Why these top agents are optimistic about the future of movies
LOS ANGELES — It's an uncertain time in the movie business, with box office, streaming and corporate consolidation all in a state of flux. That's kept life interesting for Hollywood talent agents like Joel Lubin and Maha Dakhil, the co-heads of Creative Artists Agency's motion picture group.
Studio strategies suddenly change, depending on the priorities of media conglomerate parent companies. A movie greenlighted for a streaming release by one studio regime could be scrapped without warning when another leadership team takes over, which is what happened to Warner Bros.' "Batgirl."
A film approved for the small screen could be switched to a theatrical release, or vice versa. The shifting landscape has forced agents to be more attentive and nimble with their clients' movies.
"It used to be about setting up a project," said Dakhil, who also co-heads CAA's international film division. "We now are in it from the inception all the way to the release, meeting with the marketing departments, discussing distribution plans, and really advising and caring for the project all the way
