Taste Over Execution: Finding Writers

What if the most powerful moves in business happen BEFORE you even walk into the room? Jeremy Zimmer built one of Hollywood's most dominant agencies from a boutique small business to a global empire by understanding one thing: deals are won or lost long before anyone sits down to negotiate.

Jeremy Zimmer is the co-founder and former CEO of United Talent Agency (UTA), representing names like Christopher Nolan, M. Night Shyamalan, Charlize Theron, Harrison Ford, and Samuel L. Jackson. He started in the William Morris mailroom after flunking out of college and getting stabbed working a parking lot. He built UTA into a powerhouse through 19 acquisitions in 13 years, stood up to Harvey Weinstein before anyone else would, and spent decades competing ruthlessly with Ari Emanuel while staying profitable. In this conversation, he breaks down how to spot real talent, how to win deals before they start, and why taste will always matter more than execution.

You'll learn:

• Why the best agents can spot creative genius in 10 pages and what separates taste from execution

• Why getting rid of toxic high performers makes companies stronger even when it feels terrifying

• How competing with Ari Emanuel for decades taught him to emulate the best and ignore the rest

• Why talent is becoming landlords and how 50 Cent and Tyler Perry are rewriting the Hollywood playbook

• The future of Hollywood: consolidation, AI, and why the platforms are the real competition now

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(00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:29) From Rock Bottom to the Mailroom: Jeremy's Origin Story (00:05:35) The Chair Fix That Changed Everything (00:06:44) Spotting Talent: The Connectivity to the Product (00:09:44) Taste Over Execution: Finding Great Writers (00:14:59) The Pain Before the Win: Getting Lied To, Stolen From, and Cheated (00:19:46) Standing Up When No One Else Will: The Harvey Weinstein Memo (00:28:55) Learning From Your Competitors: Ari Emanuel and the Big Agencies (00:36:06) The 19 Acquisitions in 13 Years: Diversification Strategy (00:45:39) The Secret to Great Deals: Setup Before the Sit-Down (01:02:21) Toxic Talent and Culture: When to Cut the Cancer (01:05:58) What's Coming for Hollywood: AI, Platforms, and the Talent Landlord Model (01:14:39) Advice to the Next Generation: Develop Your Taste and Read Great Things

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