CAA managing director and motion picture agent Maha Dakhil declared that a revolution is underway in Hollywood, where talent is becoming 'masters of their destiny' and no longer reliant on studios to greenlight ideas. Speaking at the Forbes Iconoclast event in New York, Dakhil pointed to the surprise box-office success of horror films 'Obsession' and 'Backrooms' as evidence that independent, talent-driven projects can thrive without traditional studio backing.
caa agent maha dakhil (she reps tom cruise) said at forbes iconoclast that the movie biz is mid-revolution. horror hits 'obsession' and 'backrooms' prove talent can greenlight their own stuff now — no studio gatekeeping needed.
Fills a coverage gap in the underrepresented 'money' category with a timely, specific quote from a credible trade source (THR) about a shift in Hollywood's greenlight model, citing two concrete film examples.
Dakhil's comments reflect a broader shift in the film industry, where streaming platforms and alternative financing have empowered creators to bypass traditional studio development. The success of low-budget, indie horror films like 'Obsession' and 'Backrooms' — both massive box-office hits — underscores that audiences are hungry for fresh, talent-driven content. This could accelerate the decline of the studio greenlight model and reshape how movies get made.
this is another sign that the old studio model is crumbling. when a caa agent says talent doesn't need studios to greenlight, and backs it up with two indie horror movies that crushed it at the box office, the industry should probably listen. the revolution is real — and it's profitable.
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