Biography
Jonathan D. Krane was an American screenwriter, film producer, talent manager, and studio executive, best known for his 15-year partnership managing John Travolta from 1987 to 2002.
A catalyst for change in the film industry, Krane held degrees from St. John's College and Yale University School of Law. His foundation in classical studies and law enabled him to identify five core principles underpinning the industry. By applying theories based on these principles, he achieved notable success as a leader in Hollywood.
Krane’s career began in 1980 through a collaboration with director Blake Edwards. As co-founder of Blake Edwards Entertainment and Executive Producer on all Edwards’ films, Krane gained invaluable insights into the business, serving as the first producer/manager. He then evolved into a studio mogul, founding Management Company Entertainment Group (MCEG)—the first combined talent management, studio, and production company—which became the top-performing entertainment stock in 1988.
At MCEG, Krane prioritized talent development, launching the film careers of Kim Basinger, Bruce Willis, and Bridget Fonda. Managing over 150 clients, he produced both studio and independent films, maintaining low budgets with high production values. His production credits include Face/Off (1997), Phenomenon (1996), Michael (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996), Primary Colors (1998)—which opened the 1998 Cannes Film Festival—and The General’s Daughter (1999). In total, Krane produced 46 films across studio and independent sectors.
Throughout his career, Krane earned numerous accolades such as the Hollywood Visionary Award from the Hollywood Film Festival in 2000, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature for The Chocolate War (1988), a dedicated Daily Variety issue marking his 20-year career, the People’s Choice Award for Look Who’s Talking (1989), and the Golden Palm Award at the Palm Beach International Film Festival for The Point of Betrayal (1995), which he co-wrote and produced.
Krane shared his expertise through seminars nationwide on breaking into the film industry and lectured at both the AFI Conservatory and USC. For fourteen years, he taught Motion Picture Production and Talent Management at UCLA Extension. In 2003, Krane fulfilled a lifelong ambition by writing a comprehensive textbook, A Revolutionary Approach to the Art and Science of Moviemaking, outlining a system for efficient and profitable film production. This work became the foundation of the curriculum at the Krane Academy, an innovative film institute he founded in 2005, and also informed the guiding principles of his latest venture, The Edge, which aims to produce, finance, and distribute 15 films annually.
