Ah, Cartel Entertainment, the management and production company that’s been quietly toiling away for the last 13 years, has decided to rebrand as Evoke Entertainment. Because, let’s face it, nothing screams “fresh start” like swapping one ambiguous name for another equally vague one.
Founded by Stan Spry and Jeff Holland, Cartel—oops, I mean Evoke—has been juggling everything from managing top-tier talent to producing TV shows like Syfy’s Day of the Dead and Shudder’s Creepshow. It’s the kind of company you’ve probably never heard of unless you’re deeply entrenched in Hollywood, but they assure us they’re Very Important People™ in the industry.
A Rebrand Nobody Asked For
Why the sudden change? According to Stan Spry, the company’s co-founder, the rebrand is all about reflecting their “forward-looking approach, ambitious goals, and exceptional clients.” Translation: We hired a branding consultant who said, “Cartel sounds a little... murder-y. How about something aspirational, like Evoke? It’s a verb. Verbs are cool.”
Spry went on to gush about the company’s growth from a two-man shop in 2011 to a big-deal operation with a “global footprint.” Which, if we’re being honest, is a lot of corporate jargon to justify slapping a new name on the door. Jeff Holland chimed in too, crediting their “outstanding team” and a laundry list of partners who probably had to sit through endless meetings about fonts and logos.
What’s in a Name?
Let’s talk about that name. Evoke Entertainment. What exactly are they evoking? A sense of wonder? The existential dread of realizing you still have 47 more Netflix originals in your queue? The name Cartel at least had some edge to it. Sure, it might’ve conjured images of questionable activities south of the border, but it had character. Evoke, on the other hand, feels like it was cooked up in a WeWork conference room over lukewarm oat milk lattes.
And let’s not pretend this is some groundbreaking move. Hollywood loves a good rebrand. Just ask Lionsgate, which started as the far grittier-sounding Cinepix. Or Syfy, formerly the far less embarrassing Sci-Fi Channel. It’s a tale as old as Tinseltown: new name, same game.
A Look at Their Client Roster
To be fair, Evoke—I’m trying to use the new name, it’s hard—does represent some impressive talent. Their roster includes heavyweights like Joe Henderson (Lucifer), Sheryl Anderson (Sweet Magnolias), and Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon). On the directors’ side, they’ve got Danielle Fishel (Lopez v. Lopez) and Dale Stern (Veep), among others. It’s a respectable list, though it’s hard to shake the feeling that most of these people are too busy cashing Netflix checks to care about what their management company is called.
In animation, Evoke boasts clients like Shea Fontana (Monster High) and Tim McKeon (Odd Squad). They’re even dabbling in unscripted TV, repping companies behind shows like Deb’s House and Waco. Yes, Waco. Because nothing says “light entertainment” like revisiting a government siege.
A Name Change Won’t Fix the Industry
While Evoke is busy patting itself on the back for this bold rebranding effort, it’s worth asking: does this really matter? The entertainment industry is in flux. The rise of streaming has disrupted traditional models, strikes and labor disputes are reshaping working conditions, and audiences are increasingly vocal about the kind of content they want (and don’t want). Changing your name doesn’t exactly solve those issues.
But hey, a shiny new name gives the appearance of innovation without having to actually innovate. It’s like slapping a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling facade. Sure, it looks better, but the underlying structure hasn’t changed.
The Timing Is... Interesting
The timing of this rebrand is curious. Just last week, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Love Is Blind contestants are technically employees, a decision that could ripple across reality TV and beyond. Meanwhile, Hot Ones, the spicy wing talk show, has gone independent, signaling that even quirky niche productions are looking to shake up the status quo. Against this backdrop, Evoke’s rebrand feels like a shrug: “Look at us! We’re also doing... something.”
It’s not that Evoke isn’t doing good work. They’ve got a solid track record of producing and managing content across various genres. But a name change isn’t a revolution. It’s a press release disguised as progress.
Final Thoughts: A Rose by Any Other Name
So, Cartel Entertainment is now Evoke Entertainment. Will it make a difference? Probably not. But it will give them something to talk about at the next industry mixer. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll snag a few new clients who are dazzled by their “forward-looking” vision.
In the meantime, we’ll be here, watching from the sidelines as Hollywood continues its endless cycle of rebrands, mergers, and meaningless buzzwords. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s Cartel or Evoke, it’s still just another player in the game. Pass the popcorn.
