Veteran book agent Mark Jacobson has joined the Barry London Company as a VP responsible for acquiring and developing feature films. Jacobson joins London after a brief period working as an independent producer. He is best known throughout the community for creating United Talent Agency’s literary property department.
From 1993 to 1996 , Jacobson sold numerous book properties, including the New York Times bestseller “My Old Man and The Sea” to Steven Spielberg for DreamWorks. He also represented the film and TV rights for a number of books including Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook,” which New Line Cinema purchased; and Jeffrey Deaver’s “A Maiden’s Grave,” which Interscope produced for HBO as “Deadly Silence.”
He also secured a seven-figure advance for Ellen DeGeneres from Bantam Books for the proposal that ultimately became the bestseller, “My Point … And Do I Have One.”
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“His experience and talent as a literary agent and independent producer will be invaluable as we develop our slate of films,” London said of the new hire.
Added Jacobson, “I am excited to be working with Barry. His experience in the business is unparalleled, and the challenge of building a production slate under his direction is an amazing opportunity.”
Prior to UTA, Jacobson worked at the Los Angeles-based Renaissance Agency.