Notes from the Rep Biz - 05-08-2020

Furloughs and lay-offs continue to impact the representation business. No company is safe, but the past couple of weeks brought us stories about UTA and Anonymous Content being among the heavyweights continuing to tighten their belts. The biggest story still seems to be Endeavor, which now says 20% of WME employees will be affected by the company's austerity measures. So let's start there ...

At WME:
 
Talent agent Duncan Millership is jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, trading his agent gig at WME for a manager spot at Anonymous Content.
 
Christine D'Souza Gelb, one of Endeavor Content's star packagers of indie films, is departing the rep biz altogether, although it seems likely she could resurface as an executive or producer somewhere.
 
As far as new clients go, documentary filmmaker Sami Khan has signed with the agency, along with 18-year-old social media personality and culinary star Eitan Bernath.
 
At CAA:
 
Jude Law has returned to CAA after being at WME for a number of years. Hot filmmakers Jung Byung-gil and Bao Nguyen are also new clients for the agency.
 
Otherwise,the agency has racked up social media stars and influencers, i.e. people who work from home. Those include TikTok star Tabitha Brown and YouTube beauty expert Rachel Levin. The agency went so far as to sign a client that is not a person at all: A.I. sensation Lil Miquela (and her creators at media studio Brud).
 
Finally, veteran talent agent Jeremy Plager has departed CAA to open his own management/production company, where his initial clients will include Woody Harrelson and filmmaker Oren Moverman.
 
Elsewhere around town:
 
ICM Partners has signed director/producer Brad Silberling, as well as reality producer Lee Metzger. The agency also hired non-scripted agent Brian Speiser away from APA.
 
UTA now represents YouTube beauty expert Carli Bybel.
 
Gersh has signed veteran Simpsons writer/producer Al Jean.
 
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Variety