Jeff Kwatinetz(born April 6, 1965) is an American entertainment industry executive. He is the formerCEOofthe Firm, Inc.,a media production and talent management company inSanta Monica, California,and currentCOOofCube Vision,the film and television production company he runs with his long-term partnerIce Cube.[1]He is also the co-founder ofBig3,a 3 on 3 professional basketball league.[2]
Jeff Kwatinetz | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 6, 1965 New York City,U.S. |
| Education | Marlboro High School |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School Northwestern University |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainment executive, talent manager, attorney |
Early life and education
editKwatinetz was born inBrooklyn,New Yorkto aJewishfamily[3]and lived in Brooklyn until the third grade, when his family moved toMarlboro Township,Monmouth County,New Jersey.He graduated fromMarlboro High School.[4]He attendedNorthwestern UniversityinEvanston, Illinoisand was chapter president of theDelta Upsilon Fraternity.[5]While President of Delta Upsilon University, Kwatinetz managed the band, Security, which did local shows in Evanston and Chicago, IL. He graduated fromHarvard Law Schoolwith aJ.D.degree.[6][7]
Career
editJeff Kwatinetz started his managing career with Chicago power pop trio,Material Issue.He attributes learning a lot about managing and the music industry to the band.Material Issuewas Kwatinetz first band signed to a major label (Mercury). In addition, Kwatinetz claims thatMaterial Issueand him invented, and had, the first Radio Show. Kwatinetz, partially due to his love of the filmThe Graduatewas the one who had the idea for the cover ofMrs. Robinson,he originally wantedMaterial Issueto do the cover, but due to label conflicts,The Lemonheadsrecorded the track instead.[8]
He has worked with many celebrities,[9]including music actsBackstreet Boys,Jennifer Lopez,andKelly Clarksonand actorsSamuel L. Jackson,Vin DieselandColleen Ballinger.[10]
Kwatinetz foundedThe Firmin 1997 to quickly become one of the top management and production companies in the industry representing talent in all facets of entertainment.[11]He has been successful in breaking, developing, and managing the careers of artists such asKoRn,[12]Limp Bizkit,Backstreet Boys,Snoop Dogg,Enrique Iglesias,Vin Diesel,Ice Cube,Kelly Clarkson,OneRepublic,Rachel Weisz,Audioslave,Pete Yorn,Puddle of Mudd,and many more. The Firm acquiredArtist Management Groupin 2002 to add high-profile television and film industry managers and clients such asLeonardo DiCaprio,Cameron Diaz,Kate Hudson,Benicio del Toro,Bill Condon,andMartin Scorseseand expand into an all-encompassing entertainment management and production company.[citation needed]
Britney Spears
editKwatinetz's company represented Spears for one month in 2007. On September 17, 2007, he released a statement saying, "It saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears. We have represented Britney for the past month. We believe Britney is enormously talented, and has made a terrific record. But current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best."[13]
Prospect Park and relaunch of The Firm
editKwatinetz left The Firm in late 2008 and founded the media production, record label and talent management companyProspect Park.[14]He relaunched The Firm in August 2015. Kwatinetz serves as executive producer of theF/XcomedyWilfredandUSA Network’s medical comedy,Royal Pains.[1]
Jeff foresaw original content being consumed online. In 2011, pre-dating NETFLIX Originals, he planned on bringing daily soaps to the internet, but, at the time, the infrastructure was not available to make this a reality.[15]In 2013, Prospect Park launched its own web channel, The Online Network, with revivals of the long-running daytime soap operasOne Life to LiveandAll My Children.Later that year, it filed a lawsuit against ABC, the licensee of those series, and the Prospect Park Networks division filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014. The production and music divisions remained unaffected, and in 2015 were positioned as subordinate entities to a reactivated The Firm, Inc.
Civil Rights Law
editIn late 2017, Kwatinetz began working with attorneyMark Geragoson numerous civil rights cases.
Kwatinetz graduated top of his class at Harvard Law school in 1991. In 2001, he was awarded the ACLU Torch of Liberty for his "commitment to Liberty and Justice for All."[16]
Controversies
editRelationship with Steve Bannon
editKwatinetz has had a close relationship with political strategistSteve Bannon,who served as Kwatinetz' partner in the Firm.[17]Kwatinetz defended Bannon in an editorial piece inThe Hollywood Reporter,saying that "he is not a racist."[18]
Five Finger Death Punch
editIn 2016, Kwatinetz filed for an injunction against clientFive Finger Death Punchalleging a breach of contract.[19]The band and The Firm settled after 18 months of litigation.[20]Five Finger Death Punch's recordings are now one of Prospect Park's last remaining and most valuable assets still under contract. "[21]
BIG3 Legal Issues
editKwatinetz has been involved in many lawsuits in relation to his BIG3 Basketball Tournament. Former league commissionRoger Masonsued Kwatinetz and the BIG3 after being fired for alleged corruption. He claimed Kwatinetz fostered a "hostile and racist" environment and "has repeatedly referred to black athletes as 'rich n-––s.'[22]Kwatinetz denied the claims. The case was settled in an October settlement.[citation needed]
Another employee, Kainoa Henry, was fired from his position and later "filed the breach of contract complaint Monday, alleging he was unfairly forced to resign his chief creative officer job in part because co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz regularly referenced — and praised — right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon while running the three-on-three hoops league featuring retired NBA stars."[23]
See also
edit- Peter Katsis- Prospect Park partner
References
edit- ^abAndreva, Nellie (August 7, 2015)."Jeff Kwatinetz To Relaunch The Firm Management & Production Company".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved9 September2015.
- ^"Ice Cube wanted to keep watching his favorite players so he founded a 3-on-3 basketball league".usatoday.com. 11 January 2017.Retrieved2017-04-14.
- ^"Steve Bannon's former partner in Hollywood says Trump strategist is no racist".Fox News.May 9, 2017.
- ^Waxman, Sharon."Firm Believer: With His Hollywood Management Company, Jeff Kwatinetz Is Reaching for the Stars"[dead link],The Washington Post,July 8, 2002. Accessed June 29, 2011. "Kwatinetz was born and raised in Brooklyn, his father an accountant in the garment industry and his mother a homemaker. When he was in third grade, the family, which included a younger brother, moved to Marlboro, N.J."
- ^"quarterlysummer1986".Issuu.com. 2010-02-21.Retrieved2012-10-15.
- ^"Dog-and-Pony Show".Forbes.Retrieved2016-09-06.
- ^Barnes, Brooks (October 5, 2011)."Rebirth for Soap Operas, and a Career".The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
- ^"Out of Time: The Material Issue Story".2020-05-12.Retrieved2020-05-12.
- ^"Firm Believer".Washington Post.2002-07-08.Retrieved2008-03-21.[permanent dead link]
- ^Otterson, Joe (14 January 2016)."YouTube Star Miranda Sings Lands Netflix Comedy".Thewrap.com.Retrieved2016-09-06.
- ^Waxman, Sharon (March 19, 2004)."Leading Hollywood Talent and Marketing Companies Merge".New York Times.
- ^Sandler, Adam (September 9, 1998)."Zomba packs Korn".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on December 18, 2020.RetrievedDecember 19,2020.
- ^"Manager dumps Britney Spears".ABC News.2007-09-19.Retrieved2008-03-21.
- ^Nikki Finke (7 November 2008)."Jeff Kwatinetz Has Left The Firm Tonight; Can The Company Survive This Turmoil? - Deadline.com".Deadlinehollywooddaily.com.Retrieved2012-10-15.
- ^Barnes, Brooks (2011-10-05)."Rebirth for Soap Operas, and a Career".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2020-08-20.
- ^"Jeffrey Kwatinetz with members of the band KORN at the ACLU's Torch..."Getty Images.29 July 2003.Retrieved2020-08-20.
- ^Waxman, Sharon (2002-07-08)."Firm Believer".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2019-11-23.
- ^"Steve Bannon's Former Hollywood Partner Breaks Silence:" He's Not a Racist "(Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.8 May 2017.Retrieved2019-11-23.
- ^"Five Finger Death Punch are Being Sued by Their Record Label".MetalSucks.2016-04-26.Retrieved2019-11-25.
- ^Tsarfin, Zena (2017-10-16)."Rock Band Five Finger Death Punch, Jeff Kwatinetz Settle Legal Battle (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved2020-08-20.
- ^"Five Finger Death Punch Respond to Lawsuit, Call Label CEO Jeff Kwatinetz" Exploitative and Abusive "".MetalSucks.2016-04-27.Retrieved2019-11-25.
- ^Bieler, Des; Maese, Rick (12 March 2018)."Roger Mason Jr. calls Big3 'hostile and racist' after being fired for alleged corruption".Washington Post.Retrieved2019-11-23.
- ^DILLON, NANCY (11 June 2018)."Ex-staffer sues over" hostile work environment "at Ice Cube's Big3 basketball league, lawyer slams claim as" desperate "".nydailynews.com.Retrieved2019-11-23.