Entertainment Lawyer Drops the New Rules of the Hollywood Money Game

Let me tell you about rich people in Hollywood.

These folks will spend two years doing due diligence on a toothpaste company acquisition.

They'll hire McKinsey. Run the numbers sixteen ways. Negotiate until their lawyers need therapy.

Then they'll hand $20 million to some guy they met at a Soho House party because he "knows Scorsese."

I sat down with attorney Schuyler Moore to break down why the wealthy lose their minds in entertainment. Moore has architected $20 billion in Hollywood deals. He's seen more money evaporate into development hell than most people will see in their lifetime.

The Status Game

Being rich isn't enough anymore. You need to be rich and cool.

Titans of industry have enough money. What they don't have is status in the coolest industry on Earth.

Picture this. You're worth $100M from selling enterprise software. You roll up to entertainment industry dinner parties and everyone else is talking about their new show on Apple TV+.

You've got two choices. Keep talking about your SaaS multiple, or buy an executive producer credit and casually mention your "new project with Netflix."

The choice makes itself.

The Money Trap

Here's the setup that hooks them every time.

You've done big deals before. Built and sold companies. You know better than to go all in without protection.

So you play it safe. "I'll put in 10% if you raise the rest."

They smile. Take your money. Start shooting.

Then they hit you with the magic words. "The dailies look incredible. We just need another $500K to finish."

Your options narrow to two paths. Lose your initial investment or double down.

Rich people didn't get rich by taking Ls. They double down. That's how 10% becomes 100%. The math never changes.

Where Power Lives

Making movies makes you sound cool. Distributing them makes you wealthy.

Six hundred features get made every year.

One hundred and fifty see the light of day.

The rest die in a hard drive somewhere.

The real money is in distribution.

But try dropping that at a party.

"What do you do?"

"I make films" vs "I handle digital rights management and territory sales."

One gets you invited to Cannes. One lets you buy Cannes.

Questions That Save Millions

Your screenwriter friend made the Black List? Wonderful. Nobody cares.

Who’s your Line Producer? This is the only person keeping your investment from going up someone's nose.

Where's the rest of the funding coming from? "My uncle's trust fund releases next week" means your check just funded someone's Nobu habit.

What connections does your producer have? There's a grand canyon between "having lunch with Netflix" and "Netflix returns my calls."

How solid is your distribution? "They're interested" in Hollywood means "We'll look at it when it's done and probably pass."

The AI Revolution

Moore laid it out simple. "You're either going to get replaced by AI or harness AI."

Production costs will drop 90%. The barriers will fall. Every power structure you know will flip.

The streaming giants used to beg studios for meetings. Now studios beg streamers for deals.

That's what disruption looks like in real time.

Power Shifts

The game evolved but most players stuck to the old rules.

The LA fires burned more than structures. They burned the old playbook. Production hubs are moving. Power dynamics are shifting. AI rewrites everything. Old money loses its footing.

Evolution doesn't ask permission. It doesn't care about your credits or your connections. It rewards the adaptable and buries everyone else.

The Game Is Rigged (But Here's How to Win Anyway)

Want the cheat codes? Here they are:

1. Partner with someone who already has juice. Cold truth: No one's taking your call until you do.

2. Pre-sell everything you possibly can. Rather take a smaller guaranteed check than swing for the fences? Good. You'll live to make another movie.

3. Distribution is king. Content? Please. There are 600 feature films made every year. Only 150 get released. Do the math.

4. Leverage AI to cut costs by 90%. Either you'll use AI or AI will use you. Pick one.

5. The tax credit game isn't dead - but only the suits who know what they're doing are winning at it.

This isn't some rah rah "follow your dreams" bullshit. This is the real game being played while everyone else plays pretend.

Everybody wants to be a player. Few want to learn the game. Which path will you choose?

Key Moments From The Full Interview

01:29 - Reverse Engineering Success in Filmmaking
How to approach the film business from a commercial perspective

04:23 - Navigating AI in Filmmaking
Protecting your content while reducing costs by 90%

06:28 - The Importance of Distribution Over Content
Why the power lies with distributors, not producers

09:29 - Understanding Film Investment Motivations
The real reasons successful people invest in movies

10:12 - De-risking Film Production and Investment
What's actually possible when it comes to protecting your investment

12:11 - The Shift in Film Financing
How streaming has upended traditional power dynamics

15:22 - Surprises in Film Deal-Making
Why $20B keeps flowing into Hollywood despite the odds

18:16 - Production Incentives and Tax Credits
The truth about Section 181 and state incentives

21:43 - Understanding Film Financing Risks
The First Dollar Rule and why initial investors often end up all-in

24:00 - Navigating Distribution Opportunities
How the market is changing and where the opportunities lie

26:02 - The Allure of Producer Credits
What those coveted EP credits actually cost and buy you

28:31 - Identifying Schemes and Dreamers
How to spot industry frauds before they spot you

32:55 - When to Engage Legal Expertise
The right time to bring in professional help

33:39 - The Accidental Journey into Film Law
How Schuyler became Hollywood's deal architect

36:06 - Essential Questions for First-Time Filmmakers
What you need to ask before starting your first project

Watch The Full Interview →

Free Resources From Schuyler

Want to go deeper? Schuyler has literally written the book on entertainment law and business. Now in its sixth edition with over 50,000 copies sold, this is the same textbook Schuyler uses to teach at UCLA Law School and UCLA Anderson School of Business. Written so "my mom could understand it." Get it on Amazon →

Forbes Column - Monthly insights on entertainment law, film finance, and industry trends. Recent articles:

• The Basics Of Raising Seed Equity For Films

• Film Economics 101

• New California AI Legislation Affecting Hollywood

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YouTube Channel - Search "Sky Moore The Biz" for his full UCLA course, free to watch.

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