BRUNSWICK, Ohio – Zac Frognowski has come a long way — from growing up in Brunswick to a talent manager and producer at one of the most storied companies in Hollywood.
While the Journey of a Blue Devil only became Brunswick School District theme in 2023, this former student is an excellent example of that idea.
His wasn’t an easy journey.
Zac was a multi-sport athlete, and captain of the Brunswick golf team. He also was All-District in the state and played nationally with AJGA and The Optimist. After graduating in 2006, he went on to college at Miami University of Ohio.
But he couldn’t settle on a major.
“I tried everything,” he says, “I switched from, finance, engineering and even pre-med – a total of nine majors. It seemed everyone I knew hated their jobs.”
He joked that maybe he just didn’t want to grow up.
It was in his final year that he took a class in entrepreneurship from Professor Jim Freedman when he discovered that he could do something creative or cultural knowing that he had always loved movies.
“I wanted to not just have a job and work for the weekends. I wanted my work to make as much of an impact as possible and being at the center of an industry that drives the cultural conversation for the world was the way to do that,” he said.
Freedman, he explained, “Had 50 Emmy trophies in his office for producing local TV shows about dogs. And those Emmys were the same as those on national television.
Asked if he considered acting, he said, “That was a stroke too far for me. That’s when I decided to try the business side of the arts.”
“Professor Freedman’s core message was whatever you choose to do, you need to meet people, make friends, use your network – and get a side hustle to make a living until you are established.”
Zac said he had no connections in Los Angeles, no contacts and no money. He got the idea that he would work for a year, save his money, move to California and offer to work for free.
“I lived at home, worked three jobs and saved my money,” he said.
When it was time to move, he learned another Miami alumnus lived in Los Angeles. Zac got in touch and told him he wanted to get into the movie business. That man said he didn’t have any contacts, but he was going to be working overseas and Zac could live in his apartment and pay half the rent.
He was on his way.
His first job was as an intern in a commercial production company; then as a script reader at Silver Pictures and then was an assistant to four executives – all for free. Now he had something on his resume.
“I started in the mailroom of the Gersh Agency in 2012 and then joined a management company called Grandview in 2014 where I started as an assistant and finished my run there after 10 years as a partner. I left in January of 2024 to come over to Brillstein/Wasserman, a company owned by Casey Wasserman.
“I represent writers, actors, directors across film/TV and some theatre, as well had a more recent attempt at producing a thing or two,” he explained.
Frognowski’s major clients include Mattson Tomlin (The Batman Pt II), Academy Award nominee Zach Baylin (King Richard), Tony winner Matthew López (Red White & Royal Blue), Jonathan Entwistle (Karate Kid: Legends) and Academy Award winner, Steve Gaghan (Traffic).
Among the actors he represents are Maria Sten (Reacher), Drew Starkey (Outer Banks), Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton), musician and actor Vince Staples, Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal), Billie Lourd (Book Smart) and Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place).
“On the producing side we just released Black Rabbit on Netflix. I was an Executive Producer on it alongside my client, Zach Baylin, who created the show with his wife Kate Susman. It stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law, and just today we got the news that it’s held its position as the number one show in the US for its second week, and remained the number two show globally as well.
“It’s my first screen credit and that’s a pretty good start at it!!”
Frognowski lives in the Manhattan Beach district of Los Angeles with his dog Pinky. “She’s this little white rescue that I attempted to foster when her shelter was in a bind. It was just supposed to be a couple of days and well, now it’s been six years. I never expected to have this kind of dog, she really is against type for me. She was a broken little street dog and now she’s been to 5-star hotels, all the LA private clubs, and in a handful of national magazines. She’s a real Cinderella story. Maybe in a way I see some of myself in Pinky.”
Now, that’s a journey of a Blue Devil.
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