Chairman/CEO, FilmAI.tech
- Home Satellite TV (Early 1980s): Satellite television was a nascent industry with only a few companies involved in the early 1980s. Consumers had to procure radar dishes from the government, and the cost of a home satellite setup exceeded $15,000. Today, the price has plummeted to around $100. For international customers desiring access to overseas satellite channels, the initial cost was upwards of $50,000.
- Music Industry Ventures (Early 1990s): Smuel Kleinman acquired Europe’s largest independent record company just days before it faced bankruptcy and loss of all rights. He purchased the company for one dollar, symbolically noted on a napkin. Under his leadership, the company made strategic decisions that led to major hits, including “Pump up the Jam,” the seminal dance track, and “Me Myself, and I,” a major hip-hop album. He also chose “Because I Love You,” which topped charts across Europe. Smuel left the company in 1993, and the catalog of 3,000 song masters he amassed was later part of a lucrative deal with Edel Music.
- Movie Streaming Company Formation (2008): In 2008, Smuel founded a company aimed at streaming movies online, a concept that was initially met with resistance from the major movie studios. Despite early setbacks, his vision preceded the widespread adoption of streaming services, exemplified by the transformation of Netflix from a DVD rental service to a streaming giant.
- Innovations in Cloud Storage and Streaming: Smuel was a pioneer in utilizing cloud storage for films, choosing to store 3,000 titles on the cloud at a time when physical storage on discs was the norm. This move significantly enhanced the reliability and speed of movie streaming services.
- YouTube Film Uploads (2009-2012): His Company was the first to upload full-length films to YouTube, at a time when the platform only permitted clips of up to ten minutes. This initiative expanded viewership for some films to over 40 million views, a staggering number by the standards of that era.
- Compact Disc Revolution (1980s): As compact discs emerged, replacing cassette tapes and vinyl records, Smuel formed one of the first record companies to license music for CDs. This included securing rights for artists like Billy Vera, whose albums achieved significant success.
- Digital Music Downloads (2003): With the launch of iTunes, Smuel established the first record company to offer legally downloadable music online, starting with iTunes and later expanding to mobile platforms. This roster included prominent artists like Aaliyah and Timbaland.
- Beatles Remixes (1990): Smuel remixed two of the Beatles’ records before their surge in fame. In a notable agreement with the band, he secured rights to sell two Beatles albums for an additional three years. Subsequently, the Beatles included seven of his remixes on their “Anthology One” album.
Legacy and Future Vision: Smuel Kleinman has consistently been a visionary and pioneer across various technological revolutions in entertainment. Now, he foresees the next major shift with artificial intelligence in the movie industry. He believes that AI will dramatically lower production costs and democratize filmmaking, thereby expanding the industry. His current venture, FilmAI, aims to lead in this transformative era.
