mine, Mosaic 492 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: and we're working on some things together. You know, a 493 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: lot of times people will come to the studio for 494 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: those kinds of being I've been very aggressive and saying no, 495 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: I will, I'll come to your office. I'll make it 496 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:55,479 Speaker 1: easy for you. So I don't know, I've just enjoyed. 497 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: I've enjoyed every minute. And I really just this is 498 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: exactly what I wanted to do with this part of 499 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: my career. So even like hiring people, um, taking meetings, 500 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: like I knew what it was going to be different 501 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: and I was ready for it. So, um, I I 502 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: don't know that anything has been hard. The one I 503 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: will say this, and it's not hard, it's just different. 504 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 1: This is really a right brain left brain job. So 505 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 1: when I came into the company, it was kind of 506 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: funny that, Um, the first month UM we had, I 507 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 1: was evacuated my house in Westley Village for the fires, 508 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: so I was out of that for a week. Um, 509 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 1: then the holiday. I mean, there's a lot of things 510 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: going on. We had to prepare a five year plan. 511 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: We had a board meeting, so then Christmas comes and 512 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 1: then we had and then I go on the road 513 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: to meet with some of the limited partners and I 514 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: was in Tallahassee and Toronto and New York. Then I 515 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,479 Speaker 1: came back and I had like a creative meeting from 516 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: the shows were developing. So the really interesting, fascinating part 517 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: of this job now is using like I'm using all 518 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,479 Speaker 1: the tools in my toolbox. I sit in front of 519 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: bankers and talk about what are what we're doing to 520 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: build a company. Then the next day I'm talking to 521 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: managers and agents and talent saying this is why you 522 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: ought to be in business with us. That's why I 523 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: love about it. And if I need it, if I 524 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 1: need anything, I'm getting it myself. And it's fun. Like 525 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: I said, I I think a lot of people who 526 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 1: are in my position now I've struggled with this notion 527 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 1: of like, well, my parking space used to be right 528 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,200 Speaker 1: there and my name was on it, and I had 529 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: a fruit basket and everybody came to see me and 530 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: bump up all that stuff. None of that matters to me, 531 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: you know. I'm just, like I said, I'm enjoying building 532 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: the company, working with the people at Vine who are terrific, uh, 533 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: like building our plan and we're gonna build a company 534 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: out I at the expectations of what it could be. 535 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 1: You know, we haven't gone out running our mouth off 536 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: about how great gonna be. We'll let our work kind 537 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: of show for it. And like I said, I'm actually 538 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: just grateful I handled myself that I did coming through 539 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: because people actually want to be in business with us, 540 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: If it makes sense. It's so great that you had 541 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 1: that bad meeting with the Vine Alternative Alternative Investments. It's bizarre, 542 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: actually because but it was meant to be. And actually, uh, 543 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: after I left Sony, like I said, I was very 544 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: lucky form the standpoint at the time to really make 545 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: the right decision. But um, I always had this weird 546 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: feeling that something like that was gonna happen, because like 547 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: I said, I, you know, I was the Sinclair situation 548 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: was one where podcast and you know, my first job 549 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,239 Speaker 1: in television, I was hired by David Smith's father. So 550 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: that goes back forty years from Baltimore. UM, A couple 551 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: of things popped up, but it's funny how things happened. 552 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: This was the one the one thing I would I 553 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: will tell you though, because you're saying that that you 554 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: know what was the difficult part of it of joining 555 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: Village road show Horst part. The one thing I did, 556 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: which I would give advice to anybody whose sizes making 557 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: any kind of career change is try to find things 558 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 1: you can do in your day that are consistent with 559 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: what you did when you were working. So in other words, 560 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: like I get up really early and wanting to go 561 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: work out before you had when you were I like, 562 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: my mornings were pretty set, Like I wake up a 563 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: certain time really early, and I lived for what ways 564 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: out of town, so I drive in, workout and got 565 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 1: to work. I kept that exact schedule in the morning, UM, 566 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: every day after I left. So when I went, Yeah, 567 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: so I went back to the village, I went back 568 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: to work, Like my mornings start off exactly the same 569 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: way they had forever. So it wasn't that I thought 570 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: that would be a big change, but it wasn't. The 571 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: transition was great and and I enjoyed every second. And 572 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: I was in between Sony and Village. That's great. Well 573 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: you kept your discipline. Yes, now I understand in addition 574 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: to launching, you know, building out this company, launching these 575 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 1: this whole new division of the company, you've also taken 576 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: to podcasting yourself. I have to tell me about your podcast. 577 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: It's called unsung Ly. So, um along, I wanted to 578 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: make sure I kept my mind sharp, uh, you know, 579 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: amongst other things. But there was a guy I worked 580 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: with at Sony when I first came Sonny and Bill Benson, 581 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: and he was my assistant. He was paying his way 582 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: through school and we remained friends over the years. Look 583 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: him up. He has a company. He has a thing 584 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: called a mental gym, and he's a very very smart 585 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: and great guy. Anyway, what I had set out to 586 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: was write a book on leadership when I left Sony, 587 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 1: and what I realized along the way was that we 588 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: need a couple more hooks, uh and build too. And 589 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: Bill was co writing it with me. So anyway, um, 590 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,959 Speaker 1: we decided we would do a podcast as a way 591 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 1: to kind of get these more stories and leadership whatever. 592 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: And what we realized is that there are a lot 593 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: of people in the entertainment business or in lots of 594 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: businesses who are leaders, but their leaders with publicists and 595 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: are great self promoters. And by the way, good for them. 596 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: We're not knocking what they do. But what we also 597 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: came to realize was that there are people in life 598 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: that are great leaders but you hear nothing about. And 599 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,760 Speaker 1: it could be a teacher in some small town that 600 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: does something special or you know, I live in Thousand 601 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 1: Oaks area, and when they had the mass shooting, um, 602 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: people just step up. And they're not looking for to 603 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: be noted, to be honored, to be you know, any 604 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: of those things. They just didn't because it was the 605 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: right thing. So we want to down the road of 606 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: finding people who did amazing things or amazing leaders that 607 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: you've never heard of. And uh, we did ten episodes 608 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 1: and uh then I went back to work and now 609 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: we're trying to figure out the scheduling. But Steve Moscow, 610 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: your energy and enthusiasm for this new gig is palpable. 611 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: Congratulations to you, Good luck, and come back and visit 612 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 1: us and tell us how think how great things are 613 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 1: going for Village Road Show in a in a year 614 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: or so. And Synthea, thank you, it's great to see you. 615 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: And uh like I said, you've always been the shining 616 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: star in your industry for me and uh so, anyway, 617 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: it's just great to reconnect and thank you for having me. 618 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: Thanks Steve, thanks for listening. Be sure to tune in 619 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:46,160 Speaker 1: next week for another episode of Strictly Business