J. Christopher Hamilton

J. Christopher Hamilton is an attorney, professor and author with over 20 years in the entertainment industry. He was trained in the business by working for the largest media companies in the world (ViacomCBS, Disney, and Warner Media) and negotiated deals on behalf of celebrities, producers and production companies such as: Kevin Hart, Alyssa Milano, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Garner, Cedric (the Entertainer) Kyles, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Frank Marshall, Jennifer Garner, Barry Sonnenfeld, Megan Mullally, DreamWorks, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Spyglass Entertainment. As a vice president for Lionsgate’s Digital Studios, Over the Top Services and International Co-Productions, J. Christopher helped build the “Laugh Out Loud” and “Comic Con HQ” streaming services, the feature film studio “Studio L” and negotiated deals to remake major theatrical motion pictures like “Red,” “Step Up” and “Nerve” as international co-productions in Asian territories (e.g., India and China).

Eventually, J. Christopher’s passion for creative expression inspired him to join the executive producer ranks. As an executive producer and entrepreneur, he brokered deals for his own projects with HBO, VH1 and BET. He also helped build a successful and independently financed streaming service called Black & Sexy TV (@blackandsexy.tv), which he and his partners use to develop, produce and distribute original content throughout the globe. Many of those digital shows and films helped launch Black & Sexy TV’s talent into mainstream entertainment programming like: “Insecure”/HBO (Issa Rae), “The Chi”/Showtime (Lena Waithe), “Stranger Things”/Netflix (Gabrielle Maiden), “Dear White People”/Netflix (Ashley Blaine Featherson), and “The Oval”/BET (Mellissa Williams).

J. Christopher is known in the industry as a solutions-oriented lawyer/entrepreneur with an expertise in bridging the gap between multimillion-dollar film/television franchises and micro-budgeted digital productions. To that end, he consults with writers, producers and directors to help them strategically execute their creative vision through on-site support at film markets (e.g., Cannes, SXSW and Sundance), and production studios or in the creative trenches of New York and Los Angeles. In his spare time, J. Christopher produces his own masterclass sessions, speaking engagements, networking events and training videos through his publishing platform YouTube and consults with others through his company BrooklynBoardroom.com to aid others in unlocking untapped opportunities.

As a professor at Syracuse University’s esteemed S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, J. Christopher instructs students on the business tactics, leadership principals and revenue models commonly used in the development, production and distribution of television, film and digital streaming content. Prior to his professional career, he earned a B.A. in Sociology & Cinematography from Binghamton University, and then a Juris Doctorate and Master of Science degree from Syracuse University. J. Christopher also completed an executive training program at Harvard Business School through a fellowship underwritten by Lifetime Television.