In this episode of Future of Film, Alex talks with David Neumann, CEO of Newmation, a talent management and production company working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and TV creators in both animation and live action.
David shares his journey from ICM and CAA to founding Newmation, and why he bet early on global and independent animation. He discusses how to balance creativity with business, what makes a project stand out, and why IP ownership matters more than ever.
The conversation explores:
- How international co-productions and new funding models are reshaping animation
- Why African and global voices are essential for the next generation of stories
- The impact of technology — from Flow’s Blender breakthrough to AI disruption
- How creators can pitch, package and protect their dream projects
It’s an inspiring, candid look at where the animation industry is heading — and how new storytellers can succeed within it.
About David Neumann
David Neumann is a Producer, Talent Manager and CEO of NEWMATION. Newmation represents Academy award winning animation writers, directors and TV creators, spanning 5 continents and produces animated and live action films & series. He previously was an agent at Hollywood mega-agency, CAA, growing global animation in New York. Between his agent career at CAA and ICM, he's represented Oscar winning filmmakers such as David Yates (Harry Potter), Tom Hooper (Les Miserables, The King's Speech), Sir Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) Arlene Klasky (Rugrats), Todd Komarnicki (Sully), and Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) to name a few. In 2020, Neumann launched his own company and was honored on Observer's Entertainment Power 50 List, alongside Dwayne Johnson, Will Smith, JJ Abrams, Margot Robbie, and more.
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In this episode of Future of Film, Alex talks with David Neumann, CEO of Newmation, a talent management and production company working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and TV creators in both animation and live action.
David shares his journey from ICM and CAA to founding Newmation, and why he bet early on global and independent animation. He discusses how to balance creativity with business, what makes a project stand out, and why IP ownership matters more than ever.
The conversation explores:
- How international co-productions and new funding models are reshaping animation
- Why African and global voices are essential for the next generation of stories
- The impact of technology — from Flow’s Blender breakthrough to AI disruption
- How creators can pitch, package and protect their dream projects
It’s an inspiring, candid look at where the animation industry is heading — and how new storytellers can succeed within it.
About David Neumann
David Neumann is a Producer, Talent Manager and CEO of NEWMATION. Newmation represents Academy award winning animation writers, directors and TV creators, spanning 5 continents and produces animated and live action films & series. He previously was an agent at Hollywood mega-agency, CAA, growing global animation in New York. Between his agent career at CAA and ICM, he's represented Oscar winning filmmakers such as David Yates (Harry Potter), Tom Hooper (Les Miserables, The King's Speech), Sir Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) Arlene Klasky (Rugrats), Todd Komarnicki (Sully), and Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) to name a few. In 2020, Neumann launched his own company and was honored on Observer's Entertainment Power 50 List, alongside Dwayne Johnson, Will Smith, JJ Abrams, Margot Robbie, and more.
84. C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi: Fusing Genre Storytelling with African Narratives
Future of Film Podcast
55 minutes 55 seconds
10 months ago
84. C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi: Fusing Genre Storytelling with African Narratives
In this episode, CJ "Fiery" Obasi, the visionary filmmaker behind MAMI WATA, discusses his creative journey, the cultural narratives that shape his work and the commercial and creative path of a storyteller. CJ reflects on his early influences, including a passion for Hammer Horror films and Stephen King novels, and how these elements have informed his unique storytelling approach. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of bringing MAMI WATA to life, a film that intertwines African folklore with contemporary themes, and shares insights into the significance of genre filmmaking within the African cinema landscape. The conversation also explores the business of being a storyteller and entrepreneur, the future of African screen storytelling, and the evolving role of technology and AI in filmmaking.
About C.J. Obasi
C.J. Obasi also known as “Fiery” or “The Fiery One” wrote and directed the feature films OJUJU & O-TOWN, both of which has screened in many festivals, including the Gothenburg Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival, garnering acclaim from the likes of Screen Anarchy, IndieWire, & The Hollywood Reporter. He has won the African Movie Academy Awards (African Oscars), and the Trailblazer Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards AMVCA). OJUJU is listed in IndieWire’s Best Zombie Films Of All Time. His short film “Hello, Rain” premiered in the International Competition of Oberhausen, and in over 30 festivals like Fantasia Film Festival, where it won the Special Mention of the Jury prize, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was nominated for the Short Film Award. In 2016, he formed Surreal16 Collective with filmmakers Abba T. Makama and Michael to challenge the status quo of Nollywood filmmaking and Nigerian Film expectations. Their anthology film, Juju Stories won the Boccalino D’Oro Award for Best Film at Locarno Film Festival, and was aquired globally by Amazon Prime Video.
Obasi’s latest work, MAMI WATA premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2023, where it won the Jury Award for Cinematography, as well as in FESPACO, where it won the Best Image, Best Décor and the African Critics Prize. MAMI WATA was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and
for an NAACP Image Award. It was Nigeria's Official entry for the Academy Awards. MAMI WATA was acquired by Mubi, and has since been distributed theatrically, SVOD and Blu-Ray, DVDs in more than 25 territories, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Brazil and Australia. Obasi was recently invited by the Rockefeller Foundation to participate as a cohort of the Bellagio Residency at Lake Como, Italy with his feature film project, LA PYRAMIDE: A CELEBRATION OF DARK BODIES. He is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (Oscars).
Future of Film Podcast
In this episode of Future of Film, Alex talks with David Neumann, CEO of Newmation, a talent management and production company working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and TV creators in both animation and live action.
David shares his journey from ICM and CAA to founding Newmation, and why he bet early on global and independent animation. He discusses how to balance creativity with business, what makes a project stand out, and why IP ownership matters more than ever.
The conversation explores:
- How international co-productions and new funding models are reshaping animation
- Why African and global voices are essential for the next generation of stories
- The impact of technology — from Flow’s Blender breakthrough to AI disruption
- How creators can pitch, package and protect their dream projects
It’s an inspiring, candid look at where the animation industry is heading — and how new storytellers can succeed within it.
About David Neumann
David Neumann is a Producer, Talent Manager and CEO of NEWMATION. Newmation represents Academy award winning animation writers, directors and TV creators, spanning 5 continents and produces animated and live action films & series. He previously was an agent at Hollywood mega-agency, CAA, growing global animation in New York. Between his agent career at CAA and ICM, he's represented Oscar winning filmmakers such as David Yates (Harry Potter), Tom Hooper (Les Miserables, The King's Speech), Sir Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) Arlene Klasky (Rugrats), Todd Komarnicki (Sully), and Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) to name a few. In 2020, Neumann launched his own company and was honored on Observer's Entertainment Power 50 List, alongside Dwayne Johnson, Will Smith, JJ Abrams, Margot Robbie, and more.
