With major Hollywood talent agencies often on the hunt to gobble up boutique shingles or bolt-on acquisitions, some smaller firms are faced with the question of whether to merge — out of necessity or out of choice — to avoid that fate.
For Dattner Dispoto & Associates (Est. 1987) and Worldwide Production Agency (Est. 2010), the principals say that their merger was one made out of opportunity and the chance to work with like-minded agents. “This is a way we can maintain independence without being bolted on to someplace,” says Steve Jacob, co-CEO of Worldwide Production Agency, to The Hollywood Reporter.
Both firms rep notable below-the-line talent in the film, TV, and commercial space, including Oscar-winning Mank cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, The Social Network lenser Jeff Cronenweth, Creed cinematographer Maryse Alberti, Backrooms production designer Danny Vermette, X-Men producer Ralph Winter, After the Hunt cinematographer Malik Sayeed and The Master cinematographer Mihai Mălaimare Jr.
Dattner Dispoto & Associates, now known as DDA Talent after the retirement of Fay Dattner, who founded the firm in her New York City apartment in 1987, has 9 employees based in the Bradbury building in Los Angeles, where it’s run by president Bill Dispoto and vp Juanita Tiangco.
