David Uslanbegan his career even before graduating from college as an intern with D.C. Comics, Walter Cronkite’s production company and Wild Brain Animation Studios. After graduating from Indiana University in 2002, Mr. Uslan joined International Creative Management (ICM), one of the leading international talent agencies. In late 2003, armed with a passion for comic books, history, and creative development, Mr. Uslan went to work for his mentor and father, Michael Uslan, Originator and Executive Producer of the Batmanmovie franchise, as well as The Lego Movie, Lego Batman, National Treasure, and many others. Alongside his father, David assisted in developing films including Batman Begins, Constantine, and The Spirit, including the upcoming Lou Gehrigbiopic being produced alongside the Steinbrenner family and the New York Yankees organization, and Doc Savage, based on the famous pulp comic book character created in the 1930’s. Uslan’s producing credits include the Emmy award winning animated series Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch (The Hub Network; Disney Channel), Valentine’s Day Massacre (National Geographic Channel), AMC Mob Week documentary series (AMC Network), and American Icons (PBS Network).
Beyond North America, Uslan is primarily focusing his time and energy on strengthening relationships between the US and Asian media markets, including the building of global franchises through international co-productions. Partners include iQIYI, Huace and Tencent, including Tencent Academy, in China, as well as JTBC, MBC, and KBS in South Korea, and Zee Entertainment in India. At MIP in 2017, Uslan announced a new joint venture between Banijay, Bunim/Murray Productions, Uslan Entertainment, and Signal Entertainment in South Korea. In December 2018, Uslan signed a first look deal with Renegade 83, an eOne Entertainment company, in the area of unscripted, international formats. Additionally, Michael and David Uslan, along with Jon Karas, are partners in Strawberry Pictures Global Media, a Chinese registered company, with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and New Jersey. David is also serving as Director of TDG Media, the entertainment division of The Digit Group, a next generation real estate company specializing in smart city strategies + solutions in China, The Middle East, the US, and across the world.
During the fall of 2009, David helped start a revolutionary digital publishing, conversion, and distribution company called Graphicly. Before the company was acquired, Graphicly had partnered with over 12,000 top comic book and graphic novel publishers, mainstream publishing houses, and many small press and independent companies, as well as over 15,000 individual creators and renowned feature film and television talent, to help produce, convert, and distribute their content across a wide range of eBook, mobile, web, and desktop platforms in new, exciting, socially interactive ways. Many of these publishers were brought in through Uslan’s pre-existing relationships including Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Chronicle Books, Capstone, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Legendary Pictures, Relativity Media, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Amazon Studios, and many more.
Along with his career in the feature film, television, gaming, and publishing industry, Uslan has consulted for a number of media companies and events as well, including Imagination Park based in Vancouver, Smithsonian Enterprises located in Washington D.C., VenSat Animation, a leader in the Indian animation industry later bought by the Reliance Group, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Film Finance Forum, and the Asian Film Awards. In 2018, David also expanded his consulting business into the Chinese mobile gaming market by adding Beijing Tongzhuo Game Technology Co. (aka Same Table Games) and EGLS Technology LTD to his list of clients, helping locate and acquire Western intellectual properties that could make successful Chinese mobile games, as well as with endorsement, sponsorship, and live event opportunities. Uslan and his team are also acquiring the rights as well as managing the Chinese social media platforms for top Western starts, including Emma Dumont, the star of the hit FOX series “The Gifted”. David’s partners in this specific business include the former CEO of Baidu Games as well as other top executives in the Chinese gaming and social media industry. Additionally, he is an independent contractor for The Third Floor, the global leader in previsualization, and helps them locate opportunities in China and throughout Asia in the areas of location-based entertainment, virtual reality, and feature film production. Uslan is also on the Board of Advisors for the NAB Show, which now includes a Shanghai based conference every summer, an advisory board member for the Stan Lee Foundation, as well as being on the Board of Directors for Team Prime Time, an influential afterschool organization based in Los Angeles. He also maintains strong ties to the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) as well as the New Jersey Film Commission, where his father is currently serving as Chairman.
Uslan is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Producers Guild of America, as well as being elected to the Producer Guild of America’s China Task Force. Two years ago, David was awarded the 2016 Korean Culture Supporters award by KOCCA, the Korean Creative Content Agency. Recent speaking engagements include events such as San Diego Comicon, New York Comicon, C2E2 in Chicago, Bangkok Comicon, Hong Kong’s FILMART, NAB Show Shanghai, The American Film Market, The International Licensing Expo, KOCCA & KOTRA related events, The Frankfurt Book Fair, Book Expo America, Digital Book World, AFCI, and Silicon Dragon events. In June 2016, David had the honor of giving one of the two opening night, keynote addresses alongside his close friend, Chinese director Stanley Tong, at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Later this year, David and his partners are also bringing Miami, Florida its first Comicon called the Miami Gamer Comic Expo.
Uslan is represented by William Morris Endeavor / IMG.