After more than 15 years in the entertainment industry, technology aficionado Jan Zands decided to let his entrepreneurial spirit fly. Few would imagine that anyone would trade-in the L.A.-Hollywood lifestyle for one as a software designer, yet Zands’ interest in technology has taken him on an exciting path filled with lifelong education and entrepreneurship upon launching Phonesheet.com, the premier phone message manager, in 2008.

Biography:

Jan Zands graduated from UCLA in 1993, at which time he entered Hollywood as an assistant with Paramount Pictures-based Frederic Golchan Productions, an independent production company. During his tenure with Golchan, Zands recognized that the barrage of daily phone calls, ever-changing creative elements, and last-minute modifications courtesy of studio executives, created tremendous inefficiencies within the office.

Technology, he knew, was the solution. Once his work day was complete, Zands spent time at home designing software programs to streamline workflow in the production house. On demand, Zands’ applications generated highly-detailed reports – arming studio executives with information that helped launch independent projects and close deals over lunch. Zands visibility began to rise, and demand for his services grew within Hollywood, leading him to form his own technology consultancy in the late nineties.

By 1997, Zands began consulting with Universal Pictures, which had approached Zands with a request to design a proprietary software package for use by all production companies with Universal Pictures studio deals. The completion of this project catapulted Zands and by 1999, he was hired by Michael Ovitz, founder of Artists Management Group (AMG).

AMG represented actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams; writers Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton; and directors including Martin Scorsese, among others. Aware of Zands’ talents, Ovitz hired him as a consultant to design an ultra-secure software solution for use by the company’s talent managers. To immediately fulfill an existing need within the company, Zands designed what he believed would be a temporary solution until such time as he was able to hire an outside software designer to complete the large-scale project. However, after a rigorous RFP process and months of high six-figure bids, Ovitz indicated that Zands’ temporary software design was functioning at the level he envisioned, and that nothing further was needed–a huge compliment to Zands’ technical skill.

During the next two years at AMG, Zands worked as a full-time designer and programmer—building tailored and customized software applications for each new AMG spin-off including AMG Sports, Artists Television Group, Artists Production Group, AMG Animation and AMG TV. While at AMG, Zands realized that no existing company maintained the necessary blend of Hollywood experience and technological expertise that producers, studios and agents required. This realization would become the foundation for Zands ultimate decision to launch his own entrepreneurial venture.

The Life of a Hollywood Networker and Tech Entrepreneur

Upon leaving AMG in 2001, Zands took a position with Wholly Cow Productions, which at the time of his employ, was a relative unknown on the Hollywood circuit. Having worked with countless Hollywood executives, production houses and assistants, Zands had connections that Wholly Cow needed. Zands was hired as the Vice President of Development where his responsibilities included the creation and operation of the development department and establishment of relationships with networks.

The seven-year stint at Wholly Cow gave Zands time to research developing technologies and web-based solutions. Having years of software design and consulting experience in his repertoire, Zands began designing several tools he believed would be useful in Hollywood—as well as across other industries. Zands quickly found himself moonlighting as a tech geek for Fox Television Studios, Platinum Entertainment and Universal Music Publishing—as well as himself.

After developing several tailored solutions to increase efficiencies and productivity for entertainment industry mavens, Zands prepared to introduce a self-designed Internet-based utility solely dedicated to organizing a person’s ‘phone work.’ The beta version of Phonesheet.com was completed in 2007 and after initial testing, Zands revised it using ASP.net and AJAX so that integration within Windows 2.0 would be seamless.

In 2008, Zands officially launched Phonesheet.com as the premier phone message manager – an inexpensive, web-based tool to organize outgoing and incoming phone calls as well as phone messages. He currently serves as its founder and CEO, and in the evenings, invests time in another of his passions: screenwriting.