Business Managers Elite
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BUSINESS MANAGERS ELITE Behind the Camera Clients of Bell & Co. include filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, a multihyphenate producer, director and cinematographer. ← “Because we pay the bills, we know everything about a client and the clients know this,” says Bell. “My clients can lie to their therapist, their doctor and their wife. But because we see all cash expenses, the clients can’t lie to me.” STEVE BILLS Partner, Bills & Stoll Not much has changed since Bills and firm co-founder Peter Stoll set up their own shop in 2016 following the death of their longtime partner Bob Philpott in March 2015. They still handle a mix of high-profile actors, producers, directors, writers, entrepreneurs and high- net-worth families, and the basic principles of business management still apply. “It sounds funny to say it so simply, but a key aspect of success is you have to spend less than you make,” says Bills. “Everybody wants to do that, but not I stand on a soap box and try says. “As a CFO, you can’t be knowing they have X amount of of a business manager. He adds everybody can control their to get clients to do. If they pigeonholed in just tax and dollars to live on” to stay solvent, that a business manager makes spending. They don’t always think they want to do stocks or accounting. You have to take a he says. His clients are primarily sense later when the millennials’ distinguish between needs and their friend has this amazing broader view of their financial actors, writers and directors, lives become more complicated wants.” restaurant/club idea, I’m saying, picture.” He covers music, TV including writer-director Noah “whether it’s for tax planning, ‘No, they don’t. This is what you and film; clients include Drake, Baumbach, Sterling K. Brown, creative financial planning, cash want to do.’” Pharrell Williams and Will.i.am. Dakota Johnson, John McEnroe flow management or estate “There is so much deal flow and Andrew Rannells. “I have planning.” His name was just coming at us every day, the clients whose careers take off added to the shingle of the industry has become more suddenly,” says Bonsignore. “It’s firm, which he co-manages. His challenging,” Bolno says. extremely rewarding to see the clients include athletes, actors, clients grow financially, set goals directors, writers, producers and then achieve those goals.” and executives. He believes in parameters. “I’ve been asked JOHN BLAKEMAN to be matchmaker by a client, but that’s definitely outside my Partner, MGO DAVID BOLNO wheelhouse,” he says. Blakeman’s strategy for his Partner, Nigro, Karlin, Segal, Feldstein roster of A-list actors, writers & Bolno and directors continues to evolve with the fast-changing industry, Bolno believes that the expertise ANTHONY BONSIGNORE seeking out additional revenue repertoire of business managers VARIETY.COM Partner, Altman, Greenfield & Selvaggi streams — from commercials must broaden. That’s because CHRIS BUCCI and consumer goods to digital- tech opportunities for clients When clients unexpectedly Partner, Savitsky Satin Bacon & Bucci first shows — to keep incomes are exploding in areas including shop for pricey art, a car or a on pace in the face of shrinking virtual reality and augmented house, Bonsignore says he lays Millennials using apps for individual paydays. “The best reality, and options in traditional out the scenarios ranging from banking can manage simple MATTHEW BURKE investment anyone can make is investments have mushroomed, conservative best case to worst finances and Bucci says he 24, 2017 OCTOBER Managing partner, Singer Burke in their primary residence,” says too. “We’re are effectively the case. “A huge part of what we sometimes advises them to wait BOLNO: WALLIS PHOTO; SODERBERGH: MOVIESTORE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO; BOLNO: WALLIS Blakeman. “That’s something CFO of our clients’ world,” he do is managing expectations a bit before adding the expense Burke oversees operations → 71 BUSINESS MANAGERS ELITE ← for the 45-year-old firm, film producer Roberto Orci (“Star include a long list of actors, it right now,” says Dunn, who is Friendly Repartee which built its foundation on Trek”) and director F. Gary Gray writers and comedians, many of CFO of the nonprofit trade org “Fresh off the Boat” actor Randall Park, right, shown here with TV writers, producers and (“Straight Outta Compton,” “The whom are increasingly working the Advanced Imaging Society. guest actor Michael Bolton, is a showrunners from series ranging Fate of the Furious”). “A lot of abroad. “The biggest thing is to “VR is fantastic technology, but I client of Patrick Dunn. from “Cheers,” “Married ... With people wanted to get out of the make sure we’re keeping them think some of the companies are Children” and “ER,” to more stock market after [President] as good citizens in the countries still grappling with how best to recent hits such as “Shameless,” Trump got elected because they that they visit and they comply monetize.” “The Walking Dead” and “The were very nervous,” Davis says. with all the tax requirements, and merchandise, sync licenses and Handmaid’s Tale.” Burke happens “In some ways, that wasn’t the we watch out so they don’t leave sponsorships,” says Wlodinguer. to have an online minister’s smartest move, but if they’re money on the table,” she says. Synchronizations are deals license, which he used to going to be fretting every day for attaching tunes to visual officiate at the wedding of one and it’s going to be impacting media. Other growing income of his co-workers, as well as their ability to be creative and do streams include talent curating to marry a longtime client in a what they need to do, then there and consulting for festivals. domestic partnership about to is a lot at risk.” “Activities like crowdfunding, lose WGA health coverage. “They meet-and-greets (special access came in with their child and I at concerts) and being active married them in my office,” says on social media cultivate a Burke, who joined the firm in stronger relationship with fan 1990. “It was very sweet.” PATRICK DUNN bases that helps extend careers,” says Wander. Erk handles music Partner, Dunn, Pariser & Peyrot ARTHUR (ARTY) ERK clientele including the late Dunn’s clients include household Michael Jackson, KISS and Meat names such as director James ARNIE HERRMANN Loaf for royalty audits. Herrmann ANNA DERPARSEGHIAN Cameron, actor Randall Park is co-leader of the firm’s (“Fresh off the Boat”) and “Mad ERROL WANDER entertainment, music and sports Managing Partner, PTD Business Management Men” creator Matthew Weiner, group handling Maria Bartiromo, as well as producers, production VICTOR WLODINGUER Matt Lauer, Liam Neeson, VARIETY.COM DerParseghian was a 15-year- companies, screenwriters, Martin Scorsese and chef Jean- Partners—Entertainment & Business BRANDY DAVIS old with plans to be a bio major athletes and an increasing Management, Citrin Cooperman Georges Vongerichten. Wander when she saw a business number of tech companies. covers musicians, songwriters, Partner, MGO management firm’s “file clerk Among these are leaders in the The quartet finds that the producers, Hollywood talent, Davis’ client list includes big- wanted” posting in her high virtual reality and augmented revenue mix for music clients production companies, talent name TV writer-producers such school’s career office, and it reality space. “It seems that swells to roughly 75% from agencies, and stylists, including OCTOBER 24, 2017 OCTOBER as Peter Lenkov (“Hawaii Five- changed her life. Five years later, AR is really taking hold in a big concerts these days, up from singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw 0”) and Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s she moved from that job to PTD, way, because there seem to be 50% a decade ago. “The profit and stylist Micaela Erlanger. 72 Anatomy,” “Scandal”), prolific where 17 years later her clients more applications that can use centers are now touring, Wlodinguer leads the firm’s → MCCANDLESS ABC/ERIC JESENA; FRESH OFF THE BOAT: RYAN DERPARSEGHIAN: TEMPLETON; ANDY DAVIS: honors SANDY SINGER FOUNDING PARTNER EMERITUS 45 YEARS of exceptional service and innovative strategies. And we congratulate our colleagues on being honored as Variety’s 2017 Business Managers Elite Honorees MATTHEW BURKE ELAINA KOGAN RICHARD SINGER AARON ZIMMER BUSINESS MANAGERS ELITE ← jurisdictions, but getting all-time high and generating of solid liquid investments: “I content, so you have to be such documentation typically wealth, but McIlwee cautions wish they were sexier, but they somewhat entrepreneurial to requires up to eight weeks. “It’s stocks can tank and employment bring calm if there’s a storm.” capitalize,” explains Singer. a consequence of production in Hollywood is increasingly The son of Singer Burke’s now- being nomadic,” he observes. choppy. For example, short-order retired founder, Sandy Singer, he Moving official domiciles for TV series proliferate, leaving joined his father’s firm in 2002 short times increases risks of tax talent with uncertain paychecks after spending eight years as an audits, he cautions.