Media Clips

In GHJ’s latest podcast episode, Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff speaks with search and staffing experts to discuss current trends in finance hiring within film and television.

The film and television industry may still be in a period of consolidation and shifting models of distribution, but industry experts are anticipating opportunities in the near future for co-finance partners, investors and production companies.

As entertainment leaders prepare for 2026, here is what to know about film and television industry trends, regulatory changes, technology, deal activity and more. This episode of the Media Clips podcast is hosted by GHJ’s Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff, who is joined by a panel of experts across GHJ’s practices.

Recent legislative changes and the complexities of tariffs can affect entertainment businesses with international tax implications. This episode of Media Clips talks opportunities and challenges. Media Clips’ host and GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff speaks with GHJ International Tax Practice Leader Polina Chapiro and GHJ International Tax Expert Andreas Koller to cover key tax strategies for entertainment business leaders.

Financial leaders in the entertainment industry are zeroed in on cost control and quality over quantity amid this year’s economic disruption. This Media Clips Podcast episode, hosted by GHJ’s Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff, featured Dan Landes, GHJ’s Media and Advertising Practice leader, to discuss disruption in the entertainment industry and more. Dan shared key insights into the current state of the entertainment industry and highlighted both challenges and strategic shifts among financial leaders: • Rising costs continue to be a concern, especially for businesses operating in Los Angeles • Despite headwinds, there are signs of industry resilience, with strong performance from animated content and lower-risk series • CFOs are increasingly focused on cost control and cash flow management • Financial leaders are leveraging data analytics to improve operational efficiency • Studios are prioritizing fewer, higher-quality productions to maximize return on investment

With challenges facing investors and other stakeholders in motion pictures and television, deal making is at a turning point – and leaders must pay close attention to the opportunities that remain available. In this episode of GHJ’s Media Clips Podcast, Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff speaks with Qualia Legacy Advisors Managing Partner and Founder Isaac Palmer, Akin Partner and Head of Entertainment, Media and Sports Chris Spicer, and Bank of America Head of Entertainment Industries Group Randy Hua. These experts discuss best practices and recommendations for navigating industry challenges, including uncertainties around tariffs. And while the film and television industry continues to see less production activity, there are opportunities on the horizon.

What are the biggest legal battles in Hollywood? Explore the evolving impact of artificial intelligence, the shifting economics of streaming, profit participation disputes and the rise of preemptive litigation strategies in Hollywood. In this episode of GHJ’s Media Clip Podcast, GHJ’s Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by leading entertainment attorneys Julia Cherlow (Bird Marella LLP), Neville Johnson (Johnson & Johnson LLP) and Aaron Liskin (Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP) to discuss the latest litigation trends shaping the entertainment industry. Together they dissect high-profile cases − from AI-driven copyright battles to disputes over backend compensation − and offer key guidance for industry professionals navigating the legal complexities of film and television.

Production and funding in the decline — where is the entertainment industry headed? In this episode of GHJ’s Media Clips Podcast, GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by Akin Gump Partner Chris Spicer, Bank of America Entertainment Industries Group Head Randy Hua, and Film Finances, Inc. Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs Bryan Bordon. The industry has seen a 20 percent decline in production in Los Angeles in 2023 and 40 percent decline across the United States in 2024. The panelists discuss how producers are responding to this decline, finding opportunities to fund their projects and taking advantage of tax subsidies to offset rising budgets.

How can motion picture and television producers find success in 2024? In this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by TPC Senior Vice President Viviana Zarragoitia, Comerica Bank VP Jeff Colvin and Greenberg Glusker Partner Schuyler Moore. The panelists point to several factors that are driving funding at the moment, including: • Investors are willing to spend money on film projects with a social message. • Producers are finding funding beyond theatrical film and moving into new avenues such as social media and video games. • Although investments from China have dominated the industry over the past decade, there is an expected influx of investments from Saudi Arabia. Find the Media Clips Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen to past episodes and hear new episodes as soon as they become available.

In this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff checks in with Dr. Jeffrey Cole, Director of USC Annenberg's Center for the Digital Future. Jeffrey shared his insights from CinemaCon, an annual event where cinema owners and industry professionals gather to explore shifting paradigms in film distribution and audience engagement. He notes that the box office recovered after the pandemic but has not yet reached 2019 levels, and he does not expect that level to return considering the slowdown in production during the 2023 strikes. Jeffrey also pointed to a few examples from 2023 that may shape the future of film distribution: • A major topic of discussion was theatrical windows, which have shortened significantly as more films are sent to streaming sooner. • Sound of Freedom was a surprise hit that was partially propelled to success by a pay-it-forward model. • AMC CEO Adam Aron took an innovative (and potentially controversial) approach to distribution when he bypassed the studios to directly bring Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé to theaters. Adam cited these films as solely driving the company’s growth in Q4 2023. Ilan and Jeffrey also talk about sports broadcasting, which has the potential to shape the television landscape as streamers like Amazon invest in live sports, and lessons learned from the 2023 strikes as a new round of labor negotiations take place.

What do entertainment professionals need to know to find financial success? On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, Host and GHJ Entertainment Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by a panel of distinguished experts from across GHJ’s service lines: • GHJ Entertainment and Media Tax Expert Dan Li shares what taxpayers can do now to reduce their tax bill in 2024. Click here to more about how taxpayers can save on taxes before the end of the year. • GHJ State and Local Tax Practice Leader Frances Ellington breaks down key tax changes in the State of California and provides helpful guidance for people who faced unemployment during the labor strikes. • GHJ International Tax Expert Andreas Koller points to the Foreign Income Tax Credit issued this year and an upcoming Supreme Court Case that may affect international tax regimes in the future. • GHJ High Net Worth Practice Leader Rajpal Gibson offers update on IRS enforcement attempts, the Employee Retention Credit and estate planning. • GHJ Media and Advertising Practice Leader Dan Landes explains the new Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) accounting standard and reminds entertainment professionals to revisit their finances amidst work stoppages in 2023. • Finally, Ilan shares how the scope and nature of profit participation audits continues to shift to accommodate new media reporting. Each expert explains changes that may impact individuals and businesses in the entertainment industry and gives recommendations on how to prepare for financial success in the coming year. This episode was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike ended on Nov. 9, 2023. Follow the Media Clips Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen to past episodes and hear new episodes as soon as they become available.

How do independent producers get funded? On this episode of the Media Clips Podcast, Host and GHJ Profit Participation Services Practice Leader Ilan Haimoff is joined by Loyola Marymount University Associate Professor of Finance David Offenberg and GHJ Profit Participation Expert Tracy Liang. David is a leading expert on entertainment finance and has spoken extensively about financial trends in streaming and the entertainment industry as a whole for The Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Vanity Fair. He recently wrote the book Independent Film Finance: A Research-Based Guide to Funding Your Movie, which explains the fundamentals of film finance based on data and first-hand accounts from filmmakers. Earlier this year, David shared his insights on the streaming services with GHJ’s Profit Participation Services Team for its proposal for a new profit-sharing model — called the “Everyone Wins Model.” Co-authored by Ilan, Tracy and GHJ Profit Participation Expert Grace Guenon, this model leverages insights from GHJ’s extensive database and insights from David and other industry experts to envision a profit-sharing agreement between the producer of a mini-series and a streaming service that is more equitable than the current model. On the podcast, Ilan, Tracy and David revisit this new profit-sharing model and how it could alleviate conflict. As evidenced by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the current profit-sharing model for streaming deals has caused significant controversy.