This week's MIC podcast features James Emmanuel Shapiro, who was President of US Distribution at XYZ films at the time of this recording. James Emanuel Shapiro is an entertainment executive veteran of twenty years and has been the COO of both Drafthouse Films and NEON, where he helped build both distribution companies from the ground up. He's worked on several academy award campaigns including Bullhead, The Act of Killing, The Look of Silence, and I, Tonya. He most recently started the analytics department and helped build the booking department at the Alamo Drafthouse. He's also active in the festival world, having worked with both Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest and he occasionally writes about the entertainment industry for Birth, Movies, Death and The Bulwark. James spoke to UT students on December 9, 2024 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. He discussed the scope of his work as a distribution executive, the methods and strategies that distributors use when acquiring films, and the changing landscape of American exhibition and distribution.