Panel Background & Career Paths

• Ben Eisenberg (101 Studios): Pittsburgh → NYU film → COVID production coordinator → NBC/Universal assistant → Disney development → 101 Studios coordinator
  • Works on Taylor Sheridan universe (Yellowstone, Landman, etc.)
  • Learned production wasn’t for him after 12-hour days with no personal life
• Emily (Amazon): Bay Area → Boston U political science → law school → WME business affairs assistant → Warner Bros → Amazon
  • Half creative executive, half theatrical strategy (box office projections, budget analysis)
• Brad (Hulu): Cleveland → NYU film → WME mailroom → sports agent desk → TV lit agents → Hulu drama development
  • Works on prestige content (Handmaid’s Tale, Under the Bridge, Dropout)

Studio Mandates & Brand Identity

• Hulu: 25-35 female-skewing, college-educated demographic
  • Elevated content addressing societal issues
  • Strong focus on rip-from-headlines true crime thrillers
• Amazon: Mandate changes frequently based on customer data
  • Theatrical: Big movies, stars, franchise starters, tent poles
  • Streaming: Varies by quarterly reports and customer engagement
  • Recently shifted to wanting more YA content for women
• 101 Studios: Middle America demographic, not necessarily college-educated
  • Yellowstone brought underserved audience that felt represented
  • Expanding beyond Taylor Sheridan universe to avoid being one-note

Breaking Into Industry - Networking Strategies

• Cold email best practices:
  • Keep short and honest
  • Find alumni connections on LinkedIn
  • Show genuine curiosity about their work
  • Don’t write essays - brevity is key
• Internship approach:
  • Any entertainment-related experience counts (local news stations, etc.)
  • Use company directories to reach across divisions
  • Be willing to do any task thrown at you
  • Focus on making connections and learning
• International applicants: Virtual meetings work, show passion despite distance

Development Process & What Studios Want

• Studios vs. Distributors distinction:
  • Studios buy ideas, package them, sell to distributors/streamers
  • 101 Studios is pure studio (no distribution)
  • Amazon/Hulu are both studio and distributor (vertical integration)
• What makes a good pitch:
  • Unique voice that’s immediately recognizable
  • Writer’s authentic connection to the material
  • Fits current mandates but mandates change every 4-6 months
  • Don’t write to mandates - write what you’re passionate about

Business vs. Creative Balance

• Development roles are 50/50 art and commerce
• Budget considerations always factor into green-light decisions
• Box office projections and customer data drive many choices
• Political capital must be spent strategically on passion projects