1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business, Varieties weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: guest is Laura Kennedy, CEO of Avalon. Avalon is a 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: busy management production company that is rooted in both the 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: UK and the U s a straddle that brings advantages 7 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: from a copyright perspective. As Kennedy discusses, the company has 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: grown along with the global demand for content. It's invested 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: in shows that have traveled widely, including Comedy's Catastrophe, Everything 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: is Going to Be Okay and Last Week Tonight with 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: John Oliver. Avalon's library of three thousand hours of original 12 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: content helps provide a steady stream of earnings. Kennedy is 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: an alumnus of lions Gate. She took the reins at 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Avalon just about six months before the pandemic hit. The 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen curve ball forced some delay days and added 16 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: some extra expenses, but Kennedy's game plan has not changed. 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: Make great shows, represent top creatives and good things will follow. 18 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: That's all coming up today on Strictly Business. Laura Kennedy, 19 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: CEO of Avalon, a very busy management and production company 20 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: that has offices in the UK, Los Angeles, and New York. 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Laura. Thank you very much for 22 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: having me so. Laura, you took over the reigns of 23 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: Avalon about not even six months before the world went 24 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: into a global pandemic. Obviously, probably not on something that 25 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: was on your radar in terms of management challenges in 26 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 1: your first year. Um, I guess I would like to 27 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: start by asking how much did the jolt of the 28 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: pandemic change your plans as you came in. I'm sure 29 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: you had a vision for what you wanted to do 30 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: as you came in in the fall of twenty team 31 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: to the CEO job at Avalon. How much did the 32 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: pandemic may force you to change or adjust your game plan? Um? Yeah, well, 33 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: certainly it was not on my road map to to 34 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: deal with a global pandemic within a few months. And uh, 35 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: and obviously it's been a very challenging year for for 36 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: so many people and so many reasons. Um. But other 37 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: than facing fire drills that were not anticipated and you know, 38 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: navigating shutting down productions we starting and the sort of 39 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: risks of assessing the risk of producing in this in 40 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: this environment. Outside of that, um our of strategy has 41 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: remained fundamentally the same. You know, my my, my vision 42 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: when I started versus sort of where we are today 43 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: is fairly consistent. UM. And for context, I'd say, you know, 44 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: the pandemic, I don't think has radically disrupted our industry 45 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: so much as just accelerated trends that were in existence 46 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: pre pandemic. So, you know, we cam to represent a 47 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: roster of diverse and distinct artists in our talent management 48 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: business and in our studio operations. Our goal is to 49 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: produce a sleep of exceptional content for global audiences. And 50 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: that that that that was the case before the case today. UM. 51 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: And I'd say, if anything, the experience over the past 52 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: year has probably highlighted some of the strengths of our 53 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: business model. UM certainly been a particularly valuable time to 54 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: have diversified operations in multiple markets. UM. The importance highlights 55 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: the importance of retaining rights and the value of owning 56 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: a catalog of over three thousand hours of I, P 57 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: and and. And there's consistency to the importance of working 58 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: with really distinctive talent and how evill that is, and 59 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: that's very much at the core of what we do. 60 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,119 Speaker 1: Did you have to make the toughest call on things 61 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: that might have been early just stating did you have 62 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: to make any tough calls about letting projects go or 63 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: just things that would have been unfeasible for timing or 64 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: for whatever reason. We didn't, you know, very very very 65 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: fortunate none of our shows were canceled. M We were 66 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: able to get everything back up and running, so thankfully 67 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: we weren't faced with some very difficult decisions that others 68 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: may may have been counted in terms of, you know what, 69 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: what had to be completely written off for us, that 70 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: the hardest decision was h making sure that we had 71 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: safety protocols in place that we were comfortable with, that 72 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 1: the teams were comfortable with, that we could operate ondo 73 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: you know, with with confidence that we could kind of 74 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: manage an environment that that practice social distancing and working 75 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: through the creative to ensure that we were sort of 76 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: managing that as best as possible. But but thankfully we're 77 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: able to get everything back up and going and the 78 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: um have you know, completed delivery on on anything that 79 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: was was shut down. Temporarily has that been um, you know, 80 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: even just the cost of testing and ppe for an 81 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: independent company, has that been a significant cost for you 82 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: to absorb on your productions? And absolutely on the protocols, 83 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: I mean absolutely, the cost of producing in this environment 84 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: has has has definitely gone up. UM. I'm grateful for 85 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: the fact that we have a lot of our production 86 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: based in the UK, where there is government backed insurance available. UM. 87 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: I mean it wasn't for a period, but that the 88 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: government did introduce it on a on a retro basis 89 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: and it's still in place. There's no such commensurate insurance 90 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: available in the US. UM, So that the risks of 91 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: producing and the cost of producing through this pandemic have 92 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: absolutely gone up. Some some bias a bit more ready 93 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: to uh support studios and independence in terms of covering 94 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: those costs than others. UM and uh it has been 95 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: a decision on our part too invest in order to 96 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: maintain that that production cycle and and keep everything going. 97 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: The explosion of streaming platforms that are that are US 98 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: based but have global ambition, that must just be kind 99 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: of the best of all worlds for you and the 100 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: business model that you have at out along well it's 101 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: certainly great, UM to have so many buyers, both for 102 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: talent and for shows we're taking to market. And like 103 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: you say, with global ambitions, it is there's more demands 104 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: just in aggregate for the volume of content than ever before. 105 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: And there's more demand for like I said, unique stories, 106 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: different stories. There's a willingness to take risks that that 107 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: wasn't there before. UM. I would like to see more 108 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: of it. But all of that is is a net 109 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: positive for independence and artists. Has it been UM with 110 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: your library? You said you have about a three thousand 111 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: hour or episode library that must also open up licensing opportunities. 112 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: Do you that like that library is yours unfettered to 113 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: to distribute and license. Yes, yes, And uh, you know 114 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: it's not only the streamers but also the growing a 115 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: board platforms, and you know, it's just, uh, you know, 116 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: it's a it's a great time to be selling into 117 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: a market with so much demand for content UM. And 118 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: the trick is, you know, making sure we stay disciplined 119 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: on the deal making side and really you know, championed 120 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: those projects so they can build audience awareness and engagement, 121 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: you know, amidst this sort of somewhat saturates at market. UM, 122 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: do you find that you and when you do licensing deals, 123 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: do you find that you're licensing really like a bulk 124 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: amount of shows or do you do bespoke deals like 125 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: show by show in various territories. I imagine that that 126 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: even for a smaller library like yours, that could get 127 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: very complicated in terms of figuring out you know, who 128 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: has what and when. UM. Yes, but it's sort of 129 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: that that's the game too, So we will we will 130 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: do both, you know, especially in the situation right now 131 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: like with new ab old platforms coming and online and 132 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: um streamers launching into new markets who are looking for 133 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: a lot of programming at once. We will do deals 134 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: for multiple shows at one time with one buyer, But 135 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: more often than not we are actually doing this mo 136 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: deals UM. And like I said, I believe that that's 137 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: that's something that's distinctive about how we operate. And you know, 138 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: we we are not just you know, we have a 139 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: scaled business, but our strategy is not really volume. It's 140 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: about being bespoked. It's about giving each each project UM 141 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: putting a very very best foot forward and going just 142 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: all in in in ways that sort of some of 143 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: our bigger compecitors may not do mh. And you have 144 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: content licensing that you have operations in the UK as 145 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: well as New York and l A handling those kinds 146 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: of Yeah. I mean, our our distribution team is based 147 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: out of London, but but our team is global. You know, 148 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 1: we're a really fun size in that we have the 149 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: local expertise and infrastruction both the US and the UK, 150 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: but we're still small enough that we can operate as 151 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: a global team. UM and without the sort of bureaucracy 152 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,959 Speaker 1: of of layers and having to sort of stifle that 153 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: that collaboration and contributions from both markets. Tell us of 154 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: just kind of about the size and scope of Avalanche. Roughly, 155 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 1: how many employees do you have? Full time employees? Um 156 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: the representer of the seven hundred artists and produce twenty 157 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: to thirty shows in any any given year. UM. We 158 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: also have a lot promotions business out of the UK 159 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: and we take um, you know, we usually take twenty 160 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: shows on tour um every year as well. Mhm hm UM. 161 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: That must obviously a business that was probably you know 162 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,599 Speaker 1: that has been challenged in in the last year. Do 163 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: you feel there's a lot of talk in the live 164 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: event space of hopes for a really strong second half 165 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 1: with pent up demand, people dying to go to a 166 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: concert of play. I'm one of them. I can't wait. 167 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: Are you anticipating a lot of them were? Certainly, we 168 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: certainly all. I think everyone is very very enthused about 169 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: what the four will look like and the demand for 170 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: for live entertainment again. Uh, we you know, that's an 171 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: example of an area where, like you say, has been 172 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: hardest hit over this past year. Very grateful that we've 173 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: had we have diverse vote operations where we're able to 174 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: pivot um or focus and and mitigate that. UM. But 175 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: we're pretty high expectations and I'm I was admittedly I 176 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: was surprised that we had sought so few refunds UM 177 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: through this past year. So while we we had to 178 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: obviously reschedule all of our tours or most of them. 179 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: A few of them were able to go forward in 180 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: Australia and New Zealand, but we had to reschedule most 181 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: of our tours, and UM, we actually saw sales optic, 182 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: So I think, you know, if that's any indication, I think, uh, 183 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: people have held onto their tickets. They're excited to go back, 184 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: they're ready to go back and we're all looking forward 185 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: to the world sort of resuming. U does having that, 186 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: having that that activity in the live events based being 187 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 1: in the business of touring artists, comedians, performers, does that 188 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: Does that help you on the production and development side? 189 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: I would imagine that that's a great place to scout 190 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: for talent and kind of get a sense of what 191 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: the pulse of what and what audiences are responding to. 192 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: But for sure, I mean it's to be part of 193 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: our talent operation. UM. We've uh promoted more Edinburgh Fringe 194 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 1: Fist Festival award winners than any other company UM, and 195 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: it is absolutely an area where we build very very 196 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: strong artist relationships and uh learn what it means to 197 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: promote autie at the very uh early stages of their 198 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: career and um how to how to support them UM 199 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,839 Speaker 1: once they found great success and you know, are playing 200 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: to big arenas. We'll be right back with more from 201 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 1: Avalon CEO Laura Kennedy after this break, and we're back 202 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: with more from Avalon CEO Laura Kennedy. How did you 203 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: get to Avalon? What What was the path that led 204 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: you to become CEO of Avalon. UM. Well, Avalon was 205 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: actually my first job out of college, so I have 206 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: known the team at Avalon for a very very long time. 207 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: UM and uh that's that time. That's how I know 208 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: the company. UM. But I was really thrilled and excited 209 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 1: at the opportunity to join when I did. I just 210 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: think the company has I mean, it's always been a 211 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: great team and a great business. But what what the 212 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,559 Speaker 1: team has been able to do over the past twenty 213 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: years and continuing to scale the business, I think is 214 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: really amazing. And it's an exciting time to join the 215 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: company as CEO at this scale and I felt like 216 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: I could um have an impact um and and and 217 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: was excited to be back in an environment it's truly 218 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: entrepreneurial and its culture and energy and at a phase 219 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: and its growth that is about building for the future. 220 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: There's so much momentum UM and I was the excited 221 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: to rejoin the company in two thousand and nineteen, UM, 222 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: given given where the company is and it's in its 223 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: growth trajectory and where the market is and the opportunities 224 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: that I see ahead. In the past, there have been 225 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: tensions in the in management production setups that that at 226 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: some point, clients might feel like they are encouraged or 227 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: pushed into projects. How do you how do you mitigate 228 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: against that feeling like maybe there was a conflict of 229 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: interest that that led me to be in this project 230 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: versus a project from a cup that is not produced 231 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: by Avalon in any way. Yeah. Absolutely, I mean, I 232 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: think that is a great question, and I think, uh, 233 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: it's really important to note that we were a talent 234 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: management company first. That is very much the DNA of 235 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: the company. And if we were ever to force clients 236 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: UM into working with us in any way whatsoever, UM, 237 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: you know, it will be our own demise. So there's 238 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: sort of a natural organic hedge against that inflicts of interest. 239 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: It is very much about what is best for the artist. 240 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: And there are cases, there are times when working with 241 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: Avalon as the studio is a really great opportunity. More 242 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: often than not, that's not the case. You know, we 243 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: we we only work with a small percentage of our 244 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: clients on on the studio side UM, and our clients 245 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: are working with you every every studio out there, UM. 246 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: And so it's really the DNA of the company I 247 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: think is very important, and that we're not a production company. 248 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: That's expanded into talent. We are definitely a talent management 249 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: company with a full fledged studio operation and infrastructure. UM. 250 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: And that that DNA I think is actually important in 251 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: navigating that conflict and ensuring that UM you're never forcing 252 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: clients to work with you internally, but you're providing that 253 00:15:52,480 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: opportunity when it when it makes sense. O. UM yeah, Um, Laura, 254 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: before you came to Avalon, you spent many years in 255 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: climbing the executive ranks at lions Gate UM. What what 256 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: would you say your experience there at a a larger 257 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: studio operation but still the youngest of the studio is 258 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: still the smallest of the studios. What did your experience there? 259 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: How did that influence and kind of inform what you're 260 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: doing today? Um? Well, I mean, I think the the 261 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: entrepreneurial culture at Avalon today reminds me so much of 262 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: my you know, early days that lions Gate UM and 263 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: that creative energy and moment. Some of the business that 264 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: is the up start or an up starts in this 265 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: industry much big appears, but figuring out where your competitive edges, 266 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: how to be distinctive, how to execute with excellence across 267 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: the board, and always put your best foot forward, UM. 268 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: How to balance being opportunistic UM and honest thing that 269 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: that that entrepreneurial hustle with a discipline and strategic vision 270 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: and business model. I think all things that are very 271 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: relevant in in uh out Lions game. And we were 272 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: building when we were growing so meaningfully in my early 273 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 1: experience there, and there's a lot that I took from 274 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: that that experience. It's very similar, I think to where 275 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: we are today and and how we're managing the business 276 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: and how we're thinking about investing for growth. M and Laura, 277 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: what was it taking an even further step back, What 278 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: was it that you think in your experience in your 279 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: life that that puts you on the business track that 280 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: what you want to track to be a CEO. I 281 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: did not discover an interests in business until I started 282 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: working UM, so it wasn't I was like an English 283 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: lit undergrad. I was all about language and theater and 284 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: that really was surprised to find myself so interested in 285 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: the business side of this industry once I started working. 286 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: So I kind of discovered it, I would say relatively 287 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: late compared to many of my peers who have you know, UH, 288 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: we can't go on to become CEOs and all got 289 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: come up the business track in their careers, but I 290 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: discovered an interest in it. I went to business schools. 291 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: I let me learn some fundamentals I'd never you know, 292 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: I literally didn't know what a P and L was 293 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: when I was applying for busines school. I was like 294 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 1: super super green and uh, and I've loved it ever since. 295 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: So I stayed on the business side of the industry 296 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: for much longer than I ever expected to. UM. I 297 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: loved the puzzle of figuring out how to how to 298 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: build a sustainable business that there is a win win 299 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: for everyone. UM. I'm still incredibly inspired by creativity. So 300 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: for me, this is a This is a wonderful place 301 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: to be to be in a position to try to 302 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: figure out how to build a sustainable business that UM 303 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: allows us to invest in and support UM creative artists 304 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: and talent and do what they do best. And and 305 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: I love that mission. I love that challenge and uh 306 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: and it's a great platform to be working with try 307 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: and try and achieve that. Thanks for listening. Be sure 308 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: to leave us a review. At Apple Podcasts, we love 309 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: to hear from listeners, and be sure to tune in 310 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: next week for another episode of Strictly Business.