Making Hollywood Come to You with Talent Manager James Swoope (M88)

How do you get a manager? What’s the difference between a manager and an agent? James Swoope, talent manager at M88, breaks it all down with IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo. From Cleveland to Hollywood, Swoope has built a career managing talent like Dominique Thorne (IRONHEART), actor and singer Coco Jones, designer and entrepreneur Jeff Staple, and athlete and podcaster Matt Barnes. In this conversation, he shares his journey from casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH with Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, his approach to talent management, what artists should really be working on, why it’s important to “have something to manage,” and why Swoope calls himself a unicorn.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com(00:00) How does one get a manager?(01:34) Voice Memo from Charles D. King (Founder & CEO, MACRO)(05:25) Swoope’s unique sense of style and why he’s a unicorn(08:06) From casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH(12:55) How to get a manager(14:35) What artists should be working on(16:25) “I’m the 10%. You’re the 90%.”(19:18) What does a manager do?(21:31) What’s the difference between a manager and an agent?(23:45) Rapid-Fire Questions and Advice(25:20) Show & Tell: 3 NINJAS and FORREST GUMP(30:07) Prox RecsIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost/Director/Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Andrea WalterMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozProduction Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin SaddlerSound Production Assistant: Isabella MillerPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Intern: Jun Sawada