Stephen M. Kravit
Stephen M. Kravit | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen M. Kravit New York, United States |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Hunter College (B.A.) Columbia Law School (LL.B.) |
| Occupations | Entertainment lawyer Film executive |
| Spouse | Shelly |
| Children | 2 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
Branch |  United States Army |
Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Judge Advocate General's Corps |
Stephen M. Kravit is an American entertainment lawyer and film executive. He has held senior business affairs positions at United Artists, Twentieth Century-Fox, Kings Road Entertainment, and The Gersh Agency, and has written and spoken on entertainment business affairs.
Early life and education
Kravit was born in New York, the son of Isaac (“Al”), a fire marshal, and Celia Kravit. He had a brother Jesse, a dentist. [1]
Kravit graduated from Hunter College and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received an LL.B. from Columbia Law School.[2]
Military service
Kravit served for three years in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, attaining the rank of captain.[2]
Career
Embassy Pictures
After completing his military service, Kravit joined the legal staff of Embassy Pictures.[2]
United Artists
On June 19, 1967, Kravit joined the legal department of United Artists.[2] In 1970, he was appointed executive assistant to Herbert T. Schottenfeld, vice president and head of the UA legal department.[3] In February 1975, at age 35, Kravit was elected vice president of United Artists Corp.[2]
Twentieth Century-Fox
In 1978, Kravit joined Twentieth Century-Fox as vice president of business affairs.[4] In 1981, he was promoted to senior vice president of business affairs. The promotion was announced by Leon S. Brachman.[5]
Kings Road Entertainment
Kravit was executive vice president of Kings Road Entertainment.[6]
The Gersh Agency
Kravit was executive vice president of business affairs at The Gersh Agency.[7] He negotiated agreements involving motion pictures, television, and talent representation.[8] In 2024, he became of counsel at the agency.[9]
Professional activities
Kravit wrote the chapter "Business Affairs" in The Movie Business Book, edited by Jason E. Squire.[10] At the launch of the third edition of The Movie Business Book, the book's authors were asked what they considered the most important lesson they could impart about the business. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kravit's response "was the one that seemed to most touch the audience as well as the authors": "One key word: passion. With passion, you will make the best movie you can. You must believe in your project and in yourself. Because the odds against you are so great, the only thing that can overcome them is passion."[11]
Kravit was interviewed on The Movie Business Podcast, where he discussed entertainment dealmaking, business affairs, and his career in the motion picture industry.[6]
Kravit also contributed to Hollywood Dealmaking: Negotiating Talent Agreements for Film, TV and New Media.[12] Kravit served on the board of directors of the Association of Talent Agents and was a member of its negotiating committee during negotiations with the Writers Guild of America.[13][14]
In 2025, Kravit was interviewed by Mike Gormley on The Mike Gormley Show, telling behind-the-scenes stories about the James Bond films, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton and 9 to 5, the Chariots of Fire soundtrack deal, Rocky, and Dustin Hoffman and The Graduate.[15]
In 1987, Kravit served on a 15-member advisory committee appointed by the Beverly Hills City Council to study funding for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. He authored a minority report recommending further study of alternative sources of funding.[16]
Personal life
Kravit is married to Shelley. Their first son was born on March 11, 1980, in Los Angeles.[17]
References
- ↑ "Deaths: Memorial Services". The New York Times. 3 November 1974.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Stephen M. Kravit Elected United Artists Vice-Pres". Boxoffice. Vol. 106, no. 19. 17 February 1975. p. 5. ProQuest 1476101337 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "To Legal Department Post". Boxoffice. January 19, 1970. p. SW-2. ProQuest 1438307955 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "Pictures: Stephen M. Kravit Biz V.P. at 20th-Fox". Variety. Vol. 290, no. 2. 15 February 1978. p. 5. ProQuest 1401326288 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "Kravit Senior VP Bus. Affairs, Fox". The Hollywood Reporter. Vol. 268, no. 16. 1981. p. 1. ProQuest 2598160880 – via ProQuest.
- 1 2 "Secrets of Deal-Making with Stephen M. Kravit". The Movie Business Podcast (Podcast). Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Squire, Jason E., ed. (2016). The Movie Business Book (4th ed.). Focal Press. p. 186. ISBN 9781138656291.
- ↑ Fleming, Michael (7 November 2000). "Milius to Pen, Helm WB's 'Conan'". Variety.
- ↑ Maas, Jennifer (23 January 2024). "Gersh Names A3's April Perroni Head of Business Affairs". Variety.
- ↑ Kravit, Stephen M. (2004). "Business Affairs". In Squire, Jason E. (ed.). The Movie Business Book (3rd ed.). New York: Touchstone. p. 194. ISBN 978-0743219372.
- ↑ Gardner, Chris (19 July 2004). "Reporter at Large". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 31. ProQuest 2594761048 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Appleton, Dina; Yankelevits, Daniel (2011). Hollywood Dealmaking: Negotiating Talent Agreements for Film, TV and New Media (2nd ed.). Allworth Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-1581158816.
- ↑ "Letter to David Young and David Goodman" (PDF). Association of Talent Agents. 25 February 2019.
- ↑ "Answer and Counterclaims" (PDF). Writers Guild of America West. 19 August 2019.
- ↑ "The Jeremiah Show". Music Connection. May 23, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
- ↑ Mitchell, John L. (18 June 1987). "Beverly Hills Panel Rejects Plan to Ease Funding for Schools". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Births". Variety. Vol. 298, no. 9. 2 April 1980. p. 99. ProQuest 1438307955 – via ProQuest.