The Movie Business Podcast

JON REISS is a filmmaker, writer, media strategist, and author of “Think Outside the Box Office.” His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and theatrical experiences for independent films. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations globally, most recently for THE LIBRARIANS documentary. In 2023, he created the 8 Above Distribution Lab, teaching filmmakers distribution and marketing. Also, he is co-founder of the Future Film Coalition and writes about distribution and marketing on his 8 Above Substack.  
 
Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 
Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

ALYSSA WEISBERG is an Emmy and Artios award-winning Casting Director with over 90 credits in features and TV. These include STAR TREK BEYOND for director Justin Lin, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL and TOMORROWLAND for Brad Bird, projects for J.J. Abrams including SUPER 8, STAR TREK, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; also THE LAST HOUSE for Louis Leterrier and SPACEBALLS 2, produced by and starring Mel Brooks.
 
Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 
Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

ALYSSA WEISBERG is an Emmy and Artios award-winning Casting Director with over 90 credits in features and TV. These include STAR TREK BEYOND for director Justin Lin, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL and TOMORROWLAND for Brad Bird, projects for J.J. Abrams including SUPER 8, STAR TREK, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; also finished 11817 for Louis Leterrier and SPACEBALLS 2, produced by and starring Mel Brooks.
 
Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 
Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

FRED MILSTEIN is CEO of Media Guarantors, a CAC Group Company, with over 30 years of independent film production, completion guarantee and financing experience. Fred was the prior Global Head of Production at Miramax and also held senior-level positions at Aon and ProSight, focusing on film. Career highlights include BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD, directed by Sidney Lumet, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, directed by Terry Gilliam, SILENT NIGHT, from director John Woo and ROOFMAN, from director Derek Cianfrance.
 
Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 
Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)

BLAIR RICH, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer at Legendary Entertainment, drives marketing, branding and communications, emphasizing new technologies and data analytics. Earlier, she was President and Chief Business Officer of Virgin Galactic's Commercial and Consumer Operations, leading marketing for the groundbreaking Unity 22 spaceflight. Blair served over 20 years at Warner Bros., rising to President of Worldwide Marketing, heading a global team of over 700 and marketing hundreds of titles in Theatrical and Home Entertainment, including franchises Harry Potter and the DC Multiverse.
 
Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. 
Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)