
They look like they should be in the movies, instead of making movies.
Ben Samuels stands a few inches over 6 feet tall in Hugo Boss and Salvatore Ferragamos. His dark hair and big smile make him a dead ringer for Adrien Grenier. It happens regularly that people mistake him for the Entourage star. But he says he hates it.
Samuels wants to be behind the camera.
Like David Geffen, this young professional started in the mailroom for a top five talent agency. He endured the long 12-hour shifts delivering mail, before being promoted to an assistant.
Working for various agents, he learned how to roll calls, read scripts and make the impossible possible.
Today Samuels still works in entertainment. As a person in his early 20s, he is continuing to climb the ladder to be the next Spielberg.
Danny Grunwald, isn’t very different from his friend. A Florida native, the dark skin, light haired 23-year-old, is in public relations. He works grueling hours but at the end of the day it’s worth it. The men are paying their dues.
Samuels and Grunwald are the new generation of “Hollywood’s power players.” With their colleagues they will one day run studios, one day take over agencies and one day replace those who came before.
Now is the time to start “ushering in the new generation of the Hollywood power players,” Samuels said. Collaborating together, the two have created a joint partnership with Aqua Lounge on Beverly Drive to offer an industry night every Wednesday.
“It's a night for fashion, film and public relations,” said Grunwald.
From 6:30 p.m., the men host a weekly event for young professionals to come together after work to listen to music, partake in inexpensive drink and appetizer specials, meet fellow artists, aspiring musicians, studio representatives, whoever.
“We are not pushing networking here, we want it to occur organically,” said Samuels.
It seems to happen that way. Last Wednesday, presidents of entertainment companies, musicians, production executives, music producers, musicians and actors created and set the ambience.
“There is so much great energy (every Wednesday),” said Grunwald. “Agents can come sit and have a beer with their client after work or assistants can come together.”
The location, a few blocks north of Endeavor Talent Agency, is a central meeting point, they said. It is minutes from Century City’s major talent agencies Creative Artists Association and International Creative Management.
The night starts early. People don’t like going home after work, then getting ready to go back out. They want to go straight from work with their adrenaline still going, the men said.
To foster an environment that showcases the industry, Grunwald and Samuels recruit up-and-coming artists to perform at the venue's stage. Every week, they have a disc jockey from New York perform.
“We want to create a night for people with the ambitious and creative drive that Ben and I have,” said Grunwald.
The event is open to the public, for reservations or more information e-mail rsvpindustryhappyhour@gmail.com.