In November, The Hollywood Reporter released their 35 under 35, a list of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars. This list, which includes such honorees as Ari Emanuel, Stacey Snider, and Mike DeLuca, pays tribute to some of the industry’s brightest talent and high-profile projects. This is the 18th year the list has been compiled, and for sure is a major honor, as anyone who is anyone in Hollywood reads and respects The Hollywood Reporter.
The list is broken down into categories which include Actors, Actresses, Agents, Digital, Film, Legal, Management, Publicity, TV, and Writers and Directors, in alphabetical order. For anyone who is interested in working in Hollywood, studying the accomplishments of these young professionals is an excellent way to learn from the best of the best and to see what it takes to make it big. According to THR, “for some, it may be their ability to see potential before anyone else does. For others, it’s a knack for negotiating a deal through complex industry channels.” The co-chairman of Fox Jim Gianopulos, it’s "coming up with the right answer. More often, it's coming up with the right questions. … And if you're smart enough to already have the answer, that's talent."
As a manager myself, of course I was immediately drawn to the managers THR chose as members of this renowned list. I was interested to see what the most successful young managers were doing and what they have accomplished thus far in their careers which have secured them as a coveted Next Gen of 2011 inductee. Three individuals were highlighted.
Scott “Scooter” Braun, 30, is the founder of Silent Media Group. Getting his start as an Atlanta party promoter, he graduated to marketing executive at Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Records. By age 26, he was looking for something more. Motivated to find the next big thing, he did just that. He scoured YouTube and discovered Justin Bieber. Partnering with Usher, he signed Bieber, and the rest is history. Braun has steered the young Bieber’s career to superstardom, largely in part to Never Say Never, the hugely successful film documenting Bieber’s rise to fame which was Braun’s creation and co-production.
Adam Kossack, is a manager at Anonymous Content. After graduating from college, Kossack’s first job was as production coordinator for N’Sync. He decided to forego his plans to attend law school and decided to answer phones for Next Gen’s Class of 2006 Michael Sugar. He followed Sugar to Anonymous and has been building a roster of writer-director clients ever since his promotion in 2007.
Last but not least, Tucker Voorhees is a manager at Principato Young Management. After stints at several companies including Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises and 3 Arts Entertainment, Voorhees moved from Los Angeles to New York City where he was told to “go out and sign funny people”, and he has done just that. He has scouted such talent as Zach Galifanakis and Stephen Colbert. In 2007, he returned to Los Angeles and joined Principato where he reps actor-writers, directors, and some of the original comedy talent he scouted in New York.
My suggestion to anyone looking to break into the industry is to read and reread the mini biographies of each of the 35 people THR has chosen as this year’s best young professionals in Hollywood. Something can be learned from each and every one of these individuals whether it be from their decisions and work history, their philosophy, or their work ethic. All of these people came from different backgrounds and have made their way to the top doing different things in different niches in the industry. However, one thing remains constant, these people are among the most dedicated and hard-working of them all, which should be motivation for everyone that if you put forth the effort, it is possible to break into the business and make a name for yourself.
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