ReportWire

Tag: UTA

  • UTA Taps Disney and Apple Alum Judy Schwab as Chief People Officer

    Judy Schwab, a human resources veteran of Disney and Apple, has joined UTA as chief people officer.

    “Judy’s exceptional track record in building high-performing teams and leading people and culture made her the ideal person for this role,” said David Kramer, CEO of UTA. “Her leadership, insight and expertise will be instrumental as we continue to invest in UTA’s talent for our next phase of growth.”

    Schwab comes to UTA from the short-lived Venu sports venture of Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox and Disney, which was ultimately dissolved. Before that Schwab was a senior HR executive at Apple focusing on the tech giant’s services division that is home to Apple TV+, Sports, Video and Music.

    Schwab was at Disney from 2018 to 2023. During that time, she was part of the executive team that launched Disney+ — which required an enormous amount of recruiting and HR support as the streaming unit ramped up to reach global scale at a fast clip.

    At Disney and elsewhere, Schwab gained experience managing large teams through complicated M&A and IPOs.

    Schwab’s appointment is the latest move to bolster UTA’s corporate support staff since Kramer took the reins as CEO of the talent agency in June.

    Cynthia Littleton

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  • John Legend Signs With UTA in All Areas

    United Talent Agency has signed EGOT-winning multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter John Legend and his production company, Get Lifted, for global representation in all areas, the company announced Thursday. 

    The signing comes as Legend embarks on the North American leg of his global “Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour,” celebrating his Grammy-winning debut album. In a career that has spanned just over two decades, Legend has garnered 13 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Emmy Awards – making him one of only 19 people to obtain the prestigious EGOT status. He also was named Variety‘s Music Mogul of the Year in 2020 in recognition of his charitable work.

    “John Legend’s impact on entertainment and culture is unparalleled,” said UTA Partner and Co-Head of Talent Jay Gassner. “UTA is proud to support his artistic and entrepreneurial vision across music, film, television, books, brands, and beyond.”

    “John is a global musical icon and one of the most acclaimed, decorated artists of our time,” said UTA Partners and Co-Heads of Global Music David Zedeck and Sam Kirby Yoh. “The impact of his celebrated live performances powers his globally recognized brand the world over. We are thrilled to be joining his team.”

    Along with his forthcoming tour, Legend will return to his recurring role as a coach for the reality competition series “The Voice.” He also earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Jesus in NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” in 2018, for which he won an Emmy as a producer.

    Alongside partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, he co-founded Get Lifted Film Co., which has created a wide range of projects across major networks and streaming platforms. Recent highlights include the Emmy-winning HBO documentary “1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed,” Paramount+’s “Loudmouth,” and Netflix’s hit series “Rhythm & Flow.” Upcoming projects include NBC/Peacock’s “Before I Let Go,” inspired by Kennedy Ryan’s novel, “Blacktop Wasteland,” inspired by the S.A. Cosby novel, the Misha Green feature film “B-Sides,” and “Phantom,” a modern-day reimagination of “Phantom Of The Opera.” The company also has a publishing arm, Get Lifted Books, which aims to amplify diverse voices.

    Legend continues to be managed by Friends At Work’s Ty Stiklorious, with legal representation from Aaron Rosenberg/Myman, Greenspan, Fox, Rosenberg, Mobasser, Younger & Light, as well as Nina Shaw/Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Leazcano.

    Jem Aswad

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  • UTA Signs Chinese Producer, Buyer & Investor Fundamental Films

    UTA Signs Chinese Producer, Buyer & Investor Fundamental Films

    EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Shanghai and Los Angeles-based production, distribution and investment company Fundamental Films for representation.

    Founded by Mark Gao in 2008, Fundamental Films was one of China’s biggest buyers before the pandemic, releasing films including American Hustle, Limitless, Lucy and the Taken and Transporter franchises.

    The company acquired a significant minority share in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp in 2016, releasing the French studio’s titles in China, as well as co-producing films, including the reboot of the Transporter series and fantasy epic, Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.

    UTA will provide strategic support in expanding Fundamental’s partnerships across film production and distribution, as well as identifying global IP, new business and technology investment opportunities.

    Fundamental is releasing EuropaCorp’s upcoming action thriller, A Weekend In Taipei (aka Weekend Escape Project), starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei, in China this summer.

    Commenting on the partnership with UTA, Gao said: “UTA’s forward-thinking and global contacts make it the perfect partner for our company in this next stage of our expansion.”

    UTA will work closely with Gao and Fundamental CEO Ivy Hua across the company’s
    two core business arms of entertainment production and investment. The U.S. agency will also support the company’s on-going development and acquisition of international projects (non-Chinese language) suitable for the Chinese market, including features, documentary films, IP content, as well as new technology.

    Liz Shackleton

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  • Matt Rife Signs With UTA

    Matt Rife Signs With UTA

    EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed comedian Matt Rife for representation in all areas, with an eye toward expanding his opportunities in film and TV and beyond.

    Currently on his “ProbleMATTic World Tour” — one of the largest comedy tours in over 20 years, which sold over 600,000 tickets in under 48 hours — Rife has recently exploded to become one of the biggest comedians in the world through his top-performing Netflix special and remarkable engagement on social media, where he has amassed over 18 million followers, and more than two billion views globally.

    Recently selling out four shows at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Rife is set to return to Los Angeles on May 8, when he’ll become the youngest comic ever to headline the Hollywood Bowl.

    From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Rife started performing at the age of 15 and moved to Los Angeles two years later in pursuit of a career in Hollywood. Self-releasing his first one-hour special, Only Fans, and releasing it through YouTube in 2021, he again bet on himself two years later as he took the same approach with his follow-up, Matthew Steven Rife.

    After putting out the YouTube crowd work special Walking Red Flag, which has amassed over 10 million views on the platform, Rife unveiled his first Netflix special Natural Selection, which garnered over 10.3 million views in its first two weeks, earning a Top 10 ranking in 42 countries including #1 in the U.S., Canada, and South Africa last fall.

    It was in 2015 that Rife made his television debut as the youngest cast member in the history of MTV’s Wild ‘N Out. He then moved on to other MTV properties, hosting a reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge. Other screen credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off the Boat, BET’s North of the 10, and NBC’s comedy competition show Bring the Funny.

    Currently developing a workplace sitcom for Netflix, Rife has also inked a deal with the streamer for two more specials, one of which will be its first-ever full-length crowd work special, as we were first to report.

    Rife continues to be represented by Avesta Entertainment, Felker Toczek Suddleson, and Rogers & Cowan PMK.

    matthewgrobar

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