Supergravity launches digital-focused talent management business
LOS ANGELES -- Supergravity, a Los Angeles-based digital production and distribution company, is launching a talent management company focused on digitally native creators, Mashable has exclusively learned.
Titled Red Sun Entertainment, the company will be headed by veteran manager Evan Weiss, who will help Supergravity cofounders Max Benator and Marc Hustvedt shepherd creators.
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"The walls that used to separate talent don’t exist in the same way anymore," Benator told Mashable. "Red Sun is really unique because there is no network that’s tied to the management company – it’s truly an agnostic enterprise with one focus: Help build careers of really really talented folks. On all media."
Weiss, who served as executive vice president and head of talent at Studio71 (formerly Collective Digital Studio), said he is wants to get back into "pure talent management."
"There's an incredible pool of rising talent in this landscape," Weiss told Mashable. "And I don't think any other company that combines all the elements like Red Sun."
While at Studio71, Weiss helped pioneer audience migration and management deals for mainstream broadcasters who wanted to maximize the value of YouTube.
Among Weiss' most notable clients is Lucas Cruikshank, known for his humorous YouTube persona Fred. Weiss helped package and produce the Fred movies alongside Brian Robbins, founder of AwesomenessTV.
Other digital talent joining Weiss at Red Sun include HollywireTV, Elliott Morgan, Steve Zaragoza and most recently Jesse Ridgeway (aka McJuggernuggetts).
From the traditional side, Weiss will also bring his clients Chuck Tatham (executive producer of Modern Family), Gary Halvorson (director of the Billboard Awards), Big Boy (radio personality), Jason Ellis and Chuey Martinez, showrunners Don Foster (Mike and Molly) Frank Lombardi (Happily Divorced) and Jon Ross (Marvin Marvin).
"Evan is a unique breed of having success at the highest levels in both traditional and digital," Benator said.
Benator said Supergravity wanted to expand its business after successfully creating and releasing content.
The company is behind the Justin Chon and Kevin Wu buddy comedy Man Up, thriller The Chosen starring Kian Lawley (which hit No. 1 on the iTunes Horror chart) and Premature, a comedy special with Elliott Morgan. More recently, in May, Supergravity released the award-winning documentary Gayby Baby.
Red Sun Entertainment joins a handful of agencies (including Big Frame, owned by AwesomenessTV) looking to help digital influencers flourish. Many traditional talent agencies -- Creative Artists Agency, United Talent Agency and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment -- have also bolstered efforts to add digital influencers to their talent rosters.
UTA even recently tapped Sam Wick, Maker's former executive vice president and GM of enterprise, as the latest addition to its UTA Digital Media department team.
Still, Benator said Red Sun Entertainment offers a unique, focused service to creators.
"Our goal with Red Sun is to work with all kinds of talent and place them in whatever opportunity makes the most sense," he said. "As opposed to being a management company that services a YouTube business or digital business or in case of traditional services TV and film side. It’s unique in that way and something the space really has needed."
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Topics YouTube
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
