From Titanic to Despicable Me, Fifty Shades of Grey to Oppenheimer, Mike Knobloch has helped define the sound of modern cinema. As President, NBCUniversal Music and Publishing for Universal Film, he’s spent his career shaping the way audiences experience music on screen—whether that’s through a sweeping score or a pop song that takes on a life of its own.


In this episode, brought to you by the Universal Composers Initiative, Jacqueline Coley talks with Mike about his journey from production assistant on Father of the Bride to one of the most influential music executives in Hollywood. He shares the high-stakes tension behind Titanic’s now-iconic theme, the unlikely struggle that led to Pharrell’s hit “Happy,” and what it means when a movie song reaches the elusive diamond certification.

Who helps studio execs decide what movies get made—and what are they thinking about when they make their recommendations? For Shivani Patel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Universal Pictures, it’s where creative opportunity meets commercial strategy—and every decision has to be backed by the data.

Shivani plays a key role in shaping Universal’s film slate, bringing both business insight and a lifelong love of movies to the table. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with her about the journey from Friday night runs to Blockbuster with her family to sitting in the room where “greenlight discussions” happen

They talk about the moments that shaped her—why The Dark Knight changed everything, how Chef made her a grilled cheese obsessive, and what it felt like to help bring films like Yesterday and Get Out to life. Shivani also reflects on the importance of showing up fully at work, and how the best decisions are often made when instinct and insight come together.

Blumhouse has built an empire on bold ideas, small budgets, and massive cultural impact. At the center of it all is Abhijay Prakash, the studio’s president, who has spent his career bridging creative ambition with smart business strategy.

Starting as an intern at Universal Pictures, Abhijay worked his way through key roles at Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, and Universal, where he helped guide major creative and business decisions. His passion for film was sparked by a love of Bollywood and Hollywood classics, and today, that passion fuels his approach to taking smart risks, championing daring stories, and evolving the horror genre.

In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley chats with Abhijay about his journey from strategy to scares, the creative freedom that drives Blumhouse, and why horror is one of the most exciting spaces in modern filmmaking.