GotCast.com Founder Alec Shankman Featured in LA Business Journal

Congrats to EKC client Alec Shankman on his recent feature in the Los Angeles Business Journal! Read the article below:

Alec Shankman: The Real Deal

Midwest transplant Alec Shankman launched a casting site for reality TV hopefuls after working as an agent for some of the genre’s star

by Natalie Jarvey

When Alec Shankman came to Los Angeles in his early 20s, he quickly became a force in reality television as head of alternative programming at Abrams Artists Agency, representing such reality stars as Mystery, star of VH1’s “The Pickup Artist,” and Chad Rodgers, star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing.” He used the expertise he developed in that world to transition from show business to technology as chief executive of GotCast, which combines reality show casting with social networking – wannabe stars create profiles and hope they’ll win the most votes in casting competitions. Shankman had started in the business world with a cologne line in his native Ohio, then took a stab at nightclub promoting there. With a friend, Wil Schroter, he launched his own club, Status, and auto leasing website Swapalease, then headed West. Schroter followed and launched GotCast. Shankman recently sat down with the Business Journal in office space they share with another startup off Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to chat about discovering Mystery for “The Pickup Artist,” failing his motorcycle driving test, and how his mom regularly flies here from Ohio and can often be found making breakfast for Shankman and his three brothers at the Beverly Hills home they share.

Question: Did you have an interest in Hollywood and celebrities growing up?

Answer: Absolutely. One of my best friends and next-door neighbor growing up was a kid named Dino Rinaldo, and his father, Lil’ John, was a local celebrity in Cleveland for a show he co-hosted called “The Big Chuck and Lil’ John Show.” Spending a lot of my childhood with their family introduced me to the ’biz at a young age and I was hooked.

Who were your celebrity idols when you were young?

Two people come to mind: Jim Brickman and Michael Eisner. Jim is a musician from Cleveland who made the move to L.A. and became a pretty big star in adult contemporary music. Michael Eisner always inspired me because of his incredible journey that ultimately took him to mogul status in Hollywood. I read multiple books about him when I was growing up.

Have you met them?

I met Jim a few years after moving to L.A. and actually became his agent for a while, representing him for his TV work as a host. And I ended up in the same room as Michael Eisner at an exclusive party in L.A. It made me feel like I had made it. (read more...)