Biographie
Jonathan Taplin's career, spanning over thirty years, has been diverse and dynamic, covering music, film, finance, and technology. His entry into entertainment began in 1965 at age 18. The summer before starting at Princeton University, Taplin worked with The Jim Kweskin Jug Band at The Newport Folk Festival. This opportunity led to a role as road manager for Bob Dylan and The Band, where he witnessed the emergence of folk rock and spent seven years working closely with Dylan and the group.
In 1974, Taplin moved to Hollywood to pursue film production. Armed with a referral to director Martin Scorsese, they collaborated on Mean Streets, featuring Robert DeNiro and Harvey Keitel. The film achieved critical acclaim, box office success, and was selected for The Cannes Film Festival. From 1974 to 1996, Taplin produced 26 hours of television documentaries, including PBS's "The Prize" and "Cadillac Desert," along with 12 feature films such as The Last Waltz, Until The End of the World, Under Fire, and To Die For. His work earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and seven Cannes selections, with his television productions receiving three Emmy nominations.
After a decade in film production, Taplin served as investment advisor to the Bass Brothers during their successful effort to protect Walt Disney Studios from a corporate takeover. This led to a position at Merrill Lynch as vice president of media mergers and acquisitions, where he played a key role in reshaping the media industry, including involvement in the leveraged buyout of Viacom.
In 1996, Taplin co-founded Intertainer with engineers to develop Video On Demand technology. He secured over $100 million in funding from corporations such as Microsoft, Intel, GE Capital, NBC, Sony, Comcast, and Merrill Lynch. The team developed many standard systems for high-quality IP video and audio transmission and created platforms for cable companies to implement VOD. Taplin and his team earned several patents for their innovations. Intertainer launched VOD services in the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and New Zealand. Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Taplin graduated from Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts, and Princeton University. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on the advisory board of the Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland.
