We had the good fortune of connecting with Evan Littman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evan, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
People outside of Hollywood only see the overnight successes. It makes things seem easier than they really are. But the entertainment industry is so much more than just A-list actors. It runs on the backs of people who will never be household names. Every single working professional I know has been grinding for years just to make a living, let alone reach what some would consider “success.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I should probably explain what I do, since “Entertainment Consulting” is pretty vague. My business falls into three general categories. First, since I have years of experience in the independent film market, I primarily work with foreign distributors to evaluate film projects for them to acquire and distribute in their territories. Typically, production and sales companies get together at international markets like Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, or the American Film Market to try and sell or pre-sell their projects to distributors in other countries. Those projects are often at the script stage, awaiting enough financial interest to move to production. I help distributors evaluate which projects to acquire, including movies you probably didn’t know were independent, like Moonfall, John Wick, Bad Moms, or Greyhound.

Second, I work with individual entities like writers, directors, producers, and even actors to develop their script or package and refine it for the international market. This typically takes the form of a one-hour Zoom.

Third, I work with production companies, financiers, or producers to guide them through selling or pre-selling their projects. So in addition to the above services, I also take a look at the sales estimates or offers from foreign distributors, and advise the client how to move forward.

Because the industry is small and everybody knows everybody, I am careful to disclose any conflict of interest that may arise. I can’t be on both sides of the negotiation.

My business is generated almost entirely through word of mouth. You only get one shot at a reputation, so it’s important to cultivate a good one. Straightforward and honest dealings, quick responses to emails/calls, quality work, and general kindness and friendliness will get you far.

The other thing I’m known for is always looking ahead at industry trends and market forces. Right now, I’m focused on the convergence of content, tech, and gaming. I’m also exploring ways to better advance my clients’ interests. To that end, I am currently working on earning my JD at Loyola Law School. If you’re thinking, “running a business while attending law school sounds like a lot,” you are correct!

The hardest part of any business is getting started. You have to literally create something from nothing, and while there are plenty of books, there is no substitute for just doing it. I did almost everything myself (except logo design). That includes: building and designing the website (I used SquareSpace, taught myself a bit of markdown, took some cues from popular sites); filing the paperwork with the CA government; opening a business checking account and credit card; learning how Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Twitter ads work in order to market; setting up Stripe, PayPal, Venmo, and other payment systems; keeping perfect records for tax-time; figuring out how to file those taxes; the list goes on. And that stuff doesn’t include the up-front expenditures for bringing in new business!

Launching and operating a business is hard. If you do everything yourself, it’s time-consuming and complicated. If you hire someone for each aspect, it can get expensive. There are no easy answers out there. But the truth is, it can be rewarding in so many ways. And there are a lot of free resources on the internet to get you started.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it’s their first time in LA, then we have to start with all the touristy stuff. The Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, drive through Bel-Air, WB studio tour, Venice boardwalk, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, catch a movie at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, etc. We would probably grab a bite at Factor’s and then go to the “I’m new in LA and this is the only bar I’ve heard of,” Saddle Ranch.

But once that’s out of the way, we can do some more off-beat activities. Horseback riding in Malibu, sushi-making, maybe a day trip to Joshua Tree. My personal favorite thing to do is run the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (usually referred to as the Culver Steps, before Downtown Culver took the name for its own steps). On a clear day, you can see pretty much all of LA from up there, and it’s a great workout.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A big shout out and thank you to everyone who supported and believed in me along the way. First and foremost, this means my parents, who gave me more practical advice than anyone else. I also have a great group of entrepreneurial friends working in the industry who are always willing to help me bounce around business ideas and talk through life experiences: Jason Lubin, manager at First Story Entertainment (Twitter – @firststoryent); Cassie Brooksbank, director (Twitter – @cbrooksbank); Jason Hellerman, writer (Twitter – @JasonHellerman); Paul Jun (Twitter – @pauljun10) & Kasia Kaczmarczyk (Twitter – @KatKaczmarczyk) who founded Filmocracy (Twitter – @filmocracy2); and Brett Cramer, director (IG – @bcram88). There’s also my brother Adam who is a talented musician (TikTok – @adam_earthling), and the tight crew of incredible friends I grew up with: Brett, Sean, Levan, Nick, and Billy. Shout out to everyone for all the help, love, and support!

Website: www.getmadeconsulting.com

Instagram: @go.get.made

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-littman-91190b1a/

Twitter: @gogetmade

Facebook: Please delete your Facebook everyone

Other: Business inquiries: biz@getmadeconsulting.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.