About Us

Principals

Darryl Taja

CEO, Epidemic Pictures and Management

DARRYL TAJA is currently the CEO of the management-production company, Epidemic Pictures & Management, where he has sold more than 50 television series to major studios, networks and streamers in the last 10 years, as both a manager and producer, along with more than 100 feature film projects over his 27 year career. One of his recent feature films, “The Perfect Guy” (Sony), landed at #1 for its opening weekend. Some of his other notable feature producing credits include the critically acclaimed documentary, “Ferguson Rises”; “New in Town”, which starred Oscar-winner, Renee Zellweger (Lionsgate); “Preacher’s Kid”(WB); and “King’s Ransom”, which starred Emmy-nominee, Anthony Anderson (through Taja’s overall at New Line Cinema), to name a few.

At Epidemic Management, he currently represents high-level writer-producers and directors, such as Charles Holland (“Black Lightning”); Judi McCreary (“Law & Order: SVU”); Ted Witcher (“Love Jones”); FelIcia Henderson (“Soul Food”) and where he advises his long time client, Mark Brown (creator of the “Barbershop” franchise) in all areas of business, including as the Co-founder of the tech-enabled platform, Snap Nurse, which is now valued at over a billion dollars on Wall Street, to name a few.

Previously, Taja was Senior Vice President of hedgefund backed financier, Catch 23 Entertainment, where he represented multiple award-winning actors, directors and writer, and oversaw the production of “One Hour Photo” which starred the late, great, Robin Williams; was a principal in Revolution Media Television Studios; and was a partner in the Bubble Factory’s management-production division.

Taja’s background includes vast experience in legal and business affairs at studios, mergers and acquisitions on Wall Street, management consulting, and he has run multiple multimillion dollar hedgefunds. Taja has executed more than $500 million in transactional deals in the media business.

Additionally, Taja worked alongside the White House Business Council for several years during the Obama Administration, and he has negotiated bilateral education and trade agreements for the US Government in the State of Qatar. Taja has been a frequent guest lecturer in the MFA Programs of NYU, UCLA and Columbia Universities.

Sandra Brathwaite, Esq.

General Counsel, Epidemic Pictures and Management

Sandra began her legal career as an associate with the prestigious law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP which is one of the largest firms in the world. At GD&C, Sandra handled entertainment and corporate litigation as well as entertainment transactions for billion dollar conglomerates. From there, she transfered to the law firm of Arias, Ozzello & Gignac, LLP where she continued to handle entertainment litigation along with multi-million dollar class action litigation.

Currently, Sandra is general counsel of Epidemic Pictures and Management where she handles the strategic business planning and all corporate and legal interests.

Sandra Brathwaite is a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of California in December of 2000. She also maintains a real estate broker’s license.

Ken Rance

Advisory Board Member, Epidemic Pictures and Management

Ken Rance is a seasoned entertainment executive, screenwriter, and financial services leader with a unique blend of creative and strategic expertise. He began his Hollywood career at HBO Independent Productions, William Morris, and Creative Artists Agency, later serving as a Television Executive at CBS Entertainment. As a member and former Co-Chair of the Committee of Black Writers for the Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw). His writing and producing credits include over 50 projects across film and television, including the Lionsgate feature New In Town starring Renee Zellweger, and Thriller for Blumhouse/Netflix.

In parallel, Rance has built a successful career in finance, previously managing $750 million in assets as a Client Relationship Consultant at TIAA. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Carver Financial Corporation, where he leads operations, strategy, and capital deployment for the nation’s only Black-owned multi-bank holding company and CDFI.

Rance’s cross-sector experience uniquely positions him to advise creatives and companies on content monetization, capital structuring, and strategic growth.

Rance holds a B.A. from Howard University, where he and Taja met, and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Strategic Partners

Epidemic Pictures and Management has worked with or is currently developing projects with several studios and networks, including the following: