KEVIN GOETZ

Get behind-the-scenes info on movies, filmmaking, & audience test previews. My Podcast: Don't Kill the Messenger with Kevin Goetz / My Book: Audienceology

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Reflecting on last year's American Cinematheque Award ceremony, where I was honored with the Power of Cinema Award—it was truly unforgettable. Sharing a stage with Dame Helen Mirren and being celebrated for Screen Engine’s impact in film was humbling. I'm excited to finally share a special tribute video produced by DG Entertainment, which also won a Telly Award this year for best craft in editing. A big thank you to everyone who made this possible. Congrats to this year's honorees, Jessica Chastain and my friend Charles Roven!

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Always a good time talking movies with Matt Belloni on The Town. We got into the changing habits of today’s moviegoers, what’s surprising Hollywood about Gen Z, and why the future of the theatrical experience may be brighter than some people think.

The Town podcast is on Spotify & Apple podcast platforms or listen to the episode here 👉

https://t.co/JLVa7H7lpN

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

My interview with Mark Canton is available now on my podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger.

Mark’s career spans some of the most influential films and leadership roles in modern Hollywood, but what stayed with me most from our conversation was his enduring passion for the magic of filmmaking. Even after decades in the business, he told me he still “smells the circus” every time he walks onto a soundstage — and that says everything about why he’s had such remarkable longevity in this industry.

We talked about learning from Hollywood legends, trusting instinct, navigating creative risk, and building films that truly connect with audiences. Mark understands something essential about this business: great movies are emotional experiences, and audiences can feel when the people making them genuinely care.

A terrific conversation with one of Hollywood’s great storytellers and champions of cinema.

Listen on your favorite podcast platform https://t.co/kum2hKOdP6

#DontKillTheMessenger #MarkCanton #KevinGoetz #Hollywood #FilmIndustry #Filmmaking #MovieBusiness #AudienceInsights #Storytelling

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Have you heard my interview with the very talented Ric Roman Waugh?

From his roots in the stunt world to directing films with Dwayne Johnson, Gerard Butler, and Jason Statham—Ric has carved out a unique voice in action filmmaking.

This clip is a great example of something we talk about often: spectacle may bring audiences in, but connection is what makes a film stay with them.

🎙️ My interview with Ric Roman Waugh is available now.
Listen on your favorite platform: https://t.co/nGZCOyhmZC

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Excited to share that the paperback edition of How to Score in Hollywood is coming December 8, 2026.

And right now, there’s a great opportunity to get ahead of the holidays…

From March 24–26, Barns and Noble MEMBERS can receive 25% off pre-orders—and How to Score in Hollywood is included.

If you’re thinking about meaningful holiday gifts for filmmakers, creatives, or anyone interested in how movies really get made (and make money), this is the perfect time to lock it in early.

If you're a Barnes & Noble member, pre-order now and gift later!

https://t.co/frej4CMQtT

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know RJ over the years—and this conversation was a special one. He's more than a Hollywood legend— in this interview, you see exactly who he is at his core.

We talk about everything—from the golden age of the studio system to the realities of navigating this business across a lifetime. He’s one of the very few people still with us who lived through the original Hollywood studio system, and his journey offers a rare window into where this industry has been—and the importance of adapting to change.

After eight decades in front of the camera, his outlook is remarkable—and his gratitude is deeply moving.

🎙️ My podcast interview with Robert Wagner is available now on Don’t Kill the Messenger. Listen on your favorite platform:
https://t.co/G4woj9AyVk

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Here’s a timely London encounter!

I have tickets to see Billy Crudup in High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre tonight — and happened to run into him last night at J Sheekey.

Great to catch up offstage. Looking forward to seeing the show. 🎭

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

There’s a tremendous amount to learn from a producer who has sustained success for more than four decades and few have navigated Hollywood’s shifting landscape as skillfully as Chuck Roven.

He’s helped build Atlas Entertainment into a powerhouse behind five of the 100 top-grossing films of all time — most recently winning the Oscar for Oppenheimer.

On the latest episode of Don’t Kill the Messenger, we discuss:
• The bold financing strategy that launched his producing career
• Why creative dealmaking is often the real competitive edge
• The making of Oppenheimer — and the conviction it required
• What it takes to sustain relevance across decades of industry change

If you’d like a deeper dive into the themes from our conversation, I’ve also written a companion Substack breaking down the key lessons for filmmakers and executives.

🎙️ Listen to the full episode:
https://t.co/jB7JxGgq2l

📖 Read the Substack analysis:
https://t.co/CCBCAqlK28

#DontKillTheMessenger #ChuckRoven #FilmProducing #Oppenheimer #FilmBusiness #Hollywood

[DG Entertainment @dgentertain]

DGE is proud to have produced this trailer for our dear friend and colleague, @KEVINGOETZ360 and his new book, HOW TO SCORE IN HOLLYWOOD: SECRETS TO SUCCESS IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS.
https://t.co/1HxP7iZoMW

#KevinGoetz #movies #film #hollywood #howtoscoreinhollywood #strategy

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Honored to be featured by Rutgers reflecting on how education, encouragement, and opportunity helped shape my path — as an artist and as a business leader — and why audience connection has always been at the center of my work.

Thank you, Rutgers!

🔗 Full profile here:
https://t.co/HYGcEWp78q

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

One of the core ideas behind How to Score in Hollywood is that success comes from knowing your audience, managing risk, and aligning vision with strategy — whether you’re making movies or running a business.

So grateful for this endorsement from Hon. Maria Contreras-Sweet, former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Thank you, Maria!

Available from your favorite bookseller.
Hardcover • eBook • Audiobook

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

My first book, Audience•ology, pulled back the curtain on audience test screenings and how movies are shaped before release.

But have you read my new book?
How to Score in Hollywood takes the next step — uncovering what actually drives success in the movie business, from development to release.
While this book is about Hollywood, the lessons are entrepreneurial, universal, and built for anyone making high-stakes decisions in any business.

Check it out — available from your favorite bookseller.
Hardcover • eBook • Audiobook

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

My interview with Gail Berman is available now on my podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger.

From producing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway at just 22 to becoming the first woman to lead both a major TV network (Fox Entertainment) and a major film studio (Paramount Pictures), Gail has consistently redefined what creative leadership looks like in Hollywood.

This is a conversation about instinct, courage, and knowing when to bet on yourself — even when the path hasn’t been drawn yet.

🎧 Listen now:
https://t.co/w4vCOgnh5x

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

In a recent episode of my podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger, I was honored to chat with legendary CAA agent Fred Specktor and his son, acclaimed writer Matthew Specktor.

Among the lessons that emerge in this episode is why the best agents don’t sell — they understand.

Fred shares how truly knowing his client allowed a pivotal opportunity to unfold, ultimately connecting Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman on Unforgiven — a role Gene initially hesitated to take, and one that went on to earn him an Academy Award.

🎙️ Listen to the full interview on your favorite podcast platform:
https://t.co/URGdipVv84

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

I had the chance to talk with Chuck Roven last week at his Hollywood office—timed perfectly with the release of his new film Mercy this week—for my podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger.

From career-defining decisions to how films evolve through feedback, this is a conversation filmmakers and industry leaders won’t want to miss.
🎙️ New episode drops February 4.

📸 Special thanks to Dania Maxwell and Carter Imperial for capturing the session.

#MercyMovie #HollywoodMovies #UpcomingMovies

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

My interview with acclaimed writer Matthew Specktor and his father, legendary CAA agent Fred Specktor, is live now.

Matthew’s latest book, The Golden Hour: A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood, captures the underbelly of Los Angeles through the lens of three generations embedded in the motion picture industry. Our conversation explores how great writers mine personal history to illuminate an industry—and how great agents operate not as cartoon hustlers, but as believers in fairness, quality, and long-term careers.

Together, Matthew and Fred reflect on the industry that shaped American culture, revealing a Hollywood where families, power, ambition, and the American dream collide in ways both beautiful and devastating.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite platform:
https://t.co/URGdipVv84

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Had a great time chatting with Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio on IndieWire’s Screen Talk! We dive into the world of movies, the creative process, and my new book, How to Score in Hollywood. 🍿

👉 Listen here: https://t.co/DPzFSYIdmc

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

Hoping everyone enjoyed their holidays and wishing you and your families a wonderful New Year filled with good health and peace. ❤️

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

In my latest Don’t Kill the Messenger episode, filmmaker Jon Chu reflects on how family reshaped his sense of purpose—and, in turn, his storytelling.

Jon shows how great art can come from a foundation of gratitude, generosity received and given forward, and an unwavering commitment to telling stories that challenge us to become who we want to be. That philosophy deeply informs his work on Wicked and Wicked: For Good, where emotion, responsibility, and how stories land with audiences truly matter.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about creativity, legacy, and the privilege of shaping stories for the next generation. 🎬✨

🎧 Listen to the full interview on your favorite podcast platform
https://t.co/t4HR7SrCMk

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

This Wednesday, a new episode of Don’t Kill the Messenger drops featuring visionary director, producer, and screenwriter Jon Chu.

We dive into audience testing, creative decision-making, and the making of Wicked and Wicked: For Good — and much more.

An insightful and inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss. 🎧

[KEVIN GOETZ @KEVINGOETZ360]

In my latest Don’t Kill the Messenger episode, I sit down with the iconic Suzanne de Passe—one of the most influential executives and producers in modern entertainment.

Suzanne championed the Jackson 5, worked closely with Berry Gordy, and proved that Motown stories could thrive on the big screen when she wrote the screenplay for Lady Sings the Blues. As President of Motown Productions, she transformed the company into a film and television powerhouse, producing movies, series, and specials that reshaped the industry.

Her insights into talent, storytelling, and trailblazing in Hollywood are extraordinary. 

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform
https://t.co/pKars6X4y4