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210: Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin KNOW Movies, Storytelling, Creative Instinct, Audience Insight & Box Office Success

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Release Date: 11/13/2025

213: John Abendshien KNOWS Movies, Healthcare, Curiosity Gone Wild, Human Nature, Kevin McCallister & Home Alone Home Ownership show art 213: John Abendshien KNOWS Movies, Healthcare, Curiosity Gone Wild, Human Nature, Kevin McCallister & Home Alone Home Ownership

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Imagine your home suddenly transformed into a Hollywood icon.   That's precisely what happened to John Abendshien, whose real-life house became the star of "Home Alone." More than just a film set, it turned into a character of its own, filled with traps and slapstick chaos that helped make the movie a global hit.   Decades later, the house remains legendary. Tourists visit, merchandise abounds—even gingerbread replicas exist. In his new book, "Home But Alone No More," Abendshien shares the fascinating behind-the-scenes story: how the location was chosen, what filming was like, and...

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212: Mark Malkoff KNOWS Entertainment, Comedy, Late Night TV, Obsessive Behavior & Johnny Carson show art 212: Mark Malkoff KNOWS Entertainment, Comedy, Late Night TV, Obsessive Behavior & Johnny Carson

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Mark Malkoff is a comedian, writer, and podcast host. He has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR's Weekend Edition, and for eight years hosted the popular podcast The Carson Podcast.   His new book, "Love Johnny Carson," is a wildly entertaining account by one of the world's most obsessed and informed fans of TV icon Johnny Carson, setting the record straight on Carson's legacy and shining a light on the personality behind the legendary comedian and talk show host.   Carson aficionado Mark Malkoff has amassed more Carson stories from original sources than anyone in...

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211: Robin Hauser KNOWS Documentaries, Egg Freezing, Human Nature & Courageous Women show art 211: Robin Hauser KNOWS Documentaries, Egg Freezing, Human Nature & Courageous Women

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Once a niche medical procedure, egg freezing is now a billion-dollar industry that promises women the ability to pause their biological clocks and extend their reproductive choices.    For some, it’s a path to empowerment; for others, it’s a costly gamble in an unregulated system with no guarantees. Through the experiences of three American women navigating the process, this documentary examines the realities behind the growing trend—who has access, who profits, and what’s at stake.    With insights from medical experts, ethicists, and industry leaders, the film...

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210: Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin KNOW Movies, Storytelling, Creative Instinct, Audience Insight & Box Office Success show art 210: Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin KNOW Movies, Storytelling, Creative Instinct, Audience Insight & Box Office Success

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Dive into the behind-the-scenes world of the movie business, where entertainment strategist Kevin Goetz reveals the pivotal intersection of creative instinct and audience insight. This is the sweet spot where the business of film meets the art of storytelling. When it comes to cinematic success, every detail matters—from early concept to the final marketing push.   "How to Score in Hollywood" is a playbook for guiding movie-making decisions at every turn. Drawing from nearly four decades of experience, Goetz shows how films can be made and marketed to turn a profit by aligning creative...

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209: B.A Crisp KNOWS Empathy, Resilience, Spirituality, Cognition & Ghost Management show art 209: B.A Crisp KNOWS Empathy, Resilience, Spirituality, Cognition & Ghost Management

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

This episode will help you start to understand how to embrace your emotional ghosts and transform them into catalysts for healing and growth.   Her third appearance with Randall Kenneth Jones, B. A. Crisp is a strategist at Crisp Concepts, Inc., in Herndon, VA. Her professional portfolio ranges from psychiatric assessment specialist to adviser with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, where she collaborated on anti-human trafficking research. She also lent her expertise to Homeland Security Investigations on Illicit Finance Crimes and Gangs. ...

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208: David M. Lubin KNOWS Art, Film, Subtext, Motivation, Education, Human Nature & Sunset Boulevard show art 208: David M. Lubin KNOWS Art, Film, Subtext, Motivation, Education, Human Nature & Sunset Boulevard

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

This episode will help you understand how art—specifically cinema—can grow in importance over time, and our ongoing exploration of art continues to shed valuable light on the human condition. #ArtIsLife   Today, more than 70 years after it premiered, "Sunset Boulevard" remains the finest ever movie made about the pathology of fame: those who lose it, those who abuse it, and those who never attain it at all.    Great films are born of great collaborations, and "Sunset Boulevard" represents one of the most extraordinary confluences of cinematic talent in film history. Still,...

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207: Brian Edwards KNOWS Friendship, Loyalty, Entertainment, Media & Brian Edwards show art 207: Brian Edwards KNOWS Friendship, Loyalty, Entertainment, Media & Brian Edwards

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

This episode will help you KNOW more about the value of thoughtfully capturing and sharing one's legacy, accepting your past, including the highs and the lows, and giving credit where credit is due. In the mid-1980s, LGBTQ+ trailblazer Edwards carved his path alongside icons like Donna Summer and Joan Rivers. Over the decades, he built a reputation as a multi-award-winning talent executive, client relations rep, producer, writer, and occasional performer – working with some of the most recognizable names in show business: Cindy Crawford, Susan Sarandon, Melissa Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg,...

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206: Michael Seth Starr KNOWS Entertainment, Wordplay, Comedy, Exploration & Rodney Dangerfield show art 206: Michael Seth Starr KNOWS Entertainment, Wordplay, Comedy, Exploration & Rodney Dangerfield

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

This episode will help you KNOW more about the value of thoughtfully capturing and sharing one’s legacy—and giving credit where credit is due.   Michael Seth Starr covered television at the New York Post as a reporter, columnist, critic, and editor for over 28 years. He has written a filmography of Peter Sellers and biographies of Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Art Carney, Joey Bishop, Bobby Darin, Raymond Burr, William Shatner, Redd Foxx, and Ringo Starr. He has made frequent appearances on television, including The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America,...

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205: Bob Burg KNOWS Lifelong Learning, Loyalty, Leadership & How to Give and Receive show art 205: Bob Burg KNOWS Lifelong Learning, Loyalty, Leadership & How to Give and Receive

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

After listening to this very personal episode, you will KNOW more about the importance of, not just finding, but understanding joy. For more than 30 years, Bob Burg has been successfully showing entrepreneurs, leaders, and sales professionals how to build relationships, communicate their value, and accelerate their business growth. Although for years he was best known for his sales classic, "Endless Referrals," it's his business parable, "The Go-Giver," co-authored with John David Mann, that has created a worldwide movement. While part of a four-book series, "The Go-Giver" itself has sold well...

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204: Tribunal Justice Judge Adam Levy KNOWS Right vs. Wrong, Accountability, Critical Thinking & Family Values show art 204: Tribunal Justice Judge Adam Levy KNOWS Right vs. Wrong, Accountability, Critical Thinking & Family Values

ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones

Adam Levy brings over 25 years of diverse legal experience to the bench, serving as one of three judges on Prime Video's Tribunal Justice, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. Podcast Highlights: •    Levy talks about being part of a legal dynasty, including his mother, Judge Judy Sheindlin •    Levy discusses how the "rule of law" applied at home •    Levy shares the importance his mother's work ethic had on his professional development •    Levy shares a funny story of how his mother accepted a job on his behalf early in his career •  ...

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More Episodes
Dive into the behind-the-scenes world of the movie business, where entertainment strategist Kevin Goetz reveals the pivotal intersection of creative instinct and audience insight. This is the sweet spot where the business of film meets the art of storytelling. When it comes to cinematic success, every detail matters—from early concept to the final marketing push.
 
"How to Score in Hollywood" is a playbook for guiding movie-making decisions at every turn. Drawing from nearly four decades of experience, Goetz shows how films can be made and marketed to turn a profit by aligning creative ambition with good business practice, all toward the goal of serving up entertainment experiences that audiences will embrace.
 
Whether you're a filmmaker, studio executive, entrepreneur, student, or movie lover, this book pulls back the curtain on the formula for success, revealing principles that apply to any business where creativity must meet consumer expectations. Through his own entertaining examples and stories shared by some of the biggest movers and shakers in Hollywood, Goetz illustrates how audience insights, budget discipline, and marketplace awareness shape a film's financial outcome.
 
Key insights include:
 
• Curating big ideas to build a strong commercial foundation
• At the earliest stages, knowing the audience that will be most interested in your movie, and budgeting for its size
• Defining why a film should exist and what value it brings to the market
• Understanding how digital platforms have reshaped audience behavior
• Standing out in a crowded landscape with bold marketing executions
• Using audience research to recognize key strengths and identify red flags that will drive smart decision-making
• Making sure you have a clear plan for the entire movie lifecycle, especially with creatively risky material
 
Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine, a global leader in entertainment research and strategy, serving all the major film studios, television networks, and streaming services. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of Hollywood, having personally tested over 5,000 film titles, where his work significantly impacts how movies are made, marketed, and released. In 2024, Kevin received American Cinematheque's prestigious Power of Cinema Award for his contributions to the film industry. He is the author of the bestselling "Audience-ology" and "How to Score in Hollywood," which explores the secrets to success in the movie business. Kevin hosts the popular Don't Kill the Messenger podcast and continues educating the filmmaking community through keynote speeches and global presentations. He has produced twelve TV movies, including the Emmy-winning "Wild Iris," and the 2025 documentary "Children in the Fire." A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy, and the Producers Guild of America, Kevin also serves on the boards of six nonprofit organizations. He currently resides in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, a producer and former creative advertising executive, and their labradoodle, Kasha.
 
Bob Levin is a legendary movie marketing executive, having for over two decades holding the position of president, worldwide marketing at first Disney, then Sony and MGM. As well as being a key member of each studio's greenlight committee, he led the advertising, publicity, promotion, and research programs that helped launch hundreds of films, breaking numerous box office records throughout his career. Bob came out of semi-retirement when Kevin Goetz invited him to join Screen Engine/ASI as president and chief operating officer, where he has played a pivotal role in the company's continued success. His first book, "How to Score in Hollywood," co-written with Kevin, reveals the secrets to a movie's success and profitability, exploring how smart, data-driven decisions—from development to release—help filmmakers minimize risks and maximize returns. Bob lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Hilda Wynn.
 
Podcast Highlights:
 
• The trio discusses how Kevin's childhood lemonade stand is indicative of the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven Kevin's career. 
• The trio discusses the importance of involving the audience in the film's pre-production process.
 
• Randy explains how he is personally using their new book, "How to Score in Hollywood," as a how-to guide for his current meetings in Hollywood. He shares his opinion that the book should be read by filmmakers, authors, screenwriters & playrights, film students, business students, actors, film buff, theatre producers and directors.
• Kevin and Bob discuss how to position Randy's book, "Ruby, Magic Comes from the Heart," for film success.
• Kevin and Bob discuss their view on the "awards circuit."
• The trio emphasizes the importance of clear messaging in all communications and interactions.
• The trio discusses the importance of creativity as the "secret sauce" to success.
• Kevin and Bob use Randy's book, "Ruby, Magic Comes from the Heart," as a case study for generating interest with producers and filmmakers. 
• Kevin discusses the additional content available on his podcast, "Don't Kill the Messenger," where he interviews filmmakers, studio executives, and producers.
 
Best Quotes:
 
• Kevin Goetz: "Every movie, no matter what its genesis, should be able to have a soul and produce a profit." 
• Kevin Goetz: "Any new entrepreneurial idea has to start with a spark—a moment of 'art' that has very little to do with the audience. That's between you, the creator, you the artist, and the universe." 
• Kevin Goetz: "Let me pause here to reinforce the serendipity of life in Hollywood. Talent is the price of entry and is in no short supply. But everyone who is successful has a lucky break story." 
• Kevin Goetz: "Staying one step ahead of audience expectations is what separates a good movie from a great one." 
 
ON THE KNOWS is produced and edited by Kevin Randall Jones.
 
 
Kevin Goetz: www.KevinGoetz360.com 
Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com 
Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com
Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com