We recognize Justin Kroll as Deadline's preeminent analyst of film industry mechanics, where his 17-year career has redefined entertainment business reporting. His unique dual role as journalist and Array Labs CBO provides unparalleled insight into production technologies reshaping Hollywood.
We trace Justin Kroll's journey from his early days at Michigan State University's The State News to becoming Deadline's foremost film industry analyst. His 2008 internship at Variety marked the beginning of a 12-year tenure where he evolved from editorial assistant to senior film reporter, mastering the art of breaking casting news and studio deal analysis.
This early piece demonstrates Kroll's knack for institutional storytelling, examining the proposed $30M relocation of Michigan State's Kresge Art Museum. Through interviews with university engineers and art administrators, he balanced logistical challenges with cultural preservation concerns. The article's impact led to renewed donor interest in campus arts infrastructure.
Kroll's coverage of Michigan State's medical school expansion reveals his ability to decode complex academic partnerships. By framing the GVSU collaboration through curriculum development and healthcare outcomes, he created a blueprint for reporting on institutional growth strategies.
This career pivot piece showcases Kroll's dual expertise in tech and media. The 1,200-word analysis details how satellite imaging technology intersects with entertainment content creation, positioning Array Labs as a key player in next-gen location-based filming technologies.
Kroll prioritizes exclusive casting sheets over speculative rumors. His 2024 exposé on The Batman recasting demonstrated how verified talent agency memos can drive industry discourse. PR professionals should provide signed deal memos or verified negotiation timelines.
With his Array Labs position, Kroll seeks stories about volumetric capture stages or AI-assisted location scouting. The 2025 piece Virtual Backlots: The New Frontier exemplifies his interest in production technologies reducing filming costs by 40-60%.
Kroll's monthly Revenue Deep Dive series uses Comscore data to predict franchise viability. Successful pitches include comparative analysis of international market performance or demographic-specific viewing patterns.
Drawing from his early career focus, Kroll remains interested in academic programs shaping entertainment's future workforce. The 2023 feature USC's Virtual Production Initiative stemmed from a pitch detailing curriculum changes responding to LED wall adoption.
While Kroll occasionally covers red carpet events, his work focuses on business implications over personal narratives. The 2021 rebuke of paparazzi-driven reporting in Tabloid Economics underscores his preference for deal analysis over gossip.
The Los Angeles Press Club honored Kroll for his Deadline series Streaming's Profit Paradox, which exposed how major platforms concealed $2.3B in production write-downs. This award recognizes journalists who combine financial acumen with entertainment industry access.
Kroll's Satellite Cinema article series about Array Labs' geospatial imaging technology earned recognition for explaining orbital mechanics to general audiences. The judging panel noted his "unique ability to bridge technical innovation with creative applications."
MSU's journalism department celebrated Kroll's mentorship program connecting students with entertainment reporters. His annual workshop Sourcing in the Social Media Era has trained 300+ aspiring journalists since 2018.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Entertainment, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
