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How do you get a manager? What’s the difference between a manager and an agent? James Swoope, talent manager at M88, breaks it all down with IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo. From Cleveland to Hollywood, Swoope has built a career managing talent like Dominique Thorne (IRONHEART), actor and singer Coco Jones, designer and entrepreneur Jeff Staple, and athlete and podcaster Matt Barnes. In this conversation, he shares his journey from casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH with Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, his approach to talent management, what artists should really be working on, why it’s important to “have something to manage,” and why Swoope calls himself a unicorn.
(00:00) How does one get a manager?
(01:34) Voice Memo from Charles D. King (Founder & CEO, MACRO)
(05:25) Swoope’s unique sense of style and why he’s a unicorn
(08:06) From casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(12:55) How to get a manager
(14:35) What artists should be working on
(16:25) “I’m the 10%. You’re the 90%.”
(19:18) What does a manager do?
(21:31) What’s the difference between a manager and an agent?
(23:45) Rapid-Fire Questions and Advice
(25:20) Show & Tell: 3 NINJAS and FORREST GUMP
(30:07) Prox Recs
Making Hollywood Come to You with Talent Manager James Swoope (M88)
September 29, 2025
IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA
Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian
Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Editors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Andrea Walter
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
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